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Caleb York #4
Last Stage to Hell Junction
New York Times bestselling author Max Allan Collins again brings to life the legacy of crime-writing legend Mickey Spillane in another explosive chapter in this now-classic western saga. Caleb York has a tin star, a blazing gun, and plenty of courage. All he needs is a little luck to deliver big justice . . .
On a lively night at the Victory saloon in Trinidad, New Mexico, Sheriff Caleb York interrupts his poker game to settle a minor dust-up that raises the stakes into major trouble. The wounded miscreant he ushers to the hoosegow spills the secret behind the mysterious disappearance of a certain stage coach.
Bound for Denver, the stage carried three important passengers—beautiful ranch owner Willa Cullen, lovely temptress Rita Filley, and wealthy banker Raymond L. Parker. The two women are rivals for the lawman’s love, while Parker is a key investor in Trinidad’s future. But all are gone, with only the corpses of fellow passengers as bullet-ridden clues.
York follows a trail of blood to a ghost town known as Hell Junction. To rescue his lady friends and the banker, he must infiltrate an outlaw den . . . and pray no one among the thieves, killers, and kidnappers will recognize him. With only his desert rat deputy to back him up, York must free the captives, round up the badmen—and, whenever necessary, send them straight to Hell.
On a lively night at the Victory saloon in Trinidad, New Mexico, Sheriff Caleb York interrupts his poker game to settle a minor dust-up that raises the stakes into major trouble. The wounded miscreant he ushers to the hoosegow spills the secret behind the mysterious disappearance of a certain stage coach.
Bound for Denver, the stage carried three important passengers—beautiful ranch owner Willa Cullen, lovely temptress Rita Filley, and wealthy banker Raymond L. Parker. The two women are rivals for the lawman’s love, while Parker is a key investor in Trinidad’s future. But all are gone, with only the corpses of fellow passengers as bullet-ridden clues.
York follows a trail of blood to a ghost town known as Hell Junction. To rescue his lady friends and the banker, he must infiltrate an outlaw den . . . and pray no one among the thieves, killers, and kidnappers will recognize him. With only his desert rat deputy to back him up, York must free the captives, round up the badmen—and, whenever necessary, send them straight to Hell.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 28, 2019
61 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Mickey Spillane
316 books449 followersMickey Spillane was one of the world's most popular mystery writers. His specialty was tight-fisted, sadistic revenge stories, often featuring his alcoholic gumshoe Mike Hammer and a cast of evildoers who launder money or spout the Communist Party line.
His writing style was characterized by short words, lightning transitions, gruff sex and violent endings. It was once tallied that he offed 58 people in six novels.
Starting with "I, the Jury," in 1947, Mr. Spillane sold hundreds of millions of books during his lifetime and garnered consistently scathing reviews. Even his father, a Brooklyn bartender, called them "crud."
Mr. Spillane was a struggling comic book publisher when he wrote "I, the Jury." He initially envisioned it as a comic book called "Mike Danger," and when that did not go over, he took a week to reconfigure it as a novel.
Even the editor in chief of E.P. Dutton and Co., Mr. Spillane's publisher, was skeptical of the book's literary merit but conceded it would probably be a smash with postwar readers looking for ready action. He was right. The book, in which Hammer pursues a murderous narcotics ring led by a curvaceous female psychiatrist, went on to sell more than 1 million copies.
Mr. Spillane spun out six novels in the next five years, among them "My Gun Is Quick," "The Big Kill," "One Lonely Night" and "Kiss Me, Deadly." Most concerned Hammer, his faithful sidekick, Velda, and the police homicide captain Pat Chambers, who acknowledges that Hammer's style of vigilante justice is often better suited than the law to dispatching criminals.
Mr. Spillane's success rankled other critics, who sometimes became very personal in their reviews. Malcolm Cowley called Mr. Spillane "a homicidal paranoiac," going on to note what he called his misogyny and vigilante tendencies.
