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Taggart
Adam Stark had found gold. In the confusion of the mesas and canyons near Rockinstraw Mountain, Stark, his wife, Consuelo, and his sister, Miriam, were quietly working a rich vein while keeping their presence a secret from raiding Apaches. Worried that his wife might leave him, Stark wanted to make enough money to take her to San Francisco, where she could enjoy the style of life she craved.But when Taggart, a stranger on the run from a vicious bounty hunter, enters their camp, tensions soon mount. Consuelo, against all good judgment, cannot resist testing Taggart. Is he the man who can make her happy? Will he give her the life her husband cannot? With thousands of dollars of gold in his packsadles, the Apaches are now no longer Adam Stark's only threat.
Audio CD
First published April 1, 1959
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About the author
Louis L'Amour
995 books3,469 followersLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
November 12, 2020
"Swante Taggart had never thought of himself as a 'brave' man. The very word made him restless and irritable . . . as if men could be divided into the brave and the cowardly, as if brave men were always brave and the cowards always cowardly. It simply wasn't that way. A man did what he had to do." -- on page 79
Another winner from author L'Amour, this western - set during the gold rush years on the Arizona territory frontier - benefits from adding a little family drama and an unusually touching romance (definitely an asset in his later Conagher, which remains my favorite of his books so far) into the standard sagebrush-and-saddle story. Protagonist Swante Taggart is one of those jack-of-all-trades lead characters that are prevalent in L'Amour's work - a 30-ish former cowboy, U.S. Army scout, stagecoach guard, and rancher - who is on the run from a ruthless bounty hunter after a self-defense killing. Stumbling by chance onto the secluded cabin of the Stark family - housing a feuding husband and wife, plus the husband's sister Miriam who is said to be nearing 'old maid' status (as she's almost thirty and yet not married . . . golly, how times have changed!) - Taggart allies himself with said trio as a squad of Apaches and the aforementioned bounty hunter are fast en route to cause problems. There were some good tension-filled action scenes, but what I'll remember best are the quieter moments between Taggart and Miriam - two tough but stubborn people finally finding love at last.
Another winner from author L'Amour, this western - set during the gold rush years on the Arizona territory frontier - benefits from adding a little family drama and an unusually touching romance (definitely an asset in his later Conagher, which remains my favorite of his books so far) into the standard sagebrush-and-saddle story. Protagonist Swante Taggart is one of those jack-of-all-trades lead characters that are prevalent in L'Amour's work - a 30-ish former cowboy, U.S. Army scout, stagecoach guard, and rancher - who is on the run from a ruthless bounty hunter after a self-defense killing. Stumbling by chance onto the secluded cabin of the Stark family - housing a feuding husband and wife, plus the husband's sister Miriam who is said to be nearing 'old maid' status (as she's almost thirty and yet not married . . . golly, how times have changed!) - Taggart allies himself with said trio as a squad of Apaches and the aforementioned bounty hunter are fast en route to cause problems. There were some good tension-filled action scenes, but what I'll remember best are the quieter moments between Taggart and Miriam - two tough but stubborn people finally finding love at last.
March 28, 2018
Adam Stark, along with his wife and sister, has stumbled onto a nice gold find in the mountains of Arizona territory. The only problem is that it’s right in the middle of Apache territory. Still, they take great pains to hide their presence and work to gather as much as they can. Into the mix comes Swante Taggart, a man with a questionable past, pursued by a famed bounty hunter.
Another solid entry in the Louis L’Amour collection of western novels. I continue to be amazed that with such a large output, this author could come up with so many different plots. He does, however, use one of his favorite hooks this time: the stranger who is good with a gun and with a past that appears to be less than honest. The reader is not privy to the actual facts throughout most of the book but Taggart’s actions speak to honor and courage and so we root for him. This novel includes a fairly strong romance plot as well; something unusual for most L’Amour books.
Another solid entry in the Louis L’Amour collection of western novels. I continue to be amazed that with such a large output, this author could come up with so many different plots. He does, however, use one of his favorite hooks this time: the stranger who is good with a gun and with a past that appears to be less than honest. The reader is not privy to the actual facts throughout most of the book but Taggart’s actions speak to honor and courage and so we root for him. This novel includes a fairly strong romance plot as well; something unusual for most L’Amour books.
