Westward the Tide: A Novel

L'Amour does it again. Not only a captivating, well-written story but he shares a bit of history from the physical location of the story. Much overlooked, L'Amour is a tremendous writer who can create character, plot and drama in an efficient and exciting way.

When a group of Outlaws devise a scheme to rob a wagon train of white settlers for over $300,000, it seems that nobody will be able to stop them. With the cunning Sim Boyne as their secret leader, their plan seems foolproof. But they never counted on a young, honest gunman named Matt Bardoul joining their wagon train. Bardoul is skeptical from the beginning, but his interest in a girl takes him into the action. All this takes place in the time of the Sioux troubles of America and some of this history is given along the way. It is a good book, but you'll have to read it to see if the Indians take the blame or not this time.

Just one look at the beautiful and spirited Jacquine Coyle and Matt Bardoul knew that she was the woman for him. So when he finds out that she and her father and brother are planning to go on a wagon train, he decides to go along too. When he first learns about the wagon train heading for the rich pasture of the Big Horns and the gold which would be plentiful there, he finds nothing wrong. But soon he starts getting an uneasy feeling that something is definitely wrong. The wagon train would be made up of strong and innocent men and their families but they would be lead by a pack of the worst murderers, thieves, and gunslingers. Though Bardoul gets and urgently whispered message telling him not to go, he is still determined to go on the train because of Jacquine and the land at Big Horns. Bardoul doesn't realize that he is getting involved in a very deadly plot where the bad guys would stop at nothing to make sure everything goes according to their plans. Will Bardoul be able to figure out their plans before it's too late?I just love Louis L'Amour's westerns and "Westward the Tide" has got to be one of his bests ever! With plenty of intrigue, suspense, action, and romance, for any L'Amour fan this is a must read. One of the best things I like about this book are the characters which are portrayed. Characters like Matt Bardoul, Jacquine Coyle, Brian Coyle, Clive Massey, Buffalo Murphy, Logan Deane, Ban Hardy, Portugee Philips, and more, L'Amour wonderfully displays the different types of people who made up the American frontier.Other L'Amour books I highly recommend are: All of the Sackett books, including my most favorites, "Jubal Sackett" and "Galloway, "North to the Rails", "Broken Gun", "Crossfire Trail", and "Comstock Lode".

Westward The Tide is perhaps one of the best books written by L'Amour, while reading this book, I found it really hard to put it down. The gold, the girl, and the setting are perfect for alot of excitment and danger. If you are a Louis L'Amour fan and you haven't read this book I recommend it.