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Steve Dancy Tales #2
Leadville
Steve Dancy tales. Honest westerns. Filled with dishonest characters. When New York City shopkeeper Steve Dancy moved west to experience the frontier, he wound up embroiled in a deadly feud...a feud that he was forced to settle with guns. Now, all he wants to do is follow up on a few business interests, write about his adventures, and continue his exploration of the West. But in the autumn of 1879, Joseph McAllen asks Dancy for help. Ute renegades have abducted a young girl near Mesa Verde, Colorado, and the Pinkerton captain wants him to join the rescue party. Surprisingly, the trail doesn't lead into the San Juan Mountains, but to Leadville—a rich mining town teeming with the worst elements of a raw frontier. Bitter feuds, vendettas, and greed turn the affair into a bloody conflict that spans the state. Dancy has proved that he can handle himself in rough mining towns. But can this shopkeeper survive a dangerous mountain wilderness?
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
321 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
James D. Best
25 books71 followersJames Best is the author of the bestselling Steve Dancy Tales: The Shopkeeper, Leadville, Murder at Thumb Butte, The Return, Jenny's Revenge, Crossing the Animas, and No Peace. His contemporary Best Thrillers series includes The Shut Mouth Society, Deluge, and The Templar Reprisals. Tempest at Dawn is a classic novelization of the United States Constitutional Convention. Principled Action and The Digital Organization are nonfiction books. James has ghost written three books, authored two regular magazine columns, and published numerous journal articles. As a conference speaker, he has made presentations throughout North America and Europe. He is a member of Western Writers of America, Western Literature Association, and the Pacific Beach Surf Club. James enjoys writing, film, surfing, skiing, and watching his grandchildren play sports and cavort.
His blog address and contact information can be found at http://jamesdbest.blogspot.com/
James and his wife Diane live in Omaha, San Diego, and New York City. (Close to all the things he loves except skiing. Invitations to a mountain cabins gladly accepted.)
His blog address and contact information can be found at http://jamesdbest.blogspot.com/
James and his wife Diane live in Omaha, San Diego, and New York City. (Close to all the things he loves except skiing. Invitations to a mountain cabins gladly accepted.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 4, 2012
Leadville is a fine follow up to The Shopkeeper. One might even argue that the two actually are parts of one book.
Leadville picks up soon after the closing of The Shopkeeper. Narrator Steve Dancy is joined by his small group of pals as they go on a deadly adventure to find -- or find vengeance for -- the daughter of James McAllen, a Pinkerton agent who worked for Steve in The Shopkeeper. The action is deftly handled, and the storytelling is nicely done. Recommended.
Leadville picks up soon after the closing of The Shopkeeper. Narrator Steve Dancy is joined by his small group of pals as they go on a deadly adventure to find -- or find vengeance for -- the daughter of James McAllen, a Pinkerton agent who worked for Steve in The Shopkeeper. The action is deftly handled, and the storytelling is nicely done. Recommended.
January 20, 2016
The Steve Dancy series turns out to be an extremely well-written western series, at times introducing historical characters...
In our first outing, Dancy proved himself to be a gunman extraordinaire, even though an Easterner. This did not come naturally, but came because his New York father rejected his family's wealth to work as a gunsmith, and young Dancy did so. The writer took his time revealing this area of Dancy's education and talents in the first novel-- bringing him to a realistic gunfight-- and revealing to others he had some talent. This easterner is learning the ways of the west bit by bit.
This time, Captain McAllen calls for help when his daughter is kidnapped... That sets the stage for a whole lot of western action, written in a realistic fashion. Dancy is still learning how to be a westerner, and still using his wealth to set up operations designed to get the bad guy.
The gunfights in both novels are more along the lines of how the West was done. There is no "I'll be waiting in the street" or "on the count of three I'm gonna draw." Instead, the gunfights are fast, no-nonsense shootouts that happened frequently on the streets and arroyos of the Old West.
There is one scene I disliked, however, and it was a serious enough flaw for me to drop my rating by one star. Dancy is teaching a young lady to shoot. After a few hours she complains that nobody could hit all of the bottles that are set up at the distance that they are established. Dancy whirls and quickdraws and dispatches the last three bottles in a showoffy manner. While it shows some of Dancy's occasional arrogance-- I thought it hurt the novel by making him a showoff and making more of his skill than necessary.
Still, the novel's setting-- "Leadville" is well-written and demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the period and the area. The discussion of winter conditions for miners, etc. is quality stuff. The handling of the criminal element is very realistic and Dancy's coming to understand frontier justice demonstrates growth in the character's culture shock.
Now, I have to see about finding a copy of the third in the series, because it is the best western stuff I've read in ages. Louis L'Amour and Luke Short should be ashamed of some of the crap they wrote compared to this series.
Dancy's ability to read people is excellent and demonstrated in his response to his love interest, a beautiful, but flawed woman who appears to be suffering from bi-polar disorder or simply has just had a REALLY HARD time in the old west just surviving. She goes from sweet to hateful in the flash of an instant, and Dancy's desire to be with her is balanced by his fear of her mood swings.
If you like westerns... You've got to mount up your horse and dive into this series.
In our first outing, Dancy proved himself to be a gunman extraordinaire, even though an Easterner. This did not come naturally, but came because his New York father rejected his family's wealth to work as a gunsmith, and young Dancy did so. The writer took his time revealing this area of Dancy's education and talents in the first novel-- bringing him to a realistic gunfight-- and revealing to others he had some talent. This easterner is learning the ways of the west bit by bit.
This time, Captain McAllen calls for help when his daughter is kidnapped... That sets the stage for a whole lot of western action, written in a realistic fashion. Dancy is still learning how to be a westerner, and still using his wealth to set up operations designed to get the bad guy.
The gunfights in both novels are more along the lines of how the West was done. There is no "I'll be waiting in the street" or "on the count of three I'm gonna draw." Instead, the gunfights are fast, no-nonsense shootouts that happened frequently on the streets and arroyos of the Old West.
There is one scene I disliked, however, and it was a serious enough flaw for me to drop my rating by one star. Dancy is teaching a young lady to shoot. After a few hours she complains that nobody could hit all of the bottles that are set up at the distance that they are established. Dancy whirls and quickdraws and dispatches the last three bottles in a showoffy manner. While it shows some of Dancy's occasional arrogance-- I thought it hurt the novel by making him a showoff and making more of his skill than necessary.
Still, the novel's setting-- "Leadville" is well-written and demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the period and the area. The discussion of winter conditions for miners, etc. is quality stuff. The handling of the criminal element is very realistic and Dancy's coming to understand frontier justice demonstrates growth in the character's culture shock.
Now, I have to see about finding a copy of the third in the series, because it is the best western stuff I've read in ages. Louis L'Amour and Luke Short should be ashamed of some of the crap they wrote compared to this series.
Dancy's ability to read people is excellent and demonstrated in his response to his love interest, a beautiful, but flawed woman who appears to be suffering from bi-polar disorder or simply has just had a REALLY HARD time in the old west just surviving. She goes from sweet to hateful in the flash of an instant, and Dancy's desire to be with her is balanced by his fear of her mood swings.
If you like westerns... You've got to mount up your horse and dive into this series.
May 5, 2016
I really enjoy these Steve Dancy westerns. Having read them slightly out of order, I started with the 3rd book and have now filled in the first 2, has been just slightly weird but not badly disconcerting. Also, I know have the details on a few things that were mentioned in Murder at Thumb Butte that I didn't have before. I feel like my handle on the characters, overall, is better. These characters are worth it, too. I like the interplay between Steve and Jeff Sharp a lot. I even like that some of the ways that they express that friendship don't make sense to outsiders. I think friendships are like that in real life. My only quibble with this book, and it may just have been me, is that there might be slightly too much interaction with Captain McAllen in this book. I'm sure that it's highlighted because of his personal stake in the plot, but he's so dour and terse that after a while I was left wondering why the other two considered him to be their friend. He comes around a bit at the end, which is good, though. Really, though, if you like well-written Westerns, these books are a lot of fun. You should check them out.
August 2, 2020
Impressive
There is little more delightful than discovering that book two in a series is even better than the excellent book one.
There is little more delightful than discovering that book two in a series is even better than the excellent book one.
May 6, 2015
Am enjoying reading this series. I love watching how Steve learns the way of the west but still is enough of an Easterner to stay "civilized" with the people in the West.
It was enjoyable to read the descriptions of the areas they were traveling in because I have off roaded all around the Durango, Silverton, Ouray and Leadville area to recognize the areas he described.
I hope the rest of this series is just as enjoyable.
It was enjoyable to read the descriptions of the areas they were traveling in because I have off roaded all around the Durango, Silverton, Ouray and Leadville area to recognize the areas he described.
I hope the rest of this series is just as enjoyable.
September 6, 2019
Steve Dancy is with his friend Jeff and Captain McAllen of the Pinkertons. Maggie, McAllen's daughter has been kidnapped by Indians and he needs their help in getting her back.
I don't read many westerns. I chose this book because of the title. I read all I can about this historical town in the Colorado mountains so I grabbed this one up without really knowing what it was about. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the characters and their different personalities and the storyline was good. The parts about Leadville were fun to read. I would pick up another in this series.
I don't read many westerns. I chose this book because of the title. I read all I can about this historical town in the Colorado mountains so I grabbed this one up without really knowing what it was about. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the characters and their different personalities and the storyline was good. The parts about Leadville were fun to read. I would pick up another in this series.
September 3, 2020
A very good book.
Well, I'm here, so it's not "mum's the word". I enjoyed the story very much and I will continue with more as I go thru Amazon's library. Thanks for writing them for us.
Well, I'm here, so it's not "mum's the word". I enjoyed the story very much and I will continue with more as I go thru Amazon's library. Thanks for writing them for us.
February 1, 2020
Excellent read
Another great read by Mr Best. This series has been nothing but outstanding. Would highly recommend this series to everyone that enjoys a great western.
Another great read by Mr Best. This series has been nothing but outstanding. Would highly recommend this series to everyone that enjoys a great western.
May 29, 2020
Boring and uninspired - full of tropes. I wouldn't have been surprised if it was written by a 'decent' high schooler. Oh well!
July 4, 2020
Excellent!
Your books are keeping me up well past my bedtime. They are pretty good words in a row. The characters in this book were well laid and believable.
Your books are keeping me up well past my bedtime. They are pretty good words in a row. The characters in this book were well laid and believable.
December 3, 2020
Decent story
Another good story in the series, I've read them before and enjoyed it. At my age, waiting a few months, makes it a new story.
Another good story in the series, I've read them before and enjoyed it. At my age, waiting a few months, makes it a new story.
November 26, 2021
Pretty good!!
I am no prude, but cursing where it doesn't add to the story always disgusts me. Otherwise, a five star rating.
I am no prude, but cursing where it doesn't add to the story always disgusts me. Otherwise, a five star rating.
July 6, 2025
Action packed with a few twists and turns - good characters. Who would have thought that I would be reading westerns!
October 13, 2016
Another winner!
I love the characters Mr. Best has created and thoroughly enjoy the stories. I'd recommend the first two Steve Dancy books and look forward to reading more.
I love the characters Mr. Best has created and thoroughly enjoy the stories. I'd recommend the first two Steve Dancy books and look forward to reading more.
July 22, 2020
Not my usual genre but an engrossing yarn, enjoyed reading about places I’ve visited
June 7, 2015
Shopkeeper Steve Dancy and his sidekick Jeff Sharp, come to the aid of their friend, Pinkerton Captain McAllen, whose daughter is kidnapped by a renegade band of Ute Indians in Durango, a very tough silver mining town in 1879 Colorado. The kidnapping soon becomes complicated by old enemies of both McAllen and Dancy for different reasons. What is so engaging about the characters in this series is their charisma and likability which translates into readability. Dancy and Sharp differ from most fictional western cowboy types in that they are both independently wealthy. This does not make them better or more interesting characters, just characters with more options available to them, like today's detectives with unlimited expense accounts. First and foremost though, these are protagonists with a keen sense of humor, integrity and justice that I find appealing. I will continue reading Darcy and Sharp's adventures in the wild west of the 1870's because, while it's not "Lonesome Dove", it's tightly plotted and highly entertaining storytelling under the big western sky!
August 13, 2010
A sequel to The Shopkeeper. I don't read many westerns, but I enjoyed The Shopkeeper and the character of Steve Dancy. Leadville doesn't disappoint either. Steve and his mining buddy Jeff Sharp connect up with their old Pinkerton friend Joseph McAllen to track down the Indians who have abducted his daughter. Steve's old nemesis, Mrs. Bolton returns and is as evil as always.
The story is exciting and fast-paced. Gun fights and robberies, cowboys and Indians, horses and mining, friendship and loss. The heroes are terrific and the bad guys aren't. The adventure is entertaining.
My only complaint is the same one I had with the Shopkeeper and it's the pervasive use of the "F" word. I would have given Leadville 4 stars if not for that. The book stands alone well, but reading The Shopkeeper first sets a great tone and gives you back history of Steve Dancy.
The story is exciting and fast-paced. Gun fights and robberies, cowboys and Indians, horses and mining, friendship and loss. The heroes are terrific and the bad guys aren't. The adventure is entertaining.
My only complaint is the same one I had with the Shopkeeper and it's the pervasive use of the "F" word. I would have given Leadville 4 stars if not for that. The book stands alone well, but reading The Shopkeeper first sets a great tone and gives you back history of Steve Dancy.
March 4, 2016
Good westerns might be hard to come by, but this author is fitting the bill. This is Book #2 in the Steve Dancy series. While reading #1, The Shopkeeper, isn't necessary, it would sure help to keep things in order. Dancy was a shopkeeper in NY who came out west to get enough stories to write a book. Not any ordinary shopkeeper, though, he is an expert gunsmith with a natural feel for handling guns. The good guys and bad guys return in this adventure. Captain McAllen's daughter has been kidnapped by Indians. Dancy and his partner (sort of) Jeff Sharp are enlisted to help rescue her. Lots of page turning action!
February 26, 2012
I was a little worried that I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as the first book in this series, Shopkeeper. I don’t normally read westerns so I wasn’t sure if a whole trilogy could hold my interest. But this just confirms that I officially love this series now. The characters are ruggedly lovable and humorous, the narration is charming, the setting is brought to life with accuracy and detail, and the plot is engaging and exciting. Can’t wait to read the third book and hope to see the series continued.
December 27, 2015
Good book, fun western.
Likes: The characters and plot. Well done and likable. It takes a lot for me to dislikes a western since I grew up reading them, I have a huge soft spot for them. Plus, I grew up in Nevada so I know a lot of cowboys :) I've always been fascinated by America's western history.
Dislikes: I don't like reading the f-word.
Likes: The characters and plot. Well done and likable. It takes a lot for me to dislikes a western since I grew up reading them, I have a huge soft spot for them. Plus, I grew up in Nevada so I know a lot of cowboys :) I've always been fascinated by America's western history.
Dislikes: I don't like reading the f-word.
February 13, 2014
The second book featuring Steve Dancy. Dancy is enlisted to help a friend retrieve his daughter who was kidnapped by Ute renegades, finds things aren't what they seem and must also deal with some unfinished business of his own. A fine Western.
June 15, 2015
I rarely rate a book five stars but all three books in the Steve Dancy series have been terrific. The style of writing, the details to the time period, the story itself just makes for a really enjoyable book.
February 13, 2016
I seriously like Westerns. This one, not as much as I'd hoped. It seemed to drag for me. The characters were interesting but I never felt any real involvement in their lives. The action was muted and it felt viewed from a long distance away. Easy, quick read.
August 13, 2016
I always worry that the second book in a series won't be as good as the first, but Leadville was just as captivating as The Shopkeeper! I just downloaded Murder at Thumb Butte and can't wait to read it. I haven't been this excited about a series in ages.
November 28, 2010
Slightly less good than the Shopkeeper, but still fun to read. This one seemed a little bit less realistic and forced, but I was glad the adventure was continued.
March 14, 2012
Not one of his better books...to formulaic.
March 29, 2012
As I was reading this I kept thinking, "This is such a cheesy western, so why can't I put it down!". I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one in the series.
March 29, 2012
Good follow up story to The Shopkeeper. Steve Dancy can get into trouble and then with help from his friends get out of it.
April 17, 2012
Gotta love a good western! Page turner, even my husband enjoyed it.
May 26, 2012
Quick, well plotted read. Same problems as the first one: Steve's wealth makes everything too easy and people occasionally use language that's not appropriate for the time period.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews