The Mustangers

by Andrew J. Fenady

One of the last of the great American cowboys, Ben Smith is a three-time rodeo champion with one last chance to take a stand. Injured in a rodeo fall, he heads home at the age of forty to the Little Brawny Ranch, where he befriends the son of the Big Brawny's owner. Ben agrees to show little Jimmy the ropes: the rigors of ranching, the rewards of hard work, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the wild mustang herds running free. But when they learn the horses are being rounded up--for the slaughterhouse--the rawhide cowboy and skinny greenhorn strike back, each in his own way, to save the mustangs. But there is the inevitable, violent, historic showdown.

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published May 28, 2019

About the author

Andrew J. Fenady was born in Toledo, Ohio. A veteran writer and producer in Hollywood, Fenady created and produced The Rebel (1959–1961) for television, starring Nick Adams. The top-rated show lasted three seasons and the Fenady-penned theme song, “Johnny Yuma,” became a No. 1 hit for Johnny Cash. He wrote and produced the 1969 John Wayne hit Chisum and the popular TV western series Hondo and Branded. His other credits include the adaptation of Jack London’s The Sea Wolf, with Charles Bronson and Christopher Reeve, and the western feature Ride Beyond Vengeance, which starred Chuck Connors. His acclaimed western novels include Big Ike, Riders to Moon Rock, The Trespassers, The Summer of Jack London, The Range Wolf, and Destiny Made Them Brothers. Fenady presently lives in Los Angeles and has been honored with The Golden Boot Award, the Silver Spur Award, and the Owen Wister Award from the Western Writers of America for his lifetime contribution to westerns.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.

THE MUSTANGERS by Andrew J. Fenaday is a novel about a rodeo hero named Ben Smith, who finds himself at a crossroads when he realizes that his days on top have passed him by, and he returns to his hometown to start the next chapter in his life.

Ben is a quiet but confident man who keeps to himself and hopes for anonymity in his life away from the circuit, and he attempts to go into seclusion while he plans on getting on with his simple existence; but his fame leaves him a target for those who wish to make a name for themselves by challenging him, and those who would like to profit by being associated with him.

Circumstances occur that involve a beautiful but ruthless woman who is well known herself, as she hires Ben to work on her behalf in a land grab attempt that involves a highly successful businessman who owns a ranch neighboring Ben’s ranch.

Soon after his arrival, he finds himself attracted to the daughter of the local veterinarian who has a simple beauty he finds irresistible; yet he struggles with his reluctance to get close to her, or anyone for that matter.

Mustangs are one of Ben’s soft spots, as they are present on both his and the neighboring ranches; yet the brutality employed by the ranch hands of his well to do neighbor lead him to get physical with them resulting in legal matters where he’s being charged and forced to appear in court.

Ben also finds himself befriending the sickly young son of the neighboring businessman who idolizes him, and Ben sees this and does his best to be a good example to the boy and to teach him the lessons that will prepare him for life as an adult in the future.

Does Ben have the ability to balance romance, his felt responsibility towards the young man, and maintaining his principles regarding a chance at huge financial gain, or does he fly in the face of the law and the ruthless ranch hands to bring an end to the cruelty that’s taking place with the mustangs?

Interesting western that takes place in a later time period than is common to the genre, and Ben is easy to like as a hero who at times frustrates with his naivety in spite of his years on the road.

4 stars.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few of Andrew Fenady's books and loved every one of them. The characters feel real without being caricatures of what people think a cowboy in a western should be. The scenery and communities built into the back story are so real you can see them. The story itself will keep you spellbound, holding your breadth when the situations get tense. Spoiler alert...the good guys win, but the battle along the way to save the mustangs and the cowboys is exciting. I'm a die hard Johnstone fan, but I'll gladly read a Fenady story too.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mustangers is a pretty good historical. I am giving it four stars and recommend it for other readers.

[Amber Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely told story about the plight of the wild mustangs.....full of well known names throughout history of US west world.