Customer Reviews

The Key Lock Man

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

 

 

I read constantly, but had never read a Louie L'Amour book (or any Western novel) until I was given Keylock Man by my father-in-law. Tore was a gun-runner for the Finnish Underground in WW II, among other amazing things, so when he gave me this book as a gift, I figured I better at least scan it that night before going to sleep.

Big mistake! The book grabbed me from the first sentence, and I could not go to sleep until I had read it all the way through. It was rivetting.

Now, you have to understand that my first college degree was in English, so I have read ALL of the "classics" and most of the almost classics. And, like most of my fellow students, I generally detested them because most were just plain boring. L'Amour books have a better plot, interesting characters, and are just plain written better. They move you right along so you can't put them down.

Keylock Man is my favorite L'Amour book. Keelock is an honorable, honest man who is must rely on his own toughness, wits, cunning, and skills to stay ahead of a posse who is, for the most part, comprised of good men who do not themselves realize that their task is unjust. He does not want to hurt them, he simply wants to be left alone. Although unjustly persecuted, he shows remarkable restraint, and the posse members begin to waiver as they begin to realize that the Keylock Man is not acting like they think he will. In some ways, the interactions of the posse over the time of the chase remind me of the classic movie "12 Good Men," as the facts they discover force them to confront their own preconceptions.

Now, some people, including me until I had read this book, think that Westerns in general are trash novels, or L'Amour books are not good literature because they are enjoyable to read. But that's what the self-appointed critics said of Mozart, Edgar Allen Poe, Herman Melville (remember Moby Dick) when they were alive, and all three died penniless. Now they are seen as some of the greatest masters of their craft.

So the question is, do you want to miss out because you're trying to be as big a snob as some self-appointed expert, or do you want to experience a rivetting, entertaining, enjoyable reading experience?

Just be warned--if you're brave enough to buy this book, you'll soon be buying all of L'Amour's books. But you won't regret it.

This Louis L'Amour dates back to December, 1985, when Bantam issued it in paperback, but the genesis of the story goes back much farther, first seeing light of day as a short story. As with several of Louis' longer writings they started out as short stories in a magazine. Some suffer from that, but this one certainly does not.

The location of this western novel is in the area of Utah and Arizona between the Painted Desert and Black Mesa. This is Indian country known as the Navajo Mountain Region with both the Navajo and Hopi peoples living in the area.

I've read this one several times down through the years, and each rereading holds up very well. The other reviews here pretty much regurgitate the contents of the book, so no need for me to do that.

Essentially it is a chase western, a posse wants to hang Matt Keelock from the highest tree, after they catch him. Problem being, they can never catch him. In fact, several times he saves their 'bacon' which makes them not only feel sheepish, but forces them to reflect on just what type man they are chasing. He can't be that bad, can he?

As with all Louis L'Amour's writings the hero eventually comes out on top. And that is one thing I admire about Mr. L'Amour's books he stood for good against evil. Pragmatic justice with no in between, as Em Sackett said in RIDE THE DARK TRAIL, always ride with the law, never against it.

This ranks very high as one of my personal favorite Louis L'Amour books. So if you have never read this book, or just want to read it again, you will not find the book lacking.

Semper Fi.

I loved this book when I was a kid because the female lead character was so strong. Kris is European and came to America because her boyfriend, who spoke slightingly of her, was challenged to a duel by her father, and killed him. Kris then killed the boyfriend and escaped to America. Matt Keelock meets her in the American West and ends up marrying her and helping her escape a man who is trying to kill them both. Lots of action, a little romance and a Western backdrop. A classic L'Amour tale.

I reveived the book but when I got it the back cover was torn and the outside was not in very good condition. I cant say that I will order any more books from this seller.

If only the rest of this novel had matched the intensity of its opening chapters we would be talking about a classic Western to stand beside the best the genre has to give.In lean and economical prose L'Amour tells of the pursuit of Matt Keelock by six honest and staunch citizens of Freedom convinced erroneously that he has slain a friend by nefarious means.They are no match for his rangecraft and escape only becuase he chooses not to kill them
Matt has married a European woman,the redoubtable Kris-a crackshot and tough as they come without forfeiting her femininity.He took her from under the nose of the evil Neerland who gets himself deputised by the Freedom citizenry to pursue Matt who is also distracted from survival needs by the search for a wild stallion he fixates on to start his horse ranch.Add to this a sub-plot involving stolen gold and you have what eventually becomes a slightly too busy plot but one the author keeps moving briskly

There is growth in the book-the townsfolk come to see Matt in a new light and recognise the errors they have made,both in judging him and one of their number,the newcomer Neill.

The book is in one way a riposte to the contemptible "High Noon"in that the citizenry are not about to see the town handed over to outlawry and stand up for themselves and their values
The landscape is evoked brilliantly in a book that is enjoyable and shows the neglected art of story telling in good light