Comanche Captive

by D. László Conhaim

Comanche Captive is the engrossing story of Laura Little—rescued by the U.S. Cavalry, torn from her Comanche-born son, and forcibly resettled in Fort Worth. Not even the walls of a sanitarium can keep her there. Back on the high plains, she meets Scott Renald, an army “redeemer” on a mission to negotiate for Indian captives. Touched by her story, he leads her search for her son. But this is also an account of the 10th Cavalry of buffalo soldiers, an African-American troop led by white officers and tasked with Indian removal. As Laura’s urgent search and a rapid military campaign collide, loyalties are tested, a surprising family drama unfolds, and two civilizations absorb the impact.

Genres: Historical Fiction

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2017

About the author

D. Laszlo Conhaim is passionate about discovering stories and people somehow lost to history—and to inspire or renew public interest in them. His socially conscious, exhaustively researched novels in recent years have focused on the multiracial struggle for the American West, emphasizing issues of family, identity, and belonging. Conhaim’s Paul Robeson-inspired Western All Man’s Land (Broken Arrow Press, 2019) was selected Finalist Best Novel in the Western Writers of America Spur Awards, and was a “Maverick” winner in the Will Rogers Medallion Awards. His 2021 novel The Unredeemed (a sequel to 2017’s Comanche Captive) was a Best Novel winner in the Will Rogers Medallion Awards and Best Novel finalist in the Western Fictioneers’ Peacemaker Awards. The Unredeemed chronicles the Buffalo Soldier Tragedy of 1877 and demonstrates how black Indian captives mattered less—if at all—to authorities. Conhaim’s first professional writing credit was a two-part 1986 interview in Los Angeles and Tokyo with Japanese screen legend Toshiro Mifune (for Minneapolis’ City Pages), followed by an interview with frequent costar Tatsuya Nakadai for USC’s Daily Trojan. In 1995, Conhaim co-founded The Prague Revue, the longest-running literary journal to serve the community of international writers in Prague. For TPR, he wrote a fictional remembrance of Miguel de Unamuno, “Feeling into Don Miguel,” which Gore Vidal “read with delight” and which Alexander Zaitchik (Rolling Stone, The Nation) called “masterful . . . a first-rate piece of writing by any standard” in Think Magazine. In June 2020, Broken Arrow Press released new ebook and paperback editions of Comanche Captive (recommended by Library Journal). In 2023, Broken Arrow Press broke ground on ancient Rome with Conhaim’s novelization of a true story seemingly never before told in fiction—the Bacchic Conspiracy—as told in Memoirs of Spurius, which Midwest Book Review has called "a gem" and Kirkus Reviews says is "grippingly dramatized . . . keenly imaginative . . . A fine amalgam of historical scholarship and literary invention." Conhaim was born in the United States and lives in Israel.

Visit the author's website: www.dlaszloconhaim.com

Select radio interviews:

https://www.dlaszloconhaim.com/events

Reviews

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW OF "COMANCHE CAPTIVE" by D. Laszlo Conhaim

"Comanche Captive" by D. Laszlo Conhaim  reminds me of  actually watching a Western movie with a big tub of popcorn, and soda or in my case coffee. The genres of this story are Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adventure with a dash of wit and satire thrown in. To quote the blurb in the book. "Combining historical fiction with western adventure, "COMANCHE CAPTIVE" chronicles the tale of Laura Little, a former captive who endures forced separation from her child, unwanted psychiatric care and finally the deadly consequences of her quest for her lost son"

D. Laszlo Conahim's descriptions of the western terrain, territories  landscape ,plains,and the Comanche tribe (and others) were extremely vivid and engaging. The author was motivated in writing this story after seeing Randolph Scott 1960 film "Comanche Nation " and wrote this story with a twist. The timeline of the story is could be anywhere from 1836-1875.

The author describes his characters as complex and complicated and adept to the turbulent times. Scott Renald searches for white captives that have been taken. Laura Little is a former captive of the Comanche, and has been separated from her young son.When Laura is "rescued" she is sent to a facility to acclimate to society again. In those times Laura was considered  a problem, because she wore her hair down, and not up, or wore pants and not a dress.  All Laura wants is her half Comanche son with his beautiful blue eyes. There are some colorful and quirky characters. There is a touch of wit and satire in this story as well.

