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Ragtime Cowboys
In prohibition-era Southern California, real life detectives Charles D. Siringo and Dashiell Hammett must solve a mystery involving a ruthless politician—Joseph P. Kennedy. With sharp dialogue and rich historical background, Ragtime Cowboys is an exciting, suspenseful tale in which the Old West and Hollywood collide. Los Angeles, 1921: Ex-Pinkerton Charlie Siringo is living in quiet retirement when Wyatt Earp knocks on his door and asks him to track down his missing horse. What begins as horse thievery turns into a deeper mystery as Siringo and another ex-Pinkerton, the young Dashiell Hammett, follow clues that take them from the streets of Los Angeles to Jack London's farm, until they discover a conspiracy masterminded by the notorious and powerful Joseph P. Kennedy. From the first page to the closing chapter, these ragtime cowboys chase the truth in Loren D. Estleman's compelling tale of the Old West and early Hollywood.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2014
7 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Loren D. Estleman
314 books279 followersLoren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter.
Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery
Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 3, 2014
This very entertaining novel opens with real-life ex-Pinkerton agent Charlie Siringo, sitting in his Los Angeles home near the Hollywoodland sign one rainy night in 1921. He's trying to protect his typewriter and the novel he's attempting to write from the rain that's leaking through the several holes in his roof when Wyatt Earp comes knocking on the door.
Siringo had a long and illustrious career with the Pinkertons, and is credited with being the first detective to go undercover in an effort to capture criminals. Most famously, Siringo infiltrated Butch Cassidy's gang, leading to the arrest of some of the gang's members. After leaving the agency, Siringo ultimately wound up in California where he attempted to support himself by writing novels based on his experiences. In the meantime, after his own adventures in Tombstone and other such places, Wyatt Earp wound up in L.A., working as an advisor to directors making western movies.
Someone has stolen a prize thoroughbred belonging to Earp and Earp hires Siringo to find it. Siringo badly needs the money and so accepts the case. The trail leads north to San Francisco, where Charlie recruits another ex-Pinkerton agent and struggling novelist named Dashiell Hammett to assist in the case.
The pair winds up interviewing an important witness on the northern California ranch belonging to the widow of the famous writer, Jack London. At that point the case suddenly becomes much more complex and infinitely more dangerous. Before it's done, Siringo and Hammett will be up against a devious cast of characters which includes Joseph P. Kennedy who, even in 1921, has ambitions of seeing his son in the White House. The infamous Tea Pot Dome scandal is coming to a boil; prohibition is just under way, and all of this will ultimately come into play.
A host of historical figures like Will Rogers will put in appearances as the book progresses and in and around the action, the very conservative Siringo and the anarchist Hammett will wage an ongoing verbal battle over the events of the day. All in all, it's great fun and Estleman has brought this historical figures back to life in fine style.
Siringo had a long and illustrious career with the Pinkertons, and is credited with being the first detective to go undercover in an effort to capture criminals. Most famously, Siringo infiltrated Butch Cassidy's gang, leading to the arrest of some of the gang's members. After leaving the agency, Siringo ultimately wound up in California where he attempted to support himself by writing novels based on his experiences. In the meantime, after his own adventures in Tombstone and other such places, Wyatt Earp wound up in L.A., working as an advisor to directors making western movies.
Someone has stolen a prize thoroughbred belonging to Earp and Earp hires Siringo to find it. Siringo badly needs the money and so accepts the case. The trail leads north to San Francisco, where Charlie recruits another ex-Pinkerton agent and struggling novelist named Dashiell Hammett to assist in the case.
The pair winds up interviewing an important witness on the northern California ranch belonging to the widow of the famous writer, Jack London. At that point the case suddenly becomes much more complex and infinitely more dangerous. Before it's done, Siringo and Hammett will be up against a devious cast of characters which includes Joseph P. Kennedy who, even in 1921, has ambitions of seeing his son in the White House. The infamous Tea Pot Dome scandal is coming to a boil; prohibition is just under way, and all of this will ultimately come into play.