July 28, 2025
I read most of this book aloud, which really made me enjoy L’Amour’s prose more than usual, but it also made me notice the weaker spots that were repeating and awkward. I really enjoyed this story though. The romance was better than some, and the pace was great.
August 25, 2019
Taggart by Louis L'Amour is a man on the run by a methodical and very successful bounty hunter for the killing of a wealthy bully in a fair fight while defending his land. Riding into Apache lands he discovers Stark who with his wife and sister are secretly mining a rich gold mine. Written in 1959 by a travelled and roust about L'amour in a quick tight style, bloody brutal action with a sprinkle of romantic spice to keep to the end.
December 11, 2012
Good book. Adam and his wife and sister were trying to stay out of the way of the Apaches who were raiding in the area. Adam had found a rich vein of gold and was trying to get as much of it out as he could. He has dreams of a ranch of his own and the money to give his wife and sister a better life. Taggart had had his own ranch before a larger outfit ran him off of it because they wanted his land. He had tried to protect his land and was now accused of murder. While he's trying to outrun a bounty hunter he stumbles on Adam's camp. He's drawn to Miriam but knows that between the bounty hunter and the Apaches there is trouble coming. There is a battle with the Apaches, an escape with the gold, and a gun battle with the bad guy. I always like reading L'Amour's books. His heroes are honorable men who usually find themselves in the position of having to protect someone - usually a girl. I loved the way that he shows what the people are thinking and how it affects their actions. He also has a wonderful way of describing the land where his books take place. In this one I could feel the heat and dryness of the desert and see the canyons and hills that he was describing.
June 2, 2017
A fine L'Amour entry, with an interesting setting I'd like to explore myself, described in vivid terms and set in the scorching deserts of the Southwest USA. Greed, gold, ambition, and a girl who misunderstands her man are all played out with skill and dramatic storytelling that is an excellent display of L'Amour's talent.
As a bonus, this has one of the most fleshed out and interesting female characters I've encountered in a L'Amour book, giving Miriam more of a personality and part in the story than usual. All of the main characters are given stark, interesting stories and personalities, against a powerful drama.
As a bonus, this has one of the most fleshed out and interesting female characters I've encountered in a L'Amour book, giving Miriam more of a personality and part in the story than usual. All of the main characters are given stark, interesting stories and personalities, against a powerful drama.
November 12, 2015
Classic L'Amour, the Raymond Chandler of westerns. Better plot than most westerns, and L'Amour was in his descriptive prime here.
September 19, 2021
A solid adventure story set in the western frontier. Like most of his later books this is a more philosophical story with lush descriptions of the desert and people living in it.
July 2, 2018
My first voyage into the world of L'Amour. The scenery is described in great detail. I felt the heat and the isolation of the desert. As expected there was racism and sexism on display, accurate depiction of the time or lazy writing? I imagine I'll have to dig a little more to figure that one out.The motivations of the characters seemed simple and The ending was slightly rushed. I'm glad I read it and will probably read more of his offerings.
June 27, 2017
wonderful read went quickly read over 3-7 day period. A good story of the old west in Southern Arizona country with mesas, cacti, mesquite, and old world Americans trying to live off the land in Apache country while of course meeting a desperate outlaw and a different man chasing the outlaw who turns out worse than the first outlaw by far.
August 20, 2017
This is exactly what I read Louis L’Amour for: a tight story that is almost just a vignette of the idealized old west. A man wants to get rich for good reasons; a fickle woman; a man on the run; and an amoral gunman. And surprises delivered out of the blue exactly where they matter most!
January 25, 2022
No Country for Old Men was my first time reading anything that could be considered a Western, but Taggart is my first time digging into a pulp Western. Louis L'Amour has a better reputation than most, so when I came across a couple of his in a charity shop, I grabbed them.
Taggart isn't perhaps his most popular (at least not next to the likes of Hondo and the Sackett books), but it seems to have a reputation for being a solid entry in the L'Amour canon. It was also adapted to film in 1964.
