Skyring Water: A Novel

by Beau L'Amour, Louis L'Amour

Louis and Beau L’Amour present a collaboration across time, an epic novel of Cold War suspense, as a pair of unlikely heroes, a woman without a name, and the undefeated agents of the Third Reich find themselves locked in a deadly race to control the greatest secret of the 20th century.

1961. The world is on the brink of nuclear war. Walls are dividing East and West. Empires are crumbling. And in Barcelona, chaos is unleashed when a rogue officer of the East German STASI attempts to blackmail a pair of struggling arms dealers. The secret—30 tons of stolen gold hidden in an icebound wilderness at the end of the world.

Mike Fowler is a former Navy salvage diver and OSS assassin. Anton Voss is an expatriate German scientist whose past grows darker the closer anyone looks. Once they might have been enemies, yet the two share an inseparable bond; they have saved one another’s lives. But all of that is put at risk when Mike discovers Anton standing over a midnight visitor with a gun in his hand.

Now they’re on the run, allied with gangsters, pursued by the CIA, Israeli intelligence, and a shadowy cabal bent on creating an invisible empire. The trail leads from the rain-soaked docks of Marseilles to the futuristic towers of Caracas and the ruins of a secret island laboratory in Argentine Patagonia. The only way for Mike Fowler to save his oldest friends, and the woman he loves, is to unlock a decades-old mystery buried in his partner’s Nazi past . . . before it destroys them all.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Audiobook, Adventure

528 pages, Hardcover

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

BEAU L’AMOUR is the son of novelist Louis L'Amour. Beau grew up among the writers, actors, beatniks, Apache Indians, FBI agents, and members of the Hollywood Ten who were the denizens of his West Hollywood neighborhood and his parents’ friends. He graduated from California Institute of the Arts. Over the years, L’Amour has written and produced a series of more than sixty audio dramas and worked in the radio and magazine business, then as a screenwriter and television producer. In the world of book publishing, he has been an art director, literary editor, and ghost writer.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The plot is improbable, but it is an action-packed thriller from the first pages to the last. It is a Cold War thriller in the vein of the great Alistair MacLean. Louis L'Amour is best known for his classic fiction stories set in the 19th Century American West. This book is completed from his notes by his son Beau L'Amour.

The tale begins with arms merchants in Spain. It proceeds to assassinations involving Otto Skorzeny, Nazi world domination, Israeli Mossad, Aussie salvage operators and the CIA ranging from Spain, to Isreal, to Venezuela, and Argentina before culminating for a showdown in an off the maps island of Santa Ines in Patagonian Chile. It is a nail biter. The depiction of a diver running out of air brought back memories of a similar situation I found myself in as a firefighter. It was spot on.

If you like old-fashioned thrillers where the solutions were guns, wit and fists rather than fancy gizmos you will enjoy this book as much as I do. If you are looking for a politically correct feelings-based tale, give it a pass.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skyring Water by Louis L’Amour and Beau L’Amour
Historical Thriller
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 6.2.26
Pages: 528
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley

#BookReview

🛥🥷🌍🗡💰🛩

Review:
A pair of arms dealers find themselves in the middle of trouble when past secrets come to life that lead to millions in Nazi treasure and some very determined people want to get their hands on it first. Louis L’Amour is best known for his westerns, but he has written some old-style adventures in his time. Including, this adrenaline rush of a cold-war era thriller started by Louis and finished by his son, Beau L’Amour.

🌍🗡It’s 1961. The cold war and the nuclear arms race are at their height. The world looks very different now from the days Mike, a former Navy salvage diver and OSS assassin, and his partner, Anton, former Nazi officer and scientist, were waging WWII on each other rather than partnering in clandestine arms-dealing ventures. Both have their secrets, but the partners have saved each other’s lives and have each other’s backs.

When Mike comes upon Anton standing over a guy on the ground, Anton’s past has caught up with them. They need to move fast and get out ahead of a whole slew of ugly customers all after a sunken Nazi U-boat loaded with gold. From gangsters to an evil group insinuating themselves into the world and planning to bring on a Fourth Reich, Mike and Anton have stay ahead with luck, grit, and the skills they got through war and the school of hard knocks. They might be tarnished heroes, but the pair don’t plan on world domination any time soon, so there is that.

💰🛩Skyring Water is old-style pulp fiction adventure that has been expanded and polished up. Oodles of characters entering the scenes, dual timelines explaining background and building storyline, exotic locales, intense action scenes, and entertaining lead characters I could cheer on. Loved revisiting the writing of Louis L’Amour and appreciate Beau L’Amour’s talent and making the unvarnished, unfinished tale into a high adventure diversion.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I rec’d an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

🛥🥷🌍🗡💰🛩

#skyringwater #louislamour #beaulamour #bantambooks #coldwar #nazigold #adventurebooks #treasurehunt


My full review will post at my Instagram page, @sophiarose1816 7.31.26.

