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Shalako and Catlow
Shalako
He was a white man as cunning as any Indian, a loner who trusted in nothing but his weapon and his horse. But then Shalako came across a European hunting party, and a brave and beautiful woman, stranded and defenseless in the Sonoran Desert—the Apaches’ killing ground. Shalako knew he had to stay and help them survive. For somewhere out there a deadly Apache warrior had the worst kind of death in mind for them all.
Catlow
Ben Cowan and Bijah Catlow had been friends since they were boys. By the time they became men, Catlow was an outlaw and Cowan a U.S. marshal. So when his old friend rode to Mexico to pull the biggest robbery of his career, it became Ben’s job to hunt him down. But south of the border, Ben meets beautiful Rosita Calderon, whose presence complicates an already dangerous situation. And soon Ben realizes that the price of getting Catlow home may be more than he’s willing to pay.
From the Paperback edition.
He was a white man as cunning as any Indian, a loner who trusted in nothing but his weapon and his horse. But then Shalako came across a European hunting party, and a brave and beautiful woman, stranded and defenseless in the Sonoran Desert—the Apaches’ killing ground. Shalako knew he had to stay and help them survive. For somewhere out there a deadly Apache warrior had the worst kind of death in mind for them all.
Catlow
Ben Cowan and Bijah Catlow had been friends since they were boys. By the time they became men, Catlow was an outlaw and Cowan a U.S. marshal. So when his old friend rode to Mexico to pull the biggest robbery of his career, it became Ben’s job to hunt him down. But south of the border, Ben meets beautiful Rosita Calderon, whose presence complicates an already dangerous situation. And soon Ben realizes that the price of getting Catlow home may be more than he’s willing to pay.
From the Paperback edition.
- GenresWesterns
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2008
135 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Louis L'Amour
1,000 books3,499 followersLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 1, 2025
These are two interesting L'Amour novels.
Shalako is the beginning of L'Amour developing into a real novelist. It depends on the trope of fighting the Indian 'other.' but there is a lot of tension between the white folks...
Catlow was his next book, copyright 1963. And he is moving away from shooting the hell out of indigenous people to fighting amongst the various folks on the frontier.
FWIW I think L'Amour gets a bad rap for his plots - (total aside: the movie Shalako starred Bridget Bardot and Sean Connery.) From about 1963 on he was writing historical novels about tensions within the frontier communities. Indians were often secondary heroes from that point which puts L'Amour about a decade ahead of his fellow Americans, and probably more given attitudes I still hear parroted.
You can skip Shalako, unless you have an academic interest but from Catlow on, L'Amour's novels are worth a read.
Shalako is the beginning of L'Amour developing into a real novelist. It depends on the trope of fighting the Indian 'other.' but there is a lot of tension between the white folks...
Catlow was his next book, copyright 1963. And he is moving away from shooting the hell out of indigenous people to fighting amongst the various folks on the frontier.
FWIW I think L'Amour gets a bad rap for his plots - (total aside: the movie Shalako starred Bridget Bardot and Sean Connery.) From about 1963 on he was writing historical novels about tensions within the frontier communities. Indians were often secondary heroes from that point which puts L'Amour about a decade ahead of his fellow Americans, and probably more given attitudes I still hear parroted.
You can skip Shalako, unless you have an academic interest but from Catlow on, L'Amour's novels are worth a read.
September 18, 2017
It's nice to get these two books together in one collection for about the same price as you would pay for each title individually in the Amazon Kindle store.
Louis L'Amour was not one of the most technical or long-winded writers, he was short, succinct, and to the point and had a way that grabs you into the story immediately. The descriptions of the scenery, events, people, and situations made you feel as if you were right there living it side-by-side with his characters.
With Shalako and Catlow, you have the classic Louis L'Amour situations with the good guy fighting the bad guy, a life-threatening conflict, the good guy wins and gets the girl although in Catlow two guys both get a girl
Louis L'Amour was not one of the most technical or long-winded writers, he was short, succinct, and to the point and had a way that grabs you into the story immediately. The descriptions of the scenery, events, people, and situations made you feel as if you were right there living it side-by-side with his characters.