His books were translated into many languages, and he proved so popular as a writer that he was able to transfer his thick-necked, barrel-chested personality across many media. With the charisma of a redwood, he played Hammer in "The Girl Hunters," a 1963 film adaptation of his novel.
Spillane also scripted several television shows and films and played a detective in the 1954 suspense film "Ring of Fear," set at a Clyde Beatty circus. He rewrote much of the film, too, refusing payment. In gratitude, the producer, John Wayne, surprised him one morning with a white Jaguar sportster wrapped in a red ribbon. The card read, "Thanks, Duke."
Done initially on a dare from his publisher, Mr. Spillane wrote a children's book, "The Day the Sea Rolled Back" (1979), about two boys who find a shipwreck loaded with treasure. This won a Junior Literary Guild award.
He also wrote another children's novel, "The Ship That Never Was," and then wrote his first Mike Hammer mystery in 20 years with "The Killing Man" (1989). "Black Alley" followed in 1996. In the last, a rapidly aging Hammer comes out of a gunshot-induced coma, then tracks down a friend's murderer and billions in mob loot. For the first time, he also confesses his love for Velda but, because of doctor's orders, cannot consummate the relationship.
Late in life, he received a career achievement award from the Private Eye Writers of America and was named a grand master by the Mystery Writers of America.
In his private life, he neither smoked nor drank and was a house-to-house missionary for the Jehovah's Witnesses. He expressed at times great disdain for what he saw as corrosive forces in American life, from antiwar protesters to the United Nations.
His marriages to Mary Ann Pearce and Sherri Malinou ended in divorce. His second wife, a model, posed nude for the dust jacket of his 1972 novel "The Erection Set."
Survivors include his third wife, Jane Rodgers Johnson, a former beauty queen 30 years his junior; and four children from the first marriage.
He also carried on a long epistolary flirtation with Ayn Rand, an admirer of his writing.
His writing style was characterized by short words, lightning transitions, gruff sex and violent endings. It was once tallied that he offed 58 people in six novels.
Starting with "I, the Jury," in 1947, Mr. Spillane sold hundreds of millions of books during his lifetime and garnered consistently scathing reviews. Even his father, a Brooklyn bartender, called them "crud."
Mr. Spillane was a struggling comic book publisher when he wrote "I, the Jury." He initially envisioned it as a comic book called "Mike Danger," and when that did not go over, he took a week to reconfigure it as a novel.
Even the editor in chief of E.P. Dutton and Co., Mr. Spillane's publisher, was skeptical of the book's literary merit but conceded it would probably be a smash with postwar readers looking for ready action. He was right. The book, in which Hammer pursues a murderous narcotics ring led by a curvaceous female psychiatrist, went on to sell more than 1 million copies.
Mr. Spillane spun out six novels in the next five years, among them "My Gun Is Quick," "The Big Kill," "One Lonely Night" and "Kiss Me, Deadly." Most concerned Hammer, his faithful sidekick, Velda, and the police homicide captain Pat Chambers, who acknowledges that Hammer's style of vigilante justice is often better suited than the law to dispatching criminals.
Mr. Spillane's success rankled other critics, who sometimes became very personal in their reviews. Malcolm Cowley called Mr. Spillane "a homicidal paranoiac," going on to note what he called his misogyny and vigilante tendencies.
His books were translated into many languages, and he proved so popular as a writer that he was able to transfer his thick-necked, barrel-chested personality across many media. With the charisma of a redwood, he played Hammer in "The Girl Hunters," a 1963 film adaptation of his novel.
Spillane also scripted several television shows and films and played a detective in the 1954 suspense film "Ring of Fear," set at a Clyde Beatty circus. He rewrote much of the film, too, refusing payment. In gratitude, the producer, John Wayne, surprised him one morning with a white Jaguar sportster wrapped in a red ribbon. The card read, "Thanks, Duke."
Done initially on a dare from his publisher, Mr. Spillane wrote a children's book, "The Day the Sea Rolled Back" (1979), about two boys who find a shipwreck loaded with treasure. This won a Junior Literary Guild award.