[Sheryle · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was invited to read this book, I was a little surprised and confused. I have never read anything by Louis L’Amour and can barely tolerate westerns in any form. Then, I read the description of the book. Oh, an espionage thriller à la Cussler, Ludlum or le Carre, that did sound interesting. Ok, to be completely honest, I’ve never actually read anything by Ludlum or le Carre (although I have watched season 1 of The Night Manager and loved it) and it’s been years since I read all those Cussler books, but I do remember enjoying them. So, with high hopes, I started the book.

Almost immediately, I was aware I was probably not the target audience for this book since I felt like I was reading a men’s adventure magazine from the 50s or 60s, which is not something I would ever read. Thankfully, an intriguing tale of a sunken Nazi submarine filled with gold started to emerge. Unfortunately, a lot that was frustrating also started to emerge.

First, there were so very many characters and every time a new character was introduced the authors went into an excruciating backstory about them. Most times a thumbnail sketch would have been sufficient. Then, the descriptions of all the weaponry (and there were a lot!) were simply way too detailed. This is probably an example of me not being part of the target audience. Also, I don’t think the book needed all the detailed side trips down memory lane dealing with Mike’s previous life, taking the reader bouncing around the timeline.

While I did enjoy the basic story, I found myself wanting to skip parts and kept finding reasons not to pick the book up when I put it down. It felt like it took forever to read. While I’m sure a lot of people will really like everything about this book, I just wasn’t one of them.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a week! I generally finish books in 2-3 days.
This book took a. Entire week, several hours each day.
To keep me interested and engaged should tell people
what a good story this is. The main characters are
well,written and engaging from start to finish. The
scenes, backdrops and fascinating locales became
my obsession ~ looking things up and being fascinated
is the best part of books and this book was just
loaded.
Beau L'Amour has done an amazing job blending and
working with his Dad's project, and fleshing the work
out for a great result.
I recommend this to the Louis L'Amour fans and
believe you will feel Louis in this book. I certainly
felt him.
My thanks to Ballentine ~ Bantam via NetGalley
for the download copy of the book for review purposes.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.0 of 5

I have enjoyed reading Louis L'Amour books. Not just his westerns (which I do like), but his few other books, more adventure titles and historical fiction (ala The Sacketts series). And I've been aware that since his death in 1988 a number of his unfinished works are either being finished by his son Beau, or presented in collections of "Lost Treasures."

Skyring Water is a thriller based on a first draft that Louis L'Amour wrote many years ago, when he was still trying to be considered for more than just a 'western' author. Even so, L'Amour (according to his son Beau at the back of the book) recognized that it didn't live up to its full potential. Louis and Beau plotted some potential changes to the original work, but Louis died of pneumonia before he could complete the work. Now Beau has taken up the mantle and decided to finish it. Sadly, this still doesn't live up to its potential.

We're in a period known as the Cold War and former Navy man, Mike Fowler, is working with a former German scientist, Anton Voss, to deliver arms and information to anyone willing to pay for it. But Anton has his sights on something a little bit bigger. Anton wants to recover a sunken German submarine which contains 30 million dollars worth of Nazi gold.

Fowler is up for such an incredible potential windfall and the pair put together a team who should be able to do the deep dive to retrieve the gold. But keeping such an incredible opportunity a secret is hard to do and now there are Americans, Germans, Israelis, and various, miscellaneous groups of individuals all out to remove Fowler and Voss from the project and to take the money for themselves.

The opening chapter of this book was exactly what you want from a thriller of this nature. It was high-speed, exciting, and really made the reader want to know more about the character(s) and what they were going to do next. But the opening chapter is an outlier in this book.

The rest of story is generally filled with copious amounts of descriptions, deep dives (pun intended) into character backgrounds, and lots and lots of dialog between the characters about what they should do and what dangers lie ahead. But the dangers themselves seem remote at best and nothing that someone of Fowler's background couldn't handle in his sleep.

Essentially, this is a thriller without thrills.

I think that Louis L'Amour was an amazing storyteller. Whether you like westerns or not, he knew how to spin a yarn and I think it's telling that he knew this book wasn't up to where he wanted it and even being reworked by someone who knew Louis L'Amour better than most, it still isn't.

Looking for a good book? Skyring Water by Louis L'Amour and Beau L'Amour was a work that Louis L'Amour didn't think was ready for publication, and publishers seemed to agree. Even reworked, it's still wasn't ready.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandy Quill · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "Skyring Water" in exchange for an honest review.

For anyone who only associates Louis L'Amour's name with westerns, this book, revised, expanded, co-written and restored by his son Beau will come as a huge revelation.

