I guess now is a good time to warn any potential readers of this blog, be prepared to see many reviews of Louis L'Amour's novels published here. Not only do I highly enjoy reading these books, I also really like writing reviews about them.
Many of L'Amour's novels are of the variety that would I call real page turners. That is to say that a lot of his books are hard to put down and in many cases I can easily find myself completing them in less than a day. I think this represents a testament to Louis L'Amour's skillful writing.
All of that taken into consideration, Heller with a Gun is the very definition of a page turner. A fast paced story with unique characters, exciting set pieces, and plenty of engaging action and adventure. If your tastes are anything like mine, this book will be a breeze to get through.
Heller with a Gun is written in such a manner that it actually reads like a movie. The imagery conjured by the writing is just that rich and that flowing. In fact, the book was adapted into a film, but I have not watched it yet, so I cannot attest to just how loyal the movie is to the novel. But, I promise, I will find a copy of the picture, watch it, and review it here too.
The hero of the tale is one King Mabry, a young gunfighter with considerable wilderness survival skills, and a bit of a chivalrous streak running through his spirit. Mabry runs into a travelling theatrical troupe that are heading for Montana in the middle of hard winter weather. King takes it upon himself to look after the troupe and it's a good thing that he did, because someone is out to double cross the group, rob them, and perpetrate far worse.
A thoroughly enjoyable tome, Heller with a Gun is an exciting tale of frontier survival, with a dash of romance too. I could certainly recommend the novel as a decent introduction to the works of Louis L'Amour. Give it try and see if you agree.
-W. Jay Pinto
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