The Sackett Brand

The Sacketts #10

by Louis L'Amour

Performed byThree cassettes, 5 hoursA Sackett will do anything to find justice. Tell Sackett was miles away from anyone he knew and he had no reason to think there were enemies nearby. But then Tell is shot without warning-and when he finally comes to, he discovers that all traces of his life have vanished. His wagon has disappeared and bis beloved wife, Ange, is missing. Sackett vows to stop at nothing to find out what became of her. But when the truth emerges, it is more terrifying than he ever imagined-and it will take all of his strength to find out once and for all why the forces behind the mystery won't stop until every Sackett is dead.The Sacketts are the unforgettable pioneer family created by master storyteller Louis L'Amour to bring to vivid life the spirit and adventure of the American frontier. They are the men and women who challenged the untamed wilderness with their dreams and courage. From generation to generation they pushed ever westward with a restless, wandering urge, a kinship with the free, wild places and a fierce independence. The Sacketts always stood tall and, true to their family pride, they would unite to take on any and all challenges, no matter how overwhelming the odds. Each Sackett novel is a complete, exciting historical adventure and, as a group, they form an epic story of the building of our mighty nation.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Action, Audiobook, Historical

151 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1965

About the author

Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".

Reviews

[David Putnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the story and prose is economic with nothing wasted, it gets right to the point. This one is a revenge story, good guy vs bad like most Westerns. Louis Amour has a unique language and syntax that he carries through all of his novels.
My best friend and neighbor growing up, his father was a big reader of Westerns and one summer when I was ten he gave me an entire grocery bag (the old brown paper kind) filled with Westerns; Luke Short, Max Brand, Louis Amour, and others. I read the all in one summer sometimes two a day. I read The Sackett Brand back then and only remember the cover. I do remember I enjoyed it a great deal.
The story is mostly told in narrative but when there is dialogue it fits so well for the time period and the story. I’m going reread more of these and recommend this one.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best of those I've read so far, though I felt oddly disconnected from it. That's probably because I recently read The Lonely Men and that one is further in the timeline and also features Tell. So while I didn't know details, I knew enough that I wasn't fully engaged in the current story. I don't know what idiot created this order for the series, but it's mildly insane.

Anyway, Poor Ange. I can't help feeling she got really short shrift. The bulk of this story is Tell thrashing under intense pressure by a whole passel of people wanting to kill him. Again, the L'Amour virtues of honor and perseverance are forefront, with a healthy dose of familial loyalty.

And again, I noticed how very progressive L'Amour was (in the best possible way). People are people to him (and to his heroic stand-ins) and that's borne out in all the side characters and their interactions with the various Sacketts. It's clear that each person, regardless of ethnicity or gender, has value in and of themselves and each has their own honor, integrity, and virtue. I'm not sure why I find that remarkable in such a popular author writing in the early and mid 1960s, but I do. Best of all, L'Amour doesn't make it such a big deal that it's, well, noticeable, really—it simply is and I find that both effective and refreshing.

Anyway, this is a great adventure story with an emotional depth that could have felt manipulative but didn't. And I'll eventually get over the trauma of reading The Lonely Men first. But not today.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/2018 Reread: This book always makes me cry with its fierce family loyalty. Our family listens to this book over and over. If I could name another kid I’d name him Sackett. The Sackett’s are just that cool.

[Katie Hanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like dead wife revenge stories. I especially don't like dead wife revenge stories where we LITERALLY NEVER MEET THE WIFE and don't meet any other female characters to speak of, either.

See also "Stuffed into the Fridge" and "I Let Gwen Stacy Die."

Do better, L'Amour.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my top 3 Sackett stories. Tell is alone and against all odds is on a path for vengeance. Ange has been murdered, he is being hunted by 40 gunman and Apaches. The story for me is about perseverance, bravery and honor.

There is also the fact that the Sackett clan come a running. Nolan, Tell’s brothers and a few others. The tension and chase are well written albeit the hired Apaches suddenly disappear towards the end.

A great classic Western crying out to be made into a movie.

[James Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Sackett is one of my favorite western characters. Big, raw-boned, tough as old chewing gum. He backs down for no man and he's always out to help the underdog.

In this story he goes all out to avenge a horrific wrong and goes up against insurmountable odds without fear or regard for his own safety...because it's the right thing to do.

[Oleta Blaylock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite stories of L'Amour. It is a sad story in many ways because of what happens to Ange and to Tell but it is also a story of great courage and sacrifice. Tell goes through so much to try and find the man that killed Ange. The odds are stacked against him but he never gives up even when he knows that he isn't going to get out alive. The other great thing about this story is that so many Sacketts show up to help Tell. I love how each group finds out and how they drop everything and head out in hopes of saving Tell or in killing those that killed Tell.

There is lots of action, as well as the standard character's thoughts on the world around him as well as on the people that are part of his world. Tell never expects much from the people around him. He is an easy going man and is willing to let others go their way until they make him angry then heaven help them. I love all the Sackett characters I have read about and I hope to read more about those that make an appearance in this story. This is a essential story to the overall Sackett legend.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you mess with one Sackett, you better figure you are bringing a war to your front door. Wow.

Shot in the back and hurdling down a 600 ft cliff, only by the grace of God does Tel Sackett survive. But who shot him and why?

It gets a lot worse when you discover the reason (I don’t want to give up a spoiler here), but whoa, look out!

Tel is wanted dead and he is hunted at every turn, maimed, injured, starving and cold… but he’s got fire in his belly and one thought on his mind. Revenge & Payback! Turning the tables, the hunted will become the hunter as he is seething with red-hot revenge. But he’s horribly outnumbered at least 40 to 1… that is until the Sackett clan do what they do best… be a loyal family that help one another when there’s serious trouble or threats, and that holds true whether all the “Sacketts” know each other personally or not.

Strap on your spurs, grab your rifle and six-gun. You are in for an adventure with this one!

[Michael Kennard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read most of Louis Lamour's books when I was in my late teens and early twenties. They are important to me as they were some of the first books that got me into the reading habit. For that I shall be forever grateful

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 16th and second to last book in the Sackett series. This was a great book! Tell Sackett is my favorite Sackett. Poor Tell just can't catch a break. He endures tragedy in the beginning of the book and vows to make the people responsible pay. But it seems he has taken on more than he can handle and as a result the entire Sackett clan comes from all over to help Tell escape with his life.

I loved the ending and the way LL wrote the perspectives to show the way all of the other Sacketts started riding in. This would be a great movie!

[James Biser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best Sackett stories. William Tell Sackett is a great character. In this story a group learns that when you take on a single Sackett, you take on the whole clan. Everyone should read this to learn a few things about family.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good western. Tell Sackett's wife is murdered and he sets out to get revenge on whoever did it. In the end, many Sacketts ride to his side to help. This is an extremely quick read with good action. Recommended to L'Amour fans.

[Bo Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Listen to the Audible Version of This This was Better Than the Ebook. David Strathairn was Awesome.

[Alan Tomkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping tale of a good man being hunted in the Arizona wilderness by evil men after they killed his wife. The wicked don't know they're messing with a Sackett, and other Sacketts from all over are on their way to help their own....

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about the power of family. Tell Sackett and his wife Ange were headed into Arizona to settle a ranch of their own. While scouting ahead he was shot. By the time he was able to make his way back to where he had left her, she and all their possessions had disappeared. He soon discovered that he had forty men looking for him to kill him. His motivation now is to stay alive long enough to find the man who killed Ange. As is usual in a L'Amour book, the power of his descriptions is phenomenal. As I read I could feel the heat and the cold and sense the anger just rolling off Tell. I loved the details of his tracking and movement. His thoughts of Ange and how much they had loved each other were heartbreaking. He thought he was all alone in his fight, but was determined to make it count. He didn't know that word of his trouble had spread and that Sacketts from all over were coming to help. In speaking to one of the hunters Nolan Sackett said this: "Mister, you're huntin' a Sackett, an' the one you're huntin' would, man to man, make you eat that six-gun you're packin'. Howsoever, when you hunt one Sackett, you just naturally make the rest of us feel the urge. Now, I don't know if I'll make it up there in time to he'p, so I figured to trim the edges off, like. You look maverick to me, so I figured to put the Sackett brand on you."

The last paragraph said it all: "We stopped in Globe and the lot of us lined up in O'Leary's place, all of us together, more Sacketts than I'd ever seen before...or anybody else, I guess. Me, standing there amongst them, I looked around and I knew I was not alone, and I'd never be alone again."

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Sackett has just married Angie and his on his way to a new life in Arizona when they are ambushed. Tell is wounded and Angie is missing. So begins Tell's hunt for her in face of huge odds. L'Amour demonstrates the evil in men's hearts.

[Stephen Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sackett series is one of my favourites. I loved the characters and riding for the Sackett brand, all for one and one for all, always inspired me. I have read and reread these books a number of times.

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hunted becomes the hunter in what might be my favorite Sacketts book yet.

