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High Lonesome
In one of his most riveting novels of adventure, America’s favorite storyteller follows the treacherous trail of an outlaw determined to make his big strike and then disappear into a new life. But can a wrong turn be made righ—and can the heart of a hardened man still be moved by a second chance at happiness? Here’s a hard-hitting, uniquely American tale of raw courage, haunting regret, and hope against all odds as only Louis L’Amour can tell it.
Considine bristled at the word “thief,” but that’s what he was. He’d been out of money, and one mistake had just led to another. Now he had four years of crime behind him and little to show for it—except the dubious honor of being a hunted man all over the country. But just south of the border there was one last chance it could all pay off. Obaro was a tough town full of tough men—boasting a bank no one had ever tapped. But it wasn’t just the bank that rankled Considine, it was the man who ran Obaro. Sheriff Pete Runyon was a friend turned rival who’d married the girl Considine once loved. He was also the only man to beat Considine in a knock-down fight. Outwitting Runyon now would be sweet revenge on many levels. Then Considine could just take the money and run–literally—to the border, buy a small ranch, and start anew.
Considine didn’t count on meeting Lennie, a beautiful young woman, and her trail-savvy but reckless father, a former outlaw trying to get far enough away from his past to give his daughter a future. The two were headed straight for Apache country and certain death. Now Considine and his gang can either ride like hell for the border just ahead of an angry posse—or join the old man and the girl in a desperate last stand atop High Lonesome against blood-hungry warriors. The choice is risk the hangman’s noose or an Apache bullet.
Considine bristled at the word “thief,” but that’s what he was. He’d been out of money, and one mistake had just led to another. Now he had four years of crime behind him and little to show for it—except the dubious honor of being a hunted man all over the country. But just south of the border there was one last chance it could all pay off. Obaro was a tough town full of tough men—boasting a bank no one had ever tapped. But it wasn’t just the bank that rankled Considine, it was the man who ran Obaro. Sheriff Pete Runyon was a friend turned rival who’d married the girl Considine once loved. He was also the only man to beat Considine in a knock-down fight. Outwitting Runyon now would be sweet revenge on many levels. Then Considine could just take the money and run–literally—to the border, buy a small ranch, and start anew.
Considine didn’t count on meeting Lennie, a beautiful young woman, and her trail-savvy but reckless father, a former outlaw trying to get far enough away from his past to give his daughter a future. The two were headed straight for Apache country and certain death. Now Considine and his gang can either ride like hell for the border just ahead of an angry posse—or join the old man and the girl in a desperate last stand atop High Lonesome against blood-hungry warriors. The choice is risk the hangman’s noose or an Apache bullet.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1962
280 people are currently reading
998 people want to read
About the author
Louis L'Amour
1,009 books3,529 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 202 reviews
November 2, 2022
"The basin on High Lonesome was a lovely place, and for outlaw it had long been an almost perfect hideaway. There was water, there was grass, and without doubt there was game. In some more peaceful time a wandering man would stop and build a home here, or start a ranch . . . " -- on page 124
L'Amour's above-stated description of the mountainous region - an actual location in Colorado, but in this fictional story it appears to be placed much closer to the Mexican border in Arizona or Texas - is almost positively bucolic, contradicting its setting for the violent final chapters of this short novel. A quartet of thriving outlaws - led by the almost-honorable Considine, a singularly-named man tiring of his chosen itinerant life and described as "quiet, confident, and careful" - stage a somewhat clever distraction ruse to knock off a frontier town bank, escaping into the hills with sixty thousand dollars in gold coins. Those thieving best laid plans rapidly go awry when said quartet, who encounter a widower and his fetching 'not a girl but not yet a woman' daughter (she and the outlaw naturally have eyes for each other), promptly become pinned down by a renegade war party of vicious Yumas and Apaches. Believe it or not, the character exposition / motivations and the set-up / execution of the robbery were the more interesting parts than the good if fairly predictable conclusion.