Often I felt overwhelmed reading this thrilling, exhaustively researched adventure. By the time I finished I felt like I'd plowed through enough geo-political chicanery, graduate level physics,, death defying, breathtaking escapes, battles and explosive violence that could fill over 50 books by Alistair MacLean, Clive Cussler, James Rollins and Frederick Forsythe. At times, this book just plain wore me out.

We're back in 1961 where some remnants of World War II still simmer and fester and the new Cold War grows hotter by the minute. Surviving hardcore Nazis, still holding dreams of a Fourth Reich, have inserted themselves back into the society, politics and scientific communities of the many countries around the world.......awaiting to seize their opportunity to achieve world domination.

Amid the perils of this new nuclear world, the expected clashes that come with the rise of emerging nations serve as the bread and butter of former OSS operative, expert diver and arms dealer Mike Fowler.. He's partnered with (and at times mentored by) former Nazi commander and scientist Anton Voss, a man with no end of secrets in his past. And now they're in hot pursuit of the greatest potential prize for soldiers-of-fortune such as themselves.......a hidden, sunken German U-Boat supposedly holding a cargo of 30 million dollars in stolen Nazi gold.......(try to imagine the value adjusted for 2026 inflation.....)

But Fowler and Voss are far from alone in their quest. Hot on their heels come a host of enemy-rivals....... - the most vicious 'Fourth Reich' cabal imaginable along with Israeli Intelligence, Mafia thugs and a duplicitous CIA officer whom MIke Fowler has despised since their World War II experience together. The search for the gold laden Nazi sub finally leads all of them to the arctic waters at the southern tips of Chile and Argentina.......but there's way more than mere gold awaiting them.

I have to admit there are more than a few times when the L'amours' staggering amount of research into history, weaponry international espionage and science threaten to bring the overall propulsive momentum of the book to a dead stop. But one thing nobody has to wait long for here........the rip-roaring, bloody gun battles and hand-t0-hand combat that erupt on a regular basis.

Readers who loved and dearly miss those clock-is-ticking, global high adventures that dominated bestseller lists and films throughout the 1960's and 70's, 'Skyring Water' provides a one stop shopping bonanza. Top notch for this genre.

(My other reviews can be found at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first received the ARC of Skyring Water I was certain that no matter what the description said, it was going to read like a western. What else would you expect someone with the last name L’Amour to write? I was happily proven wrong, because this is a top-notch Cold War thriller. It is a collaboration of sorts between Louis L’Amour and his son Beau; an unpublished novel finally being published nearly four decades after Louis L’Amour’s death.

But back to the story. It can hold its own against other well-written, successful novels about spies, secret agents, and dangerous missions set during wartime, the Cold War period or in contemporary times. It’s a long book with a large cast of characters. It’s complex and complicated but doesn’t get bogged down and is well-structured and easy to follow. The pace is deliberate – there are a lot of people and places and events to keep track of – but not slow. It’s very detailed but not boring; any long explanations are necessary and contribute to the story.

And if all that sounds dull and like a history lesson, let me assure you that is not the case. Skyring Water is action-packed and feels fast-paced, moving from place to place around the world with characters appearing from the past, fading into the background and popping up again when least expected, and when the danger is imminent and high. People are trustworthy allies – until they’re not. Mike Fowler and Anton Voss are the main characters. Fowler is the muscle and the field man and Voss is the planner and boss and often a mentor to Mike. But they are in business together and their roles often overlap or switch. They are multi-layered and fascinating, with wartime, military backgrounds that are nearly opposite but on the other hand they have a surprising lot in common. And you can’t always tell if they completely trust each other. Sometimes old secrets are hard to give up.

If you are looking for an exciting story chock full of intrigue, danger, subterfuge, lying, betrayal, and non-stop action along with deep dives into the personalities, motives and fears of Voss and Fowler, surrounded by a diverse set of characters with equally complex personalities, motives and fears who sometimes want to kill, sometimes want to love and always keep you a little off-balance wondering what twist, reveal or surprise will pop up next, then Skyring Water is for you. It’s well-written, smoothly plotted, captures your attention and has you wondering whose side you’re on chapter to chapter. I received an advance copy of Skyring Water from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

[Patricia N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skyring Water
by Louis L'Amour
and Beau L'Amour

Rating: 4 star rating

This Cold War spy thriller will completely surprise you, if you only know Louis L'Amour for his old Westerns. This story is set in 1961, and starts off with an ex-Navy salvage diver named Mike Fowler, discovers his partner, a German scientist with a dark WWII past, standing over a dead blackmailer.

