Customer Reviews

Breakheart Pass

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I was a kid, I read every single one of MacLean's novels -- and this was the one I found hardest to put down! With a plot involving a Pinkerton agent on board a train in the American West, it is somewhat different from other MacLean novels -- but just as authentic and exciting! If you're a MacLean fan, it'd be well worth your time to track down an edition of this overlooked gem.

Master action adventure author Alistair Maclean goes away from his usual World War II setting using a 1870's Western theme for his 1974 novel "Breakheart Pass". While not written with the intricate plots or character descriptions of his earlier work, the book contains enough misdirection and intrigue to keep you guessing. Maclean's writing style is which he displays an erudite command of the English language, gives us small bits and pieces of information slowly advancing the plot.

"Breakheart Pass" involves a perilous winter railroad journey through the Nevada territory in the midst of a frightful blizzard. Aboard the train are Nevada governor Fairchild and his niece Marica, along with U.S. cavalry colonel Claremont and two carloads of troops. Joining them are U.S. marshal Pearce and the governor's aide and Pearce's old army buddy Major O'Brien. Pearce, a venerable lawman and Indian agent was transporting dangerous murderer and gunman John Deakin. Their destination was the remote Fort Humboldt nestled deep in the Nevada mountains. Their trip was a mercy mission as a cholera outbreak in the fort had decimated the troops who were in need of relief and medical supplies. Dr. Molyneaux, a tropical disease expert was accompanying the aforementioned entourage.

As the journey continues we slowly learn that all is not what it seems. Maclean has meticulously obliterated the lines defining exactly who were the good guys and who were the bad. A nefarious plot had been hatched and the train passengers were mostly all integral parts of it. As the story winds down the cunning deviousness nature of the plan is finally revealed.

When I first read this I was surprised because Alistair Maclean had written Cold War thrillers, novels located in Arctic locales, some contemporary novels and some with World War II in the background. This was his first, and only, venture into the American West.

Always thought this was one of his best novels. After this, the author sadly began to decline. But in "Breakheart Pass" his prose was still sharp and so was his plot. As in many of his novels, his characters are on a ship or outpost or, in this case, a train and a number of mysterious deaths occur. Clearly one or more of the characters are killers.

This was made into a movie with Charles Bronson and it's one of the few MacLean books that Hollywood didn't screw up. That's probably because MacLean wrote the script and it adheres closely to the novel. A very suspensful tale. In his prime there was no one better than MacLean. The novel is a fitting tribute to the old West.

A highly enjoyable, quick-paced book. MacLean has more hits on his list than misses, and this is near the top of the hits. You can't trust anyone on board the train to be telling the truth, even the hero. Great setting as the train chugs its way through the mountains; less enjoyable once the destination is reached, but we don't spend all that much time there. Truly, getting there is (more than) half the fun.

I've read every book MacLean has written -- some of them two or three times. This was the hardest one to put down. I finished it in two days. Somewhat unusual setting for MacLean -- aboard a train in the 1800's in the American West. Very well written, with nonstop action from beginning to end. Highly recommended for MacLean fans.

"Breakheart Pass" is famed British story-teller Alistair Maclean's crack at writing a western novel. The plot concerns mysterious events on a train traveling to a remote U.S. Army Fort in what may be the Nevada Territory of the mid-1870's. The riders on the train, a collection of soldiers, politicians, and lawmen, are not who they seem, nor is the situation at the distant Fort as advertised. Fans of Maclean will recognize the usual plots twists, thrill-packed finale, and sardonic dialogue.

Maclean is less successful capturing an authentic tone of the frontier West. His characters are a foreigner's view of American stereotypes. The leading character, the mysterious Deakin, is not a particularly interesting protagonist, and the plot is unusually contrived and difficult to follow for Maclean. The story still manages to be interesting and even entertaining, but it is not up to Maclean's best efforts.

This book is recommended to fans of Alistair Maclean.

By the mid 70's, Alistair Maclean had begun to decline in his writing, lapsing into overblown plots and cliche'd characterisation. Perhaps he realised this, since this book is quite a change from his usual naval fiction and Cold War thrillers.

'Breakheart Pass' is set in the American West of 1873, and the action centres on a train carrying relief troops for Fort Humboldt, which has been affected by a cholera outbreak. On board are a varied bunch of Cavalry soldiers and officers, a US Marshall, Governor Fairchild of Nevada and his niece, and various individuals (a doctor, a preacher) taking up residence at Humboldt. Also on board is John Deakin, a criminal being transported to Humboldt to be executed for murder, arson, and robbery. Of course, since Deakin has a sardonic sense of humour, contempt for authority figures, and cracks lots of chivalrous one-liners at the Governor's niece, you know in an instant that he's the Maclean hero and that there's much more to him than first thought. Predictably, mysterious things begin to happen aboard the train; unexplained disappearances, tragic "accidents", sudden death, and acts of sabotage. We know Deakin cannot be responsible, but if not him, then who?

`Breakheart Pass' is far from Maclean's best book. It has a similar light-hearted and self-consciously silly feel as (say) `Caravan To Vaccares'; the interactions between Deakin and Marcia Fairchild mirror the somewhat cheesy back-and-forth between Neil Bowman and Cecile Dubois, for example. But it does have a couple of advantages over other Maclean books published around this time.

Firstly, there is actually some suspense and surprise in how the story unfolds. The "whodunit" factor played a major role in Maclean's early classics, but in many of his later books the villain was easily identified. Here, there is a reasonably large cast of characters, all of whom are plausible suspects but none of whom have an obvious motive. Drawing three-dimensional characters was never a Maclean strong point; here, though, since they could all potentially be a goodie or a baddie, there is a bit of depth and mysteriousness to many of them. There are also some nice twists as the plot evolves, as the motive for stopping a train of Cavalry troops is not immediately obvious.

Secondly, there is quite alot of action compared to Maclean's later yawnfests. Setting the book on a speeding train in the Wild West gives Maclean a chance to throw in all manner of gunfights, jumping from train rooftops, Indian attacks, blowing up of tracks, and some good old fashioned fisticuffs. In fact, once the plot has been established, it's pretty much action all the way. While it's not the heart-pounding suspense of Maclean's best work, it sure beats the boring talkiness of most of his later books.

So `Breakheart Pass' is not Maclean's best, but it's definitely not his worst either, and the unique setting and style makes it distinctive within Maclean's catalogue. Probably not the best place to start (begin with his classics from the 50's and 60's) but there's still enough spark there to keep this an engaging and exciting read.

[3.5 stars]

This book has everything - the U.S. Cavalry, Indians; heros, villains. It is high adventure and a great read.

A western by Alistair MacLean? Yes. A suspense, filled western? Again, yes. How could a non-fiction book by Mr. MacLean be anything other than suspense filled?

I recall back in 1974 when purchasing the new book by him, Break-Heart Pass, that it was a western and how unusual it was that he would issue a western. After reading the book that summer I was surprised how good the book was and then later in 1976 seeing the movie, he wrote the screen play as well, just how much improved the movie was over the book. Possibly due to a few changes MacLean made in the script but more so actually seeing the plot played out on the large screen. It also seems that no mistake was made in the actors picked to fill the various roles. Almost a perfect movie.

With the advent of DVDs I now have a copy and play the movie whenever I wish. I also find that it is one of my favorites of his books and also of the many, many westerns I read. If a reader did not know that Alistair was British there would no bias against his writing a western set in the American west. Only a few things show some awkwardness where the west it concerned.

All-in-all this is a very interesting book with a plot that forces the reader to not trust anyone at all. Up until the final pages the true 'black' hats and the 'white' hats remain unclear. Of all his books, this in my opinion may have been his finest.

If you are a MacLean fan then this is one book that must be read.

Unfortunately, I found this novel to epitomize trite stereotypes of the fading Wild West. The author is an Englishman who wrote the book from England. His observations and character developments are over the top and clearly based on the stereotypes of Western Americans that were widely circulated in Europe.

It was really tough to get past the first chapter.