L'Amour's above-stated description of the mountainous region - an actual location in Colorado, but in this fictional story it appears to be placed much closer to the Mexican border in Arizona or Texas - is almost positively bucolic, contradicting its setting for the violent final chapters of this short novel. A quartet of thriving outlaws - led by the almost-honorable Considine, a singularly-named man tiring of his chosen itinerant life and described as "quiet, confident, and careful" - stage a somewhat clever distraction ruse to knock off a frontier town bank, escaping into the hills with sixty thousand dollars in gold coins. Those thieving best laid plans rapidly go awry when said quartet, who encounter a widower and his fetching 'not a girl but not yet a woman' daughter (she and the outlaw naturally have eyes for each other), promptly become pinned down by a renegade war party of vicious Yumas and Apaches. Believe it or not, the character exposition / motivations and the set-up / execution of the robbery were the more interesting parts than the good if fairly predictable conclusion.
February 1, 2019
So good! But did he have to kill so many characters though??? 😭
March 9, 2016
As I've said before, westerns are not my favorite genre, not even close. But I still try to stretch myself by reading things that I may not normally choose. Such is the case with this one.
And I didn't like it. The story was very elementary, too simple, really, which is probably why I don't like this genre. It's too simple. Give me complexity and twists.
I listened to the Audible version narrated by David Strathairn. He's an outstanding actor, but his droning voice did nothing to capture my attention. This is one case in which I probably would have liked the printed version better. Maybe I'll reread this one day in paperback format.
And I didn't like it. The story was very elementary, too simple, really, which is probably why I don't like this genre. It's too simple. Give me complexity and twists.
I listened to the Audible version narrated by David Strathairn. He's an outstanding actor, but his droning voice did nothing to capture my attention. This is one case in which I probably would have liked the printed version better. Maybe I'll reread this one day in paperback format.
August 2, 2020
Great story. Considine an outlaw must choose $60000 in gold or a girl called Lennie. His gang Hardy, Dutch and the Kiowa’s loyalty might get them into trouble. A fist fight, bank robbery and a lot of Apache’s battle it out with a good ending.
The description of the desert, the outlaws with the hearts of gold all completely unrealistic. However, who doesn’t like an Indian attack with lots of heroism thrown into the mix.
The description of the desert, the outlaws with the hearts of gold all completely unrealistic. However, who doesn’t like an Indian attack with lots of heroism thrown into the mix.
March 18, 2023
It’s only been over the last two years that I have really started reading Westerns. They never appealed to me before, but then I latched on to a Louis L’Amour book and that was the end of my hesitation. The man was a troubadour of the written word. Nothing fancy, nothing baroque, nothing trendy. He just wrote old-fashioned stories of hard men living in desolate places and with a quickness that makes one turn the page with the dread that the story is going to end far too soon. No weighty tomes for Mr. L’Amour and that seems just perfect for reading Western fiction.
This tale centers on a place called High Lonesome, somewhere in the blistering hot American Southwest area. A group of men are readying to rob a bank, men who could easily be on the other side of the law. Their leader is Considine, a rugged man who holds a grudge against the sheriff of the bank’s town, because of a quarrel over a woman. By robbing the bank, Considine will extract a bit of pride, a bit of justice, although his heart isn’t fully in it. The town is proud of its bank never being robbed because the locals have taken shotguns to any who have attempted the feat. But Considine is different as he is a local himself.
Into the picture rides an old man and his daughter. He is an aging outlaw who just wants to get to California in order to provide his only child with a better chance in life. She is getting older quickly, as they do in the land of heat, but her upbeat personality and experience living near the Apaches have made her an attractive catch and Considine finds his attention diverted. But there are smoke signals all around the land and everyone knows the war parties are coming. Will the old outlaw and his daughter make it through? Or will the harsh scrub lands and flying arrows bring an end to their manifest destiny?
There are no dawns like the dawns that come to desert lands, nor are there colors anywhere like the pastels of the wastelands. There is no atmosphere anywhere with half the sharp clarity of the desert air following a rain ---- and no land holds death so close, so ready, so waiting.