They uncover a secret. The location of 30 tons of stolen Nazi gold hidden inside a sunken submarine at the bottom of the ocean. This turns into a global cat and mouse chase. They have to put a diving team together while running for their lives from the CIA, Israeli spies, and a creepy underground Nazi group. The story takes you all over the place; from France and Venezuela to a freezing island right in the Skyring Water region off the coast of Patagonia, South America.

The story itself was good, but honestly, I think it could have been better. My biggest issue is that the book gets way too detailed. It felt like every time a gun or a boat was brought out, the story stopped to give me the exact make, model, and mechanical history. Unless you are a total military or submarine nerd, a lot of this talking just slows the pacing down.

The book does a great job showing that finding a massive treasure isn't always a blessing. The characters quickly hint at the idea that 30 tons of cursed Nazi bullion might just be an inescapable trap that puts a permanent target on their backs. The final act turns into a brutal, cold fight for survival as they close in on the wreck, and it becomes a question of whether anyone will even make it off that freezing island alive.

It's a cool, old-school adventure book that the author's son, Beau L'Amour, finished decades after his dad started it. It’s worth a read, just be prepared to skim through a lot of heavy technical descriptions.

Thank you, NetGalley, Ballantine, and the authors Louis L'Amour
and Beau L'Amour, for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley
#Ballantine
#LouisLAmour author
#BeauLAmour author
#SkyringWater

http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...

http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Fowler and Anton Voss are in a race against time to find a Nazi u-boat containing thirty tons of gold. That was the story spun by Voss, Mike’s partner in a company dealing in weapons. Voss is a former German scientist and Fowler was a Navy diver and assassin during the war. It is an unusual partnership, but they have saved each other’s lives and Fowler trusts him. When Fowler finds Voss standing over the body of a Stasi agent, he reveals the story of the sub. Voss is being hunted by former Nazis who want what he knows about the sub’s fate. Promising a share of the gold, Fowler recruits divers that he worked with after the war, while Voss arranges finances for their venture through his mafia connections. Their hunt takes them to the tip of South America. Voss has not told them the whole story and feeds them only what they need to know. His story changes several times and Fowler realizes that there is no gold. However, the contents of the sub has a destructive potential and could change the world’s balance of power.

Louis L’Amour died before this book could be finished, but he would be proud of his son Beau’s finished version. There is non-stop action and scenes that are cinematic in scope. The story slows somewhat when Voss explains some of the science behind their quarry, but these pauses give you a chance to catch your breath between chase scenes and gun fights. Voss has become a mentor and friend to Fowler, but his duplicity tests their relationship. They are joined by Fowler’s former lover, an Israeli agent who is torn between her feelings for him and her assignment to obtain what they find. The gangsters who financed the venture are also sailing with them to watch over their investment. They are willing to fall in with their pursuers if there is a better offer made. There are few characters that Fowler can trust and with a prize that could change the world this is a Cold War thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing this book.

[Jo Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could go on and on about how much I loved this book, but I cannot. I promised an honest review. Please know before you read or decide not to read this review that I finished the book. It took me a while, but I did read it from beginning to end. That says something. And it says this: I really liked this story. It is the telling of the story that caused me trouble.

In general, I really love international thrillers/espionage books. This book is classified as a Cold War thriller. It contains espionage as well as suspense. I knew this was not a Louis L’amour western. I would not have requested it if it was one, since westerns are not my cup of tea. So know what you are NOT going to get from this book...a western.

Here is the problem I have with the telling of this excellent story. It is VERY science-y. VERY! I am a college math professor by trade. If you need to fully grasp the book you read, you will need a working knowledge of physics for this book. I did not know the difference between fusion and fission. I do now, and I am happy to have this information forever. It also helps to have a general knowledge of Nazi Germany during and after World War II (yes after). This is not as important as the physics, but it would be helpful information to understand many of the characters (alive and dead) in this book. I had enough knowledge of this to get by, but I wish I had had more.

I am terrible at geography! The print book contains a map. My ARC ebook did not. I did do a few online searches just to get my head in the story as far as where it was taking place. I wish I could have seen that map.

You will also gain some political insight on Germany, Israel, the United States, and various other countries. It was not important to me how accurate this information was. I took it almost like a character in the book, took it at face value, and left it at that. This insight was gospel for the duration of my reading this book.

I really liked all of the characters in this book. For the most part, I was on board with the good guys and the bad guys. About halfway through, I realized that some of the good guys might not be so good. The bad guys remained bad guys. Their team just got bigger. The bad guys are nasty characters, and I loved them. The good guys are not Pollyannas. They are terrific! Notice that I am not naming them here. That’s because you might classify good/bad characters differently than I did.

For the third time, I want you to know that I really loved this story. I believe that you will like it, too, IF (very big if) you do not need to understand the science to enjoy the read. I hope you give it a try.

