Riders of Judgment

Buckskin Man Tales #5

by Frederick Manfred

When ruthless cattle barons invade his Wyoming ranch and murder three of his family members, the independent Cain Hammett realizes that he must set aside his peaceful ways in order to seek revenge. Original.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 5, 1973

About the author

Manfred's novels are very much connected to his native region. His stories involve the American Midlands, and the prairies of the West. He named the area where the borders of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska meet, "Siouxland."
(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Mark Lisac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riders of Judgement takes what looks like a Western and elevates it to first-rate historical fiction. Manfred used factual material to write the story of one man's part in a Wyoming range war, and did it with a rich writing style that made the words alone thrilling. Possibly not as well known as his Lord Grizzly but I think a more fully realized story.

[John Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fictional rendering of the Johnson County, WY range wars of the 1890s when the small ranchers were trying to stop the large ranchers from taking over the land. This book is by one of Minnesota's most famous writers and is part of his Buckskin Series. He uses other place names for the Johnson County places, it brings out key points of the story through the eyes of the Hammet brothers--Cain, Dale, and Harry--and their cousin, Rory, who is married to Dale. All are small time ranchers in the area and feel the pressure to give up to the larger outside forces. The book is mainly a strong character study, primarily of Cain, as he led the forces against the large ranchers. I haven't read a Western in years, but really found this one powerful.