10 Best Louis L’Amour Western Books
When it comes to Western authors, none are more prolific or popular than Louis L’Amour. Labeled “America’s Storyteller” by many, his tales of the wild frontier were rife with fabulous characters, thrilling plots, and an authentic take on the American West that far surpasses what we see on the page today. L’Amour knew how to tell a good story (even one set in the Middle Ages like The Walking Drum, the Cold War like Last of the Breed, or contemporary America like The Haunted Mesa), and he never let us forget it.
In his vast career, L’Amour penned over 100 novels and more than 250 short stories — an impressive number by any standard. But which of his novels are the best? Well, that will probably look different depending on who you ask — and, between us, it does seem a little impossible to try and rank them (there isn’t really a bad book in his bibliography). That’s said, we’ve put together a list of some of our L’Amour favorites that will do the job. If you’re looking to give the Western star a go, these are some of the novels you ought to start with.
10
‘Son of a Wanted Man’ (1984)
Image via Bantam BooksPerhaps one of L’Amours most underrated works, Son of a Wanted Man is loosely connected to the larger Sackett series (and is also a direct sequel in many respects to Borden Chantry), but it can be thoroughly enjoyed on its own. The tale follows the titular hero Mike Bastian, the adoptive son of outlaw Ben Curry, who struggles as the heir-apparent to Curry’s empire, an empire he’s not sure that he wants.
Full of action, suspense, and some truly clever twists, Son of a Wanted Man is a genuine pleasure. It balances Mike’s perspective quite well with Ben’s, as well as other heroic characters like Borden Chantry and Tyrel Sackett, who appear in pivotal roles. Of all the Sackett-related books that could turn easily into a standalone film, this is one that we’d love to see most.
9
‘To the Far Blue Mountains’ (1976)
Image via Corgi BooksSpeaking of the Sackett series, To the Far Blue Mountains is one of several Sackett-based prequels that detail the famed frontier family’s first adventures in the New World. The tale follows patriarch Barnabas Sackett as he leaves England in the 17th century for the Americas, only to find himself on the run from the Queen of England after being accused as a thief. Things quickly go from bad to worse.
Filled with plenty of action as Barnabas goes on the run, To the Far Blue Mountains is a real page-turner. Fans of historical fiction beyond the traditional Old West setting will enjoy this frontier thriller, which chronicles the early years of the European pioneers who made their way across the pond. Even though it’s not your usual shoot-‘em-up horse opera, it contains enough Western flavor that you won’t want to put it down.
8
‘Mustang Man’ (1966)
Image via Bantam BooksAnother chapter in the Sackett story, Mustang Man follows Nolan Sackett as he searches for lost gold in Sante Fe. While there, he meets the irresistible Penelope Hume, whose grandfather is responsible for the lost treasure. With others seeking to find it first, Nolan and Penelope must fight hard to take hold of the prize — or else lose it like so many others before them.
A sequel of sorts to Mojave Crossing, though only in the sense that Nolan returns for this adventure, Mustang Man is a riveting pulp adventure that keeps the reader on their toes. With some interesting twists thrown into the third act and plenty of action to boot, you’ll understand why many love this L’Amour classic. Again, while it’s part of The Sacketts series, it doesn’t necessarily require additional reading — though you’ll find yourself wanting to grab more.
7
‘Sackett’s Land’ (1974)
Image via Bantam BooksThe first prequel in The Sacketts series, Sackett’s Land is the first chapter of Barnabas Sackett’s exciting adventures in America. Set in 1599, it follows Barnabas’ first voyage to the New World and the dangers he found while fleeing his native land. Full of pirates and high-seas adventures, this first installment in L’Amour’s powerful Western series is the origin story of the West.
That said, Sackett’s Land itself is not a Western, at least not in the traditional sense. However, it lays the historical foundation that all Western adventures would eventually ground themselves in, capturing the early years of that American spirit found in a man desperate to leave his homeland for another. It may not be what you’re used to from L’Amour, but it’s a necessary chapter that adds some important cultural context.
6
‘Comstock Lode’ (1981)
Image via Bantam BooksThe first L’Amour novel on this list not to connect so directly to The Sackett series, Comstock Lode takes its name from the deposit of silver once located in the Utah Territory (present day Nevada). Chronicling the life of a frontier mining town, the novel follows independent souls Val Trevallion and Grita Redaway as they seek to stake their claim — and rewrite their future. As one of L’Amour’s more epic novels, Comstock Lode offers a distinct picture of an Old West boomtown.