This felt like a decent entry point. Taggart is 120 pages of no-nonsense genre entertainment. It doesn't sparkle with flair or deliver on any kind of subtext; it's more or less a romance novel set in the old West and injected with some action. There's the odd line here or there that has a nice cadence, but for the most part the prose is merely functional and inoffensive.
L'Amour does have a bad habit here of giving the reader exposition through narration, when it would be much more compelling to have it later revealed through dialogue. For something so short and simple, the story isn't marvelously paced either; I'd even go as far as to label it a "stretched" short story. But the characters here are just about developed well enough to encourage investment and, once we have our lengthy character introductions out of the way, it makes for an enjoyable read. Some of the action I found a bit tedious, but other moments were well conveyed. Action in general is a hard thing to write, I think, (or at least in a way that doesn't come across as clunky) so it's always refreshing to see it delivered with style and brevity.
I snickered at some character moments, more as a way of shielding against the cheese. In spite of the sentimentality, I thought the ending scene and closing line was a nice touch.
I've not been swept off my feet but I'm not against reading L'Amour again. I will at least read the other one I have on my shelf: Hondo.
Taggart isn't perhaps his most popular (at least not next to the likes of Hondo and the Sackett books), but it seems to have a reputation for being a solid entry in the L'Amour canon. It was also adapted to film in 1964.
This felt like a decent entry point. Taggart is 120 pages of no-nonsense genre entertainment. It doesn't sparkle with flair or deliver on any kind of subtext; it's more or less a romance novel set in the old West and injected with some action. There's the odd line here or there that has a nice cadence, but for the most part the prose is merely functional and inoffensive.
L'Amour does have a bad habit here of giving the reader exposition through narration, when it would be much more compelling to have it later revealed through dialogue. For something so short and simple, the story isn't marvelously paced either; I'd even go as far as to label it a "stretched" short story. But the characters here are just about developed well enough to encourage investment and, once we have our lengthy character introductions out of the way, it makes for an enjoyable read. Some of the action I found a bit tedious, but other moments were well conveyed. Action in general is a hard thing to write, I think, (or at least in a way that doesn't come across as clunky) so it's always refreshing to see it delivered with style and brevity.
I snickered at some character moments, more as a way of shielding against the cheese. In spite of the sentimentality, I thought the ending scene and closing line was a nice touch.
I've not been swept off my feet but I'm not against reading L'Amour again. I will at least read the other one I have on my shelf: Hondo.
February 11, 2023
Adam Stark would like to make a better life for himself and his wife Consuela. He decides gold mining is his answer. He studies and then with his wife and sister Miriam heads to Arizona, Apache country.
He hides all of his gear three miles from where he thinks is a strong vein of gold. They settle into mine and he strikes it rich. All three of them work sentry duty.
Swante Taggart is on the run. He justly shot a man, but a bounty is on his head and Pete Shoyer is hunting him.
In his travels, Taggart finds the Stark’s hidden gear. He concludes the owners are nearby. Slowly, carefully silently he begins to search the area. Miriam is out late, listening for threats. She sees Taggart, but he does not see her. She muses on the stillness of the night. She muses on what kind of man he is. And then he speaks to her.
The Starks feed him. He sleeps in their stable. A few days later there is a heavy storm and Shoyer arrives. He and his posse ran into Apaches and fought. Only Shoyer survived. The Apache are hunting him.
It is decided that the five of them can never hold off thirty Apache. They decide to flee the canyon with all of Stark’s gold. Taggart and Miriam realize that they are alone. Taggart decides to go back and find the rest.
This was a quick, entertaining read. Miriam and Consuelo are such different women.
He hides all of his gear three miles from where he thinks is a strong vein of gold. They settle into mine and he strikes it rich. All three of them work sentry duty.
Swante Taggart is on the run. He justly shot a man, but a bounty is on his head and Pete Shoyer is hunting him.