[Lou Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

SKYRING WATER: A NOVEL by Beau L’Amour and Louis L’Amour
Publication: June 2026 by Bantam Books
Graded: B+



It’s 1961. The world is in chaos with the constant threat of Nuclear War. The Berlin Wall is going up and the superpowers are building massive nuclear arsenals, while competing in military strength and ideology. In Barcelona , the small arm dealers duo of former OSS assassin and diver Mike Fowler, and his partner, former Nazi officer and scientist Anton Voss are at gunpoint forced into action to finally seek out the storied treasure of 30 tons of Nazi gold, deliberately sunk in an advanced prototype UBoat in the frigid Arctic waters at the end of World War II. Anton is one of the few people in the world to understand the workings of this special UBoat and its approximate location. They will not be alone in their treacherous journey to the most southern tip of Patagonia, to search for the “treasure”, while being pursued by a cadre of characters from the CIA, Israel intelligence, and a cabal of ex-Nazis, who envision the start of the Fourth Reich.
Beau L’Amour expertly weaves a complex character driven Cold War thriller, involving twists and red herrings that ratchet up the suspense and intrigue, anticipating the ultimate discovery and cinematic confrontations. The remote location of the Skyring Waters amongst fjords, glaciers and surrounding mountains serves to heighten the menacing tone that pervades the narrative. Beau provides an insightful postscript on how he extensively researched the era and locations to bring this unpublished manuscript of his father to it’s present state of a fast-paced international thriller, blending adventure with Cold War espionage. Beau L’Amour has excelled in bringing this novel to fruition with a distinct tone to a level comparable with the stature of a Jack Higgins or Clive Cutler novel.
.... Published at Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine....

[Bruce Bello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to be allowed to read a pre publication copy for NetGalley back in March.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Its storyline, unlike what you might expect from a writer known for his westerns, is a thrilling adventure. This is the best I’ve experienced not only from the L’Amour’S but any author for quite some timemE.

The plot development is fascinating, immersing you in a world I never imagined. It’s far better conceived and delivered than most books I’ve read recently.

From the first page, the book is packed with action. The well-written scenes pull you into the events, making you more than just an observer. The detail is outstanding, from weapons and history to locations, ships and submarines. The extensive research is evident throughout the story.

The characters are exceptionally well-developed, each with a fully fleshed-out backstory explored at the perfect time within the story. The ending is satisfying, leaving me hopeful for a sequel!

The dialogue is captivating. Throughout the book, there are numerous standout quotes, such as an early discussion between a reformed Nazi and an American ex-soldier. It’s a powerful moment about learning the difference between one’s country and government, hopes and dreams, and the dark places they can lead us. Another striking conversation between the same ex-Nazi and a Jewish WWII survivor is brilliantly told. You’ll find other interesting discussions too.

It’s clear that a great deal of time was spent researching locations, history, weapons, and journals, resulting in an exciting and well-crafted book.

I also enjoyed the postscript, beginning with a father’s outline manuscript finished by his son. It feels like a work imagined and scripted by one individual, which is very impressive.

This is an excellent read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and believe you will as well. Also, check out the website for the book, it’s full of background and information about how the book was developed.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1961, Mike Fowler is driving hell for leather into the Pyrenees. He is fast enough to stay well ahead of a tailing car he’s leading the chasing Mercedes into a trap. He is a decoy, taking the hunters away from his business partner, Anton Voss, giving him time to make his own escape. Mike Fowler is well aware they are trying to lead him into an ambush. He thinks it will probably be somewhere before the French border. When he makes it to Marseille and the warehouse where the next shipment of arms is ready to leave port. He decides to go with the cargo. Mike was hired by Anton Voss after World War II for protection, because of his military background. He has proven so vital that he has become a partner to the German expatriate scientist. The former US Navy salvage diver was trained by the OSS as an assassin. The two men have become unlikely friends after surviving an attack in the street that could have seen them both dead. Fowler is called to the warehouse by Voss. He arrives just in time to hear two shots fired. He finds Voss with a gun standing over a dead man. Voss says it was attempted blackmail. Eventually, they have to run. From Marseilles to Caracas to a small deserted island off the coast of Patagonia with the French SDECE, CIA, Israeli intelligence and the Nazis all on their tail. The Hunt is on in one of the most inhospitable places in the world for 30 tons of stolen gold.

The novel is a cat-and-mouse chase across continents. It’s action packed. I enjoyed the action of the novel. It is a globetrotting tale of heroes and villains, with science and history included.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are tricky my own.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of uncorrected eBook file

In Spain in 1961, Mike Fowler shoots and disables the car that had been pursuing him, then takes several shots to keep the pursuers’ attention focused on him so that his partner, Anton Voss, can escape. After making it look like there had been two shooters, he drives on. He has a long drive to France.