With Shalako and Catlow, you have the classic Louis L'Amour situations with the good guy fighting the bad guy, a life-threatening conflict, the good guy wins and gets the girl although in Catlow two guys both get a girl
March 27, 2025
started finished 27th march 2025 good read three stars i liked it no more no less kindle library loaner have read five dozen from l'amour enjoyed them all some are a bit more polished than others and i'd read shalako as a stand alone in another edition did not read it again here only catlow
story about two men one ridng the outlaw trail the other the law trail they both find themselves in mexico, gold, theft, escape and follow, tribe of what are known as cannibal indians perhaps remnants of an earlier expedition european...anyway, entertaining story.
story about two men one ridng the outlaw trail the other the law trail they both find themselves in mexico, gold, theft, escape and follow, tribe of what are known as cannibal indians perhaps remnants of an earlier expedition european...anyway, entertaining story.
May 21, 2017
Awesome
I have read nearly all of LL's books and like them all he did such a great job of explaining the characters and showing us the west with only a small amount of unbelievable things mixed into them that no matter how many times I read them they are still fun to read.
I have read nearly all of LL's books and like them all he did such a great job of explaining the characters and showing us the west with only a small amount of unbelievable things mixed into them that no matter how many times I read them they are still fun to read.
February 26, 2019
I'm beginning to realize that my love of Louis L'Amour wasn't not a passing childhood fancy. :-) Even if all his heroes are basically the same person. I still enjoy each of his books. There is a ring of authenticity that I love.
May 12, 2020
L'Amour at his finest
Most readers enjoy a good story whether a Western or a Who dunnit. Louis L'Amour created characters with depth, virtues, and flaws. His settings faithfully reproduce reality. Great writing!
Most readers enjoy a good story whether a Western or a Who dunnit. Louis L'Amour created characters with depth, virtues, and flaws. His settings faithfully reproduce reality. Great writing!
July 15, 2020
It's Louis L'Amour. No more needs be said.
I haven't read Louis in a long time and had never read these two books. Enjoyed them both. You don't need my review. If you like Westerns you will like any of his books.
I haven't read Louis in a long time and had never read these two books. Enjoyed them both. You don't need my review. If you like Westerns you will like any of his books.
April 5, 2022
Indians and the desert, with a treasure.
The story of a kind of anti-hero. A man lead astray by the actions of greedy and selfish men. A man bucking the laws made by the rich and powerful. A good yarn.
The story of a kind of anti-hero. A man lead astray by the actions of greedy and selfish men. A man bucking the laws made by the rich and powerful. A good yarn.
May 15, 2020
LAmour
Only my second LAmour book and I loved them both. I need to get in the habit of reading his books since I enjoy them so much.
They have a reality to them it’s true!
Only my second LAmour book and I loved them both. I need to get in the habit of reading his books since I enjoy them so much.
They have a reality to them it’s true!
May 23, 2020
I enjoyed re-reading these two classic western novels.
August 3, 2020
Escapism reading during the quarantine. Shalako was great with lots of action and suspense. Catlow was a slower read and I had difficulty keeping interest.
December 18, 2024
I have already read Shalako so this review is about Catlow. A bit pedestrian at the beginning but the second half in Mexico ticks all the boxes for a good western.
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April 12, 2016Loved them.
I loved both the books in this collection. I always feel as if I am transported to that time and place. The heat of the desert, the fear of the foe, and the search for respite from both. It is great to read a book that is so well written that you travel anywhere the author chooses.
I loved both the books in this collection. I always feel as if I am transported to that time and place. The heat of the desert, the fear of the foe, and the search for respite from both. It is great to read a book that is so well written that you travel anywhere the author chooses.
February 3, 2009
Completed "Shalako", haven't started "Catlow".
Shalako's not bad, traditional Western adventure. The summaries of Apache culture seem pretty harsh.
Shalako's not bad, traditional Western adventure. The summaries of Apache culture seem pretty harsh.
December 29, 2013
The men are strong, the women are beautiful...the prose is spare,the plots engrossing.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews