The Sky-Liners: The Sacketts

The Sacketts #11

by Louis L'Amour

In The Sky-Liners, Louis L’Amour introduces Flagan and Galloway Sackett, heading west from Tennessee to seek their fortunes. That’s when they came across an old Irish trader who offered them two fine horses if they would agree to escort his granddaughter, Judith, to her father in Colorado. Flagan saw nothing but trouble in the fiery young woman, but they needed the horses. Unfortunately, Flagan was right, for Judith had fallen for James Black Fetchen, a charismatic gunman whose courtship hid the darkest of intentions.Now Fetchen and his gang are racing the Sackett brothers to Colorado—leaving behind a trail of betrayal, robbery, and murder. Flagan and Galloway can only guess why Judith is so important to Fetchen and what awaits them at her father’s ranch. One thing Flagan knows for The tough and spirited woman has won his heart. But can he trust her with his life?

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Action, Classics, Audiobook

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1967

About the author

Louis 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".

Reviews

[Tracy P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++ Stars.

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you believe I read this? I did. I read it in honor of my grandpa. He loves these books.

I really liked it. It was adventurous, romantic and CLEAN. Louis L'Amour is a fun writer. Who knew?

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

The journey starts with the Sackett brothers and a very spirited young woman whom they are supposed to escort to her father.

Outlaws, rustlers, the head of the gang has his eyes set on the beautiful women with less than honorable intentions.

It’s a fast paced enjoyable western adventure - recommended for those who enjoy the genre and Louis L’Amore

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Sacketts! Flagan and Galloway (whose parents obviously hated children) were a tight team and it was interesting following them on this adventure. I liked Galloway almost immediately, if only for him making the rough and tumble bad guys sing Rock of Ages before running them out of town. It took longer to warm up to Flagan, though. Which is odd because he's the sole viewpoint character. And I had an even harder time with Judith—she starts out poorly, what with her very bad judgment, and she takes her time reforming.

As with the other Sackett tales, this one is a great adventure, well-paced and populated with plenty of well-fleshed side characters. We get Cap Roundtree again, and that's never a miss. I particularly liked that L'Amour kept those side-characters only as long as made sense, with them moving in and out of the narrative in a natural way that managed to convey some of the transient nature of frontier settlement without feeling manipulative or like authorial convenience.

If I have a complaint, it's that the romance of this one was rather flat. I liked both Flagan and Judith, but I just didn't see them coming together enough to get where they were by the end. This is probably my romance streak coming out. This was weak enough (and a big enough part of the story) that it nearly dropped this to three stars. Not the strongest Sackett book, but it was still a quick, fun read that I found nearly impossible to put down.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course, the Sackett boys come out on top in the long run... and one of them even falls in love. This was not my favorite Sackett book, but it was a lot of fun anyway.

[Brian Fagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Sky-Liners is L'Amour's 11th The Sacketts novel, written in 1967. Flagan Sackett, the narrator, and his brother Galloway return to Tennessee with money earned working in the New Mexico Territory for two years to pay off some family debts. As they begin their trip back to New Mexico, an old man pays them to escort his granddaughter to her father in Colorado. Flagan hates the teenager's sassy and independent attitude. On their way, they realize they are being trailed by Black Fletchen and his gang, whom the Sacketts embarrassed publicly back in town. They know Fletchen will be looking to kill them and take the girl and the horses. News arrives that Fletchen also has designs on the girl's father's ranch in Colorado. A L'Amour showdown appears imminent.

True to most of the L'Amour novels I've read, a superficial romance slides in as a backstory - this time Flagan, who is beginning to realize how lonely his life has become, starts to look on the girl, Judith, a little more tenderly.

"(I) had no close kinfolk, nobody keeping account of (me). If (I was) to get killed out here nobody would ask who, why, or whatever. It made a body feel lonesome down inside ..."

Strangely, I never determined what the title "sky-liners" are. L'Amour does mention sky pilots, an old western name for preachers. There were other mysteries and incongruities. For example, in Chapter 9, Flagan gets an offer of aid from a man in town. " ... we could round up a goodly lot who would ride to help." Flagan passes. 7 pages later, with nothing changed, Flagan thinks " ... we were few, and there was nowhere about that we could look for help."