L’Amour knew his settings because he had lived in the Southwest and his description of the rising sun is simply spot-on. Rain comes to the desert infrequently, but when it does, the smell of the creosote is stunning, a wake-up to the senses. My home faces East, so I can watch the sun rise like thunder from my front yard, a reminder of either the summer heat on its way or the kaleidoscope of color due to us during the autumn and winter seasons. I really enjoyed this book but L’Amour’s books are short, so I had to parse out my reading, as I didn’t want to get to the end too quickly. It’s also fun to have an old drugstore paperback in one’s hands, worn out by previous readers, pages marked by old coffee stains and dreams of adventure.
Book Season = Winter (creosote rain)
This tale centers on a place called High Lonesome, somewhere in the blistering hot American Southwest area. A group of men are readying to rob a bank, men who could easily be on the other side of the law. Their leader is Considine, a rugged man who holds a grudge against the sheriff of the bank’s town, because of a quarrel over a woman. By robbing the bank, Considine will extract a bit of pride, a bit of justice, although his heart isn’t fully in it. The town is proud of its bank never being robbed because the locals have taken shotguns to any who have attempted the feat. But Considine is different as he is a local himself.
Into the picture rides an old man and his daughter. He is an aging outlaw who just wants to get to California in order to provide his only child with a better chance in life. She is getting older quickly, as they do in the land of heat, but her upbeat personality and experience living near the Apaches have made her an attractive catch and Considine finds his attention diverted. But there are smoke signals all around the land and everyone knows the war parties are coming. Will the old outlaw and his daughter make it through? Or will the harsh scrub lands and flying arrows bring an end to their manifest destiny?
There are no dawns like the dawns that come to desert lands, nor are there colors anywhere like the pastels of the wastelands. There is no atmosphere anywhere with half the sharp clarity of the desert air following a rain ---- and no land holds death so close, so ready, so waiting.
L’Amour knew his settings because he had lived in the Southwest and his description of the rising sun is simply spot-on. Rain comes to the desert infrequently, but when it does, the smell of the creosote is stunning, a wake-up to the senses. My home faces East, so I can watch the sun rise like thunder from my front yard, a reminder of either the summer heat on its way or the kaleidoscope of color due to us during the autumn and winter seasons. I really enjoyed this book but L’Amour’s books are short, so I had to parse out my reading, as I didn’t want to get to the end too quickly. It’s also fun to have an old drugstore paperback in one’s hands, worn out by previous readers, pages marked by old coffee stains and dreams of adventure.
Book Season = Winter (creosote rain)
December 5, 2010
“High Lonesome” is flecked with dread. There’s a ray of hope at the bitter end but there’s a lot of bitter before you get there. This is 90 percent straight-up action and still manages to pack in plenty of life-choice situations for this band of (mostly) bad guys. Or bad guys with a touch of heart here and there. “High Lonesome” is about last chances, big choices and dreams. Even bad guys have dreams and Considine’s hopes are clear. He even wants to rob the bank in Obaro with his way. “There must be no killing. He would like to rob the bank of Obaro to get the money and to taunt them, but he wanted no killing. Aside from the fact that he hated no one there, there was a practical side. Take their money and they might come after you; but kill a friend of theirs and they would follow you through hell.” Yes, there’s a woman and plenty of bullets and knives. Bad guys, more bad guys and some shades of gray. Dreams interrupted. “Whatever a man does leaves a trail behind, and to his passing he leaves indications of the manner of man he is, of his character, and even something of his plans. It requires only the observant and understanding eye to read what the trail can show.” That’s about as good a summary as any. A quick, energetic and still thoughtful read.
