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The Iron Marshall
Street fighter in Kansas. Young Tom Shanaghy was hardheaded and hard-muscled. Back in New York he could handle anything from a blacksmith's anvil to knuckle-and-skull street brawling. Now Shanaghy was a stranger in a small Kansas town, a town desperate for a marshal. He pinned on the badge, but facing down a vengeful trail driver and a murderous gang of gold thieves would take more iron than even Shanaghy could pack into two fists.
181 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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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 162 reviews
December 30, 2022
"A man should be like iron, not steel. If steel is heated too much it becomes brittle, and it will break. Iron has great strength, boy. Yet it can be shaped and changed by the proper hammering and the right amount of heat. A good man is like that." -- Tom Shanaghy's father, pages 172-173
The Iron Marshal is late-era L'Amour - he had been churning out those dependable Wild West-set adventure paperbacks for 25 years at the original date of publication - and for much of the book I thought it would turn out to be my new favorite from his extensive bibliography. Unfortunately, the third act turns sort of jumbled and rushed with the ramped-up suspense / drama towards the usual showdown, and also sports two arguably incongruous 'deus ex machina' moments that strained credulity. However, the extensive initial set-up and middle section rank as superlative L'Amour storytelling - young adult Irish immigrant Tom Shanaghy, a two-fisted lad trained as a blacksmith and raised in the rough streets of New York City (in a scenario reminiscent of Scorsese's Gangs of New York storyline), has to flee the metropolis by freight train and soon finds himself in an upstart Kansas frontier town near the border of Colorado. The respected local marshal has gone missing and is feared murdered, and Shanaghy is believably fast-tracked into the role due to his ingratiating nature, confident (but not pandering) speech, and innate toughness . . . not to mention the sudden vacancy with said position! He pleasingly proves to be a natural as a lawman, but the excellent 'Big Apple' backstory and his early days 'on the job' sections were much better than the subpar conclusion.
The Iron Marshal is late-era L'Amour - he had been churning out those dependable Wild West-set adventure paperbacks for 25 years at the original date of publication - and for much of the book I thought it would turn out to be my new favorite from his extensive bibliography. Unfortunately, the third act turns sort of jumbled and rushed with the ramped-up suspense / drama towards the usual showdown, and also sports two arguably incongruous 'deus ex machina' moments that strained credulity. However, the extensive initial set-up and middle section rank as superlative L'Amour storytelling - young adult Irish immigrant Tom Shanaghy, a two-fisted lad trained as a blacksmith and raised in the rough streets of New York City (in a scenario reminiscent of Scorsese's Gangs of New York storyline), has to flee the metropolis by freight train and soon finds himself in an upstart Kansas frontier town near the border of Colorado. The respected local marshal has gone missing and is feared murdered, and Shanaghy is believably fast-tracked into the role due to his ingratiating nature, confident (but not pandering) speech, and innate toughness . . . not to mention the sudden vacancy with said position! He pleasingly proves to be a natural as a lawman, but the excellent 'Big Apple' backstory and his early days 'on the job' sections were much better than the subpar conclusion.
July 30, 2017
I have read most of Louis L’Amour’s books over the years. According to my records, I read “The Iron Marshal” when it first came out in 1979. I was looking for a western to read and decided to re-read this one. This book is a bit different from the usual L’Amour hero in that Tom Shanaghy was an Irish immigrant that ended up working as an enforcer for an Irish gang in New York City. He decided to head west and ended up in a small Kansas town that was looking to hire a town marshal. Tom applies and got the job. He found himself caught in the middle of a feud and a robbery that used the feud for a cover. Tom had a disadvantage as he was a city boy and not a cowboy.
The book is well written. The characters are interesting. L’Amour has a way of bringing his characters to life for the reader. The plot twists and turns and there are multiple plot lines. The pace is fast and there is some humor, fist fights and old fashion detective work. L’Amour always has a moral to his stories and also comments on ethics for example “ride for the brand”, “give an honest day’s work” and “pride in a job well done”. L’Amour is a master story teller who does not rely on sex and profanity to tell a story. L’Amour (1908-1988) was a prolific writer and wrote in a number of genre including poetry. He had many nom-de-plums. He is primarily known for his westerns and screen writing.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is six and a half hours long. Erick Singer does a good job narrating the book. Singer is an actor and award-winning audiobook narrator.
