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Hopalong Cassidy #4
Trouble Shooter
In L'Amour's last classic Hopalong Cassidy novel, unavailable for decades, the popular cowboy hero attempts to find the killers of his old friend, Peter Melford, and return Pete's stolen ranch to his niece, Cindy Blair. 100,000 first printing. $75,000 ad/promo.
254 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1951
96 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Tex Burns
9 books5 followersTex Burns was a pseudonym used by Louis L'Amour to write four Hopalong Cassidy novels commissioned in the spring and summer of 1950 by Doubleday's Double D Western imprint. He originally agreed to write the novels and read Clarence E. Mulford's original Hopalong Cassidy novels to get a feel for the character.
They were the first novels Louis L'Amour ever had published and he denied writing them until the day he died, refusing to sign any of them that fans would occasionally bring to his autograph sessions. The reason he gave to his young son for doing this was, 'I wrote some books. I just did it for the money, and my name didn't go on them. So now, when people ask me if they were mine, I say "No".' When his son asked if this would be a lie, he apparently replied, 'I just wrote them for hire. They weren't my books.'
What happened was that the novels as written by L'Amour were extensively edited to meet Doubleday's idea of how Hopalong Cassidy should be portrayed in print. L'Amour strongly disagreed with their views as he preferred Mulford's original, much rougher characterization of Cassidy. And, therefore, for the remainder of his life he denied authoring the novels. They were titled, 'The Riders of High Rock' (1951), 'The Rustlers of West Fork' (1951), 'The Trail to Seven Pines' (1951) and 'Trouble Shooter' (1952). The words 'Hopalong Cassidy' preceded the title in the British publication of the four novels.
Of course, under his own name he went on to write 89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction and all were still in print when he died when he was regarded as "one of the world's most popular writers".
They were the first novels Louis L'Amour ever had published and he denied writing them until the day he died, refusing to sign any of them that fans would occasionally bring to his autograph sessions. The reason he gave to his young son for doing this was, 'I wrote some books. I just did it for the money, and my name didn't go on them. So now, when people ask me if they were mine, I say "No".' When his son asked if this would be a lie, he apparently replied, 'I just wrote them for hire. They weren't my books.'
What happened was that the novels as written by L'Amour were extensively edited to meet Doubleday's idea of how Hopalong Cassidy should be portrayed in print. L'Amour strongly disagreed with their views as he preferred Mulford's original, much rougher characterization of Cassidy. And, therefore, for the remainder of his life he denied authoring the novels. They were titled, 'The Riders of High Rock' (1951), 'The Rustlers of West Fork' (1951), 'The Trail to Seven Pines' (1951) and 'Trouble Shooter' (1952). The words 'Hopalong Cassidy' preceded the title in the British publication of the four novels.
Of course, under his own name he went on to write 89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction and all were still in print when he died when he was regarded as "one of the world's most popular writers".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
November 13, 2023
Hoppalong Cassidy gets a letter from a friend asking him to help his niece Cindy. The baddie Justin Tredway appears to have made the ranch Cindy is getting disappear. However, along comes Cassidy to put the cat amongst the pigeons.
A nice story set in a pear forest of prickly pear, black chaparral, catclaw and mesquite. My only question was we never find out what the mysterious lights were. Of course Tredway and his confederates get their hustle desserts and Hoppalong literally rides off into the sunset.
A nice story set in a pear forest of prickly pear, black chaparral, catclaw and mesquite. My only question was we never find out what the mysterious lights were. Of course Tredway and his confederates get their hustle desserts and Hoppalong literally rides off into the sunset.
April 29, 2020
A desperate letter for help sent to Hopalong Cassidy by his friend and a ranch owner Pete Melford. But when he arrives Cassidy finds his friend already dead, and the ranch that Pete left his niece, Cindy Blair, has mysteriously vanished. In search of Pete's killer and Cindy's land, Hopalong signs on at the sprawling Box T ranch and confronts a mystery head on.
**********
A great book about Hopalong Cassidy. He makes rational and smart decisions. He fights bad guys as the last resort but never shies away from a fight.
