The Trail to Crazy Man

By: Louis L'Amour

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

It was a land where nothing was small, nothing was simple. Everything, the lives of men and the stories they told, ran to extremes.

Shanghaied into forced labor on a merchant vessel, Charles Rodney dies aboard ship from repeated beatings, but not before deeding part of his ranch to Rafe Caradec, whom he hopes will protect his family.

©1948 Better Publications (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"If there is an 'American sound', Lane has it. He speaks lightly, clearly, and with the greatest warmth for every character." (AudioFile)

Female western

Nothing I found the story to be. Enjoyable great details and good story line historically accurate

NO ONCE DOES WESTERNS LIKE LOUIS LAMOUR

I read the book several times, but listening to the audio book brought the characters to life again in a way I had not thought of.

Better than expected

L'amour has critical feedback he's canned, not that great. I beg to differ. This was quite good, Reviews discussed author not detailed oriented but that wasn't my experience.

From being shangai-ed (kidnapped & forced to work on a ship) to gun battles to retain rights to land, this was action packed and no nonsense.

Will definitely listen to more L'amour,

Narrator was excellent.

Fast with his fists and a sixshooter!

The story opens with an account of men being shanghaied to work on merchant ships. Along with several others, we find Rafe Caradec in attendance. Another man, Charles Rodney has been beaten so badly by the Captain that he dies of his injuries. Before Rodney dies, he asks Caradec to take care of his daughter Anne, passing him the deed to his ranch and the paid receipt for the mortgage. This is the last straw for Caradec. He beats the Captain senseless and makes his escape, along with the rest of the captives. Caradec arrives in Painted Rock, Texas (there’s a Paint Rock, Texas) to find Anne Rodney and inform her about her father. Thus begins the trouble that Caradec’s arrival and information bring to Painted Rock and its townsfolk. From lies, larceny, and murder, to interrupting a wedding and finding treasure. Caradec is a hard man, fast with his fists and a sixshooter. He’s quick to action and takes no guff from anyone. I liked the story very much and as I’ve said before, L’Amour is King!

Great Book

My kind of cowboy. True to his friends and true too the right cause. I like the way his pardoners followed him yet still did their on thing.