He also wrote another children's novel, "The Ship That Never Was," and then wrote his first Mike Hammer mystery in 20 years with "The Killing Man" (1989). "Black Alley" followed in 1996. In the last, a rapidly aging Hammer comes out of a gunshot-induced coma, then tracks down a friend's murderer and billions in mob loot. For the first time, he also confesses his love for Velda but, because of doctor's orders, cannot consummate the relationship.
Late in life, he received a career achievement award from the Private Eye Writers of America and was named a grand master by the Mystery Writers of America.
In his private life, he neither smoked nor drank and was a house-to-house missionary for the Jehovah's Witnesses. He expressed at times great disdain for what he saw as corrosive forces in American life, from antiwar protesters to the United Nations.
His marriages to Mary Ann Pearce and Sherri Malinou ended in divorce. His second wife, a model, posed nude for the dust jacket of his 1972 novel "The Erection Set."
Survivors include his third wife, Jane Rodgers Johnson, a former beauty queen 30 years his junior; and four children from the first marriage.
He also carried on a long epistolary flirtation with Ayn Rand, an admirer of his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 24, 2019
Originally conceived by Spillane and completed posthumously by Collins from Spillane’s notes, the Caleb York series is a great introduction to Westerns for those of us who don’t normally read Westerns.
This is number four in the series and it’s a quick-moving, sharpshooting book that is just waiting to be devoured. No singing cowboys messing around with campfires here. Not here. The pace is just tremendous and never slows down.
It’s got the tough take no prisoners kind of sheriff who doesn’t go looking for trouble but is the best shot in the West if it ever comes to that. Saloons, Card games, troublemakers, stagecoach robberies, abandoned ghost towns, and More. But, don’t relax too much cause the troublemakers aren’t gonna sit still either
Many thanks to the author for providing an advance copy.
This is number four in the series and it’s a quick-moving, sharpshooting book that is just waiting to be devoured. No singing cowboys messing around with campfires here. Not here. The pace is just tremendous and never slows down.
It’s got the tough take no prisoners kind of sheriff who doesn’t go looking for trouble but is the best shot in the West if it ever comes to that. Saloons, Card games, troublemakers, stagecoach robberies, abandoned ghost towns, and More. But, don’t relax too much cause the troublemakers aren’t gonna sit still either
Many thanks to the author for providing an advance copy.
May 27, 2019
The author very kindly sent me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Things are relatively peaceful in Trinidad, when a ranny shoots a local cowhand. He has to get on the morning stage, but Marshal Yorks jugs him in the hoosegow. The stage is promptly robbed, and three people taken hostage.
York has to find and rescue the hostages, who could be almost anywhere.
An old fashioned hostage western. You don't see a lot of those any more. Collins does a great job keeping the tension going. Lots of 1950's western style atmosphere, complete with the small town hypocrisy and everything.
Highly recommended.
Things are relatively peaceful in Trinidad, when a ranny shoots a local cowhand. He has to get on the morning stage, but Marshal Yorks jugs him in the hoosegow. The stage is promptly robbed, and three people taken hostage.
York has to find and rescue the hostages, who could be almost anywhere.
An old fashioned hostage western. You don't see a lot of those any more. Collins does a great job keeping the tension going. Lots of 1950's western style atmosphere, complete with the small town hypocrisy and everything.
Highly recommended.
January 21, 2022
In the fourth book in the Caleb York series, York and most of the major characters of the series take the action on the road. The novel opens with a seemingly random incident in the Victory saloon with a troublemaker getting his comeuppance courtesy of Sheriff Caleb York. The man is tossed into the jail cell to cool off but turns out he is a member of a notorious outlaw gang. The rest of the gang lay in wait to hold up a stage, not for any payroll shipment, but in order to kidnap prominent Denver banker Raymond Parker. Unfortunately for the bad guys, Parker happens to be a good friend of Caleb York but even worse, the stage is also carrying the two most important women in Caleb’s life, ranch owner Willa Cullen, and Rita Filley, owner of the saloon.
