Texas Standoff: A Novel of the Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers #9

by Elmer Kelton

In Texas Standoff, Ranger Andy Pickard and his partner, Logan Daggett, are sent to central Texas to investigate a series of killings and cattle thefts. The two biggest cattlemen in the area blame each other for the violence, but it seems to Andy that neither man may be guilty. The case is complicated by the rise of a gang of "regulators"-masked vigilantes-and the arrival of a notorious hired gunman whose employer is unknown. The murder of a captured regulator and a standoff in the county jail wind up bringing to justice the men responsible for the killings and thievery. Among the culprits is a man whose guilt no one would have guessed, and among the ironies of the case is a telegram to the Rangers from the State of Texas notifying them that their services are no long required.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Audiobook

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2010

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[Mary L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elmer Kelton has done it again with this story of the Texas Rangers. Both the characters and the events ring true to life. I love the fact that although Andy was raised by the Comanches he can't track, so his partner has to do it. I also love that Carrie is so strong and really manages to do her part in stopping the feud in her family.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduced even more characters.... this world has grown so.... And now I am sad that this is the last of the series. I want to know more about Rusty and Andy and their family and friends and how their story grows.

[Ellie Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little old western yktv… was kinda draggy. I like a few of Elmer Keltons other stuff a little better.

[Walter Danley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelton rocks! The story continues character Andy Pickard & introduces Logan Daggertt, Texas Rangers sent to stop two families fighting over land. Finding the culprits and bringing peace to the valley requires Logan to take a wife, the families to bury the age old hatchet and Andy to get fired from the Rangers by bean counters in Austin. Heads roll, but a most satisfactory story gets told.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked it and I wasn't sure I would. Westerns can be a good read and I may have to look into more. I'd like to go back and read the rest of the series to see what made Andy Pickard the Ranger and man he is.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Texas Ranger Andy Pickard is newly married when he is sent to Central Texas with his new partner Logan Daggett to put a stop to vigilate violence. The Rangers land right in the middle of a fued between two families. Everytime they get close to the vigilantes, the witness is murdered.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Western. Love the characters, the story and the pace of the plot.

[Harry Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elmer Kelton ranks alongside Louis L'Amour. Well-told tale.

[Michael Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elmer Kelton is one of the best writers of the western genre. However, he is the most descriptive writer I know. Read him!!

[George L Holmgreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry this is last TX Ranger novel

Have enjoyed the series. Will be hard put to find a good replacement for Kelton's tales of the Lone Star state.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Texas Rangers are sent to head off a range war between bitter enemies and regulators

Night raids by hooded vigilante riders, stolen cattle, a man murdered while in jail, and a wedding bring the full focus of this timeless post Civil War tale to a rich saga of hard men, fast guns, and plenty of action. Rich characters, classic Old West prior to barbed wire fencing, and guns for hire deliver another tale of the Texas Rangers. One riot; one Ranger — was the byword for these tough law enforcement officers who chased down the worst of the worst. A great read and well worth the time.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book by Kelton. I have read or listened to many of his Texas Ranger series. All have been chock full of twists and turns and darn good characterizations and plots. This book did not supply the ending I thought it might, but getting there was a decent ride. There is just something about Kelton's writing that makes a story more real and essential. Whatever it is, it is lacking in much of today's writing.

[Matt Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good story to end the series on -- but given that this was the author's last work before he died, I'm unsure it was meant to be the last in the series. The shortcoming of this book functioning as the ending is that it does not offer any real closure for other characters who were important to earlier books in the series. Nonetheless, this series has been well worth the time to read them.

[Jeff Tonkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could guess 90% of the plot very early in this book, but that's OK. The good guys are good and the bad guys are bad, predictably so. That made it a comfortable, relaxing book to read. It the book seemed to stay in its time period with language and action. No profanity that I can recall. Bad people get shot but not in any gory way.

A great relaxing vacation kind of read.

[Brent Nofziger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more or less predictable. I miss the early books of this series. Now it's the same story over and over. Andy runs off from his wife to chase down an outlaw. His partner is stubborn and impatient. Andy has a heart off gold, blah blah blah.

[Dennis O'Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelton is such a good storyteller

[Timothy Roark · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, So

I have loved the "Ranger" Series but this kind of let me down. I will continue reading this series at least one more book.

[Carol Frazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great western, very visible, brings you into the action. Texas old west. Worth the read!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Elmer Kelton's western stories.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was delightful escape reading with great descriptive writing. One can almost feel that you are there.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good series. Good western read.

[Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Kelton book.
perhaps the best Western writer out there.

[Phil Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

[SamT · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the last book Elmer Kelton wrote before he died in 2009 and the ninth in the "Ranger Series".
Texas Ranger Andy Pickard is assigned a new partner, Logan Daggett, and they are dispatched to Central Texas to calm a situation between feuding ranchers. Cattle thefts, shootings, and other violence are blamed on stubborn ranchers, McIntosh and Teal.
The Rangers discover that the trouble is actually caused by vigilantes who are trying to put the ranchers out of business. The Rangers work becomes complicated when Daggett falls in love with and marries Teal's widowed daughter.
A hired gun appears on the scene who turns to be a boyhood friend of Daggett. The two had gone their separate ways and Daggett finds it hard to remember they were ever friends.
"I'll probably have to kill him sooner or later," says Daggett. "If your best dog gets the hydrophoby, you have to shoot it no matter how much you hate to. I am afraid he has turned into a hydrophoby dog."

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelton is a great writer and this is a great story, the last he wrote. Ranger Pickard and his new partner, Logan Daggett, are sent to central Texas to diffuse a budding range war. Daggett believes that a well placed bullet keeps soft-hearted judges from releasing violent criminals back into society. They find an active vigilante committee is working both sides of the feud, intending to enrich themselves after each of the two sides has been defeated. Great story with wonderful human observations. Highly recommended to anyone, not just western fans.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book about early Texas history. It was a good protrayal of the Texas Rangers. I could almost feel that I was there. This book was a good example of desriptive writing. If I were teaching in High School this could be an excellent example of that genre. It was a pleasant and relaxing read. There were no significant comment and the book had no value other than escape reading.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not like the reader - too halting. Good story.

[Olivia]

Usually don't read westerns but decided to give this a try

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

See Texas Vendetta for comments.