Despite continued pursuit in France, Mike manages to board the ship carrying their cargo. For the moment, he has escaped the pursuing Brotherhood, the Invisible Reich.

But is he really safe?

=========

For readers used to seeing Louis L’Amour’s name on the covers of western tales, it might be a surprise to discover this cold war thriller was co-authored by Louis L’Amour and his son, Beau. Readers can get all the fascinating details of the writing of the book in the lengthy Postscript following the story.

Set in the cold war when the world was on the brink of nuclear war, this is a story that pulls readers in from the outset. The pace is quick, the tension high, the suspense unrelenting. Mike Fowler and Anton Voss are the main characters here, unlikely compatriots, but bonded by each having saved the other’s life. Both characters are well-developed and believable; their friendship is a strength of the story.

Plot twists, unexpected reveals, and a decades old mystery surrounding a treasure-trove of gold all work together to keep the reader involved in the unfolding story. Readers who enjoy espionage thrillers will find much to appreciate here.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#SkyringWater #NetGalley

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skyring Water
By Louis L'Amour and Beau L'Amour

Louis L'Amour was famous for his adventure stories, most notably set in the Old West. When he died in 1988, his son Beau has managed his father's literary estate, creating a legacy of adventures and thrillers based on Louis' archive of unfinished works.

This book is not a Western. Instead it is a complex story which takes place years after the end of WW II and involves the hunt for a submarine which has been purposely sunk somewhere off the coast of South America by the remnants of the Nazis and the German military.

Mike Fowler and his partner, Anton Voss (a former German navy officer) are arms dealers. They have a successful business, until they are hunted down by the aforementioned Nazis and driven into hiding. Voss apparently is the only person alive who knows where the sub was scuttled – and why.

Now Mike and Anton, separately and at times together, are being sought by not only the Nazis, but the Israelis, the Americans, the Russians, and assorted mobsters – all seeking they know not what! The cast of characters is so extensive that keeping them all straight is not easy.

While the plot twists are many and will keep you reading, the book gets somewhat bogged down in the technicalities of: weapons and their uses; diving and its dangers; fission vs. fusion; and submarine construction. I found this to be tedious at times and certainly added at least 100 pages to an already long story. I would recommend reading this book if you like thrillers of this nature – just be prepared to skip through some parts.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

[G Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

• Skyring Water – Louis & Beay L’Amour (Read 3/26 NetGalley) Skyring Water is a brand new novel from the mind of Louis L’Amour. It’s not a western, as was most of his books. This is set in the 1960’s of the Cold War. As his son, Beau (co-author) mentions in the acknowledgements, this book follows the style of the action writers of the 70’s & 80’s. As I was reading the book, I felt it reminded me of a Ludlum novel. Skyring Water has all of the intrigue, espionage of Ludlum with the detail that Louis L’Amour was known to put in his westerns.

As a Cold War novel, it deals with the weapons of mass destruction and the intense search for the next bomb to destroy the World. The heroes (maybe, maybe-not) are arms dealers selling WW2 surplus armaments to the many revolutionaries of the early 60’s, going wherever the surplus takes them. Mike Fowler learns of a U-boat filled with gold bars from his associate Voss and the hunt is on. But others have heard the rumors and are doing their best to beat Fowler and Voss to it. They will kill anyone in their way. As Fowler gets closer to the objective, the more he doubts the sub has gold. It may be the thing nations go to war over!

Louis L’Amour always made you feel like you knew the characters, the situation and the desperation of the novel. Beau L’Amour has done a wonderful job of imitating his father’s style with his descriptive narrative. I was excited to have the opportunity to read what may be the last novel we get from the files of Louis L’Amour.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

SKYRING WATER is and epic spy/espionage novel that travels the world from France to Israel to Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego. It is populated by Nazis, a lovely member of the Mossad, CIA agents, and Australian salvage divers. It is set in 1961 but has flashbacks back to the 1940s.

The main character in the story is Mike Fowler who is a former Navy salvage diver and a current arms dealer with his partner Anton Voss. Voss is a former Nazi scientist who is holding a secret that all the world wants and is willing to kill for.

He convinces Mike that he knows of the existence of a scuttled sub holding millions of dollars in gold bars that the Nazis got out of Germany at the end of World War II. The purpose of the loot was to fund the next Reich which had already been seeded by undercover Nazis filtering their ways into business and industry all over the world.

This story is about the expedition to uncover the treasure - which is not gold bars. The sweeping epic with a huge cast of characters reminds me both of James Bond and the works of Tom Clancy. It had bunches of morally ambiguous characters including the main character and it had long, involved descriptions of various weapons.

