From Gunslinger to Ladies' Man: Skye Fargo’s Adventures in 'Valley of Death'

VALLEY OF DEATH

The Trailsman, #37

by Jon Sharpe

Signet, 1985

★★★★✰

Railroaded off their land, the folks of Owl Creek wanted to see justice done, and Skye Fargo was the man they turned to. Offering him a pretty penny to take on the land baron Dorrance Lansing and his crooked town officials. Fargo was hard-pressed to say no, especially when a hot-tempered filly named Bess promised to sweeten the pot. At first, it was easy to see who the villains and the victims were. But as the Trailsman moved close to nailing Lansing, things weren't as clear as they seemed. All Fargo really knew for sure was that his own hide was on the line—and he'd need some cool thinking and some hot lead to come out of this one alive....

Every genre has its crutches, and Western fiction is no exception! Take The Trailsman: Valley of Death, the thrilling 37th installment in the beloved Trailsman series. Created by John Joseph Messmann—better known as Jon Messmann—this series hooked readers for years, with Messmann penning the first 200 novels under the alias Jon Sharpe before retiring in the late '90s and passing away in 2004. Since then, a talented lineup of authors, including David Robbins, Robert J. Randisi, and James Reasoner, have carried the torch, keeping the adventures alive until the series concluded in 2014.

From the very first page, Valley of Death wastes no time throwing us into the gritty landscape of Owl Creek, a town as corrupt as they come. Here, our rugged hero Skye Fargo, the Trailsman himself, is up against a corrupt judge and sheriff while trying to uncover the truth behind a suspicious barn fire that took the lives of several horses. With a wrongfully accused man in the clutches of the legal system, only the man’s determined daughter, Bess, believes in Skye’s account of what he witnessed—a fiery scene that had multiple men fleeing the chaos.

Despite his initial desire to ride out and leave Owl Creek behind, Skye finds himself pulled into a dark plot involving land grabbing and hidden silver. Action-packed shootouts, double crossings, and even a sizzling romance or two spice up the narrative. That’s right—Skye is not just a quick draw with his trusty .44 Colt; he also knows how to charm the ladies, and the pages are peppered with a few steamy encounters, featuring Bess and another woman, Thea, that might just raise an eyebrow or two.

Skye Fargo, with his striking "lake blue" eyes, is a character you can't help but root for—though he’s a man of many encounters, he remains single by choice, his only companion being his unnamed horse, affectionately referred to as "the Ovaro." While I’m somewhat familiar with the series from my memories of diving into a couple of later books long ago, Skye’s backstory remains largely untouched in Valley of Death. Still, there’s a sense of urgency driving him—a thirst for vengeance that keeps the pages turning.

The classic trope of the right man in the right place at the right time is used to great effect, lending an air of nostalgia that harkens back to the old Western serials we all love. At just 164 pages, the book delivers a tightly woven story with no time wasted. Sure, a ruthless land baron is a familiar villain, but the blend of action, shootouts, and raw tension is expertly executed, ensuring readers will stay glued to the page.

Overall, The Trailsman: Valley of Death might not be flawless, but it's a rollercoaster of a read, offering fast-paced thrills that are sure to satisfy any Western aficionado. Dive in for an adventure that promises blood, betrayal, and a few wild nights—the heart of the genre lies within!

⁓B.J. Burgess