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Breakheart Pass has all of the elements of the classic MacLean action novels, a strong individual hero, a minor female role, tension and a story that leaves the reader wondering what the role is of each protagonist.
I wouldn't say it is predictable but there are enough hints throughout ... Read review
Advantages: A good read in the standard MacLean style Disadvantages: Slightly disappointing ending
...the mill westerns.
Breakheart Pass has all of the elements of the classic MacLean action novels, a strong individual hero, a minor female role, tension and a story that leaves the reader wondering what the role is of each protagonist.
I wouldn't say it is predictable but there are enough hints throughout the novel that if it were a crime novel you could probably work out who had done it. The first time I read this book I was ... ...but is itself a decent enough ending. Breakheart Pass is suprisingly good for a subject that is as far away from MacLean's nautical comfort zone as is possible, and I would rate this piece of work in the second tier of MacLean's work, but all the same a good read. ... more
Alistair MacLean makes his only passage into this 1974 western writing, but before I start for those MacLean fans out there do not worry it is far from a typical western. There are the expected Indians, army, lawmen and villains, but there is none of the gunfights that saturate the normal run of the mill westerns. Breakheart Pass has all of the elements of the classic MacLean action novels, a strong individual hero, a minor female role, tension and a story that leaves the reader wondering what the role is of each protagonist.
I wouldn't say it is predictable but there are enough hints throughout the novel that if it were a crime novel you could probably work out who had done it. The first time I read this book I was worried that it would turn out to be a repitition of Fear is the Key but in a different setting, but this worry was quickly dispelled. The majority of the action takes place aboard a military train on a journey to Fort Humboldt to relieve the cholera stricken outpost. Even before the journey starts though there is action as two army officers disappear and Nathan Pearce (US Marshal) arrests the wanted outlaw John Deakin. Pearce and Deakin join the train as it starts to make it's way through Paiute Indian territory. Onboard is a train fall of soldiers under the command of Colonel Claremont, Governor Fairchild and his niece, a vicar and doctor, as well as a number of other key individuals. The book does provide a list of the characters to help the reader place all of them, as well as a plan of the train. Events quickly develop as the doctor dies, the vicar disappears and the train engineer falls off the train. The train also suffers bouts of sabotage It quickly becomes apparent that the situation in Fort Humboldt is not all as it should be, but at the sametime the question remains are all those on the train who they say they are or what they should be. Outlaws and Indians play a key role in the action as events get closer to the Fort, and all becomes clear as to the true events There are twists and turns but all the strands come together nicely though the ending is a slight disappointment and does not perhaps live up to the rest of the book but is itself a decent enough ending. Breakheart Pass is suprisingly good for a subject that is as far away from MacLean's nautical comfort zone as is possible, and I would rate this piece of work in the second tier of MacLean's work, but all the same a good read.