[Art the Turtle of Amazing Girth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.2

More of the same

Ooooo, I'm a Sackett, I can beat the world, I'm so amazing

Yawn

[Wayne Thomason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about a man and wife looking to start a new life, but was cut short by Van Allen and the Lazy A brand. A story of revenge by Tell Sacket who swears to avenge the murder of his wife. A single man goes from being hunted to being the hunter. Just when the Lazy A brand thinks they have him pinned down the Sackett brand shows up to even the odds!

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANGE KELLY SACKETT

Now they've done it, brought the WRATH of Tell Sackett down on their heads. While Tell went to find a trail down to beautiful valley in the Teton Mountains, Ange Kelly Sackett, his new bride of one month waited until he returned. Unbeknownst to both Tell and Ange, someone was following them from the town of Globe. This man was used to getting what he wanted without any repercussions, but this time he picked the wrong woman to attack. The rapist name Vance Allen, part owner of the Lazy A ranch. Ange fought for her life as this monster raped and strangled her to death; he then realized what he had done, he hid her broken body in a depression under a fallen tree. He then made up a story that he was attacked by some unknown "drifter" this was cover story because his faced was scratched by the attack of this unknown "drifter."
Poor Tell he's finally found a woman to share his life with and now she's dead. This is a sad sad situation and Tell is out for revenge. They tried to kill Tell and they thought they did when he fell almost six hundred feet to the river below. He survived, but he was in bad shape. When he finally crawled back to where he had left his wagon and Ange he smelled wood and burned flesh.

[Aaron Toponce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been better. The first 1/3 of the story takes its time setting up the conflict, which in a 150-page book, is slow going. Then, toward the end of the book, a resolution comes to the story, but not until the _very_ last chapter. Which, meh. I guess works, but I would have liked to see some momentum build up to that point, but there was very little.

Some risks were also taken with characters, which improved the quality of the writing, but for the most part, the story just fell flat for me. The pace was mostly slow going, then just sort of ended quickly. Of course, it's typical L'Amour, in that it's very formulaic with the story telling. That's fine when the story telling is entertaining, but I left wanting more out of this story. I just wasn't entertained all that much.

Probably the hardest part of the story, was the world building. I think L'Amour was sloppy in describing where the main character was in the mountains, how the valleys and cliffs compared in relation to the forest, etc. I had a very hard time getting a clear picture in my head where the characters and conflict were in the mountains.

[David Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just about the very first book to make a strong impression on me as a youngster, first learning to read. Coming back to it again after all these years was quite an experience.

L'Amour sure knows how to tell a story. The plot is straightforward, the motivations primary: love, lust, revenge, family. The family part is what got to me so many years ago. The idea that all the members of a far-flung family would drop whatever they were doing and converge to help their brother/cousin/what-have-you! The chapter in the middle where the news of the trouble gets out, and the different brothers and cousins start to move, is my favorite.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a big clan of Sacketts. They settled in the Tennessee mountains and as the years passed, some headed west. This is a story about William Tell Sackett; the death of his wife, Ange, and Tell's fight to stay alive while hunting his wife's killer in the mountains and avoiding the 40 men that were hunting for him. The Tell menfolk, some of which, Tell had never met, rush to his aid for the last showdown. If you like westerns, you will like this one.

[Eva-Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sadly lackluster L'Amour book. I mainly picked it up for the interesting premise of a bunch of Sacketts coming to help Tell, but that only made up a small part of the book. Ended up skimming through quite a bit of it. And I didn't appreciate the implication at the end that Tyrel participated in the gun battle at the end because this came after The Daybreakers and it totally goes against the ending of that book.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This takes up almost right after Mojave Crossing with the story of Tell and Ange. It takes a dark turn and turns into a thrilling man hunt and trial of survival through the canyons of the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. Many Sacketts, familiar and new, arrive to come to Tell's aid and gives this book a classic Western revenge movie feel. As with all L'Amour books, the story telling is crisp, the descriptions beautiful, and there is plenty of philosophical musings about the mores and norms of the West.

[Gerald M. Bycroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best sacketts book ever !!!.

All the Sacketts come to the aid of Tell Sackett when they hear he is being hunted after his wife was killed. The all the Sacketts in the surrounding area come to his aid. It's just a matter of do they get there before he is dead or before he kills his hunters. Which is it going to be. Best book ever in the Sackett series.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel very much. The plotting was fast and suspenseful.

[Peter Pactor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good book. I didn't want to put it down. I think it was this book, when I read it 40+ years ago that taught me the lesson: Never mess with a Sackett.

[Weisser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have always loved Louis L'Amour's books. The Sackett brothers have held me captive for years. I miss his style and character development. Very descriptive of a time long ago in the 'wild west'.