Typical good Sackett story...this time it's agonizing survival. ( )

Tell Sackett is hunted by the hired guns of a cattle baron who is trying to cover up a crime. Can Tell survive until other Sacketts arrive to join the fray? Or will he handle them all on his own?

Good entry in the Sackett series, in which we also meet other members of the author's fictional family. ( )

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Title: Sackett Brand
Series: Sacketts #10
Author: Louis L'Amour
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Western
Pages: 160
Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

William Tell Sackett and his new bride Ange are making a start of it. With the gold they had, they bought enough supplies to start a new life in the West with cattle. When Tell goes ahead to scout, he's shot and falls into a river. He escapes those hunting him and makes his way back to where Ange had the wagons. There is no trace of the wagons OR Ange.

Tell survives and hunts down information after finding Ange's body. A rancher, co-owner of the Lazy A, is responsible. Nobody knows that he killed Ange and he must kill Tell to keep his secret, for NO one will work for a man who kills a woman. Said rancher hires a large group of gunfighters under the claim that Tell tried to kill him.

The word goes out that a Sackett is being hunted. Other Sacketts come a running and Tell only has to survive until they arrive. Of course, he has to survive 40 gunfighters who are all hunting him.

He survives and the other Sacketts take down the gunfighters. The book ends with Tell surrounded by his family.

My Thoughts:

Gotta admit, it took me by surprise when L'Amour had Ange killed. I did not see it coming, especially so early. It really affected how I read the rest of the book. While it gave Tell a real motive to survive and for revenge, L'Amour's writing of Ange's death probably affected me more than it did Tell.

This was a very quick read and it was even quicker given certain stock phrases and ideas that L'Amour uses in almost every book of his. You don't read these for originality at all but to see the Right prevail and the Wrong fail. Truth and Justice. Sometimes you need to read that those Ideals actually do exist and that there are men willing to bear the burden of being responsible for them. I read this in about 2-3hrs, so it was quick.

There just isn't much else to say. These reviews of the Sacketts are more about getting the synopsis so when I look back in 10-15 years I don't have to feel like I need to read these again.

★★★☆☆ ( )

Tell Sackett has finally married Ange, his own true love. They are heading west to start their own life together. However, Tell is nearly murdered and returns to find his wife gone without a trace.

I hated some of the story, because I wanted a happy ending for Tell and Ange and that wasn't to be (she is found murdered -- this happens early in the book, so I'm not giving away anything). I loved other parts of it. I think the message is that with family, you are never really alone.

If you like Westerns and haven't read this one, what are you waiting for? Add it to your to-read list pronto. ( )

One of my favorite of the many Louis L'Amour books that I own, "The Sackett Brand" is another classic from the prolific author. I call this story a favorite because of the many different Sacketts that are included. Other of the Sackett stories refer to the fact that when one Sackett needs help, they all come running -- and different Sackett family members are referred to in many other books, but this is the book that actually names the different characters and where they are from.

Most of L'Amour's books are what I consider a quick read as escape literature. There is not a lot of depth to them. Though L'Amour did his research and includes factual settings as much as possible, still these are meant to be stories, not history books. This story is a classic L'Amour book. ( )