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

528 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication 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

[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.

[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

[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.

[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]

[Ryan Pote · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In the master storyteller’s final novel—brilliantly completed by his son Beau—Louis L’Amour unleashes a lightning-fast international thriller that roars far beyond the frontier.
When arms dealer Mike Fowler is hunted across the storm-swept Pyrenees by a shadowy Nazi remnant known as the Brotherhood, the stakes are nothing less than thirty tons of lost gold bullion—and the life of his partner, Anton Voss. From hairpin mountain chases and blazing shootouts to a daring escape aboard a freighter bound for Israel, Fowler must outrun, outfight, and outthink an invisible Reich that never truly surrendered. Raw, relentless, and packed with the heart-stopping action only L’Amour can deliver, Skyring Water is a breathtaking last ride from one of America’s greatest storytellers. Pure adrenaline from start to finish. Classic adventure at its finest. Beau has done his father proud again."
-Ryan Pote, author of THE GHOST CITY

[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

[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.

[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.

[Scott Nickels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not have either (a) the experience of having read Louis L'amour and (b) nor having read the best of classic western books. So I went into reading "Skyring Water" with the advantage of giving NetGalley my fresh look at this novel. What I didn't expect was an espionage story set in the Cold War era of the 1960's. So we find ourselves looking for hidden gold, nasty gangsters, the CIA, and even throw in Israeli intelligence. These stories are not the genre I enjoy reading (with rare exception) so I found the chase to be fun, decent, and worth the read. I also was touched by the collaboration of (late) father and son. So a solid effort --
3 Stars for Skyring Water.

[Cathy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read Louis L'Amour westerns as a teen at my grandparent's house. I had no idea he had written anything other that westerns so Skyring Water came as a pleasant surprise.

Skyring Water is a complex suspenseful story of the end of the Third Reich and people who will do anything to possess it's secrets. American Mike Fowler and his business partner German scientist Anton Voss are being hunted by numerous organizations including the CIA, Mafia and Mossad. All want the secret Anton Voss hid on a U-boat somewhere near the tip of South America. Will anyone succeed on the quest for the quest for the Nazi treasure?

[Doug Yonce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good idea, but not carried on in the rich tradition I was expecting. Maybe I’m just being nostalgic, but the characters and the pacing of this story just didn’t measure up to the mater’s standards. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Terrance Layhew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never knew how much I needed a L’Amour thriller until reading Skyring Water. The beating heart of this book is a thriller, but it also crossing into various men’s adventure fiction genres which are a delight to catch flavors of. The cast is an ensemble I want to see on screen, and maintains a cinematic pace and feel across every page. Skyring Water is a worthy entry in the L’Amour cannon.

[Natalie K · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was... :-/ Not sure how to describe that in words!

It felt very long-winded and there was a lot of backstory I wasn't sure we needed.

Maybe I'm not the audience for spy thrillers anymore, or maybe I just didn't care for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite an adventure story. Beau has finished a project he and his father were working on. I am a Louis L’Amour fan and have read more Louie books than I can count, for us die hard western readers, a submarine gold heist is taking us out of our comfort zone.
I did find the writing done very well, the story never has a lull, and it is adventurous all the way. Mike Fowler has many talents and nine lives to boot. This is a good clean read, if you can just get a horse and a cowboy out of your mind, it is a great book. The postscript by Beau at the end was an added joy. I thank him for sharing.
I thank Ballantine along with NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Comes in with 4 stars.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I think of Louis L’Amour, I think of westerns, even though, as the afterword by his son indicates, his writings and interests spanned multiple genres. I enjoyed Beau L’Amour’s discussion of how Skyring Water came about, how it evolved over the years, and how he reworked the story to create this final version that honors his father’s legacy.

The story is wild and very creative with lots of surprises. The idea of a secret catalyzed fusion reactor on a sunken Nazi U-boat and the effort to find it was an interesting one, especially as many of the people involved in the search, including Mike Fowler, the lead salvage diver, were under the impression that they were searching for a very different treasure. The story makes good use of post-WWII political tensions, especially US versus Russia/Eastern Bloc, as well as efforts by Israel to strengthen and protect itself. There is also the issue of former Nazis and how many German (including German Jews) scientists, officials, etc. had been integrated into the educational, political, economic, cultural, and military institutions in numerous countries around the world and the technological know how they shared, as well as their ambitions, not all of which were in the best interests of democracy.

The cast of characters is rather eclectic, with a mix of national and ethnic backgrounds, political backgrounds, vocational experience, etc., as well as a mix of realists, idealists, opportunists, loyalists, and even some rather sadistic individuals. It was interesting how various characters were connected and how relationships/alliances shifted as the situation changed. Ship salvage operations, especially efforts to raise sunken ships, are not something I am familiar with, so it was interesting to learn about the process, including the perils. It was also interesting to learn about the Chilean coastline and the difficulty navigating the waters at the southern tip of South America with its various islands and channels, unpredictable weather and limited quality navigational maps, especially given that navigational and communication technology in 1961 was not nearly as advanced and reliable as it now.