Bendigo Shafter by Louis L'Amour

A small group of westward-bound pioneers, making their way to what they hope will be a better life, find themselves running out of time. It’s too close to winter to make it over the mountains so they decide to stop and build a small town of sorts, just some place to survive until the warmer weather of spring would arrive once again. They were seven men and thirteen women and children, among them a young man of eighteen by the name of Bendigo Shafter.

Louis L’Amour, the best-selling western author of all time offers up one of his most beloved tales. This is not a traditional western novel crammed full of gunfights, cattle rustling, town taming and the like, although all those things do occur in this book. Rather, this is more of a historical fiction novel, a “frontier” story depicting the harsh conditions and challenges under which a community is carved out. Ben “Bendigo” Shafter is the ideal man to face the situations that arise, wise beyond his years but always seeking out new knowledge. In the midst of becoming a leader of the town, he wonders what his future holds, as well as what the future of the town may be.

I’ve read most of Louis L’Amour’s body of work and would rank this one in the top five. Given his prolific output, that’s really saying something. I always like a good frontier yarn filled with mountain men, rough characters, and the ever-present threat of an Indian uprising. I really enjoyed the character of Bendigo Shafter and his approach to life, especially his penchant for reading whatever books he could get his hands on in order to improve himself. Having read L’Amour’s autobiography, I know that is a trait shared by both author and character. Indeed, there is quite a bit of the author’s background that infuses Bendigo, including his extensive travels during his formative years. Yes, Bendigo is a bit too perfect to be true but he struggles now and then just like we all do. And besides, it's nice once in a while to read a novel where the good guy is just that - a good guy. Several other characters provide a well-balanced “family” for Bendigo, including a fellow by the name of Ethan Sackett. Putting a Sackett in a L’Amour novel is always a wise decision.  But in the end, it is the town itself that ties the events of the novel together. That feeling of building something with your own hands infuses the narrative, and to then see it grow and prosper is very fulfilling. Plenty of pitfalls occur, mistakes made, and obstacles overcome, all towards a brighter future.

This is L’Amour at his best. It’s a novel of hope, destiny, and an unerring sense that change is the only constant in our lives. 

Highly recommended.

Borden Chantry by Louis L'Amour

Besides the Sacketts, Louis L’Amour also wrote other family sagas with multiple books associated with them, most prominently, books featuring either the Chantry or Talon families.  In fact, all three families tie-in together through events, marriage, etc., making these books even more interesting.

Here, Borden Chantry has had some bad luck with ranching so has been working as town marshal to earn a little money to provide for his wife and son, Tom (who features in "North to the Rails"). Serving as marshal is not Borden’s heart’s desire but like most L’Amour heroes, he strives to do a good job and earn the money he is paid. So, when the body of a dead man is found shot to death, he is not content to merely chalk it up to a drunken brawl or a bad card game and simply have the man buried. He needs to find the killer. More murders occur and it becomes increasingly evident that Borden is also targeted.

The story turns into much more of a whodunnit detective novel than the typical L’Amour western novel although plenty of western action remains. When Borden eventually identifies the dead man, it turns out to be none other than Joe Sackett, younger brother of Orrin, Tell, and Tyrel. Later on, Tyrel makes a nice cameo appearance, developing a relationship with Borden. They would work together again in "Son of a Wanted Man". I love it when characters from other L’Amour books show up when I least expect it. Additionally, the character of Kim Baca is first introduced here.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one. The mystery elements are well handled as are the expected western gunfights. Borden is a likable character, a little less perfect and more like us than most of this author’s protagonists. Despite his skill with a gun, he doesn’t really think he’s cut out to be marshal, much less a detective, but he perseveres anyway.