Valley of Skulls

Fargo #6

by John Benteen

He rode into a revolution to bring back a priceless cannon and a beautiful woman... Fargo was after two a priceless cannon and a beautiful woman. But the only way to the Valley of the Skulls was through land so primitive that word of revolution would not have reached it. There was a reward out for him in Guatemala and there was the bandits in Yucatan, and they would stalk him all the way, if they did not kill him for his guns and outfit first...

Genres: Action

160 pages, mass market paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Pseudonym used by Ben Haas.

Reviews

[Edwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fargo series tell the tales of early 20th Century adventurer and solider of fortune Neal Fargo. They aren’t Westerns as the covers suggest. In this installment Fargo is hired by a rich old blowhard to rescue some Mayan treasures and the excavation team, which includes his son, from the jungles of Central America. Fargo forges an uneasy alliance with old friend Darnley and his team of ruffians who Fargo thinks are likely to kill him and keep the fortune, which he now realizes includes a solid gold cannon of priceless value, for themselves. The well-oiled plot rolls along at breakneck speed with colorful dialog and plenty of action. The Fargo adventure books are perfect escapism for our times, easily consumed and tasty as a hot delivered pizza.

[Jason Waltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always fun, always deadly, always gets out of a jam, and always gets the girl. This time an interesting twist rescued Fargo from having to do something he wasn't eager to do, so that resolved a looming dilemma. Fantastic fights, deft and detailed descriptions of weaponry and their uses, and lots of intense action.

[Jonathan Ammon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard Fargo jungle adventure that maintains the quality of the series without adding anything new apart from occasionally lazy prose which is not a normal feature of the series.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are great books, just a lot of action and usually the storylines are solid if straightforward. This one follows that edict, Fargo is hired by a old rich tycoon to go to the unexplored depths of a Central American jungle to retrieve his son and associates along with Mayan artifacts that were found on their expedition. Seems that Mexico is in revolution again and they dont have Mexican backing or any way to get through all the fighting segments with their lives let alone cargo. Fargo accepts the risk but then finds out one of the artifacts is a cannon made of solid gold buried by the Spanish and that much gold makes any mission more difficult if not impossible.

Highly recommended, fast reads but with constant action.

[S.wagenaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another rock-solid Fargo adventure tale. This time Fargo takes on a job for a multi-millionaire who wants an immense treasure recovered from the jungles of Central America. But to get to it Fargo has to get past Mexican Revolutionaries, hostile local Mayan Indians, and assorted mercenary forces fighting in the area. I consider the Fargo tales as historical adventure stories, since they take place in the early 1900’s in various exotic locals and often feature advanced technology and weapons (early 20th century). Plenty of violence, carnage and chaos ensues, and Fargo has to use his brains as much as his brawn to overcome various obstacles. Recommended.

[Tim Deforest · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fargo books are loads of fun and this one is particularly good, with a couple of loathsome villains, a trek through a hellish jungle hauling a particularly heavy but enormously valuable artifact ("The first two days were pure hell. After that, it got worse."), ambushes, double crosses, desperate battles and--of course--a number of opportunities for Fargo to use his favorite weapon--a very effective shotgun given to him by Teddy Roosevelt.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fargo is back in action, this time in South America. He's hired by a millionaire to recover an expedition stuck in the jungles of central America, and there's a lot he's not being told but the money is good enough not to care. Fargo runs into an old associate who has a mercenary band and we're off to the races. Dangerous creatures, deadly enemies, creepy old ruins, hot babes, betrayal, and a lot of money all make up for a pretty enjoyable Fargo adventure.

[Michael D. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jungle Juice

Fargo in another adventure and as a true fighting man, circumstances always falls to the victor! Can't wait for next episode! Thanks! Mr. Benteen

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slay!

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just another excellent entry in the Fargo series. Fargo in high form here.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

FARGO FARGO FARGO

Fargo tracked down by Pinkertons on behalf of a wealth man from New York. Fargo is a paid mercenary, a Jack of all trades mainly guns. He has no ties other than Theodore Roosevelt , Commander in charge of the infamous "ROUGH RIDERS"...no family only his beat-up trunk full of his friends, well taken care of..He's the type of man that's on your side, you don't want to face him in battle..because that's your last day of sunshine. The quest he's asked to accept isn't what it turns out to be. He's almost like the "EXPENDABLES" but more ruthless, love them and leave them. Action,Actions a lot descriptive topography, slavery and extraction of foreign countries abstracts to US museums or private collections..

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Fargo took Stoneman's $40,000 to bring his son and a group of archeologists, along with their find,from a valley in southern Mexico, he didn't know how bad a deal he'd made.
The find was an old Spanish cannon, of legend, cast from 2,000 pounds of gold. He'd have to fight every mile of the jungle to get it out.
But a deal was a deal!