A host of historical figures like Will Rogers will put in appearances as the book progresses and in and around the action, the very conservative Siringo and the anarchist Hammett will wage an ongoing verbal battle over the events of the day. All in all, it's great fun and Estleman has brought this historical figures back to life in fine style.
December 29, 2014
Charlie Siringo and Dashiell Hammett join forces as ex-Pinkertons to track down a race horse stolen from Wyatt Earp. They find the horse but stumble on a bigger scandal involving Beauty Ranch, home to the widow and daughter of Jack London.
This was really fun, some hilarious dialog between Dash and Charlie, and the name-dropping was also quite fun.
This was really fun, some hilarious dialog between Dash and Charlie, and the name-dropping was also quite fun.
January 29, 2021
Two (real life) former Pinkertons search, first, for a stolen racehorse, and then look into fishy business on oil leases in a place called Teapot Dome in Wyoming. In the mean time they run, briefly, into Wyatt Earp, Will Rogers and Joe Kennedy (both senior and junior) and Jack London's widow. A pleasant look at the time (1921) and place (California) as Dashiell Hammett and Charles Siringo meander across the countryside by car, rail, and horseback and compare their writing and Pinkerton experiences. One, Siringo, is conservative and saw union organizers as anarchists and the other, Hammett, is a Marxist and sees unionists as downtrodden workers. Although they engage in some true detecting and defending, mostly they try to out humor each other. Siringo remembers his time undercover with Butch Cassidy and as a pal of Billy the Kid. Of course, Hammett's best days are ahead of him.
December 13, 2017
Fun story of the changing West, where a former Pinkerton detective, Charlie Suringa, teams up with another former Pinkerton man and fledgling writer, Dashiell Hammett, to catch a horse thief, fight corruption that may or may not turn into the Teapot Dome Scandal, and assist the family that deceased Jack London left behind. Loren Estleman knows how to blend story with great characters, and infuse it with just enough humor to elicit an occasional guffaw.
July 26, 2014
I am huge fan of Loren D. Estelman's Amos Walker mysteries but have never read any of his westerns. My local library had a copy of his new book "Ragtime Cowboys" and it caught my attention and I had to pick it up. This novel is not one of his Detroit mysteries with Amos Walker or a typical western read but sort of a hybrid between mystery and western.
The novel takes place in California in 1921 and follows Charles Siringo, real-life former "cowboy detective". Siringo is an ex-Pinkerton private detective who is down on his luck and retired in a little shack in Los Angeles, living below the "Hollywoodland" sign. He's visited by ex-lawman Wyatt Earp to find Earp's favorite horse that was stolen from his ranch. Earp teams Siringo up with another real-life ex-Pinkerton, Dashiell Hammett (author of The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man, and more), who at this point is an unknown and unpublished author. Siringo and Hammett make for an unlikely but excellent pairing of detectives and their quest for the stolen horse leads them to the ranch of the late Jack London where a new adventure begins. Joseph Kennedy, Sr. (father of JFK), and the Teapot Dome Scandel of the Warren G. Harding administration figure prominently in the tale. And what would a good western be without a shootout? This story has one of course!
It was a great light summer read. I highly recommend it to anoue who enjoys a good adventure.
The novel takes place in California in 1921 and follows Charles Siringo, real-life former "cowboy detective". Siringo is an ex-Pinkerton private detective who is down on his luck and retired in a little shack in Los Angeles, living below the "Hollywoodland" sign. He's visited by ex-lawman Wyatt Earp to find Earp's favorite horse that was stolen from his ranch. Earp teams Siringo up with another real-life ex-Pinkerton, Dashiell Hammett (author of The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man, and more), who at this point is an unknown and unpublished author. Siringo and Hammett make for an unlikely but excellent pairing of detectives and their quest for the stolen horse leads them to the ranch of the late Jack London where a new adventure begins. Joseph Kennedy, Sr. (father of JFK), and the Teapot Dome Scandel of the Warren G. Harding administration figure prominently in the tale. And what would a good western be without a shootout? This story has one of course!
It was a great light summer read. I highly recommend it to anoue who enjoys a good adventure.