Max Allan Collins has once again taken a Mickey Spillane idea and outline and crafted a refreshing and exciting western yarn. The entire story happens over the course of about 36 hours but is filled with a suspenseful buildup to a bloody climax. The main setting moves from the small town of Trinidad New Mexico to the ghost town of Hall Junction which has been jokingly renamed as "Hell Junction" by the outlaw gangs that frequent the locale as a safe haven. York gets to go undercover as an outlaw himself, infiltrate the gang, and try to rescue his friends. Plans go awry and the necessity for rapidly adjusting to circumstances proves necessary more than once.
I’ve loved this series from the very first volume, The Legend of Caleb York and each book thereafter has lived up to the promise of that first one.
Max Allan Collins has once again taken a Mickey Spillane idea and outline and crafted a refreshing and exciting western yarn. The entire story happens over the course of about 36 hours but is filled with a suspenseful buildup to a bloody climax. The main setting moves from the small town of Trinidad New Mexico to the ghost town of Hall Junction which has been jokingly renamed as "Hell Junction" by the outlaw gangs that frequent the locale as a safe haven. York gets to go undercover as an outlaw himself, infiltrate the gang, and try to rescue his friends. Plans go awry and the necessity for rapidly adjusting to circumstances proves necessary more than once.
I’ve loved this series from the very first volume, The Legend of Caleb York and each book thereafter has lived up to the promise of that first one.
May 2, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
LAST STAGE TO HELL JUNCTION by Mickey Spillane, Max Collins is the 4th book in the “Caleb York” series based on a legendary gunfighter named Caleb York who arrived in the town of Trinidad as a stranger & has remained in town as the Sheriff, even though it had been his intention to move on after ridding the town of the outlaw gang that terrorized it, and it seems one thing or another something always comes up that makes him decide to remain in town, including the lovely Willa Cullen who Caleb has strong feelings for.
Willa is one of two women that have caught Caleb’s attention in the past, with the other being the beautiful Rita Filley who is the owner of the Victory Saloon, and Caleb is forced into action again in this story when the pair and town doctor Doc Miller are abducted as a result of a stage robbery, then taken to be held hostage in a ghost town formerly known as Hell Junction.
Caleb goes undercover in this one, and relies on his detective skills learned in his previous employment as a detective for Wells Fargo, something that serves him well in pursuing the outlaw gang known as the “Hargrave Bunch”.
Blaine Hargrave is the leader of the gang, and is an interesting character who was previously a stage actor in Shakespearean plays until he turns to a life of crime after his actions result in his fleeing from justice.
Will Caleb be able to locate the gang to save lives of the two women (and others), and if so can he successfully infiltrate the gang without detection by the leader who being an actor himself might be able to see through Caleb’s disguise and catch him in the act?
Max Allan Collins has been entrusted by the widow of the late Mickey Spillane to take unfinished stories by the author to see through to completion, and the Caleb York series has grown into a series with several novels now, and the books in the series are enjoyable reads with familiar storylines and characters, but still are able to avoid being clichés as a result of the quality of the writing.
Recommended to all fans of western novels, and suitable for a general audience, or at worst PG-13.
4 stars.
LAST STAGE TO HELL JUNCTION by Mickey Spillane, Max Collins is the 4th book in the “Caleb York” series based on a legendary gunfighter named Caleb York who arrived in the town of Trinidad as a stranger & has remained in town as the Sheriff, even though it had been his intention to move on after ridding the town of the outlaw gang that terrorized it, and it seems one thing or another something always comes up that makes him decide to remain in town, including the lovely Willa Cullen who Caleb has strong feelings for.
Willa is one of two women that have caught Caleb’s attention in the past, with the other being the beautiful Rita Filley who is the owner of the Victory Saloon, and Caleb is forced into action again in this story when the pair and town doctor Doc Miller are abducted as a result of a stage robbery, then taken to be held hostage in a ghost town formerly known as Hell Junction.