May 6, 2022
“I think of myself in the oral tradition--as a troubadour, a village taleteller, the man in the shadows of the campfire. That’s the way I’d like to be remembered--as a storyteller. A good storyteller.” -Louis L’Amour
Well, Mr. L’Amour, that’s how I remember you. Every time I’ve picked up one of your books, I knew I was gonna get a good story--another time, another place to give me a break from my own little world. I wasn’t let down with this one, either. Some reviewers see this novel as a bit of a mediocre offering from you, and it may be, but I figure that a mediocre book by Louis L’Amour is better than most everyone else’s. We ride on.
Well, Mr. L’Amour, that’s how I remember you. Every time I’ve picked up one of your books, I knew I was gonna get a good story--another time, another place to give me a break from my own little world. I wasn’t let down with this one, either. Some reviewers see this novel as a bit of a mediocre offering from you, and it may be, but I figure that a mediocre book by Louis L’Amour is better than most everyone else’s. We ride on.
September 14, 2023
High Lonesome? More like, the author was high and lonesome when he wrote this!
jk that's not true, it was just okay.
jk that's not true, it was just okay.
June 19, 2012
Not one of his best but good enough to pass some time. I once again found myself between books and grabbed a trusty L'amour to get me through. If you are looking to start reading L'amour's books I would suggest you start with a different one but this one will do in a pinch. Out of the million books he wrote with the same plot only names changed there are only a few I didn't like so you would be pretty safe to just grab one up and jump in. He always takes you back to a time where men were men and the women knew how to be ladies. It is a breath of fresh air after seeing how media has painted all the women to be sex crazed harlots and men to be muscle toned bumbling fools.
March 29, 2016
My favorite thing about this book was the prose and a bit of the dialogue. I like how conversations just start, are short, but tell you a lot. The real thrill is when you get about a page of prose, perhaps describing the country, the Indians, or just the outlaw's way of life.
I did find myself wandering in thought on this one, sometimes losing my place as I forgot what I read. Besides that, this is a pretty solid western, a short read you can do in a day if you want to.
I did find myself wandering in thought on this one, sometimes losing my place as I forgot what I read. Besides that, this is a pretty solid western, a short read you can do in a day if you want to.
August 11, 2024
After taking a longer than usual break from Westrens, I was taking a look at my shelves, unsure on what to read. Then I grabbed HIGH LONESOME without even taking a look at the synopsis, and I began reading, and it was DYNAMITE!
This is one of my TOP THREE LOUIS L'AMORE novels, and I would recommend HIGH LONESOME to anyone who is interested in reading LOUIS L'AMORE.
9.5 out of 10
This is one of my TOP THREE LOUIS L'AMORE novels, and I would recommend HIGH LONESOME to anyone who is interested in reading LOUIS L'AMORE.
9.5 out of 10
January 24, 2026
"There are no dawns like the dawns that come to desert lands, nor are there colors anywhere like the pastels of the wastelands. There is no atmosphere anywhere with half the sharp clarity of the desert air following a rain - and no land holds death so close, so ready, so waiting."
Considine and three fellow outlaws have set their sights on Obaro, a place that Considine knows well, intending to rob the bank there. As they make their way, they cross paths with a fellow outlaw, this one an old-timer who more-or-less went straight after marrying and now has his beautiful, young daughter Lennie with him. Considine makes eyes with Lennie but the father runs him off and he continues on his way.
"High Lonesome" (1962) is outstanding. L'Amour quickly touches on and then creates a tense narrative as the conflicted Considine, Apache raiders, a prior girlfriend, a former friend who is now the Sheriff (who ended up with the girl), and his three well-written comrades engage in a desperate manhunt and survival attempt in the desert mountains of the American Southwest.
Verdict: Classic L'Amour. Short, engaging, action-packed, and with a smart bad-guy protagonist.
Jeff's Rating: 5 / 5 (Excellent)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
Considine and three fellow outlaws have set their sights on Obaro, a place that Considine knows well, intending to rob the bank there. As they make their way, they cross paths with a fellow outlaw, this one an old-timer who more-or-less went straight after marrying and now has his beautiful, young daughter Lennie with him. Considine makes eyes with Lennie but the father runs him off and he continues on his way.
