Rodeo Ranch: A Western Duo

by Max Brand

This audiobook contains two of legendary Western author Max Brand's short novels for your listening pleasure. The Valley of Jewels Doc Willis, despite the nickname, is just an unemployed cowboy in Daggett Valley, a place that holds many secrets from the past-including a now-deserted mining camp. When Buck Logan lures Willis to the camp with the promise of great riches, Doc doesn't even suspect he is about to play a part in a most subtle feat of deception. William Daggett, the man who first discovered gold in the valley, is now a half-witted old man whom they will con into believing that he is reliving his past-for Buck Logan believes this man can lead them to a hidden cache of jewels worth a fortune. Rodeo Ranch Rodeo Ranch has earned its name from the rodeo that the wealthy, aged Ramon Alvarez sponsors there. An attempt has been made on Alvarez's life, and Alvarez believes his would-be killer is a member of a secret league bent on his destruction. He approaches Duds Kobbe, winner of the rodeo's shooting competition, and offers him a job as a personal bodyguard, promising a fabulous reward for doing the job. The only catch is that, while employed, Kobbe cannot leave the Alvarez estate. What Kobbe doesn't realize is that he will be just as much a target as Alvarez.

Genres: Westerns

Audio CD

First published December 1, 2014

About the author

Frederick Schiller Faust (see also Frederick Faust), aka Frank Austin, George Owen Baxter, Walter C. Butler, George Challis, Evin Evan, Evan Evans, Frederick Faust, John Frederick, Frederick Frost, David Manning, Peter Henry Morland, Lee Bolt, Peter Dawson, Martin Dexter, Dennis Lawson, M.B., Hugh Owen, Nicholas Silver

Max Brand, one of America's most popular and prolific novelists and author of such enduring works as Destry Rides Again and the Doctor Kildare stories, died on the Italian front in 1944.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume contains two novellas, "The Valley of Jewels" and "Rodeo Ranch". It was my first foray into Max Brand and I am interested in reading more of him, especially something longer, where the characters get fleshed out more.
Of these two stories, I liked "The Valley of Jewels" just a little bit better than the second offering. A nice, clean short story that delivers on mystery, action, suspense and romance. Both contain "love at first sight" romances, but "Valley" pulls it off more effectively.