While some have noted that the novel feels a little bloated in some places, fans of L’Amour’s signature style of storytelling and clear eye for Western-flavored characters will no doubt love this adventure. With plenty of great characters, the roles of the heroes and villains are quite clearly defined in a way you’d expect from a classic John Wayne picture. Not that that’s a bad thing.
5
‘Kilkenny’ (1954)
Image via Bantam BooksAlthough one could easily enjoy it as a standalone tale, Kilkenny is technically the third novel in L’Amour’s series of books following troubled gunslinger Lance Kilkenny. This time around, Kilkenny tries to escape his growing reputation by hiding out in the Utah mountains. Doing so only puts a man named Tetlow on his tail, however, who seeks revenge on the gunman for killing his son.
Kilkenny is a fan favorite L’Amour novel that packs a mean punch and an even meaner set of circumstances. Although Kilkenny is an honorable man hoping to escape from his violent past, that past continues to catch up with him. It’s a perfect Western yarn, the kind that only an author like L’Amour can spin so effortlessly.
4
‘The Lonesome Gods’ (1983)
Image via Bantom BooksNot to be confused with Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (another one of the genre’s most important tales), The Lonesome Gods is another L’Amour epic that follows Johannes Verne as he suffers post-abandonment at the hand of violence, tragedy, outlaws, and the land itself. Equal parts Western and survival adventure, the novel is a sprawling tale of perseverance in the face of deadly circumstances.
The Lonesome Gods is quite the endeavor, but with enough suspense, romance, and Western archetypes to keep the reader going, it’s the type of read you’ll likely want to revisit. Far more adult than some of L’Amour’s other novels, Johannes’ valiant journey toward Los Angeles is one that we cannot recommend enough for its moral insistence and dramatic flare.
3
‘The Daybreakers’ (1960)
Image via Bantam BooksThe first novel in The Sacketts ever written (and the first fully adapted to the screen), The Daybreakers is where many begin when tackling L’Amour’s ambitious westward journey. Following brothers Tyrel and Orrin Sackett as they leave their Tennessee home for the New Mexico Territory, the pair are forced to make a new life for themselves as they start (and fight hard to maintain) a ranch out west. Only, things are never that easy.
The Daybreakers is full of everything you could hope for in a classic Western tale. Brotherhood, gunfights, romance, drama, violence, adventure, and plenty of accurate period details to boot. It’s the type of horse opera that you could easily see as the basis for a television adaptation, and one that we hope will one day become a reality beyond the television film. For a great companion piece, follow the adventures of Tyrel and Orrin’s other brother, Tell, in Sackett.
2
‘Flint’ (1960)
Image via Bantam BooksOne of the most popular standalone Western yarns penned by L’Amour, Flint is a tale about personal redemption as one seeks to make peace with the world before death. When James Kettleman returns to New Mexico to die, he adapts the name “Flint” as he aids local rancher Nancy Kerrigan in a range war that would turn the territory upside down. Not too far off from Shane, but full of L’Amour’s trademark style.
With a Flint feature film adaptation in the works, now is the perfect time to dive into this action-packed Western novel. The tale will fly by with each page as Flint lives up to his legendary name. In addition to the main narrative, L’Amour employs flashbacks to reveal more about the gunslinger, which only add to the mystery.
1
‘Hondo’ (1953)
Image via Random HouseYes, Hondo is also the name of the famed John Wayne classic, and yes, this is the same story — only better. In fact, the film was actually based on L’Amour’s original short story “The Gift of Cochise,” which the Duke loved so much that he wanted to turn it into a motion picture. L’Amour agreed, of course, but under the condition that he got to write the novelization. Though not his first book, it helped put the Western author on the map.
Believe it or not, Hondo the novel is even better than the film. It dives deep into the psychology of Hondo Lane himself, offers a more harrowing perspective of the battle between the Apaches and the U.S. Cavalry, and emphasizes Angie Lowe’s agency in ways not fully possible on film. It’s a true masterclass in Western literature that distills the genre to its basic essentials and then makes you fall in love with them all over again. Don’t sleep on it!