I absolutely loved Laura Little. In those times, realizing that she was not going to be let out of the mental institution, she hog-tied the doctor, jumped out the window, and rode a horse bare-backed, determined to get back to her son , no matter the cost. She meets Scott Renaldo, and convinces him to help her. The two start out on a perilous adventure that is quite dangerous and deadly. Laura Little may be blond and petit, but she is one "kick ass Mama".

I appreciate the historical research that went into the story. The author does blend the fiction and history like a marriage. I also appreciate that the attention to many women captives who were held captive and had children with the Comanche. These children were lighter in color, and even had blue eyes. Many of these women had no choice. If they were rescued, they often would wind up in a mental institution.

I would recommend this unusually historical fiction novel  with western adventures for those readers that would enjoy the time period.  I would like to thank Get Red PR, Five Star Publishing for an ARC of this book for my honest review. This book will be released November  15, 2017. Happy Reading!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Library Journal Xpress reviews for the week ending December 15, 2017: Conhaim, D. László. Comanche Captive. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Nov. 2017. 224p. ISBN 9781432837396. $25.95. F
Laura Little seeks to return to her Comanche captors to be reunited with her six-year-old son who was left behind in 1873 when the U.S. Calvary liberated her. After a year in a Fort Worth mental institution, she escapes, heading for Comancheria, a portion of New Mexico and Texas. Scott Renald, an Indian agent searching for white captives, meets Laura by chance on the Texas plains, where the two join forces on a dangerous mission to find her child. Caught between the Tonkawa tribe to their rear and the Comanches ahead of them, the pair proceed west but are separated after a bloody standoff with the Tonkawa. Laura eventually rejoins the Comanches so they will deliver her to her son while Scott continues West on a different trail. Conhaim (Autumn Serenade) offsets this brutal tale of human cruelty, injustice, and violence with rich descriptions of the natural beauty of the West.
Verdict Recommended for Western fans as well as for those who are drawn to historical fiction about Indian captives, such as Alan Le May’s classic The Searchers.—Wendy W. Paige, Shelby Cty. P.L., Morristown, IN

[Milisenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comanche CaptiveIt was a treat to read D. Laszlo Conhaim's 'Comanche Captive' because it is an exceptionally well-written book on a number of levels. Not only it is an enthralling story for those who love Westerns, but it goes far beyond being a great book 'for the guys'.
It is a masterfully crafted novel with many unexpected plot twists and the language that makes both people and places come alive. There are no purely protagonist nor antagonist characters- all of them are real people with their struggles and passions and you can't wait to learn what happens to them next.
Highly recommend!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unusual story depicting the history of the American southwest in a different and fascinating light. It is well plotted, well written and well paced. The characters are superbly written. I especially liked the gutsy Laura Little and resourceful Scott Renald but the secondary characters are interesting too. This is a book that you become so engrossed in that you finish in one sitting. Well done, Mr. Conhaim!
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Rachel Santino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read pioneer stories about terrifying encounters in Indian territories, but this one focuses on a captive—Laura Little—and her unusual narrative. She adapts to life with the Comanches and bares a child to a war chief, but when she is rescued and taken to civilization, she fights to return to her son and native life. Enter ex-Army captain, Scott Renald, a negotiator in search of other Indian captives. He crosses paths with Laura and they find themselves linked in a surprising way. At the same time, the Indians are being forced by the buffalo soldiers to relocate to a reservation. They must decide whether to fight for their freedom or submit to a new way of life. I enjoyed Laura’s feisty character and how her obstacles were shared in combination with the Indians’ plight. Renald’s connection was also very satisfying.

[Janice Anzaldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

good story

The Indians captured alot of women and children but only because they were so mistreated. A lot of the captives grew to loved there capturers. Only history will tell the real truth.

[Jerri Gennaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comanche Captive

This has been a intriguing book and I have really enjoyed it. I would love to see a sequel to it

[Brooklyn Branch · Rating 1 out of 5]

too brutal