The Man From The Broken Hills by Louis L’Amour ~ Western Adventure #AudiobookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Author: Louis L’Amour

Performed by MacLeod Andrews

Released March 2019 by Random House Audio

Category: Western Adventure, Audiobook Review

For years Milo Talon had been riding the outlaw trail, looking for a man who had betrayed his family. Only Hank Rossiter wasn’t the man he had been: old now and blind, Rossiter was trying desperately to hold on to a small ranch to support his daughter, Barbara. Suddenly Talon found himself in the middle of a range war, siding with the man he’d marked for payback. But had Rossiter really changed? And could his daughter be trusted by either of them? 

In the mood for something different as I looked through the new releases on Audible, I saw The Man From The Broken Hills narrated by MacLeod Andrews. It fit the bill perfectly, although I didn’t realise at the time it was part of a series. As it happens, it can easily be read, or listened to, as a standalone. 

Narrated in the first person by Milo Talon, a drifter enjoying seeing and experiencing the wild American West from the back of his horse. Born and raised in Colorado, he grew up on one of the largest ranches around and has his mother’s blessing to roam the country for as long as he needs to. He can handle himself when necessary and is known to be good with a gun but doesn’t look for trouble, loves to explore the country and enjoys working with cattle.

Picking up jobs on his travels he happens upon three cowhands round a camp fire. Stirrup-Iron, the small outfit they work for needs extra hands for a roundup. Milo had a moment when he learned the outfit was run by a young woman and a blind, old man—but he was a man of honour who sticks by his word and dislikes those that use threats or force against others. It transpires a war between the neighbouring ranchers is threatening to erupt over cattle going missing, each rancher blaming the other. From the short exchange Milo and the Stirrup-Iron men just had with several men from one of the other outfits who seemed too aggressive, Milo’s decision to join the Stirrup-Iron was reenforced. 

Maybe there was a wildness in me, for I had a love for the wind in the long grass blowing, or the smell of woodsmoke down some rocky draw. There was a reaching in me for the far plains, and from the first day that I could straddle a bronc it was in me to go off a-seeking.

The story flows well, mostly centering around the missing cattle, and includes just about everything you’d expect in a classic western—a fair share of action including the good and the bad, gun fights and a hint of romance. A mystery concerning Milo runs alongside the main story, which isn’t resolved until quite near the end. There are several twists in the slowly unfolding story, adding to the suspense, as well as great dialogue and wonderful descriptions of the landscape. 

Several introspective recollections and musings give a good indication of Milo’s backstory and character. It’s apparent from the start there’s history between Milo and his new boss, Henry Rossiter. Rossiter had worked for Milo’s parents when Milo was a boy. He’d disappeared one day without a word, taking a few hundred head of cattle with him. The cattle and the rustlers were found by Milo’s mother, a formidable woman, but Rossiter got away. Milo hadn’t seen him since, until he realised it was Rossiter he was now working for.

I haven’t read any other books by this author and enjoyed this one very much. It’s obvious Louis L’Amour knew his subject incredibly well. Characters are well defined and the authenticity of time, place and working ranch hands was described vividly. As always, MacLeod Andrews delivers a perfect narration, bringing the characters to life with distinct voices and accents. 

Book links ~ Amazon UK | Amazon US

About the Author

It is doubtful that any author could be as at home in the world re-created in his novels as Louis Dearborn L’Amour. Not only could he physically fill the boots of the rugged characters he wrote about, but he literally “walked the land my characters walk.” His personal experiences as well as his lifelong devotion to historical research combined to give Mr. L’Amour the unique knowledge and understanding of people, events, and the challenge of the American frontier that became the hallmarks of his popularity.

Louis L’Amour died on June 10, 1988. His wife, Kathy, and their two children, Beau and Angelique, carry the L’Amour publishing tradition forward with new books written by the author during his lifetime to be published by Bantam