"High Lonesome" (1962) is outstanding. L'Amour quickly touches on and then creates a tense narrative as the conflicted Considine, Apache raiders, a prior girlfriend, a former friend who is now the Sheriff (who ended up with the girl), and his three well-written comrades engage in a desperate manhunt and survival attempt in the desert mountains of the American Southwest.
Verdict: Classic L'Amour. Short, engaging, action-packed, and with a smart bad-guy protagonist.
Jeff's Rating: 5 / 5 (Excellent)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
June 6, 2020
A typical Western.
Outlaws with Hearts of Gold.
They had a choice between escape with considerable loots and almost certain death in a hopeless rescue.
And they didn't disappoint me.
A simple and predictable story also quite enjoyable.
Outlaws with Hearts of Gold.
They had a choice between escape with considerable loots and almost certain death in a hopeless rescue.
And they didn't disappoint me.
A simple and predictable story also quite enjoyable.
June 8, 2025
Reading Louis L'Amour is like eating potato chips, they kind of all taste the same but you can't get enough of them.
February 12, 2015
I grew up hearing my dad mention Louis L'Amour on several occasions, branding him one of the best authors of western frontier fiction that ever lived. Even though I have read books since I was a kid, I had never given one of his books a shot, until now.
HIGH LONESOME is a classic western tale through and through. Outlaws, guns fights, Indians, dry deserts, danger and bank robberies abound in this short 160 page story.
I enjoyed the simplistic, yet wisdom filled story that L'Amour had to tell here. There are several memorable and quotable lines here, such as "Folks said time was a healer, but time was also a thief. It robbed a man of years, and robbed him of memories". Brilliant!
From bad guys that have a glimmer of hope in changing their law breaking ways, to old friends honoring one another despite the different paths their lives have taken, to a father wanting nothing but the best for his young daughter as he contemplates what her life will be like when he's gone, HIGH LONESOME was a great, short ride and will certainly not be the last Louis L'Amour book that I read. I give this one 4/5
HIGH LONESOME is a classic western tale through and through. Outlaws, guns fights, Indians, dry deserts, danger and bank robberies abound in this short 160 page story.
I enjoyed the simplistic, yet wisdom filled story that L'Amour had to tell here. There are several memorable and quotable lines here, such as "Folks said time was a healer, but time was also a thief. It robbed a man of years, and robbed him of memories". Brilliant!
From bad guys that have a glimmer of hope in changing their law breaking ways, to old friends honoring one another despite the different paths their lives have taken, to a father wanting nothing but the best for his young daughter as he contemplates what her life will be like when he's gone, HIGH LONESOME was a great, short ride and will certainly not be the last Louis L'Amour book that I read. I give this one 4/5
October 3, 2020
Years after a love triangle tears Considine and Pete Runyon's friendship apart , they meet again on opposite sides of the law. Considine is set to rob the bank in Sheriff Runyon's town when he sidetracked by a stubborn farmer and a beautiful woman.
July 7, 2018
This is the story of Considine, an outlaw who is going with his gang for one big score and then off to Mexico. Along the way, they run into a retired outlaw and his daughter. They are heading for California for a new start. They go their separate ways, but Considine can't get her off his mind. After the robbery, the gang heads for Mexico. But it becomes apparent that Indians are on the trail of the father and daughter. And he has a decision to make.
As far as the plot went, I really liked it. The plan to rob the bank was good, the Indian raids were good, and the romance was nice. Unfortunately, L'Amour is very repetitive. And the book was only 150 pages, so the repetitiveness was very apparent.
Considine spent A LOT of time thinking about the girl which would have been okay except he didn't have a lot of thoughts about her so he just kept thinking the same ones over and over. And the girl kept thinking of him with all the same thoughts.
So it was just a little fiction novel that didn't require a lot of brains with actually a decent plot, but not well written.
As far as the plot went, I really liked it. The plan to rob the bank was good, the Indian raids were good, and the romance was nice. Unfortunately, L'Amour is very repetitive. And the book was only 150 pages, so the repetitiveness was very apparent.