This was a good mystery on top of a really well written story that is resolved quite nicely in the end.
**********
A great book about Hopalong Cassidy. He makes rational and smart decisions. He fights bad guys as the last resort but never shies away from a fight.
This was a good mystery on top of a really well written story that is resolved quite nicely in the end.
June 9, 2013
A good solid Western, with Hopalong as the scrubbed good guy from the TV series rather than the red-headed, foul-mouthed cowhand of the original books. And now that I know that, I'll try to find one of the original Hop-Along's (so named because he had a pronounced limp in those tales.)
August 11, 2021
A quick read filled with action and mystery. Far better and more exciting than I expected.
November 10, 2024
I liked this. My mom loves his work. Now I love it too.
July 31, 2012
I read Troubleshooter and The Riders of High Rock, both Hopalong Cassidy novels, a couple days apart, so I'll just review them together. This is the last of L’Amour for a while, I promise you. In general I prefer L’Amour’s original characters; Hopalong Cassidy was created by another writer, Clarence Mulford, in 1904. He wrote a slew of short stories and 28 novels about Hopalong, and Hollywood made 66 movies featuring the character. L’Amour wrote four Hopalong books under the pen name Tex Burns, but denied that he had done so until his death. Evidently he wrote them for the money (the publisher wanted to cash in on the fame of the character), and he bitterly regretted it and didn’t view the books as being truly his. His son made the decision to publish the books under his father’s name after reading one and deciding it wasn’t half bad. Wonder how L.L. would’ve felt about that. These two books were enjoyable more because of my life at the moment than because of any literary genius they possess. When you’re dealing with a lot of complicated, angst-ridden issues in reality, reading about straight-forward problems you can solve with a six-shooter suddenly becomes terribly appealing.
November 2, 2016
The fourth and final Hopalong Cassidy novel by Louis L’Amour is another good outing in the form of a traditional western. The title is an appropriate one because not only does Hoppy display excellent quick-draw shooting skills, as expected, but the plot focuses on his penchant for problem solving while rescuing families and former outlaws from the schemes of an evil businessman with a gang of ornery gunfighters and thugs.
As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews of this 4-book series, Louis L’Amour famously refused to admit ever authoring these four books. They were originally published under the pen name, “Tex Burns” but L’Amour had wanted to write the hero character in the same way the original author and creator, Clarence Mulford had written him; i.e. as a “red-haired, hard-drinking, foul-mouthed, and rather bellicose cowhand” instead of the slick, clean-cut, heroic approach that was portrayed in the movies and on television. Nevertheless, L’Amour honored his contract and produced these four novels. I would love to have read some L’Amour-authored Hoppy novels in that rougher vein, but absent those, these novels are still pretty good westerns, written by a master from the days of pulp magazines.
As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews of this 4-book series, Louis L’Amour famously refused to admit ever authoring these four books. They were originally published under the pen name, “Tex Burns” but L’Amour had wanted to write the hero character in the same way the original author and creator, Clarence Mulford had written him; i.e. as a “red-haired, hard-drinking, foul-mouthed, and rather bellicose cowhand” instead of the slick, clean-cut, heroic approach that was portrayed in the movies and on television. Nevertheless, L’Amour honored his contract and produced these four novels. I would love to have read some L’Amour-authored Hoppy novels in that rougher vein, but absent those, these novels are still pretty good westerns, written by a master from the days of pulp magazines.
July 29, 2018
I enjoyed its well written and good storyline 👍
July 18, 2016
#4 in the Hopalong Cassidy series by author Louis L'Amour, writing as Tex Burns. L'Amour hid these novel under a pseudonym because his publisher demanded a kinder and gentler Hoppy in the TV and movie William E. Boyd persona rather than as the hard-bitten cowhand in the Clarence E. Mulford tradition whose series of novels L'Amour had been picked to continue.