In his travels, Taggart finds the Stark’s hidden gear. He concludes the owners are nearby. Slowly, carefully silently he begins to search the area. Miriam is out late, listening for threats. She sees Taggart, but he does not see her. She muses on the stillness of the night. She muses on what kind of man he is. And then he speaks to her.
The Starks feed him. He sleeps in their stable. A few days later there is a heavy storm and Shoyer arrives. He and his posse ran into Apaches and fought. Only Shoyer survived. The Apache are hunting him.
It is decided that the five of them can never hold off thirty Apache. They decide to flee the canyon with all of Stark’s gold. Taggart and Miriam realize that they are alone. Taggart decides to go back and find the rest.
This was a quick, entertaining read. Miriam and Consuelo are such different women.
May 20, 2024
Excellent book. I love the way he describes the scenery.
The story itself is very good, but his descriptions of the landscape makes it even better.
The story itself is very good, but his descriptions of the landscape makes it even better.
August 26, 2018
Western fiction doe follow formulas as much as the next genre, but within the typical, there is always the exception to watch out for and enjoy. Rather than the silent, strong, tall stranger coming into town, this one starts with the unlikely hero and his family and brings in the strong and silent type later so the reader got two for the price of one.
Taggart brings together two stories- two different men and two VERY different women, a gold mine, Apaches, and an ambivalent bounty hunter. The author tells this story with his usual colorful artistry describing the times, the land, and the people, yet also concisely making this a quick read. Taggart begins with action and never stops moving.
It's all about the characters in this shorter piece, so introductions...
Adam Stark, his fiery Mexican wife Consuelo, and his steadfast sister Miriam head out into the middle of Arizona Apache country to find their fortunes. Adam and Miriam would be content to get a small ranch and live simply, but Consuelo is young and has lived poor now she wants to live a little. So, he goes into the most hair-raising mining situation there is to get enough gold to satisfy his wife.
Consuelo does not believe in the quiet strength of her own husband which causes her to look afield for another man to save her. With fear driving her, she can't see worth in who she already has, but she is vivacious and can get around men
On the other hand, Miriam does recognize strength and staying power when she sees it and despises her sister in law while waiting for just the right man for herself. She doesn't need saving and wants a man she can walk beside not behind.
Into this troubled household comes Taggart, the stranger, with a posse on his tail and the Apaches stirred up by his entry into the local country. He sees two women and knows they are both dangerous to him in very different ways, but only one earns his respect and admiration.
And, finally, there is the bounty hunter who coldly does his work for the hard cash he can earn and Taggart is worth a lot. But, to get it, he has to bring in a man who is like none other he has ever tracked.
Jason Culp is, once again, the narrator for this latest audio release of the author's books. He does such a great job hitting the right notes with the western historical in tone and setting, pacing and emotion. He does both genders and the accents well. He's a superb match for this story/genre.
It was a great mixture of gritty survival, action, and a fair dose of romance. For those who enjoy the western genre, I can recommend this one for a fast listen.
My thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Taggart brings together two stories- two different men and two VERY different women, a gold mine, Apaches, and an ambivalent bounty hunter. The author tells this story with his usual colorful artistry describing the times, the land, and the people, yet also concisely making this a quick read. Taggart begins with action and never stops moving.
It's all about the characters in this shorter piece, so introductions...
Adam Stark, his fiery Mexican wife Consuelo, and his steadfast sister Miriam head out into the middle of Arizona Apache country to find their fortunes. Adam and Miriam would be content to get a small ranch and live simply, but Consuelo is young and has lived poor now she wants to live a little. So, he goes into the most hair-raising mining situation there is to get enough gold to satisfy his wife.
Consuelo does not believe in the quiet strength of her own husband which causes her to look afield for another man to save her. With fear driving her, she can't see worth in who she already has, but she is vivacious and can get around men
On the other hand, Miriam does recognize strength and staying power when she sees it and despises her sister in law while waiting for just the right man for herself. She doesn't need saving and wants a man she can walk beside not behind.
Into this troubled household comes Taggart, the stranger, with a posse on his tail and the Apaches stirred up by his entry into the local country. He sees two women and knows they are both dangerous to him in very different ways, but only one earns his respect and admiration.