October 10, 2017
Charles Siringo and Dashiell Hammett are hired by Wyatt Earp to find a stolen horse. They soon find the stolen horse is the least of their problems. An assassin is after them and neither knows why.
The charm of this book is in the settings and minor characters. Jack London's Beauty Ranch and his widow and daughter. Wyatt Earp. The political machinations in San Francisco.
Then there is the shoot out climax.
I listened to the audio version read by Dan John Miller. He does a great job.
The book can be annoying with its attempt to be 'realistic' cowboy at times. It is a bit slow getting started. Once the story starts heating up, the book makes an enjoyable listen.
The charm of this book is in the settings and minor characters. Jack London's Beauty Ranch and his widow and daughter. Wyatt Earp. The political machinations in San Francisco.
Then there is the shoot out climax.
I listened to the audio version read by Dan John Miller. He does a great job.
The book can be annoying with its attempt to be 'realistic' cowboy at times. It is a bit slow getting started. Once the story starts heating up, the book makes an enjoyable listen.
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July 21, 2018A perfectly good book, but not for me (I like Loren Estleman but am not a fan of westerns.)
December 7, 2022
Great, fun mix of western and mystery.
June 19, 2014
I really wanted to like this book more. It has some great things going for itl Estleman's writing and dialogue are strong, as usual. The characters are interesting choices. The action scenes are good. But something was lacking for me. Charlie Siringo is such a great character and his real life so amazing, it seems a waste to put him in a fictional mystery. The little flashbacks set throughout the book offer such great glimpses into a real western past that seemed much more interesting than in the present the book was set. And while I am sure Estleman did his research and Hammett is correctly portrayed, I never fully believed in him. He seemed more like a movie idea of Hammett. Why Estleman put these two together really made little sense to me, other than they were both ex-Pinkertons who had quit. and it gave him the chance to sprinkle in a few allusions to Hammett's later work. And using Joseph P. Kennedy again seemed there so he could make some disparaging remark about John F. Kennedy. That time in history was amazing, with the technology moving so fast with the inventions of cars, planes, telephones and people like Siringo coping with that rapidly changing world could make a fascinating tale, but instead we get stock characters: a cranky old curmudgeon and a tubercular romantic writer trying to be a tough guy. I wish this book were better.
July 24, 2014
Just what I needed after reading a few heavyweight books was a light, breezy adventure novel. It is more of a " buddy" story, you know, the sort of story that has two men going off on a quest or task or job, meeting beautiful women, bad guys, slipping out of danger and into peril, all with humor and a sene of " Don't take this rally too seriously." It is a type of story that can easily veer off into parody, as so many Hollywood "road buddy " movies do; it takes an old pro like Mr. Estleman to make it go.
The characters in this book are real, Charlie Siringo, Dashiell Hammett, Joseph Kennedy ( the father of the clan) and Mrs. Jack London. Look them up. So is the scandal, TeaPot Dome. Mr. Estleman brews it all together like good tea: brisk and smooth, and refreshing. These people real life adventures are almost as picturesque as fiction, anyway.
No, it's not deeply penetrating into personalities, mores or society, at least not the surface of things. The character revelation is through dialog, which is snappy, not sappy.
And, for the careful reader, the words will be familiar, as if Hammett remembered them to use in his own novels like The Maltese Falcon.
Just fun...and isn't that what reading is meant to be?
The characters in this book are real, Charlie Siringo, Dashiell Hammett, Joseph Kennedy ( the father of the clan) and Mrs. Jack London. Look them up. So is the scandal, TeaPot Dome. Mr. Estleman brews it all together like good tea: brisk and smooth, and refreshing. These people real life adventures are almost as picturesque as fiction, anyway.
No, it's not deeply penetrating into personalities, mores or society, at least not the surface of things. The character revelation is through dialog, which is snappy, not sappy.
And, for the careful reader, the words will be familiar, as if Hammett remembered them to use in his own novels like The Maltese Falcon.
Just fun...and isn't that what reading is meant to be?