Caleb goes undercover in this one, and relies on his detective skills learned in his previous employment as a detective for Wells Fargo, something that serves him well in pursuing the outlaw gang known as the “Hargrave Bunch”.
Blaine Hargrave is the leader of the gang, and is an interesting character who was previously a stage actor in Shakespearean plays until he turns to a life of crime after his actions result in his fleeing from justice.
Will Caleb be able to locate the gang to save lives of the two women (and others), and if so can he successfully infiltrate the gang without detection by the leader who being an actor himself might be able to see through Caleb’s disguise and catch him in the act?
Max Allan Collins has been entrusted by the widow of the late Mickey Spillane to take unfinished stories by the author to see through to completion, and the Caleb York series has grown into a series with several novels now, and the books in the series are enjoyable reads with familiar storylines and characters, but still are able to avoid being clichés as a result of the quality of the writing.
Recommended to all fans of western novels, and suitable for a general audience, or at worst PG-13.
4 stars.
January 19, 2023
Caleb York stacks bodies in Hale (Hell) Junction, NM.
February 6, 2020
these are fun.......i really like Max Allen Collins. He seems to run in and out of many genres. Here he melds Spillane and westerns....feels a little Hateful 8 as well.
Caleb York is one of those can do no wrong hero types(a little quicker on the trigger than some) who plays fast and loose in the sheriff game. This time he has to rescue his former girlfriend, and and his banker friend...and the sultry owner of a the local saloon. He uses trickery , a former drunk deputy, disguises, and guns to try to save the day.
Tough and fun, trope filled for reason. A comfort western read.
Caleb York is one of those can do no wrong hero types(a little quicker on the trigger than some) who plays fast and loose in the sheriff game. This time he has to rescue his former girlfriend, and and his banker friend...and the sultry owner of a the local saloon. He uses trickery , a former drunk deputy, disguises, and guns to try to save the day.
Tough and fun, trope filled for reason. A comfort western read.
June 6, 2019
Great continuation of a great western series! Caleb York is trying to rescue three
hostages from a stage coach robbery, including the women in his life: Willa Cullen
and Ms. Rita. With only his deputy to help him, can Caleb save the day?
Outstanding western by Max Allan Collins working on notes by Mickey Spillane. The
Caleb York series is one of the best non-typical books by both authors, and this does not
disappoint. I loved the time spent reading this book.
I was given an advance copy for my honest review.
hostages from a stage coach robbery, including the women in his life: Willa Cullen
and Ms. Rita. With only his deputy to help him, can Caleb save the day?
Outstanding western by Max Allan Collins working on notes by Mickey Spillane. The
Caleb York series is one of the best non-typical books by both authors, and this does not
disappoint. I loved the time spent reading this book.
I was given an advance copy for my honest review.
July 28, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Max Allan Collins is an undeniably talented writer. He's prolific, writes genre spanning series with aplomb, and is generally just top-shelf. Mickey Spillane was a prolific writer of crime and screenplays and if some of his tropes seem slightly dated to today's audiences, it's because he -invented- the twists that writers are still using today. This is a posthumous collaboration, written by M.A.C. around notes left by Spillane prior to his death in 2006. This is the 4th book which features Sheriff Caleb York and includes several characters from previous books in the series. The plot is self contained, and the book doesn't suffer from being read as a standalone.
Released 28th May by Kensington, Last Stage to Hell Junction is a fast paced 240 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
It's increasingly difficult to find westerns these days. There are a few series being written currently, but the quality varies immensely. This series is very well written, gritty and face paced with solid characters and a taut plot driven narrative. Bullets fly and bad guys wind up under boot hill. It's a completely escapist read and perfect for the summertime TBR list.
The language is rough. There's some on-page sexual assault (an attempted rape of a young black girl) and a fair bit of racism in context (not glorified, just the opposite). The denouement is satisfying and exciting.
Worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, the first book in this series is included in the KU subscription.
I enjoyed this one. It will definitely appeal to western lovers, or in a pinch, lovers of gritty noir (change the setting and re-costume the players and it could be any mean street in any big city with fedora wearing punks being hauled in by a squinting tough guy PI).
4 stars. Well worth a read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Max Allan Collins is an undeniably talented writer. He's prolific, writes genre spanning series with aplomb, and is generally just top-shelf. Mickey Spillane was a prolific writer of crime and screenplays and if some of his tropes seem slightly dated to today's audiences, it's because he -invented- the twists that writers are still using today. This is a posthumous collaboration, written by M.A.C. around notes left by Spillane prior to his death in 2006. This is the 4th book which features Sheriff Caleb York and includes several characters from previous books in the series. The plot is self contained, and the book doesn't suffer from being read as a standalone.
Released 28th May by Kensington, Last Stage to Hell Junction is a fast paced 240 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
It's increasingly difficult to find westerns these days. There are a few series being written currently, but the quality varies immensely. This series is very well written, gritty and face paced with solid characters and a taut plot driven narrative. Bullets fly and bad guys wind up under boot hill. It's a completely escapist read and perfect for the summertime TBR list.
The language is rough. There's some on-page sexual assault (an attempted rape of a young black girl) and a fair bit of racism in context (not glorified, just the opposite). The denouement is satisfying and exciting.
Worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, the first book in this series is included in the KU subscription.
I enjoyed this one. It will definitely appeal to western lovers, or in a pinch, lovers of gritty noir (change the setting and re-costume the players and it could be any mean street in any big city with fedora wearing punks being hauled in by a squinting tough guy PI).
4 stars. Well worth a read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 6, 2019
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
Mickey Spillane writes westerns? Well ... yes and no. Max Allan Collins writes westerns based on Mickey Spillane characters. That makes a little more sense.
A stage coach, bound for Denver never arrives. Aboard the coach are two women and a wealthy banker. A dead stagecoach driver, riddled with bullets is the only clue. Sheriff Caleb York has a vested interest in tracking the coach down as both women have been dating York, each trying to get him to commit. The banker also has a connection to York - he is a prime investor in Trinidad, New Mexico ... York's territory.
York gets a tip on what happened to the stagecoach when he hauls a man in to jail after a poker game dispute. Now York will have to go face to face with a den of thieves in order to see if there is anyone left alive to rescue.
As one might expect with a Spillane character, our hero here is a tough as nails and in many ways this book reads more like a hard-boiled mystery rather than a classic western - it just happens to take place in the old west.
The action moves swiftly as one might expect of a hard-boiled western.
The character of Caleb York is a bit stereotypical - tough, no-nonsense, macho without much background to really identify himself. None of the other characters have much to identify themselves, either. They are stock characters used to drive a plot.
Of the books I've read through "Western Week" on my blog, representing three different authors, this one is probably the weakest. It relies more on common tropes and stereotypes. The mystery, at least, holds some interest.
Looking for a good book? Last Stage to Hell Junction by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins is a moderately fair mystery in a western setting but if you are looking for a more classic style western, there are better choices.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Mickey Spillane writes westerns? Well ... yes and no. Max Allan Collins writes westerns based on Mickey Spillane characters. That makes a little more sense.
A stage coach, bound for Denver never arrives. Aboard the coach are two women and a wealthy banker. A dead stagecoach driver, riddled with bullets is the only clue. Sheriff Caleb York has a vested interest in tracking the coach down as both women have been dating York, each trying to get him to commit. The banker also has a connection to York - he is a prime investor in Trinidad, New Mexico ... York's territory.
York gets a tip on what happened to the stagecoach when he hauls a man in to jail after a poker game dispute. Now York will have to go face to face with a den of thieves in order to see if there is anyone left alive to rescue.
As one might expect with a Spillane character, our hero here is a tough as nails and in many ways this book reads more like a hard-boiled mystery rather than a classic western - it just happens to take place in the old west.