And, finally, there is the bounty hunter who coldly does his work for the hard cash he can earn and Taggart is worth a lot. But, to get it, he has to bring in a man who is like none other he has ever tracked.
Jason Culp is, once again, the narrator for this latest audio release of the author's books. He does such a great job hitting the right notes with the western historical in tone and setting, pacing and emotion. He does both genders and the accents well. He's a superb match for this story/genre.
It was a great mixture of gritty survival, action, and a fair dose of romance. For those who enjoy the western genre, I can recommend this one for a fast listen.
My thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2018
The book “Taggart,” by Louis L’Amour, is a western style book with plenty of action. This book is about a man named Taggart. Taggart was a wanted man. He was running for his life through Apache country with the red canyons. He is being followed by a bloodthirsty bounty hunter who wanted to get the reward for his head. The bounty hunter was one of the most deadliest people in the West. Taggart was traveling with a stubborn woman who wanted gold and silver. Taggart had to come to a decision. Should he leave the woman behind to fend for herself and save himself the trouble or should he stay and help her. Taggart isn’t a bad man and stayed with her without much thought. He risked it all just to help this woman.
I didn’t really like this book too much because I just didn’t get into it. There wasn’t anything that really captivated me. Most books I really get into and have a hard time putting it down but I felt like this one was just slow going. Although I did like how Taggart sacrificed his time and easy out just to help a lady that probably wasn’t going to be thankful for any of his services. That’s why I thought the theme of this book was to always help people even if they don’t deserve it. They will most likely be thankful for your help in the end. Taggart is a good man and that’s why we should all try and be like him and act what he would do.
I didn’t really like this book too much because I just didn’t get into it. There wasn’t anything that really captivated me. Most books I really get into and have a hard time putting it down but I felt like this one was just slow going. Although I did like how Taggart sacrificed his time and easy out just to help a lady that probably wasn’t going to be thankful for any of his services. That’s why I thought the theme of this book was to always help people even if they don’t deserve it. They will most likely be thankful for your help in the end. Taggart is a good man and that’s why we should all try and be like him and act what he would do.
January 11, 2019
This 1959 western by author Louis L'Amour is set in 1880 Arizona. Plenty of conflict all wrapped up in a neat little package. Adam Stark is a gold miner who wants to accumulate enough to buy a cattle ranch, his wife Consuela is immature and thinks she wants to enjoy life with a strong man, his sister is a strong minded single woman of an age to be called a spinster in the West. The are joined on their claim by Taggart who is fleeing a bounty hunter looking to get the bounty offered on Taggert's head by the brothers of a man he killed in a fair fight. All of them try to avoid the Apaches. The gold complicates things. A quick, enjoyable read.
Adam Stark had found gold. In the confusion of the mesas and canyons near Rockinstraw Mountain, Stark, his wife, Consuelo, and his sister, Miriam, were quietly working a rich vein while keeping their presence a secret from raiding Apaches. Worried that his wife might leave him, Stark wanted to make enough money to take her to San Francisco, where she could enjoy the style of life she craved. But when Taggart, a stranger on the run from a vicious bounty hunter, enters their camp, tensions soon mount. Consuelo, against all good judgment, cannot resist testing Taggart. Is he the man who can make her happy? Will he give her the life her husband cannot?
Adam Stark had found gold. In the confusion of the mesas and canyons near Rockinstraw Mountain, Stark, his wife, Consuelo, and his sister, Miriam, were quietly working a rich vein while keeping their presence a secret from raiding Apaches. Worried that his wife might leave him, Stark wanted to make enough money to take her to San Francisco, where she could enjoy the style of life she craved. But when Taggart, a stranger on the run from a vicious bounty hunter, enters their camp, tensions soon mount. Consuelo, against all good judgment, cannot resist testing Taggart. Is he the man who can make her happy? Will he give her the life her husband cannot?
March 23, 2019
I think this outing, a more favorite by the author.
Of recent reads, decent amount of interesting characters.
Action, and plot threads.
Taggart, a former small rancher.
Defends himself against men, out to kill him. Then take his land.
Now on the run. A dangerous man hunter after him.
