Showdown Trail: A Novel of Wagon Train Days

De: Louis L'Amour

Narrado por: Randal Schaffer

Rock Bannon was a killer and a hero. All the settlers understood was that he was a killer, and where they came from killing was wrong and justice left to the police. So Rock's warnings of peril fell on deaf ears and the settlers forged onward, lured toward certain destruction by a glowing promise of a cheap rangeland paradise that didn't exist. Then Mort Harper, the worst killer in the territory, took Roc Bannon's fiancee, and Rock came to get her.

"Figured you'd haul for this place if you knew the country at all," Bannon said. "So I cut across country."

"There's no other trail," Harper said.

Bannon replied, "I make my own trails. I don't try to follow and steal the work of other men."

Harper laughed and his hand swept down and up ... the two guns boomed together.

Showdown Trail was first published in Giant Western magazine in winter 1948 under Louis L'Amour's Jim Mayo pseudonym. Years later, when L'Amour was first starting out as a paperback novelist, it was rewritten as The Tall Stranger. One of the earliest L'Amour westerns to be adapted for the movies, the film version starred Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, and Michael Ansara.

©1948 Louis L’Amour (P)2018 Jean Marie Stine

If you love the old west this book is your ticket to ride!

You were able to actually feel the desert, the dust, the heat, cold, which is amazing descriptions of Louis l’Amour. This is so so well written that I wish it never ended. It was taking me through an amazing landscape with a plausible plot. Those were tough times back then. We should never forget where we came from. This book will help us remember.

A good Louis L'Amour story...

However, don't buy this copy, purchase the same story in: "Showdown Trail: A Western Duo," which has this exact book PLUS the book, "The Trail to Peach Meadow Canyon." You'll get two stories for the price of one! I did not know I was getting the same book. Bummer. I learned my lesson--to do a search on my purchased books, since Louis L'Amour has so many books!
This version has a very good introduction about Louis L'Amour, but not worth the price of admission. Get the other copy!

Excellent Story!

Full of heroes and villains, this short but fulfilling story will captivate any Louis La'Amour fan. Randal Shaffer did an excellent job bringing this story to life without distracting from the content. Bravo!

Louis l'amour!

Louis l'amour never disappoints, a great western story, but you knew that. The Narrator does a great job also, his voice is easy to listen to & soon you are lost in the story.

A classic novel by L'amour

Riveting, as usual! Couldn't stop listening and the story line was well portrayed by the narrator.

It's L'Amour

I received the audiobook free in exchange for an honest review.



One thing I love about L'Amour's work is the poetry of his words, his love of nature and the country, and of the history of the country/world. This story does not disappoint.



Rock Bannon joins a wagon train heading for California. He had been injured and Sharon Crockett nurses him back to health. The train stops at an army fort and is joined by Mort Harper, a smooth talking man with ideas of his own.



Crossing the salt deserts of Utah, on a trail suggested by Harper, the train stops in a rich valley owned by Rock Bannon's father. The settlers are persuaded by Harper to stop there and raise a town, rather than move on towards California. Little do they know the Harper has his own reasons for befriending the settlers. He wants the valley. Soon there are lines in the dust and hell to pay.



As usual, there is action, there are fights, and there is gunplay. And at the end of it .... Rock goes after the woman he loves.



Another great read from L'Amour, but I never expect anything less.

greed overcome

I enjoyed this portrayal of the old west. The descriptions and characters drew me in and made me feel like I could easily imagine the story playing out. I revelled in Rock's dealing with the dhop keeper and moving on to save his lady love. Chivalry isn't dead. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job bringing it to life.

Classic L"Amour

Louis could really write and this story is no exception. He has such a way of drawing the reader into the story with great descriptions and detail while still keeping the story moving at an enjoyable pace. Very good narration that made this a pleasure to listen to.

Can't go wrong with LL

Great book made into a great movie. The narrator did an excellent job covering the characters and was easy to listen to.