Crazy Woman Creek

by John Hansen

It was no coincidence that Samuel Quist decided to head for Oregon when he did. The year was 1863. Lots of men were dying in the war. His family didn’t care what it might look like to others. At least he would be alive. But at what price? He sold everything to finance the journey and uprooted his family. So began this odyssey to ostensibly realize a dream of having a farm in Oregon. Too many people didn’t believe that for a second.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2023

About the author

I grew up on a ranch in southern Idaho. It is here that I developed a love of the land and animals, unspoiled places that when I'm there I sometimes think; "This country probably looked this way a 150 years ago." I'm so grateful that places like this still exist in our modern times. My desire to write started at a very young age - about nine, as I recall. And too, my interest in western history began around this time. I was a voracious reader of the various western history magazines. I felt a connection of sorts to the characters in these magazines as my great grandmother single handedly captured several bank robbers who came to my grandparent's ranch wanting food and water. Writing, however, was something that I did in my spare time until about two years ago when I retired from a career as a wildlife biologist and wildland firefighter. Now, I spend a good deal of my time writing. I enjoy writing as it seems to come easy and it gives me satisfaction. When I'm not writing, my wife, our dog Bella, and I are usually hiking in the mountains of Montana or Idaho and fishing. I've read books by most of the prominent western authors but the writers who have influenced me most are probably; Hemingway, Ivan Doig and Thomas Savage.

Reviews

[Jennifer Bohnhoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Samuel Quist was no soldier: he was a school teacher. So when his parents pressed him to travel the Oregon trail with his wife, two kids and younger brother in order to avoid the Civil War, Samuel agreed. His guilt in not serving and his self-doubt followed him west, through far more violence and death than either he or his parents imagined. Illness, Indians, and arguments with other men in the wagon train take their toll in this brutal story of destitution and redemption. If you like 'em violent, this is the book for you.

I admit I'm a stickler and think this book needed one final editing. There are too many there/their and peek/peak issues, plus comma faults and incomplete sentences to earn a higher star rating.

[Elizabeth Lefler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reality breaks through in this story.

I don't know what I expected when I began reading this tale of the treacherous old west. But it grabbed me and would not let go until the end. Horrifying to realize that such savagery not only existed, but was rather common in those days before civility calmed things down. Some books just don't have a happy ending. This one successfully described Man's inhumanity to man not only in two opposing cultures, but also within a common culture.
I can recommend this book as a good representation of good historical fiction.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story lacking especially for a storyline. The first half of the story was not that interesting and continue on with more fluff that history. This was not a new concept for this type of story of those looking for a different life and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Characters are ok but not as developed as they could have been. After reading the first chapter I felt I could have gone to the epilogue and got the rest of the story. The ump was missing in the book.

[teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believable

Such depth and truth in these characters. This makes for a very well written story. I enjoyed this book tremendously

[Murdina Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book Love all Hansens books. Exciting reading. Keeps you engrossed!