That wears a badge, yet rides for the posted blood money. Not the law.
Adam Starke, a man in love. With a woman, unsure he is the man for her.
Finding a lost mine. Working it in Apache held territory.
Wanting to give her, all the things a pretty woman desires.
The story seems even, and nicely placed.
Good characters and their development.
Plus a reasonable ending. That does tie up a lot of the loose ends.
Where others simply leave it to your imagination.
This one does draw some of those plot elements. To a nice believable close.
Of recent reads, decent amount of interesting characters.
Action, and plot threads.
Taggart, a former small rancher.
Defends himself against men, out to kill him. Then take his land.
Now on the run. A dangerous man hunter after him.
That wears a badge, yet rides for the posted blood money. Not the law.
Adam Starke, a man in love. With a woman, unsure he is the man for her.
Finding a lost mine. Working it in Apache held territory.
Wanting to give her, all the things a pretty woman desires.
The story seems even, and nicely placed.
Good characters and their development.
Plus a reasonable ending. That does tie up a lot of the loose ends.
Where others simply leave it to your imagination.
This one does draw some of those plot elements. To a nice believable close.
December 12, 2016
Jared Barrett
Page 1
12/12/16
Ms. Moles
Taggart Book Review
Taggart, a Western book by Louis L’Amour, is about a man who had found gold. Adam Stark is this man. He, his wife, and his sister were working silently on a very large vein of gold, but had to keep quiet from the Apache raiders. Stark needed to make the money to take his wife to San Francisco, where she desperately wanted to go. When the stranger Taggart, a man on the run, comes into their camp, tensions rise very high.
My opinion of Taggart was that it was a great book, although kind of slow at first. It is ideal for anyone looking for a good western. I recommend to anyone looking for a short but interesting journey to the old west.
Page 1
12/12/16
Ms. Moles
Taggart Book Review
Taggart, a Western book by Louis L’Amour, is about a man who had found gold. Adam Stark is this man. He, his wife, and his sister were working silently on a very large vein of gold, but had to keep quiet from the Apache raiders. Stark needed to make the money to take his wife to San Francisco, where she desperately wanted to go. When the stranger Taggart, a man on the run, comes into their camp, tensions rise very high.
My opinion of Taggart was that it was a great book, although kind of slow at first. It is ideal for anyone looking for a good western. I recommend to anyone looking for a short but interesting journey to the old west.
November 8, 2020
We listened to this as we drove through barren and desolate land around Capitol Reef. That isn't the location of this book, but it helped me picture it and I liked it. This isn't Louis L'Amours best book, but I enjoyed it anyway. It has some characters that are a little hard to believe and when we were half way through the book, we couldn't believe there was enough to fill up the rest of the book. But he did! This book talks more about women and love than any of other L'Amour books.
March 1, 2019
A good story by one of the greatest Western Authors.
April 27, 2019
Enjoyable read.
August 11, 2019
Toto bol príjemný návrat do detstva, keď sme všetky knihy Zanea Greya z mestskej knižnice “sjeli” na jeden záťah :) Hneď by som sa vypravila do arizonskej púšte...
November 8, 2020
In the Arizona Territory, Adam Stark with his Mexican wife, Consuleo and sister Miriam, have spent the last month hidden deep in Apache territory. In the vicinity, Adam found a vein of gold worth more than most would see in their life but there's more problems than just mining it. With the constant presence of Apaches, their lives hang in the balance of staying hidden and covering their tracks. Everything changes when Swante Taggart comes through, being chased down by the bounty hunter, Pete Shoyer. As circumstances get worse, they realize the only way any of them are going to live is by working together but all know the danger that double-crossing could happen at any moment.
I can never say this enough but Louis L'Amour is the best Western author of all time and if not, he's *the* greatest among all genres. I pulled out two lessons from this book, 1) a relationship will only work if both partners are willing to improve the situation. Consuleo was too focused on material things and how her husband was never good enough, to which Miriam called her a whore because there's more to a marriage besides what happens behind closed doors. 2) woman can girl's night so what can't men have guy's night. Taggart pretty said in his thoughts that there's a difference in being the company of women and that guys deserve to their time to relate to each other. Yet in today's society, guy time is something frowned upon because a woman has to come in and say it's sexist to leave them out. And because of this idea, things like Boy Scouts or playing sports, the usual pastimes for male bonding time is being eliminated.