The action moves swiftly as one might expect of a hard-boiled western.
The character of Caleb York is a bit stereotypical - tough, no-nonsense, macho without much background to really identify himself. None of the other characters have much to identify themselves, either. They are stock characters used to drive a plot.
Of the books I've read through "Western Week" on my blog, representing three different authors, this one is probably the weakest. It relies more on common tropes and stereotypes. The mystery, at least, holds some interest.
Looking for a good book? Last Stage to Hell Junction by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins is a moderately fair mystery in a western setting but if you are looking for a more classic style western, there are better choices.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2019
#4 in the Caleb York series. This 2019 series entry was written by Max Allan Collins and based on notes from Mickey Spillane and a screenplay he had written for Batjac, his friend John Wayne's production company. Fast moving and fun to read.
On a lively night at the Victory saloon in Trinidad, New Mexico, Sheriff Caleb York interrupts his poker game to settle a minor dust-up that raises the stakes into major trouble. The wounded miscreant he ushers to the hoosegow spills a clue to the mysterious disappearance of a certain stage coach. Bound for Denver, the stage carried three important passengers—beautiful ranch owner Willa Cullen, lovely bar owner Rita Filley, and wealthy banker Raymond L. Parker. The two women are rivals for the lawman’s love, while Parker is a key investor in Trinidad’s future. But all are gone, with only the corpses of stage drive and shotgun guard as bullet-ridden clues. York follows clues to a ghost town known as Hell Junction. To rescue his lady friends and the banker, he must infiltrate an outlaw den . . . and pray no one among the thieves, killers, and kidnappers will recognize him. With only his desert rat deputy to back him up, York must free the captives, round up the badmen—and, whenever necessary, send them straight to Hell.
On a lively night at the Victory saloon in Trinidad, New Mexico, Sheriff Caleb York interrupts his poker game to settle a minor dust-up that raises the stakes into major trouble. The wounded miscreant he ushers to the hoosegow spills a clue to the mysterious disappearance of a certain stage coach. Bound for Denver, the stage carried three important passengers—beautiful ranch owner Willa Cullen, lovely bar owner Rita Filley, and wealthy banker Raymond L. Parker. The two women are rivals for the lawman’s love, while Parker is a key investor in Trinidad’s future. But all are gone, with only the corpses of stage drive and shotgun guard as bullet-ridden clues. York follows clues to a ghost town known as Hell Junction. To rescue his lady friends and the banker, he must infiltrate an outlaw den . . . and pray no one among the thieves, killers, and kidnappers will recognize him. With only his desert rat deputy to back him up, York must free the captives, round up the badmen—and, whenever necessary, send them straight to Hell.
July 17, 2019
A good western is really hard to find. As the average age of the writers and readers of western fiction advances, there are fewer and fewer new titles released. As a long time reader of westerns, this really saddens me. I was glad to see a new title in Sheriff Caleb's series. As always, the writing of Max Allan Collins takes the reader into the action, you see and feel what the characters do. This one sees our hero looking to rescue some familiar characters and gives another look into the life of a Sheriff when the law was just a suggestion for most folks. Love the book, love the characters, looking forward to the next one.
January 20, 2022
THE BEST OF THE CALEB YORK BOOKS SO FAR
A wealthy banker named Raymond Parker and his two lovely female companions are kidnapped and it's up to Caleb York to find them.
I loved this story because it is such a unique western novel. Unlike other stories where it is simply "good guy vs bad guy," this one has more depth and more story to it. There's adventure at every turn and no one knows what's going to happen to our victims next.
If I was to rank the great and the not-so-great of The Caleb York Westerns, here is how I would do it...
5. The Big Showdown
4. Hot Lead, Cold Justice
3. The Bloody Spur
2. The Legend of Caleb York
1. Last Stage To Hell Junction
A wealthy banker named Raymond Parker and his two lovely female companions are kidnapped and it's up to Caleb York to find them.
