Poor Sergeant Callaghen just can't win. At 34 he's got hardly any money to his name and is stuck in the army, stationed in the California desert to protect travelers from Indians, apparently before the Gold Rush really got started, and when he gets his discharge papers he has no idea what he'll do next. Rather than be allowed to mosey on into military retirement, he finds himself stuck in a mess that involves a racist direct supervisor who hates him, a bunch of thug gold prospectors, and Malinda, the young woman who is part of why the captain hates him so much. I liked that the women in this book can shoot and are not easily daunted by deserts and rugged traveling conditions, and that while a few of the men are interested in the women, the women are not looking for partners, and there is no romance, even between Malinda and Sergeant Callaghen. This is just a solid western, predictable, but with a pretty good story and solid, readable writing and not too much tedious play-by-play fighting.
As far as the story itself went, I pretty much enjoyed this. I only gave the book a try because my grandfather is continually harping on me to try a western. My main issue had to do with the language. L'Amour seems to have a thing against using contractions, and some of his "accented" characters were really difficult to read. Also, the POV switched without any real warning, forcing me to go back and re-read as I tried to figure out whose eyes I was watching the story through.I liked the main character, though, and I was impressed that there were two female characters who didn't whine, could shoot, and kept up with whatever was asked of them in that harsh environment. I was so glad to see a distinct lack of weak females in this book.The ending left a bit to be desired, at least in terms of the relationship between Callaghen and Malinda, but the finals fights were pretty good :)
What do You think about Callaghen (1998)?
This is my fortieth Louis L'Amour novel that I have read and I am always trying to understand why I enjoy his books. Almost all have a pattern of good guy, bad guy, good looking woman, shootout and a great deal of Louis L'Amour values and description of the west. This book was no exception, just the name was changed from Hondo, or Lonigan, or Lando and so on. It is more than that however that has appeal. The books are a comfort and easy to read and simple in values and perfect in between a David McCollough biography and a James Michener epic. It seems that I only have about eighty more to read so I'll fit them in once a month for the next seven years.
—Chuck
I liked this one. This is the second time I've read it and I still found it an engrossing read. It also works well for helping begin some knowledge about survival in a desert. I liked Callaghen and found him an interesting and honorable character. The one thing I didn't like about the book and had to knock a star off for was the somewhat open-ended ending. I don't know if Mr. L'Amour planned a sequel to this one or not, but it could really use one.COYER: IT’S HOT! HOT! HOT! Read a book in a hot location or that could be labeled erotica. (takes place in the Mohave Desert; 2 points)Book-Tube-a-Thon Challenge #1: Blue on the cover
—Holli