Moving off of themes, I though the book was excellent and a great addition to my list of favorite novels. Great plot and great story, there's never a L'Amour book that's the same.
I can never say this enough but Louis L'Amour is the best Western author of all time and if not, he's *the* greatest among all genres. I pulled out two lessons from this book, 1) a relationship will only work if both partners are willing to improve the situation. Consuleo was too focused on material things and how her husband was never good enough, to which Miriam called her a whore because there's more to a marriage besides what happens behind closed doors. 2) woman can girl's night so what can't men have guy's night. Taggart pretty said in his thoughts that there's a difference in being the company of women and that guys deserve to their time to relate to each other. Yet in today's society, guy time is something frowned upon because a woman has to come in and say it's sexist to leave them out. And because of this idea, things like Boy Scouts or playing sports, the usual pastimes for male bonding time is being eliminated.
Moving off of themes, I though the book was excellent and a great addition to my list of favorite novels. Great plot and great story, there's never a L'Amour book that's the same.
April 16, 2020
One of the better Louis L'Amour books I've read in quite awhile. I find that as I get older, I get more critical of the material that I both watch AND read, and some of the L'Amour books that captivated me as a teenager now seem jussssssssssst far-fetched enough as to not be enjoyable anymore. (This coming from someone who's watched - and owns - every Marvel movie produced. Go figure...) Unlike the protagonists in some of his other novels, however, Swante Taggart was just a "working man's man" who got himself into a bad situation. He wasn't the steely-eyed gunslinger that struck fear into the heart of every criminal and ne'er-do-well lawmaker wherever he went; just a working cattleman that go into a bad situation.
The action was there...and was pleasantly believable. I found L'Amour's descriptions of the countryside to be enchanting and very accurate, indicative of the fact that he's traveled these areas himself. (I also found myself Googling a recipe for "creosote baked beans", but couldn't find one.) The interaction between hero and villain, between all the characters in fact, was quite believable without seeming stilted.
Overall, I found this to be one of the better L'Amour novels I've read in recent weeks (having started on my entire collection again). Taggart seems like he could have been one of those "rugged, silent types" that L'Amour could have written an entire collection about. Would have been great reading, I'm thinking....
The action was there...and was pleasantly believable. I found L'Amour's descriptions of the countryside to be enchanting and very accurate, indicative of the fact that he's traveled these areas himself. (I also found myself Googling a recipe for "creosote baked beans", but couldn't find one.) The interaction between hero and villain, between all the characters in fact, was quite believable without seeming stilted.
Overall, I found this to be one of the better L'Amour novels I've read in recent weeks (having started on my entire collection again). Taggart seems like he could have been one of those "rugged, silent types" that L'Amour could have written an entire collection about. Would have been great reading, I'm thinking....
September 18, 2025
My second foray into the world of Louis L'Amour westerns. I've long been trying to find entertaining reads that won't interfere with my exploration of history texts, especially lately those on the American Revolution. I think I've found that escapist pleasure with pulp westerns. I honestly wish I had read L'Amour when I was younger - his stories are so easy to immerse to yourself in, and I can see myself getting addicted to him because I can plow through one of his novels in a day if I really wanted to, in contrast to slowly making my way through a dense history tome.
Like my prior read "Last Stand at Papago Wells", this has the classic western siege premise of an assortment of characters holed up in an isolated canyon with a war party of Apaches in the vicinity. I'm not gonna lie, any western story that has Apaches immediately grabs my attention. They have a practically mythical status in westerns, and while I can see that as problematic, Apaches do seem pretty badass.
The romance between Taggart and Miriam surprised me. I had this expectation L'Amour was akin to Alistair MacLean in his macho demeanor and while he does have that same quality, I found some of his descriptions of Miriam and her romantic yearning touching. She's a strong-willed woman who won't settle for just any man to be her husband. I was rooting for her, and I was satisfied with the ending!