I loved this story because it is such a unique western novel. Unlike other stories where it is simply "good guy vs bad guy," this one has more depth and more story to it. There's adventure at every turn and no one knows what's going to happen to our victims next.
If I was to rank the great and the not-so-great of The Caleb York Westerns, here is how I would do it...
5. The Big Showdown
4. Hot Lead, Cold Justice
3. The Bloody Spur
2. The Legend of Caleb York
1. Last Stage To Hell Junction
June 13, 2019
Based on a screenplay for John Wayne which was never filmed, this series has a fast paced plot line which gets more intricate as each book comes out. This volume has a kidnapping which develops complications as unexpected victims enter the mix. Sheriff Caleb York is determined to save all the hostages but especially the two her cares for the most.
July 26, 2019
Fun, entertaining Western ! Although Western genre is normally outside my wheelhouse, it is relaxing & fun to read a good western.
I had the opportunity to met Mickey Spillane several times early in the 80’s when he resided in Pawleys Island near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was quite a character!
Mike Hammer would approve !
I had the opportunity to met Mickey Spillane several times early in the 80’s when he resided in Pawleys Island near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was quite a character!
Mike Hammer would approve !
September 4, 2021
#4 in the Caleb York series. This story I didn’t care for as much as the others. Author made Willa a helpless wussy. Three people get kidnapped for ransom. The sheriff, Caleb York, goes “undercover” to get them out. Has several times he could have got the job done and the author makes him to stupid to do anything.
Still plan on reading the next one in line, "This side of hell."
Still plan on reading the next one in line, "This side of hell."
April 7, 2023
Caught In A Trap...
Another fine tale of the Old West that has Caleb York trying to unravel a mystery that has resulted in a stagecoach full of corpses and the kidnapping of three of Caleb's friends. What's the purpose? Well, that would be cheating, and then you'd deprive yourself of the pleasure of getting to the bottom of the mystery. An enjoyable read!
Another fine tale of the Old West that has Caleb York trying to unravel a mystery that has resulted in a stagecoach full of corpses and the kidnapping of three of Caleb's friends. What's the purpose? Well, that would be cheating, and then you'd deprive yourself of the pleasure of getting to the bottom of the mystery. An enjoyable read!
July 6, 2019
A good plot without a lot of gun play and gore ... just the right amount of believable action. Max Collins does a great job with Micky Spillane's original story.
Read
February 1, 2020Not very good.
Glad to see the last page.
Glad to see the last page.
June 28, 2020
Not sure how this got good reviews. Plot outline was not bad, but fleshing out was repetitive and drawn out. No real character interaction and lack of suspense. Probably worst of series so far.
July 11, 2020
Caleb York assumes the role of an outlaw to infiltrate a gang that is holding a collection of hostages. Mickey Spillane knows how to spin a good western tale.
June 5, 2021
This is the fourth book in the Caleb York series.
December 20, 2021
Enjoyable Read
The books characters were well defined. The build up to the finale was great. The final showdown caught have been a bit longer.
The books characters were well defined. The build up to the finale was great. The final showdown caught have been a bit longer.
September 9, 2023
Thank you!
A nod to Max Collins for bringing us Mickey Spillane again. Excellent job, sir. You have a new fan who reads at least three books a week. Excellent!
A nod to Max Collins for bringing us Mickey Spillane again. Excellent job, sir. You have a new fan who reads at least three books a week. Excellent!
March 8, 2025
the descriptions are soooo good
June 3, 2019
Last Stage to Hell Junction is the fourth installment from the A Caleb York Western series. I liked it and give it four stars.
May 2, 2022
Typical western
Gun slinger, with a badge. Sees everything in black and white. Former bounty hunter, now sheriff and town marshal. Tall , strong, good looking, John Wayne type. Kills a lot, all bad people.
Gun slinger, with a badge. Sees everything in black and white. Former bounty hunter, now sheriff and town marshal. Tall , strong, good looking, John Wayne type. Kills a lot, all bad people.
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