February 27, 2016
I've said before, that Estleman is one of my favorite authors. This book somewhat illustrates why. He is capable of excellent writing, no matter the genre. This book is a great example of historical fiction. He takes historical figures, in this case "Cowboy Detective" Charles A. Siringo, and Dashiell Hammett, both real-life ex-Pinkerton detectives, and partners them for client Wyatt Earp, to find a stolen horse. The mission leads them to the ranch, and the widow of Jack London, and entangles them with Teapot Dome politicians, and Joseph P Kennedy, Sr. Estleman admittedly fudges the timing, and a few other details, but the story is very well told, and seems extremely plausible, which is all you can ask for, in historical fiction. Estleman is better known for his hard-boiled detective Amos Walker, and cowboy character Page Murdock, but his historical fiction, starting with the "Detroit" series, and books like "Roy & Lillie", "The Confessions of Al Capone", and "Aces and Eights", prove that historical fiction is his forte.
August 7, 2014
As a cross-over novel between Westerns and Mysteries, this book is pretty successful. If I were more of a Western fan, I'd have liked it better. It takes an era (Prohibition, the 1930s) in California which had both elements of the Old West and plenty of political scandals to feed on. The two main characters are real authors of Westerns, one of them Dash Hammett the creator of Sam Spade (made more famous by Humphrey Bogart)as well as the family of writer Jack London. The lingo and rhythm is more like a Western. The story touches on Clanahan, boss of San Francisco, and the Teapot Dome Scandal, important to history but not items that are overly well covered in school history lessons, so I appreciated the understanding the author brought.
December 17, 2015
Not Estleman's finest work, but still quite entertaining. This book is a fictional account of a case in which two former pinkerton's detectives investigate a horse theft for a rancher which turns out to be bigger than they expected.
The rancher is Wyatt Earp. The detectives are authors Dashiell Hammett and Charlie Siringo, and the case takes them into contact with Joseph Kennedy and the household of Jack London, among many other notable personalities of the very early 20th century. This use of real-life historical characters lifts the story to an intriguing place, and Estleman's clever use of language makes the dialog a joy to read.
The rancher is Wyatt Earp. The detectives are authors Dashiell Hammett and Charlie Siringo, and the case takes them into contact with Joseph Kennedy and the household of Jack London, among many other notable personalities of the very early 20th century. This use of real-life historical characters lifts the story to an intriguing place, and Estleman's clever use of language makes the dialog a joy to read.
June 13, 2016
I've read some of Estleman's mysteries set in Detroit and enjoyed them. I also learned recently that he has written award-winning westerns, but haven't sampled them yet. This is sort of a hybrid - part western, part mystery and a lot of fun with literary characters. It's set in 1920s California, and ex-Pinkertons Charles Siringo and a young Dashiell Hammett team up to solve a mystery that starts when Wyatt Earp has a horse stolen. Along the way, we also meet up with Jack London's widow and Kennedy patriarch Joseph P., who may be part of the web of evildoers. It's well-researched fun.
January 20, 2015
The old west collides with the 20th century. Cowboy detective and Ex-Pinkerton Charlie Siringo comes out of retirement to find Wyatt Earp's stolen prize horse. With his friend Dashiel Hammett, the trail eventually leads through speakeasies, verbal sparing with Will Rogers, on to San Francisco and to Jack London's ranch and a story of political scandal involving no less than bootlegger Joseph Kennedy who's looking to make his son the first catholic president.
This is a light easy to read novel that I had great fun with.
This is a light easy to read novel that I had great fun with.
May 1, 2015
What a delightful surprise. I started the book because my mystery book club's topic for May is a mystery about horses. Ragtime Cowboys begins with the theft of Wyatt Earp's prize racehorse. Wyatt visits real-life detective and former Pinkerton agent Charles A. Siringo to enlist his help to recover it. From there on it was an engaging adventure with the characters I remember from watching TV Westerns as a child, writers, politicians and crooks. I had to finish it. Now I want to more of Estleman's fiction and nonfiction.