Fans of the old-fashioned sort of thrillers will enjoy this book. I especially enjoyed Beau L'Amour's explanation of how this story came to be.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want action and more action this cold war thriller is the book for you. I use to read Louis L’Amour’s well written and thoroughly enjoyable westerns back in the day. Imagine my surprise when Skyring Water turned out to be a book of post WWII international intrigue full of former Nazis, arms dealers, and treasure hunters after millions in stolen bullion.
The L’Amour late father and son team must have spent months researching the time period to provide such a detailed account of the weapons, life in the many European and South American countries described in the book, the cars/ships/subs, and backstory that is critical to understanding the characters and fascinating history of the the period. I was impressed with the level of detail.
I kept flashing back on early Clive Cussler adventures as I read this thinking that Louis L’Amour wanted to expand his considerable writing talents away from westerns to include intrigue and adventure on the water. Although the original manuscript sat in a file cabinet for decades son Beau has done a highly commendable job of bringing a solid manuscript to life that his dad would be proud of. I highly recommend the book to readers of action adventure and historical fiction.
My thanks to Bantam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this terrific title.

[Anke · Rating 5 out of 5]

SKYRING WATER by Louis L’Amour and Beau L’Amour is a complex spy historical thriller. It travels the world from France to Israel to Venezuela to a harsh and remote region around Skyring Water in Patagonia, taking place in 1961 with many flashbacks to the 1940s. Mike Fowler is a former Navy salvage diver and a current arms dealer. His business partner, Anton Voss, a former Nazi scientist, convinces Mike of the existence of a scuttled sub loaded with gold that the Nazis got out of Germany at the end of WWII.

From the first page, the book is packed with action. The technical and historical details are outstanding, from weapons and history to locations, ships, and submarines, and an impressive amount of research! The cast of characters is exceptionally well-developed, each with a fully fleshed-out backstory that is explored at the perfect time in the story. The ending is satisfying. If you enjoy reading Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy, “Skyring Water” just may be for you. Highly recommended!

I am grateful to NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. My thanks also go to Louis L’Amour and Beau L’Amour for this terrific read. Now I am curious about the Sacketts series!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at this novel. When I first received it, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it. Louis L'Amour is known for his westerns and to have his son complete this novel that is a cold war novel seemed odd. However, I found the story line compelling. Mike Fowler is a former Navy man who is working with Anton Voss, a former German scientist to bring arms and information to buyers. They use their different skill sets to maneuver through the secret back alleys of foreign governments and shady dealers. However, when Anton wants to recover a German sunk submarine that contains 30 million of Nazi gold, the team has bitten off more than they realized. Now, the Americans, the Israelis, some gangsters and members of the new Nazi order want the gold for themselves. It will take Mike and all his skill to be able to not just survive but win at this game. Well written, I found the story engaging, the characters were interesting and the whole spy aspect made me want to keep reading another chapter. If you enjoy action-packed, undiscovered secrets plots and an engaging storyline then this book is for you. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine for the opportunity.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an invite to read this book, and while I knew Louis L’Amour, I have never read any of his books, and westerns have never really been my thing. As I started reading it, I realized this is not my kind of book. This is a book for people who love books about war, the Soviet Union, Nazi-level stuff, and a bunch of rogues looking for a submarine filled with gold. Sometimes it felt like I was reading a movie script for something that would have starred Gene Hackman and Nicolas Cage.

There were a lot of characters, with lots of descriptions of everything. If you love boats, weapons of any kind, diving equipment, guns, whatever....this is your book. It pulled me out of the story quickly. I could not eagerly read this book, and it is not that the writing is bad. It is just not my preferred topic of enjoyment. If you like very traditional adventure storytelling, this will land for you. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Daniel Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what happened to all that Nazi Treasure that was never recovered? This book, started by Louis L'Amour and then later finished by Louis Son Beau L'Amour answers this potential question. Louis and Beau make masterful character development throughout the story. I liked the entire book it was hard to read knowing that this is potentially the last Louis L'Amour book ever. The story follows an ex-Nazi U-boat marine as he seeks to find the last U-boat sent to South America. from Germany loaded with Gold. Along the way the character deals with all kinds of people including a former Nazi Criminal as well as American secret agents all looking at for him and the treasure. I would like to explain why I didn't give this 5 stars. After reading this book I felt like the book was well written and kept me engaged. This book has great potential and I hope anyone who is a fan of Louis L'Amour should give it a read. However I felt like the story could have been condensed and didn't need to be so long to come to the conclusion that the writers ended up with.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts

Growing up with an avid reader for a father I was introduced to westerns written by author Louis L’Amour as a preteen.

My favorites were those stories penned about the Sackett family.

My Dad and I read and reread them many times over the years because they were so enjoyable.

This particular collaboration between father and son is a very different kind of novel and one that has a lot of moving parts that will test its readers patience at times because it is a very long book.