The book is well written. The characters are interesting. L’Amour has a way of bringing his characters to life for the reader. The plot twists and turns and there are multiple plot lines. The pace is fast and there is some humor, fist fights and old fashion detective work. L’Amour always has a moral to his stories and also comments on ethics for example “ride for the brand”, “give an honest day’s work” and “pride in a job well done”. L’Amour is a master story teller who does not rely on sex and profanity to tell a story. L’Amour (1908-1988) was a prolific writer and wrote in a number of genre including poetry. He had many nom-de-plums. He is primarily known for his westerns and screen writing.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is six and a half hours long. Erick Singer does a good job narrating the book. Singer is an actor and award-winning audiobook narrator.
July 15, 2022
The Iron Marshal
by Louis L'Amour Our Hero Tom Shanaghy orphan Irish immigrant graduated from the University of Hard Knocks of New York circa post civil war days. Mentored by Gang boss Clancy and Blacksmith McCarthy and gained excellent pass marks of subjects: gambling, bare knuckle prize fighting, racing horses, bar room bouncing and shooting gallery managerial position.
Suddenly shit hits the fan a lost gang war erupts & finds our hero on the run. A 1000 miles away tossed unceremoniously from a moving train, with a strangers bed roll with a revolver & a shot gun he made for the nearest town. Thus begins the story of promotion to Marshall by a town embattled by ruffians and double crossing murderous gold thieving evil villains, so he was right at home perfect home away from home, simple story with colorful language just loved it.
Sidekick kind off...Richard Pendalton, helped him when he was a kid in a fight on the the wharf, Jan Pendalton his sister who Tom may end up married to, who knows....anyway they do a bunch of gangster cowboy stuff and win the day
Satisfied that alternate reality cowboy life until it lasso's itself again.
by Louis L'Amour Our Hero Tom Shanaghy orphan Irish immigrant graduated from the University of Hard Knocks of New York circa post civil war days. Mentored by Gang boss Clancy and Blacksmith McCarthy and gained excellent pass marks of subjects: gambling, bare knuckle prize fighting, racing horses, bar room bouncing and shooting gallery managerial position.
Suddenly shit hits the fan a lost gang war erupts & finds our hero on the run. A 1000 miles away tossed unceremoniously from a moving train, with a strangers bed roll with a revolver & a shot gun he made for the nearest town. Thus begins the story of promotion to Marshall by a town embattled by ruffians and double crossing murderous gold thieving evil villains, so he was right at home perfect home away from home, simple story with colorful language just loved it.
Sidekick kind off...Richard Pendalton, helped him when he was a kid in a fight on the the wharf, Jan Pendalton his sister who Tom may end up married to, who knows....anyway they do a bunch of gangster cowboy stuff and win the day
Satisfied that alternate reality cowboy life until it lasso's itself again.
April 26, 2014
I'd quit reading L'Amour for a while, after few less-than-impressive books, but I tried again recently and the last two I've read were back up to standard. The Iron Marshal is interesting because of its first few chapters which develop the hero's backstory. Instead of the usual seasoned frontiersman we have a city-bred hero, but one whose background peculiarly fits him for the situation he lands in out West. Tom Shanahgy, an Irish immigrant boy, grew up working in the organization of a New York City political boss. When a fight with another gang goes the wrong way and forces him to hop a freight train headed west, he ends up dropping right into a small Kansas town that has its own troubles, and is drawn into them almost against his will.
It's a good complicated plot, with a looming confrontation between a tough rancher and the townsfolk, a missing marshal, and a plot by others to take advantage of the confusion and pull off a bigger crime. I'd say the only weakness is that some of the supporting characters aren't developed quite as well as they could be. I've noticed L'Amour had a tendency to use large numbers of characters, but not describe their physical characteristics and personalities as much as he could have, making it difficult for the reader to keep everybody straight in their mind. He was better with a tight, limited cast (e.g. Last Stand at Papago Wells or High Lonesome). In The Iron Marshal, though, the weakness isn't enough to damage the story that much. A good solid Western with a unique opening.
It's a good complicated plot, with a looming confrontation between a tough rancher and the townsfolk, a missing marshal, and a plot by others to take advantage of the confusion and pull off a bigger crime. I'd say the only weakness is that some of the supporting characters aren't developed quite as well as they could be. I've noticed L'Amour had a tendency to use large numbers of characters, but not describe their physical characteristics and personalities as much as he could have, making it difficult for the reader to keep everybody straight in their mind. He was better with a tight, limited cast (e.g. Last Stand at Papago Wells or High Lonesome). In The Iron Marshal, though, the weakness isn't enough to damage the story that much. A good solid Western with a unique opening.
September 13, 2017
L'Amour is the gold standard for novels set in the American West. His prolific output and his masterful storytelling endear him to any reader interested in the 'Wild West.'
It is therefor no surprise I have list track of the number of L'Amour books I have read over the years. I started reading his novels as a teenager and even after several decades his books don't disappoint.
To be sure, a classic Western story follows a formulaic model almost as predictable as a Bollywood movie. There is the hero – an almost bad guy who is at his core a good guy. The love interest who makes but fleeting appearances. The villain and his (or her) accompanying posse of bad guys (and gals).
However, it is L'Amour's ability to surprise within this formula which makes his novels entertaining, easy reads. Perhaps L'Amour pulls the reader so deep into the savage yet noble world of the Wild West that we forget the plot is simply a fairy tale of Good versus Evil.
The Iron Marshall is no different. A 'bad' good guy from 'civilized' New York city finds himself entangled in a small Western cowboy town. Before he knows it, our hero is the town Marshall and trying to unravel an intriguing criminal conspiracy. During his detective work, our hero deals with some 'real' bad guys. On his way to saving the town he also finds time for a 'love at first sight' encounter!
It all sounds rather unbelievable though when told by an experienced wordsmith the story is not only believable but also entertaining. For the un-initiated L'Amour reader The Iron Marshall may not be the best place to start. However, for those of us running out of L'Amour works to read this novel is as good as place as any to lose oneself in rough and tumble of the Wild West.
It is therefor no surprise I have list track of the number of L'Amour books I have read over the years. I started reading his novels as a teenager and even after several decades his books don't disappoint.
To be sure, a classic Western story follows a formulaic model almost as predictable as a Bollywood movie. There is the hero – an almost bad guy who is at his core a good guy. The love interest who makes but fleeting appearances. The villain and his (or her) accompanying posse of bad guys (and gals).
However, it is L'Amour's ability to surprise within this formula which makes his novels entertaining, easy reads. Perhaps L'Amour pulls the reader so deep into the savage yet noble world of the Wild West that we forget the plot is simply a fairy tale of Good versus Evil.
The Iron Marshall is no different. A 'bad' good guy from 'civilized' New York city finds himself entangled in a small Western cowboy town. Before he knows it, our hero is the town Marshall and trying to unravel an intriguing criminal conspiracy. During his detective work, our hero deals with some 'real' bad guys. On his way to saving the town he also finds time for a 'love at first sight' encounter!
It all sounds rather unbelievable though when told by an experienced wordsmith the story is not only believable but also entertaining. For the un-initiated L'Amour reader The Iron Marshall may not be the best place to start. However, for those of us running out of L'Amour works to read this novel is as good as place as any to lose oneself in rough and tumble of the Wild West.
November 17, 2020
As an Irish immigrant who since childhood. worked as a striker in New York City, Tom Shanaghy heads west like so many others. He accepts the job as town marshall in a small Kansas town that needs one and proceeds to discover ho difficult life can be. He nust thawr a major thft and prevent th town from being destroyed.
May 29, 2025
Here is another jaunty Western from the master of that genre, Louis L’Amour. However, there is a bit of a twist with this title as the Iron Marshal is actually a transplanted Irishman, imbued with the urban realities of New York City in the nineteenth century. It makes for a different read as the fish-out-of-water ends up in the Wild West and must fend for himself against greed and evil.
We learn that Tom Shanaghy was born in Ireland where, as a boy, he helped his father in the blacksmith shop. But after his father joins the British Army and is killed in India, little Tom and his mother decided to emigrate to the United States. But his mother dies on the ocean voyage, leaving Tom as an orphan when he disembarks in the bustling, overwhelming city of New York. Immediately, he gets into a fight with some of the local boys but finds an ally in another youngster who had also been on the same boat (this child will figure prominently later in the story). Luckily for little Tom, one of the Tammany Hall biggies saw him fight and adds him to an Irish street gang. And so Tom grows up, a tough-but-fair streetdog who remains loyal to his boss and gang.
But when trouble arrives, Tom escapes on a West-bound train, where he gets thrown off near a small Kansas town. He ends up smack in the middle of a power play by some of the local citizens, where he’s assumed to be an associate of the real marshal they had hired, but who disappeared. It’s going to be a wild time for Tom as he learns that his East Coast confidence will be tested more than once.
As usual, I enjoyed reading L’Amour. This one did sometimes “stutter” as many passages pertain to what the lead character is thinking, which means less action and more dithering. But it’s still a good read and a different type of Western.
Book Season = Year Round (wear the badge)
We learn that Tom Shanaghy was born in Ireland where, as a boy, he helped his father in the blacksmith shop. But after his father joins the British Army and is killed in India, little Tom and his mother decided to emigrate to the United States. But his mother dies on the ocean voyage, leaving Tom as an orphan when he disembarks in the bustling, overwhelming city of New York. Immediately, he gets into a fight with some of the local boys but finds an ally in another youngster who had also been on the same boat (this child will figure prominently later in the story). Luckily for little Tom, one of the Tammany Hall biggies saw him fight and adds him to an Irish street gang. And so Tom grows up, a tough-but-fair streetdog who remains loyal to his boss and gang.
But when trouble arrives, Tom escapes on a West-bound train, where he gets thrown off near a small Kansas town. He ends up smack in the middle of a power play by some of the local citizens, where he’s assumed to be an associate of the real marshal they had hired, but who disappeared. It’s going to be a wild time for Tom as he learns that his East Coast confidence will be tested more than once.
As usual, I enjoyed reading L’Amour. This one did sometimes “stutter” as many passages pertain to what the lead character is thinking, which means less action and more dithering. But it’s still a good read and a different type of Western.
Book Season = Year Round (wear the badge)
January 14, 2025
3.75 good fun pulp
February 10, 2020
A stranger rides into town and... Well, not exactly. This stranger wears a derby instead of a Stetson and arrives by train instead of horseback. Tom Shanaghy is a tough young Irishman fleeing retribution by a rival New York gang. He learned his (naturally superior) gun skills operating a shooting gallery in Manhattan. Nevertheless, the townspeople turn to him and make him marshal. They give him the badge, he can borrow a gun and a horse.
There are number of interesting subplots and well drawn characters in this Louis L'Amour novel. Actually more than I could comfortably keep track of. Indeed, except for the setting, the book is more in the mystery than Western genre as Tom attempts to determine who is planning to steal a gold shipment intended to pay off the drovers on the cattle drive approaching the town and to solve the mystery of the murder of the town's favorite farrier, a crime many in the community think that Tom actually committed and should be hung for.
There are number of interesting subplots and well drawn characters in this Louis L'Amour novel. Actually more than I could comfortably keep track of. Indeed, except for the setting, the book is more in the mystery than Western genre as Tom attempts to determine who is planning to steal a gold shipment intended to pay off the drovers on the cattle drive approaching the town and to solve the mystery of the murder of the town's favorite farrier, a crime many in the community think that Tom actually committed and should be hung for.
June 7, 2016
Love it!
I confess! I'm a big fan of L'Amour work. I've never had the opportunity to read this one but now that I've done it I think it's as good as his most known ones.
I confess! I'm a big fan of L'Amour work. I've never had the opportunity to read this one but now that I've done it I think it's as good as his most known ones.
July 1, 2022
It was a good study on point of view, suspense, reader frustration, and second guessing. Not the finest tuned of L'Amour's writing. The book starts well, but then goes into a series of flashbacks. While interesting, they could have been incorporated better. Then little things like some word choices for East Coast/European characters feeling more Wild West than they ought.
If you're a fan of Louis L'Amour, you'll still enjoy the read. I especially liked the Irish immigrant/gangsta main character. Kind of unique to the L'Amour I've read so far.
If you're a fan of Louis L'Amour, you'll still enjoy the read. I especially liked the Irish immigrant/gangsta main character. Kind of unique to the L'Amour I've read so far.
January 9, 2022
Audiobook 🔉
Westerns ain't my usual read but this one was full of mystery with a bit of shoot 'em up action so it was a fun read. Can't go wrong with an Irish protagonist (loved that accent in the audiobook and it stood out). I don't think I'd be one of those adventurous pioneering people but it's fun to read and be in a 'starter' town with its usual cast of good people within an evil world.
Westerns ain't my usual read but this one was full of mystery with a bit of shoot 'em up action so it was a fun read. Can't go wrong with an Irish protagonist (loved that accent in the audiobook and it stood out). I don't think I'd be one of those adventurous pioneering people but it's fun to read and be in a 'starter' town with its usual cast of good people within an evil world.