October 8, 2014
LA 1921: 2 ex Pinkerton agents are hired by famous Wild West lawman Wyatt Earp to find the rustler who stole his prize horse and end up in a shootout defending the ranch of Jack London's widow. Throw in a suspicious list of names with dollar amounts they stole from Joseph P. Kennedy (yep JFK's father) and we have quite a tale! Of course, the whole scenario is very improbable but it is great fun! With Estleman's artful skill in this genre, this is another good read.
October 30, 2014
Warren Harding's America in Southern California. Real life detectives Charlie Siringo and Dashiell Hammett look for Wyatt Earp's stolen horse, and uncover much more at the late Jack London's ranch. They meet a young bootlegger upstart, Joseph P Kennedy of Boston, MA, who plans to make his son the first Roman Catholic president of the USA as they uncover corruption, bribes, and much more including the beginnings of the Teapot Dome scandal.
November 26, 2014
RAGTIME COWBOYS is not Estleman's best novel but it is a load of fun. It is Estleman working in a Joe R. Lansdale vein, with Ex-Pinkertons Charles Siringo and Dashiel Hammett working for Wyatt Earp on Jack London's ranch. The historical rub shoulders with the fictional in what is essentially an alternate history take on The Teapot Dome Scandal. The Barbary Coast has changed since Estleman's PORT HAZARD.
January 29, 2015
Loren D. Estleman is my favorite author -I love his writing style. His character develop is second to none. Plots are always good. So I fully expected to enjoy Ragtime Cowboys - and I did.
It was a special treat for me because I also love history and Estleman mixed cowboys, a mystery and 1921 California politics into an excellent joy ride.
Others will provide you with the summary of the plot- let me just say I liked the way he was able to weave historical figures into the story.
It was a special treat for me because I also love history and Estleman mixed cowboys, a mystery and 1921 California politics into an excellent joy ride.
Others will provide you with the summary of the plot- let me just say I liked the way he was able to weave historical figures into the story.
August 11, 2014
Ragtime Cowboys is a quick, fun read set in the 1920s, which is the last decade where modern, urban America crossed over with the Old West. Estelman couldn't have chosen two better protagonists than Siringo and Hammett. Though the two have some obvious differences, their shared Pinkerton past and commitment to principles give them common ground to work from.
May 16, 2014
I am really confused. I guess I commented on this book instead of wrote a review. I don't understand why the author wrote about real people but adjusted times on certain historical incidents for his story. You might just as well have all fictional characters. In spite of the criticism I like his writing, and found a good bit of humor in it. I debated on giving it four stars....
October 6, 2015
I had a hard time getting into this story because it is so different from the normal western, but then I really enjoyed it. Since I was born in 1935, I was already familiar with the names of Dashiell Hammett, Jack London, Wyatt Earp and Joseph P. Kennedy, but not Charlie Siringo ... a good piece of western fiction.
March 9, 2016
Lots of historical characters in this semi mystery about the Teapot Dome scandal. Charlie Siringo and Dashiell Hammett hunting down horse thieves get involved in land and oil deals. Joseph Kennedy and Wyatt Earp plus others roam in and out of this tale. There are a lot of slow parts and way too much political rhetoric.
July 8, 2014
Great book. Loved the dialogue which reminded me of the word play between Robert Duval (Captain Augustus "Gus" McCrae) & Tommie Lee Jones (Captain WF Call)and other characters in the TV mini-series Lonesome Dove.
May 29, 2015
It is an interesting concept where Wyatt Earp in his much older days hires another 60+ yr old cowboy to do detective work.
It flunked my 30 page test. (f I am not engaged after 30 pages, pick up a different book.)
It flunked my 30 page test. (f I am not engaged after 30 pages, pick up a different book.)
April 12, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book from writer's writer Loren D. Estleman. I am a long-time fan of his mystery novels. This book had some of those components but was also entertaining ode to Western genre imaginatively-connecting Old West with early Hollywood.
June 20, 2014
Enjoyed other books by author - interesting mashup/concept
September 29, 2014
A solidly written mystery. The only gripe I have is that the dialog was a bit heavy handed in terms of foreshadowing.
September 29, 2014
A fanciful tale of Dashiell Hammett and Charles Siringo solving a mystery involving Joseph Kennedy in 1921.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews