The Bounty Hunters

I love a GOOD Western novel - non-fiction too - and E. Leonard is tops.

This is one of those books that distinguishes itself within the genre. It's nice to read a book that's so character driven, in a category famous for its gunfights, outlaws, and stories that blend in to one another.

This is actually the first Elmore Leonard novel I've read despite having been a fan of several films based on his crime novels rather than his westerns (e.g., Out of Sight, Jackie Brown, Get Shorty. I was in the mood for a western, however, so I picked this one up. For a novel released in 1953, I certainly wasn't expecting something this dark and violent. The Bounty Hunters seems to anticipate the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone by over a decade. The story is fairly simple, but it's handled so capably that it still feels fresh over fifty years later. The only problems I had with the story were the stereotypical representations of the Apaches and the Mexicans. What helps to offset this, however, is that the titular bounty hunters are, in fact, the most evil sons of guns in the entire book. They're characters you can't wait to see get their bloody comeuppance. Honestly, by the end, I was cheering for the Apaches,--lead Apache Soldado is such an intelligent and capable character that I found it hard not to cheer for him--and I believe Leonard has a bit of admiration for them himself. (Whether or not that admiration translates into a balanced depiction is another matter entirely.) I highly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more of Leonard's western fiction. Who knows; maybe I'll eventually get around to reading some of his crime novels.

Besides writting great modern day novels Elmore Leonard can and does wirte great Westerns. "The Bounty Hunter" is a great read. I believe this was one of his frist novels if not the first. Keep up the good work Elmore. It is a pleasure to read anything you write.

Dave Flynn is sent to bring the Apache Soldado Viejo out of Mexico and to Arizona. He is ordered to take a new Lt., R D Bowers wtih him. Viejo will be hard to find and harder to bring back. They are sent by Colonel Deneen. He has a grudge against Flynn from years ago. They are aided by Joe Madora, a scout friend of Flynns. Besides Viejo they run into Curt Lazair, a scalp hunter. He takes Mexican scalps and swears they are Apache, in order to get the bounty. There is also a crooked Lt. with soldiers under his command. This Lt. is buying the scalps from Lazair. It all comes together pretty quickly at the end. Does Bowers come through? Will Flynn and company find Viejo and Lazair? What finally happenes to Deneen? The book is fairly fast moving, it will hold your attention. If you like a western with a lot of gun fights, Indians and good and bad Mexicans, you will like this.