The story is full of the flavor of the Old West. I've not heard this stratagem before, but as they are being followed, Flagan and Galloway ride sideways on their saddles, each facing outward. I haven't seen that done in film either. Real figures make an appearance when the Sacketts pass through Dodge, Kansas: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Doc "Halliday". And what's a western without coffee? Flagan " ... went for coffee. It was hot, blacker than sin and strong enough to float a horseshoe. It was cowboy's coffee." Yes, please.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flagan and Galloway Sackett travel from the hills of Tennessee westward to seek their fortunes. An Irish hose trader provides them mounts with the provision that they escort his granddaughter to Colorado to find her father. The girl is in love with an outlaw who pursues the the trio. He has plans of his own for her father's ranch and needs control of the girl. Flagan falls for the girl as they travel.

[James Biser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another good Sacket book. Two brothers take on a group of powerful bad people as they escort a young lady to her father's ranch. There is even love. The best part of this story is the chance it gives readers to come to know Flagan and Galloway Sackett. The brothers show that they are among the best as trackers and cowboys. The antagonists (Black Fletchen and his gang) fight dirty and are well-known as murderers and thieves. This calls for nonstop action.

[Michael Kennard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read most of Louis Lamour's books when I was in my late teens and early twenties. They are important to me as they were some of the first books that got me into the reading habit. For that I shall be forever grateful

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the last Sackett book I read. I started reading them because my dad owns every book by L'Amour. They were all sorta similar and got resolved too quickly at the end of the book. Still wish there was more Sacketts to read though. Good books and will probably reread them again.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sackett novels are a lot of fun. The plots and characters aren’t all that original, but L’Amour puts the familiar pieces together in a way that is always enjoyable. I love his use of language and the descriptions of the Western scenery.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Louis L’Amour: lots of ridin’, shootin’, and cowpunchin’. As usual, there’s a whole gang of bad guys to be dealt with, and a pretty girl with attitude to be won over. With L’Amour, you always know what to expect, and he always delivers.

[Angel McRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about family and being your word. I love the Sackett stories because they have such a strong family bond. They are there for one another no matter what.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn't get any better than this.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good with suspense. Mr. Lamour always has good actions in his western.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

My weakness for Louis L'Amour westerns is disturbing. Easy to read. Simple plots and usually a happy ending. Once again the Sacketts triumph against all odds.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK, I'm done. These last couple have bored the stuffing out of me. Think I'll turn to Trollope for my next Costco-size body of work from one author.

[*Stani* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows a new set of Sackett brothers, Flagan & Galloway, that appeared in the previous book, the Sackett Brand, even if briefly.

!!Spoilers ahead!!

While traveling through a western town, they run into a mean outfit, who’s run by an even meaner man named Black Fetchen.

The brothers are able to run the mean outfit out of town without a fight or a shoot-out, but now they made an enemy of Black Fetchen.

On their way out of town, an old man stops them and asks them a favor to accompany his granddaughter to Colorado, where her father lives, in exchange for beautiful horses and some money.

The girl doesn’t want to go with them, as she and her family is a well known and respected for breeding beautiful horses. She is also in love with Black Fetchen and wants to accept his proposal to marry her.

She is too young and smitten to realize he just wants her horses and her father’s ranch, but she’ll find out soon enough.

Reluctantly she goes with Flagan and Galloway, although later on she leaves them and joins Black Fetchen.

When she finds out what Black Fetchen and his outfit are all about she is more than happy to be rescued by Fletchen and help him rescue her father, who has been held captive by Black Fetchen’s outfit against his will.

Black Fetchen doesn’t just want the ranch, the cattle and the horses, he heard of an old gold treasure somewhere around the mountains where the ranch lays and as he trying to find it, he’ll stop at nothing to take everything he can by stealing, lying and killing those who stand in his way.

It is up to Flagan and Galloway to stop him before it’s too late.

****

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The treasure bit was thrown in as an afterthought in my opinion and kind of unnecessary.

The rest I enjoyed quite a bit. The universal story of good vs evil, the inexperience of youth vs nature etc...

I enjoyed to read about another Sacketts, even with Louis L’Amour known cliches, such as one brother is the “homely, quiet, shy one” and the other one is the exact opposite, even though the quiet one who doesn’t have much luck with the ladies always gets the girl in in the end.

But short of that the story was well written, with plenty of action.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, Mr. L'Amour gives us a great adventure, well told, with solid and likable characters, and villains we want to see get what's coming to them. Which they inevitably will.

[Jim Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guilty pleasure

[David Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introducing Flagan & Galloway Sackett.

[Tamar Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Misleading: You never do learn who lined the sky.

[Jacque · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was fun to have two new Sacketts introduced. This was a quick, good read. It did wrap up rather abruptly.

[Clyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining Sacketts story from a master storyteller. Lots of action, strong good guys, black hearted bad guys, and some romance. What's not to like? 😊

[Peter Charleston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louis L'Amour will always be remembered as a story teller in western fiction. Flagan and Galloway Sackett run into a tough group and must find a way to save the lady and help tame the West. Another fine adventure by the author.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

My brother asked to give Louis L'Amour another chance, so I read one of the Sackett series and I really enjoyed it. It followed a good story line, showed growth in all the main characters, and was a fun/fast read.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good western but I deducted one star because L'Amour had not taken the word 'taken' from his vocabulary. Most people from the west were not ignorant hillbillies. That said, it is fast paced, adventurous and the good guys win; everything you want in a western. Recommended.

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was full of action right from the beginning and kept the attention and anticipation high throughout the story. Another classic Louis L'Amour book that was true to the Sackett name!

[Robb Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

This Is maybe the third time i've read this one. It stays a page turner. There are others of this author's books I've read a good ten times each.

[Dyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I read a L'Amour book I think of my dad who loved to watch old westerns on TV. #12 of The Sacketts series may not be my favorite, but it's still a good read. The brothers featured in this book are Flagan and Galloway Sackett and were mentioned in "The Sackett Brand". Flagan is the POV narrator, and there are some interesting minor characters. Cap Roundtree is back for a cameo appearance. In Dodge the names of Marshall Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, Sheriff of Ford County pop up.

Flagan and Galloway Sackett had left town two years previously to earn money to pay off the last of their dad's debts. They are returning from the western lands and heading for Tazewell to make the last payment at a store that had given their dad credit, and then they would be out of every cent they had. Well, they were crossing the street when they tangled with James "Black" Fetchen and his gang, the local villains. Fetchen is known for his fist fighting, shooting, his terrible rages, and fierce hatreds. You know this won't end well when Galloway makes them shuck their guns after a fracas and start singing "Rock of Ages".

Outside of town, the Sacketts sighted a camp at the edge of the woods and an old man walks out to meet them. His name is Laban Costello and he's an Irish horse trader. He knows the Sackett name and that it's an honorable name. He would like them to take his almost 16-year-old granddaughter to Colorado and hand her over to his son along with her six horses. He even will provide them with fine saddle horses and a hundred dollars to defray expenses. He wants her away from Black Fetchen who wants to marry her. There's only one problem - Judith is in love with Fetchen, finds him romantic and dashing, and doesn't want to go. She turns out to be willful, immature, and a spoiled brat!

They take off and the first night Judith runs away and Flagan has to go after her. She's spitting mad when he catches her. They don't spot Fetchen trailing them but have a sense he's not far behind. They soon come across a man crawling in the dirt and badly hurt. The outfit he was riding with had their cattle stolen by guess who. Fetchen's gang have now become cattle rustlers. The cattle belonged to Evan Hawkes and when they stampeded, his young son was killed. Love is so blind sometimes, and Judith runs away again and makes it to Fetchen in Dodge. He's ready to marry her but needs a parson to make it proper. In the meantime, Evan Hawkes asks the Sackett brothers to hire on as hands on his cattle drive and get his herd back. As Fetchen begins rounding up more bad guys and outlaws, Tom Sharp at the trading post, a friend of the Costellos, and Cap Roundtree gather up some men for a roundup of Hawkes's cattle to rebrand them.

What is it that Black Fetchen is really after? Why is he moving west? Does he want revenge against the Sacketts? Is he after Judith's horses, the Costello ranch, or is there a deeper cause? Does Judith figure out Fetchen is a really bad man after all? What brings her riding out to meet up with the Sacketts and rides with them again for good? What happened to Judith's father, who's a mustanger and horse breeder, after his ranch is seized by Fetchen? What's this about a secret gold cache? What is it that Fetchen is really after??? We do know that he's really really bad and will do anything to get what he wants.

After Fetchen registers a new cattle brand called JBF Connected, the reader gets a detailed description of cattle branding and how to change an old brand to a new one. No need to reveal the ending, I think the reader can figure it out if he/she likes old westerns.