The Hopalong Cassidy Novels #4 - Hopalong Cassidy has received an urgent message from the dead. Answering an urgent appeal for help from fellow cowpuncher Pete Melford, he rides in only to discover that his old friends has been murdered and the ranch Pete left to his niece, Cindy Blair, had vanished without a trace. Hopalong may have arrived too late to save Pete, but his sense of loyalty and honor demands that he find that cold-blooded killers and return to Cindy what is rightfully hers. Colonel Justin Tradway, criminal kingpin of the town of Kachina, is the owner of the sprawling Box T ranch. Hopalong signs on at the Box T to help get Tradway's wild cattle out of the brush. But in the land of mesquite and black chaparral, Cassidy confronts a mystery - a bloody trail that leads to the strange and forbidding Babylon plateau, to $60,000 in stolen gold, and to a showdown with an outlaw who has already cheated death once.
The Hopalong Cassidy Novels #4 - Hopalong Cassidy has received an urgent message from the dead. Answering an urgent appeal for help from fellow cowpuncher Pete Melford, he rides in only to discover that his old friends has been murdered and the ranch Pete left to his niece, Cindy Blair, had vanished without a trace. Hopalong may have arrived too late to save Pete, but his sense of loyalty and honor demands that he find that cold-blooded killers and return to Cindy what is rightfully hers. Colonel Justin Tradway, criminal kingpin of the town of Kachina, is the owner of the sprawling Box T ranch. Hopalong signs on at the Box T to help get Tradway's wild cattle out of the brush. But in the land of mesquite and black chaparral, Cassidy confronts a mystery - a bloody trail that leads to the strange and forbidding Babylon plateau, to $60,000 in stolen gold, and to a showdown with an outlaw who has already cheated death once.
May 20, 2017
This is the last Hopalong Cassidy novel by Louis L'Amour (aka Tex Burns). The story has Hoppy riding to help his old friend Pete Melford after receiving a letter from him. It seems Mr. Melford had a ranch that was bequeathed to his daughter... a ranch that has somehow disappeared.
The main reason Mr. L'Amour hated (or maybe was just very disappointed and displeased) with the Hopalong Cassidy novels were that the publisher demanded changes that Louis disagreed with. Louis felt that the publisher was not being true to the characters that Clarence Mulford had created and that they were just trying to get as much money out of the characters during Hopalong Cassidy's run on television. Another of my favorite western author's Zane Grey had similar experiences with Ripley Hitchcock. Both of these authors were just starting out and they were having their ideas questioned by publishers. It makes an author feel stifled creatively when a publisher uses their position to make demands on the author instead of just allowing them to write.
The main reason Mr. L'Amour hated (or maybe was just very disappointed and displeased) with the Hopalong Cassidy novels were that the publisher demanded changes that Louis disagreed with. Louis felt that the publisher was not being true to the characters that Clarence Mulford had created and that they were just trying to get as much money out of the characters during Hopalong Cassidy's run on television. Another of my favorite western author's Zane Grey had similar experiences with Ripley Hitchcock. Both of these authors were just starting out and they were having their ideas questioned by publishers. It makes an author feel stifled creatively when a publisher uses their position to make demands on the author instead of just allowing them to write.
November 1, 2020
Pete Medford, a friend of Hopalong Cassidy, is murdered and all documentation of Pete leaving his ranch to his niece disappears as well as the location of the lands. Hopalong confronts one of his most dangerous opponents,
April 30, 2020
This is my favorite all-time author.
I recommend any book he wrote.
Novel written under the name of Tex Burns
I recommend any book he wrote.
Novel written under the name of Tex Burns
November 21, 2020
This is the fourth and final Louis L'Amour Hopalong Cassidy book. I've read this before, years back but it was nice to read again in order to see the development of L'Amour as a western writer. These being the first four westerns he ever sold, they are different than his later ones, but themes and patterns are emerging already.
In this book, Cassidy gets a letter from the daughter of an old Bar-20 friend about a ranch, but when he shows up the ranch seems to have disappeared or perhaps never even existed. Topper, Cassidy's horse, plays a much bigger role in this book and the old Bar-20 gang a much smaller role as Hopalong faces things more solo the way L'Amour preferred to write his characters.
Much of the book is taken up by a series of sequences involving a tangled forest of cactus and other nasty plants where Cassidy and a man he hires on works to dig out cattle living in a valley for a suspicious rancher he's trying to learn more about.
Through the book, Hopalong is cheerful, easy going, pleasant, and succeeds in disarming foes with his attitude and charm rather than gun whenever possible. There are no trick gun feats in this one like the previous where he shoots to disarm every single bad guy. Overall its a pretty good end to the series and the direction L'Amour is taking Hopalong Cassidy would have been a very engaging one to follow.
In this book, Cassidy gets a letter from the daughter of an old Bar-20 friend about a ranch, but when he shows up the ranch seems to have disappeared or perhaps never even existed. Topper, Cassidy's horse, plays a much bigger role in this book and the old Bar-20 gang a much smaller role as Hopalong faces things more solo the way L'Amour preferred to write his characters.
Much of the book is taken up by a series of sequences involving a tangled forest of cactus and other nasty plants where Cassidy and a man he hires on works to dig out cattle living in a valley for a suspicious rancher he's trying to learn more about.
Through the book, Hopalong is cheerful, easy going, pleasant, and succeeds in disarming foes with his attitude and charm rather than gun whenever possible. There are no trick gun feats in this one like the previous where he shoots to disarm every single bad guy. Overall its a pretty good end to the series and the direction L'Amour is taking Hopalong Cassidy would have been a very engaging one to follow.
September 7, 2020
Paid assassins, ghost towns, a menacing mysterious cloaked brotherhood and a mastermind who can present himself as a pillar of the community and murder a man without a thought. This novel was my first introduction to the character of Hopalong Cassidy. My hard copy of the text was passed on to me by my father. Louis L'Amour (under the name Tex Burns) was the third author to portray the adventures of this gunslinger. As noted, this work had a lot of interesting elements: a whole ranch that has vanished, a mysterious brotherhood of spooky monks carry on curious rituals and a ghost town with skeletons and deadly outlaws. Pretty fantastic stuff. And yet this novel is also filled with real cowboy details as Hopalong and his partner’s wrangling cattle and tracking down herds which have gone wild in an inaccessible part of the plains.
As is the case in so many of Louis L’Amour novels most of the bad guys are just brave strong men who made bad choices. Redemption is possible, but some will not take the offer when it is given and consequences must follow. Not a lot of character development—not possible in a work like this. One might as well ask to develop Sherlock Holmes. But good storytelling.
As is the case in so many of Louis L’Amour novels most of the bad guys are just brave strong men who made bad choices. Redemption is possible, but some will not take the offer when it is given and consequences must follow. Not a lot of character development—not possible in a work like this. One might as well ask to develop Sherlock Holmes. But good storytelling.
July 30, 2023
Hopalong Cassidy was the creation of Clarence Mulford(1883-1956), who wrote over twenty five books about his heroic character. L’Amour was commissioned to write four more novels.
Hopalong is traveling under the name of Scott Cameron. He has finally received a letter that was sent three years earlier by his old friend Pete Melford who wished to ensure that his niece, Cindy Blair, inherit his ranch. Hopalong arrives to find no ranch at all and a man about to be shot. He saves the man and decides that the best way to investigate is to go to work for the man who owns the surrounding land, a man called Justin Tradway. He gets a job rounding up cattle for Tradway that have gone astray.
He is attacked several times but survives. He eventually discovers that some of the local players were involved in a stage robbery some years ago. There is a mysterious band of former monks called the Brothers who live on a local mesa, minding their own business.
Cindy Blair is kidnapped and Hoppy goes off to rescue her.
I enjoyed this story, although it was longer than traditional L’Amour fare. And it is written in a different style at least to my eyes and ears.
Hopalong is traveling under the name of Scott Cameron. He has finally received a letter that was sent three years earlier by his old friend Pete Melford who wished to ensure that his niece, Cindy Blair, inherit his ranch. Hopalong arrives to find no ranch at all and a man about to be shot. He saves the man and decides that the best way to investigate is to go to work for the man who owns the surrounding land, a man called Justin Tradway. He gets a job rounding up cattle for Tradway that have gone astray.
He is attacked several times but survives. He eventually discovers that some of the local players were involved in a stage robbery some years ago. There is a mysterious band of former monks called the Brothers who live on a local mesa, minding their own business.
Cindy Blair is kidnapped and Hoppy goes off to rescue her.
I enjoyed this story, although it was longer than traditional L’Amour fare. And it is written in a different style at least to my eyes and ears.
August 25, 2025
This is one of the four Hopalong Cassidy novels that L'amour wrote. He also appears to have disowned them - not sure why, because they are pretty good. His depiction of Cassidy is very different from the early works of Clarence Edward Mulford. For one thing. L'amour paints the famed gunman with much more gravitas than the hell-for-leather rowdy daredevil of Mulford's Bar-20 stories. This isn't a bad thing, by any means.
Hopalong Cassidy has to be one of the coolest names ever, considering where the protagonist got it from. There is a whole mythos surrounding the character, and the Bar-20 outfit, which L'amour uses to great effect. Everybody pays attention when Hoppy shows up, and, depending on which side of the fence people find themselves, either rejoice or soil themselves.
This particular novel also has a fairly interesting mystery at its heart, i.e. that of a complete ranch and ranching outfit that has disappeared into thin air.
Good stuff.
4.5 stars
Hopalong Cassidy has to be one of the coolest names ever, considering where the protagonist got it from. There is a whole mythos surrounding the character, and the Bar-20 outfit, which L'amour uses to great effect. Everybody pays attention when Hoppy shows up, and, depending on which side of the fence people find themselves, either rejoice or soil themselves.
This particular novel also has a fairly interesting mystery at its heart, i.e. that of a complete ranch and ranching outfit that has disappeared into thin air.
Good stuff.
4.5 stars
November 20, 2020
Just another solid, classic Western from the master. I’ve read a slew of his books and this is right in line with what you’d expect. I feel like when people describe a book as being a good “yarn,” this is precisely what they mean by that. L’amour draws you into the action immediately and never lets up.
This is a Hopalong Cassidy novel, the first of these I’ve read. One interesting thing I didn’t realize until today is that L’amour didn’t create this character - he took over writing the series (under a pen name) after the original author became bored with it. By then, Hopalong had already been featured in movies and TV shows.
If you want a fast paced, well plotted story with writing that is decent but not too mentally taxing, this is your guy. When I was a kid we used to listen to audiobooks of his tales during long road trips, too, so I would definitely recommend these as well.
This is a Hopalong Cassidy novel, the first of these I’ve read. One interesting thing I didn’t realize until today is that L’amour didn’t create this character - he took over writing the series (under a pen name) after the original author became bored with it. By then, Hopalong had already been featured in movies and TV shows.
If you want a fast paced, well plotted story with writing that is decent but not too mentally taxing, this is your guy. When I was a kid we used to listen to audiobooks of his tales during long road trips, too, so I would definitely recommend these as well.
August 29, 2024
A number of different characters with suspicious intent arrive in the valley around the town of Kachina, one looking for a lost rancher, some looking for a lost ranch, some looking for lost gold, one looking to collect on a contract killing assignment, some looking to bury a hidden secret, and L'Amour weaves a suspenseful mystery around the chief protagonist Hopalong Cassidy.
Written towards the beginning of L'Amour's career, "Trouble Shooter" (1952) has some phrasing and prose that doesn't work in the middle third and it lacks the western immersion and character beats we see in his better novels, but the lengthy final third is action-packed and the mystery's conclusion brings it all together.
Verdict: Some interesting character reveals and surprises as events unfold make this one a good western.
Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
Written towards the beginning of L'Amour's career, "Trouble Shooter" (1952) has some phrasing and prose that doesn't work in the middle third and it lacks the western immersion and character beats we see in his better novels, but the lengthy final third is action-packed and the mystery's conclusion brings it all together.
Verdict: Some interesting character reveals and surprises as events unfold make this one a good western.
Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
September 24, 2021
Hopalong is at it again. Lucky beyond belief and a quick draw he is out to win the west. More criminals in this final of the four books in this series and it leaves little to be desired. Cassidy is uncovering plots and putting himself in harms way. I don’t live in the old west but if I did I would want him on my side. If you are looking for good action and an enjoyable story but don’t know much about westerns then this is defiantly a series to pick up. Having just finished it I feel like I need to go wash the dust off of myself. Happy reading.
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
October 19, 2024
Eh, it was alright. Felt like it took me a while to read it when it was only 221 pages. The beginning and the ending were fine, but the middle felt like it dragged a bit. I lost track of what was going on a few times, but it was most likely because I was skimming paragraphs. I did like how it was third person omniscient writing, so we could see multiple perspectives at the same time. Getting the cattle out of the brush reminded me of Rawhide, which track since this was based on a western show too. I liked the reveal of who Pike and Tredway really were. Overall, just an okay western imo.
July 6, 2020
In his Hop-a-long Cassidy works, L'Amour was limited in his writing, While his descriptions, are equals to his own work under his own name. The author follows the instructions of the publisher. This is actually a decent mystery. People are not who they seem and you have a bunch of religious zealots thrown into the mix. It holds your interest and not a bad book. I just would not call it one of his best.
October 20, 2020
Another L’Amour book. This was the last in the Hopalong Cassidy series and was the best one of the four, not to say that the other three weren’t almost as good but this one stood out a little more. However, if you read the other three then you can assume the storyline because they are very similar. I can see why Louis L’Amour would have not wanted his name attached to the Hopalong Cassidy series, but its still basically his voice. Entertaining read for any western or L’Amour fan.
April 26, 2023
This is the last of the Hopalong Cassidy books that Mr. L'Amour wrote. I am sad in many ways. All four books were well written and very enthralling. I wish that he had written others but I understand the reasons why he didn't. He was an independent man that was proud of the work he had done. He didn't get to write the character the way he wanted and maybe he thought that the stories weren't up to what his fans expected of him. I enjoyed them very much and will probably read them again.
December 9, 2016
I really enjoyed listening to this audio book on my commute to and from work. Louis L'Amour does an outstanding job with the Hopalong Cassidy character and this is one of those feel good westerns that got Hopalong Cassidy into TV. Amazing that Louis L'Amour denied being the author since he wrote it under the name of Tex Burns, but it is solid L'Amour.
June 10, 2019
I didn't know until I started this Louis L'Amour book (that I had never read before), that he had ever written a Hopalong Cassidy book -- now, I know that he had 4 published. It was a typical L'Amour! Great story, descriptive language, and well worth the time to read it. If you enjoy good westerns, you will enjoy "Trouble Shooter".
January 29, 2024
It started out real slow.
This was the first book I've read about Hopalong Cassidy. I didn't like it as well as I liked other books by Mr. L'Amour. It wasn't his fault, though. I have to admit I started watching "Reacher" and have become so enthralled with the series that I got 3 of the books and now I'm really hooked on anything to do with Jack Reacher!
This was the first book I've read about Hopalong Cassidy. I didn't like it as well as I liked other books by Mr. L'Amour. It wasn't his fault, though. I have to admit I started watching "Reacher" and have become so enthralled with the series that I got 3 of the books and now I'm really hooked on anything to do with Jack Reacher!
December 27, 2020
Great finale to the set of 4 Hopalong Cassidy tails by Louis
L’Amour. Great storyline. Great character and plot development! Enjoyable read that kept my attention until finished. Recommended read for everyone.
L’Amour. Great storyline. Great character and plot development! Enjoyable read that kept my attention until finished. Recommended read for everyone.
March 12, 2021
Nice ending for this quadrilogy of Cassidy novels by L'amour (writing as Tex Burns). A woman can't seem to find the ranch she's inherited & there's mysterious goings on in the nearby mountains. Cassidy shows up as he's received a note from the deceased ex ranch owner.
April 15, 2021
Good read about Hopalong Cassidy and his attempt to help a friend's daughter find his ranch after he is mysteriously killed. It had a good plot with good and bad characters with Hoppy riding away after everything is made right again. I enjoyed the book. It was a quick and east western read.
March 11, 2022
This is a great conclusion to the Hopalong Cassidy books of Louis L’Amour. Cassidy is a hero that is unparalleled as a gunfighter and relentless in his pursuit of justice. In this story he meets a collection of criminals that challenge him.
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