Like my prior read "Last Stand at Papago Wells", this has the classic western siege premise of an assortment of characters holed up in an isolated canyon with a war party of Apaches in the vicinity. I'm not gonna lie, any western story that has Apaches immediately grabs my attention. They have a practically mythical status in westerns, and while I can see that as problematic, Apaches do seem pretty badass.
The romance between Taggart and Miriam surprised me. I had this expectation L'Amour was akin to Alistair MacLean in his macho demeanor and while he does have that same quality, I found some of his descriptions of Miriam and her romantic yearning touching. She's a strong-willed woman who won't settle for just any man to be her husband. I was rooting for her, and I was satisfied with the ending!
August 16, 2024
Not my usual genre read but I figured, hey, I love a Western film, why not read a Western! Although slow to start, once the title character arrived the story took off and I was invested.
Adam Stark is almost finished mining a vein of gold on Apache land. His wife and sister wait for him in an abandoned and hidden settlement in a canyon below the mountain where he mines his fortune. When Swante Taggart arrives, an outlaw on the run, trouble follows but so does opportunity.
I really enjoyed the various descriptions of the landscape as well as how Miriam, a secondary but strong female character, was written.
Despite being an older book, the treatment of the Apaches is respectful and historic.
My grandfather was a huge Louis L’Amour fan which prompted this read and I was pleasantly surprised by the writing of women and indigenous individuals. Will definitely read more by L’Amour and more Westerns in general.
Adam Stark is almost finished mining a vein of gold on Apache land. His wife and sister wait for him in an abandoned and hidden settlement in a canyon below the mountain where he mines his fortune. When Swante Taggart arrives, an outlaw on the run, trouble follows but so does opportunity.
I really enjoyed the various descriptions of the landscape as well as how Miriam, a secondary but strong female character, was written.
Despite being an older book, the treatment of the Apaches is respectful and historic.
My grandfather was a huge Louis L’Amour fan which prompted this read and I was pleasantly surprised by the writing of women and indigenous individuals. Will definitely read more by L’Amour and more Westerns in general.
May 5, 2020
A dnf at 40%. I'm a Louis Lamour fan but the stupid devotion of Adam Starke to a woman who brags to her husband about her lover. Tells him she doesn't love him. Said she'd run away with anyone to get away from him and threatens to kill his sister is just to much. His answer to her outrageous behavior is to go out to the middle of the Apache ridden desert and find gold. He has a theory that if he showers her gold she'll like him better. Doubtful. Very doubtful. Once a ho.....you know the rest.
Finally at about 40 % into the book the hero shows up. Who cares? Not me unless he trades the ho off to the Apaches to save Adam from himself. My first Louis Lamour dnf.
Finally at about 40 % into the book the hero shows up. Who cares? Not me unless he trades the ho off to the Apaches to save Adam from himself. My first Louis Lamour dnf.
March 2, 2021
Pocket paper-backs, pulp fiction Westerns. These were the modern substitutes for knights in shining armour. They were also adult-approved versions of a kids comic book. They are no longer very much in vogue, but growing up my Dad shared his library with me. He must have had hundreds of these, and I probably read just about all of them. Particularly enjoyable were the ones in the Sackett series. The stories have all blurred together with time, their plot always a step away from redundancy, but their feet was always planted firmly in good fun.
November 21, 2024
Why did no one tell me how good L’Amour’s books are? I feel like someone dropped the ball. Fast paced, action, suspense, quick read, fun characters, tough women…this book has all of it. Are all of his books like this?!
In this one, the main character is on the run with a bounty hunter on his tail. He meets a man, his wife, and sister who are mining for gold in dangerous Apache territory. So much fun.
It probably earns 5 stars, but I’m saving 5 stars for books I want to revisit and encourage everyone to read.
In this one, the main character is on the run with a bounty hunter on his tail. He meets a man, his wife, and sister who are mining for gold in dangerous Apache territory. So much fun.
It probably earns 5 stars, but I’m saving 5 stars for books I want to revisit and encourage everyone to read.
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