May 7, 2023
This was a fun, quick read with just the right amount of suspense. L'Amour twists the classic Western elements to tell the story of a savvy street rat who bluffs his way into becoming marshal of a small Kansas cattle town. However, he grows to embrace the role as he tries to stop a dangerous plot before it's too late.
June 28, 2019
Very good western. A man from Ireland has a gang in New York after him so he jumps on a freight train and takes on the west. The town he lands is in need of a marshal and this young man with his sharp shooter training seems to fit the bill.
July 12, 2020
I liked it wish I started reading Louis Amour when I was younger I have a lot of reading to get caught up he wrote a lot of books always enjoy his dime store novels!
December 28, 2020
Solid. Enjoyable.
November 6, 2024
Another solid novel by Louis. Surprisingly, this main character is flawed, yet he does what he can to get away from the big city and do right by a small town that takes him in.
We love an Iron Marshall
We love an Iron Marshall
June 13, 2019
Pretty good, but the plot got a little too complicated near the end.
June 3, 2019
This should have been a movie. Excellent!
February 15, 2019
So, I finally did it.
I finally read a Western novel. I've been a reader my whole life, at least since I was in second or third grade, almost fifty years. Yet I'd never had the slightest urge to read a Western of any kind.
Oh, I'd read "The Outcasts of Poker Flats" in school, and I flirted with picking up LONESOME DOVE in college, but nothing had ever come of it.
Why did I finally decide to take the plunge? I can't really say. I was paying my regular biweekly visit to the local used book store, and I walked through the Western section for the 100th time. This time, though, I stopped. And I looked. And I decided to pick up a Louis L'Amour.
And boy, am I glad.
I suppose I'd expected that the genre was too coarse, unsophisticated...that it leant itself to provincial themes and rudimentary writing skills.
Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong.
I chose THE IRON MARSHAL because it was a stand-alone title, unconnected with the Sacketts or any of the other recurring characters in L'Amour's stable.
It contained none of the trite elements I'd imagined it would. It was fresh, dynamic, and full of sparkling prose and interesting characters.
THE IRON MARSHAL follows Tom Shanaghy, an Irish immigrant who, fresh from the boat, as an orphan, is taken in by one of the principal political bosses/gang-leaders of old New York City. He is given an education in gambling, fighting, shooting, and leading--and manipulating--others. One day, while his boss/mentor is away, a rival gang makes a play for power, and Tom ends up running for his life. In order to escape pursuit by overwhelming numbers, he is forced to hop a train leading west.
Collapsing from exhaustion, he sleeps away the miles, until he is tossed inelegantly from the moving boxcar by a stranger. He picks himself up, and discovers that a bundle of clothes, guns and letters has been tossed after him.
Immediately, he makes friends--and enemies--in a small Kansas town. And, caught in the wheel of circumstance, he becomes the town's marshal, hired to prevent the local cattle baron from destroying the town as revenge for his son's murder.
And thereby hangs the tale.
I won't say any more about the book, itself; even though it's been around for forty-plus years, I'm sure there are those, like me, who will discover it--and L'Amour--for the first time. In fact, even fans of L'Amour may have missed this one. After all, the author's output was prodigious, and most casual readers probably concentrate on the Sacketts, anyway.
All I can say about Louis L'Amour is that I am sad that I didn't discover him earlier, and glad that I now have the opportunity to read the rest of his library for the first time.
Giddyup.
I finally read a Western novel. I've been a reader my whole life, at least since I was in second or third grade, almost fifty years. Yet I'd never had the slightest urge to read a Western of any kind.
Oh, I'd read "The Outcasts of Poker Flats" in school, and I flirted with picking up LONESOME DOVE in college, but nothing had ever come of it.
Why did I finally decide to take the plunge? I can't really say. I was paying my regular biweekly visit to the local used book store, and I walked through the Western section for the 100th time. This time, though, I stopped. And I looked. And I decided to pick up a Louis L'Amour.
And boy, am I glad.
I suppose I'd expected that the genre was too coarse, unsophisticated...that it leant itself to provincial themes and rudimentary writing skills.
Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong.
I chose THE IRON MARSHAL because it was a stand-alone title, unconnected with the Sacketts or any of the other recurring characters in L'Amour's stable.
It contained none of the trite elements I'd imagined it would. It was fresh, dynamic, and full of sparkling prose and interesting characters.
THE IRON MARSHAL follows Tom Shanaghy, an Irish immigrant who, fresh from the boat, as an orphan, is taken in by one of the principal political bosses/gang-leaders of old New York City. He is given an education in gambling, fighting, shooting, and leading--and manipulating--others. One day, while his boss/mentor is away, a rival gang makes a play for power, and Tom ends up running for his life. In order to escape pursuit by overwhelming numbers, he is forced to hop a train leading west.
Collapsing from exhaustion, he sleeps away the miles, until he is tossed inelegantly from the moving boxcar by a stranger. He picks himself up, and discovers that a bundle of clothes, guns and letters has been tossed after him.
Immediately, he makes friends--and enemies--in a small Kansas town. And, caught in the wheel of circumstance, he becomes the town's marshal, hired to prevent the local cattle baron from destroying the town as revenge for his son's murder.
And thereby hangs the tale.
I won't say any more about the book, itself; even though it's been around for forty-plus years, I'm sure there are those, like me, who will discover it--and L'Amour--for the first time. In fact, even fans of L'Amour may have missed this one. After all, the author's output was prodigious, and most casual readers probably concentrate on the Sacketts, anyway.
All I can say about Louis L'Amour is that I am sad that I didn't discover him earlier, and glad that I now have the opportunity to read the rest of his library for the first time.
Giddyup.
September 21, 2017
I gotta say, this is one of the best Louis L'Amour books I've read. I've read quite a few of them this year, too. I didn't use to be a fan, but he's winning me over with books like The Iron Marshall.
Tom Shanaghy got off the boat from Ireland as an orphan in New York City. He grew up tough, working for one of the city's crime bosses, but one night he has to run from a fight he can't win. He jumps into a car on a freight train and wakes up getting thrown off in Kansas. Tom becomes marshal of a tiny town waiting for a fight, but instead of the fight he expects, Tom learns of something much worse going on and he determines to do all he can to protect his new friends.
The pacing for this one is perfect. The fights are spread out enough that they don't become boring and the detective work is interesting. Tom Shanaghy is an interesting, likable character who is sure of himself, but doesn't indulge in the self-promotion that so many of L'Amour's other characters do.
I listened to this on audio. Erik Singer did a brilliant job with the voices. Each character had a separate and unique voice.
If you're a fan of Westerns, or a fan of mysteries and don't mind an Old West setting, I highly recommend The Iron Marshal.
Tom Shanaghy got off the boat from Ireland as an orphan in New York City. He grew up tough, working for one of the city's crime bosses, but one night he has to run from a fight he can't win. He jumps into a car on a freight train and wakes up getting thrown off in Kansas. Tom becomes marshal of a tiny town waiting for a fight, but instead of the fight he expects, Tom learns of something much worse going on and he determines to do all he can to protect his new friends.
The pacing for this one is perfect. The fights are spread out enough that they don't become boring and the detective work is interesting. Tom Shanaghy is an interesting, likable character who is sure of himself, but doesn't indulge in the self-promotion that so many of L'Amour's other characters do.
I listened to this on audio. Erik Singer did a brilliant job with the voices. Each character had a separate and unique voice.
If you're a fan of Westerns, or a fan of mysteries and don't mind an Old West setting, I highly recommend The Iron Marshal.
April 1, 2019
This was a nice page turner.
Starting with Tom Shanaghy coming to New York, from Ireland.
Getting involved with some of the criminal element. Growing up, to become one leaders trusted man.
Yet another faction attacks, forcing him to flee.
Finding himself out west, thrown from a train.
Stumbling on, another mans things.
Tom finds himself, assuming. The missing mans duties.
A man of the law, now missing.
Having to use what he learned, on the streets of New York.
To try and adapt. To keep him alive, in the old west.
Plots, and not knowing anyone.
Who can he trust and who are the masterminds. Behind what is going on.
A decent mix of western action and mystery.
As you move to the solution.
One thing, that kept it from the 5 stars.As you try and puzzle things out, with the main character.
One of the main players. Is not even really part of the story. Until at least half way in.
Some of the plot threads, weekly tied in by the finish.
Some maybe not fully resolved. Could have used one more chapter to wrap it all up.
Still a good read. With most of the main plot, wrapped up by the end.
Starting with Tom Shanaghy coming to New York, from Ireland.
Getting involved with some of the criminal element. Growing up, to become one leaders trusted man.
Yet another faction attacks, forcing him to flee.
Finding himself out west, thrown from a train.
Stumbling on, another mans things.
Tom finds himself, assuming. The missing mans duties.
A man of the law, now missing.
Having to use what he learned, on the streets of New York.
To try and adapt. To keep him alive, in the old west.
Plots, and not knowing anyone.
Who can he trust and who are the masterminds. Behind what is going on.
A decent mix of western action and mystery.
As you move to the solution.
One thing, that kept it from the 5 stars.As you try and puzzle things out, with the main character.
One of the main players. Is not even really part of the story. Until at least half way in.
Some of the plot threads, weekly tied in by the finish.
Some maybe not fully resolved. Could have used one more chapter to wrap it all up.
Still a good read. With most of the main plot, wrapped up by the end.
September 29, 2014
I would recommend this to all. It is the perfect book for those who love action, westerns, suspense, or just good old fashioned adult books this book is best for those who have a like for westerns, action, and medium suspense. The title of this book is very appropriate because the title 'The Iron Marshall' straight forwardly tells you exactly how the main character is. He is made of iron. I feel that the characters are described perfectly by the author and that I actually felt like I knew them personally. The characters seemed like they, to an extent, were real. The plot was very exciting, somewhat suspenseful, seemed like it fell into place as you read along. The ending came out as big surprise and I do mean very surprising I didn't expect th.... I should probably stop right there.
February 12, 2019
This western had a little different twist than most L'Amour westerns that have a good guy, a bad guy a woman and a shootout. While it did have all those things it additionally had an Irish immigrant that journeyed to New York City and got himself in so much trouble that he jumped a railroad car and got off in some prairie town in Kansas. The town folk quickly made him sheriff and then the good guys, bad guys, women and shootouts all took their normal place. A little camp, predictable and tedious with a sheriff with a derby, a brogue and as out of place as a cowboy with spurs, a Stetson, a Palomino and two six shooters walking the streets of Dublin. This was my seventy-fifth Louis L'Amour novel and not among my favorites.
April 27, 2019
The Iron Marshal by Louis L'Amour is a great read. The main character is Tom Shanaghy a enforce of a New York street gang.The setting is set in the 1870s or 1880s around the Kansas/Colorado border.Tom makes to many enemies in New York an is forced to skip town on a freight train. He falls asleep and gets awakened by a man who then throws him off the freight train along with a bundle of items that aren't his. He then starts to walk along the tracks till he decides to set camp .He runs into sun trouble with deputy's from a small town close bye. He goes into town to catch a train back to New York but he ends up getting elected as the new town Marshal.And he has a big mystery to solve an fast before he runs outta time.
September 9, 2017
I do believe this is my very first western.
I remember seeing L'Amour on my grandfather's shelves as a kid and scrunching my nose thinking, westerns? Bor-ring.
But that kid didn't know what she was missing. The story was actually a lot of fun.
This was back when men were men and settled their disputes with fists or a gun (said satirically). If you survived, you became friends, if not, well, you got bested and thems the breaks.
Honestly though, I appreciate the time and place this story came from, and the outlandish expectations these reads placed on male masculinity. :P
I remember seeing L'Amour on my grandfather's shelves as a kid and scrunching my nose thinking, westerns? Bor-ring.
But that kid didn't know what she was missing. The story was actually a lot of fun.
This was back when men were men and settled their disputes with fists or a gun (said satirically). If you survived, you became friends, if not, well, you got bested and thems the breaks.
Honestly though, I appreciate the time and place this story came from, and the outlandish expectations these reads placed on male masculinity. :P
August 26, 2009
Young boy comes from Ireland with his parents who unfortunately die along the way. He learns to make his way in the big city and then one day through a series of events finds himself in the West. He ends up as Marshall of a small town, solves a mystery and builds a new life where he can respect himself. Great book!
May 23, 2023
One of the notable strengths of Louis L'Amour's writing is his ability to create vivid and authentic landscapes. In "The Iron Marshall," he paints a vivid picture of the American frontier, complete with dusty towns, sprawling plains, and treacherous mountain passes. L'Amour's attention to detail brings the setting to life, immersing readers in the harsh realities of the time period.
September 2, 2025
A Western with a bit of a different flavour, featuring some detective work and a heist. The protagonist starts off as a gang member in New York before going West, which makes for some different plot elements than the usual.
December 28, 2018
It followed a bit of a formula and while I wasn't sure about everyone what was involved in the scheme, I kind of had it all figured out before the main character did. But not the worst of L'Amour's books.
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