Yaqui Gold [Paperback]

Kirby Jonas (Author), Clint Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2003

Yaqui Gold is a powerful novel set in the West, specifically Texas, Arizona and Old Mexico, in the year 1886. Actor Clint Walker and Kirby Jonas have teamed up to create one of the most unique and fascinating looks ever at the world of the Yaqui Indians of Mexico, and two men's struggle to survive against almost impossible odds.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Yaqui Gold contains the best first lines and best three first chapters of any book I have ever read. -- Gary Challender, Books in Motion Audiobooks

Yaqui Gold is one of the finest Western novels ever written. -- Andy Fink, SHOOT! Magazine

About the Author

Clint Walker was born in Illinois in 1929. He became most famous for his role as Cheyenne Bodie in the 1950's and 60's television Western, CHEYENNE. He has made many other movies, including Night of the Grizzly, which he co-wrote, and The Dirty Dozen.

Kirby Jonas was born in Bozeman, Montana, in 1965. A long-time fan of Clint Walker, the two met in 2001 and became fast friends. Jonas has led the life of a wanderer, playing roles at one time or another as cowboy, Wells Fargo guard, forest firefighter, policeman, security guard, artist, toy salesman, and city firefighter. He is now settled permanently into his life as a firefighter and author in Pocatello, Idaho.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Howling Wolf Pub (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891423088
• ISBN-13: 978-1891423086
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,196,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Old West Comes Alive, February 8, 2009

By 

Nick Anez (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yaqui Gold (Paperback)

Clint Walker, star of television's Cheyenne, suggested to author Kirby Jonas the basic idea for this novel of the Old West. Over the next two years, they collaborated to create a superb adventure story. The plot concerns two long-time friends, Tom Vanse and Sam Coffee, who leave Nogales, Arizona to find a treasure of gold hidden deep within Yaqui territory in Mexico. With thieves and killers behind them and Yaquis, Apaches and bandits ahead of them, Tom and Sam learn that finding the gold is easy enough but keeping it is far more difficult. After capture by Yaquis, the two friends are separated and while Tom has his own trials to endure, Sam suffers increasingly deadly ordeals that test the limits of his will to stay alive. Stripped of his treasure and everything else he owns, Sam's only hope of surviving is by crawling through a parched desert land populated by jaguars, wolves and rattlesnakes while battling sandstorms and flashfloods. And all the while he is relentlessly followed by the lone Yaqui warrior who mutilated him.

This novel is filled with vivid characterizations of not only the two heroes but all of the major characters. Sam and Tom are ordinary cowhands who are out of work and trying to forget the death of a young girl from a furious bull, for which they blame themselves. The bond between the two men is credibly depicted and believable, despite the differences in their personalities. The individual pursuers are also clearly drawn with different motivations for their actions which results in unpredictable plot developments. But it is the unexpected relationship between Sam and his Yaqui tormentor that is the most intriguing one as it develops from mutual hatred to mutual respect.

This is a wonderful novel with exciting action and enthralling suspense. Kirby Jonas is a fine writer who is able to bring the Old West vividly to life through lyrical writing as well as extensive research which is obvious from the numerous details throughout the novel. And it is especially gratifying to know that Clint Walker, one of the screen's most believable and likeable Western heroes, is also a skillful and creative storyteller.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Western Action, January 28, 2004

By 

Deborah F. Brown "DeB" (Nesbit, Mississippi USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yaqui Gold (Paperback)

A great read for anyone who likes a real western.
The fast pace story and action continue thru the whole book.
The only problem I had with the book was that it made me thirsty!
This is one I would like to see made into a movie.
If you like westerns that take you into the story you will
enjoy this one.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One tough man ! !, April 11, 2007

By 

T. Thomas (TEXAS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yaqui Gold (Paperback)

Kirby Jonas has done it again - another GREAT book ! It's exciting ,funny , and makes you cry . He has a way of making you "feel the characters like nobody else can " .