Filled with characters that are both likable and not you get a sense of how Anton Voss and Mike Fowler have survived as partners in business despite those who are against them.

A thriller in every sense of the word that involves multi-layered secrets, a dangerous mystery and tension that finally ends with a not so surprising twist.

A “loud” story with a “quiet” ending.

[EArc from Netgalley]

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skyring Water by Louis L’Amour and his son Beau is an enjoyable Cold War suspense novel. Louis is of course well known for the western genre but the author really wanted to write in other genres and clearly had the talent for it. This book is a manuscript that Beau finished after his fathers death. It is well written and enjoyable, historical fiction novel. Set in the harsh and remote region around Skyring Water in Patagonia during the nineteenth century, the novel follows Talon and his companions as they struggle against brutal weather, isolation, dangerous terrain, and human conflict. Like many of Louis L'Amour’s works, the setting almost becomes its own character. The novel is quite atmospheric just as all of his westerns were. You really feel the loneliness of the wilderness in those scenes. It’s not an action book but it is one that will draw you in and keep you.

#SkyringWater #NetGalley #BantamBooks

[Suzette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical fiction novel is a heartfelt tribute from a son to his father, and that sense of legacy and respect permeates the story.

The writing is rich and engaging, with a strong sense of place and time. The characters are vivid and believable, each adding depth and credibility to the unfolding narrative. The plot is full of twists and turns, revealing itself gradually in a way that keeps the reader invested.

One thing I noticed is that the book leans heavily on technical details, which may feel dense at times, but they also contribute to the authenticity of the world being portrayed. Despite the occasional complexity, the story flows nicely and leaves an impression of both adventure and emotional resonance.

Overall, Skyring Water is a well-crafted novel that will especially appeal to fans of historical fiction and anyone who appreciates a story passed from one generation to the next.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In SKYRING WATER, written by Beau L’Amour (son of Louis L’Amour), Mike Fowler is the protagonist. Anton Voss is his business partner. The two of them are in Europe, trying to discover the location of 30 tons of gold bullion. Despite the end of World War II, they are being chased by German Nazis. I want to know what happens.

While I do not believe that I am the audience for this book, I still find it exciting to read, with quite a bit of country hopping. It is good that changes in location are clearly delineated. There is action from the very first chapter. I find myself skim-reading parts of this story, but I remind myself that I am probably not the intended audience for this book. Thank you, Ballantine and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of SKYRING WATER.

[Kathryn E Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louis L’Amour wrote best sellers about the American West. He wanted to write in other genres but had been “typecast” as a writer of Westerns.

Beau L’Amour, his son, found one of those other manuscripts. He saw its potential, and developed and finished the book. I believe “Skyring Water” will appeal not only to those who remember the father, but who also enjoy modern spy thrillers.

If you enjoy reading Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy, “Skyring Water” just may be for you. I particularly loved the technical detail. L’Amour also included some real-life Nazi characters, adding historical authenticity to the fiction.

L’Amour even adds a sci-fi touch with some weapons that never saw action in World War II. This added a richness to the story that made it all the more enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skyring Water Review

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Overall this was a really cool premise, a Cold War adventure thriller with the appeal of Louis Lamour nostalgia, even though it wasn’t a true western. At the end, Beau delivered on a good story.

I enjoyed how there were multiple storylines going on and different aspects to the wider story, it definitely gave it a lot more depth. At the same time, this was a very long novel, with a lot of details. Most of it was warranted and added to the story; but there were a few side bars or extended scenes that perhaps could have been tightened up.

This was a fun read, good summer thriller, but may be more of a staycation, lounging type read vs a true beach read, mostly because of its depth and size.

Would recommend it for thriller fans.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Fowler is a former Navy salvage diver and a current arms dealer. He’s on a treasure hunt with his partner, Anton Voss, a former Nazi scientist. Anton led Mike to believe they were going after a fortune in gold bars hidden in a submarine that was sunk many years ago. Turns out Mike was lied to, which put him and several friends he recruited to help in danger, along with Anton Voss. There are many groups around the world willing to kill for the treasure.

Lies, deceit, danger, enemies willing to kill for the location of the sub, twists, turns, action. This was a very long story. I found myself skimming over a lot of the scientific information.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an epic story of loyalty and perseverance. Mike and Anton, from vastly different backgrounds, have joined forces in the arms dealing business. Everything seems fine until Mike gets an urgent call for help from Anton. When he arrives, he finds Anton has killed a German man from his past. As they dispose of the body, a mysterious tale about Anton’s former life begins to unfold. Soon, they’re on the run from governments and spies across the globe, facing countless dangers. Mike enlists help from old friends, only to discover Anton’s lies have put them all in grave danger. Determined to set things right, Mike must strike a deal with the devil to escape. But how will they survive, and how many will die before the truth is revealed?