Considine spent A LOT of time thinking about the girl which would have been okay except he didn't have a lot of thoughts about her so he just kept thinking the same ones over and over. And the girl kept thinking of him with all the same thoughts.
So it was just a little fiction novel that didn't require a lot of brains with actually a decent plot, but not well written.
December 21, 2019
I love an occasional Louis L'Amour novel. The hero always gets the girl. The descriptions of the western mountains and deserts are inspiring. Every character has a flaw but most have a heart of gold. In these idealized stories, I'm never surprised or disappointed. No wonder his books sold like hot cakes.
October 1, 2025
OMGGGGG. I did not expect this book to be so good omfg. My heart is broken into a million tiny pieces, especially with the ending😭
On another note though, I can’t even begin to describe how much I love Lennie. She’s actually the best and I love her so much. And I’m so lucky that I got to read this book with one of my favourite people too 👀🥰
On another note though, I can’t even begin to describe how much I love Lennie. She’s actually the best and I love her so much. And I’m so lucky that I got to read this book with one of my favourite people too 👀🥰
November 9, 2017
A western that is all a Western is supposed to be. Outlaws who are good guys, bank robbery and of course a girl. And did I mention a stand off with the Indians where three of the outlaws are killed?
I liked the descriptions of the American desert and the countryside.
I liked the descriptions of the American desert and the countryside.
March 14, 2019
Near as I can tell, L'Amour wasn't the sort of writer who says, "Challenge accepted, Mr. Shakespeare." He wanted to be a humble storyteller and make a pile of money, instead. No shame in that but there's enough damn fine writing sprinkled throughout this novel that I wish he had said, "Challenge accepted, Mr. Twain."
Anyway, the plot's good, trending from a bank heist into a rescue mission. Don't play the game of guessing which characters are going to survive at the end and you should have a nice time. My only real problem was that the axis of the story turns on when the boy first meets the girl and that scene should have been handled with a little more care and depth. I'm not asking for Romeo and Juliet here, but break a sweat on this part, Lou, because your story demands it. End of sermon.
Anyway, the plot's good, trending from a bank heist into a rescue mission. Don't play the game of guessing which characters are going to survive at the end and you should have a nice time. My only real problem was that the axis of the story turns on when the boy first meets the girl and that scene should have been handled with a little more care and depth. I'm not asking for Romeo and Juliet here, but break a sweat on this part, Lou, because your story demands it. End of sermon.
April 19, 2023
This had a lot of the romantic schmalz that L’Amour puts into his work, but it stepped outside of the bounds of what he normally wrote.
In this one the heroes are the outlaws.
I liked it. I’m surprised nobody made a film out of it.
In this one the heroes are the outlaws.
I liked it. I’m surprised nobody made a film out of it.
December 20, 2017
Very Good!
June 19, 2021
Excellent western with well drawn characters.
February 3, 2023
Love these stories! Hard men making a hard way, meeting a beautiful young lady. Watch as he grows to the man she wants him to be.
October 29, 2025
The old women at the library book sale bullied me into getting this. It’s short, simple, fast.
October 5, 2023
Sometimes you just need to read a cowboy story.
March 28, 2020
Classic gunslinger action with all the traditional Western themes: tumbleweeds, emotionally distant cowboys, and shootouts underneath the big desert sky. I found the characters somewhat stale, but in my opinion Westerns are mostly read for the gun smoke and rattlesnakes. In other words, action and setting, both of which are competently developed by the author.
February 24, 2017
Quick read. There is nothing extraordinary about this typical “Western” story. Nothing bad about it either. Simple plot – bad guy seeks revenge; bad guy meets girl; girl falls for bad guy and vice versa; bad guy goes good; marauding Indians everywhere. My only criticism about the novel is that the “girl falls for bad guy and vice versa” element of the plot is extremely shallow and, consequently, somewhat unbelievable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews