Sackett » (Unabridged)

Louis L'Amour's 115 title-plus bibliography is astonishing on its own; even more so given the fact that his writing career did not start in earnest until his 40s. Simply being prolific, however, does not a bestselling author make. L'Amour's Western stories, as written by a real-life adventurer, capture the survivalism and code of honor on which the American frontier mythology rests.

William Tell Sackett had followed a different path from his younger brothers, but his name, like theirs, was spoken with respect and just a little fear. Where Orrin had brought law and order from New Mexico to the plains of Montana, backed up by the gunfighting talents of his brother Tye, Tell Sackett's destiny drew him to Texas after he had to kill a man. There, in the high, lonesome country, he came upon a vein of pure gold. All he'd wanted was enough to buy a ranch, but he soon learned that gold had ways of its own with men.

Library Journal

Tell Sackett is a drifter longing to settle down, but after shooting one of the infamous Bigelow brothers, he figures it's time to mosey on down the trail once more. As he wanders into the Sangre de Cristos, he goes through a keyhole pass that leads him into a cave that has not been entered in many years. In this lonely spot, with winter rapidly approaching, Tell Sackett discovers gold...and something else he does not expect. Unfortunately, the Bigelow brothers are not far behind him, so in the tradition of L'Amour, a humdinger of a showdown ensues. How Tell meets his destiny makes for a rousing tale, and David Strathairn's narration is perfect. He sounds so gravelly and Western that this reviewer is reminded of a line from Blazing Saddles that hails a speech at a town meeting as "authentic Western gibberish"! Sackett is like that, filled with "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do" philosophy so intrinsic to Western adventure novels. L'Amour was a visual writer, and the bygone world of the Western frontier is painted so exquisitely that even listeners who normally turn up their noses at the genre will enjoy this one. Highly recommended. Barbara Perkins, Irving P.L., TX Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.