After discovering six gold Roman coins buried in the mud of the Devil’s Dyke, Barnabas Sackett enthusiastically invests in goods that he will offer for trade in America.
But Sackett has a powerful enemy: Rupert Genester, nephew of an earl, wants him dead. A battlefield promise made to Sackett’s father threatens Genester’s inheritance. So on the eve of his departure for America, Sackett is attacked and thrown into the hold of a pirate ship.
Genester’s orders are for him to disappear into the waters of the Atlantic. But after managing to escape, Sackett makes his way to the Carolina coast. He sees in the raw, abundant land the promise of a bright future. But before that dream can be realized, he must first return to England and discover the secret of his father’s legacy.
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"next time you take a roadtrip, do yourself and your fellow passengers a favor - buy as many of the sackett books as you can find at truck stops and read them aloud. maybe not super intellectually stimulating, but wonderful stories of frontier-style adventure."
— Jenessa (4 out of 5 stars)
" Great book, I read all the Sackett stories when I was growing up and though its time to go through them again. "
— Nelson, 5/20/2019" This opening book in an American family saga, (sort of a "Roots" for white folks) is an interesting and well-researched picture of life in Elizabethan England. Provides a fitting "jumping off point" for the series. "
— Steven, 2/20/2014" Fast paced Historical and FUN "
— Lee, 2/17/2014" The first in the Sackett series, though not the first one I read. Really good book. "
— Charles, 2/14/2014" Can't really go wrong with L'Amour! "
— Wayne, 2/4/2014" Need to read it to start the history of the Sackett family - but not as captivating as the subsequent Sackett books. Listened to this on CD. "
— Melissa, 2/4/2014" the writing skews to the plot and skips over some things, so what. It's great, get into it. "
— David, 1/31/2014" This one is not really a "Western" but it starts the series that goes on to the West. This one starts in London and is the beginning of the Sackett's story. I devoured them all. "
— Arlene, 1/27/2014" This was the first Louis L'Amour novel I ever read. I was excited to learn that a western could be set in a time and place other than the 19th-century West. I read several of his novels in the next few years, but this remains one of my favorites. "
— Louis, 1/19/2014" Slapdash writing at a plodding pace, despite the hasty descriptions and jarring leaps forward in the plot. Just terrible. "
— Evan, 1/18/2014" I was a big L'Amour fan as a child. The Sacketts were among my favourites. "
— Hazel, 1/17/2014" The Sackett books are all worth reading. "
— Don, 12/29/2013" Haven't read a Louis L'Amour book in decades. Trying to recall why I liked these so much in my youth and wondering if my son might like. Fun. "
— Brad, 12/28/2013" This book was a good read. I liked learning about the different reasons why someone would want to come to live in the new world back in the day. The Sackett's are great men and women of honor and self-reliance. I am interested to read the rest of the series. "
— Sara, 11/20/2013" Read this one over the weekend. This book helps to show why some early settlers of North America wanted to come. The hero in the book gets a lot of very fortuitous breaks. He also highlights the importance and impact that hard work, imagination, persistence, and good friends can have on someone. "
— Ben, 11/13/2013" The first in a series on the Sacketts. Vintage Louis L'Amour. "
— melody, 8/25/2013" Enjoyable quick read. I loved Louis L'amour books growing up. L'amour is a master at putting you in the time period. "
— Preston, 7/23/2013" My dad's favorite author, so I'm giving him a try... "
— Pam, 6/23/2013" I have ALL his books! And have read them too! "
— Sreescanda, 6/8/2013" this book put me off westerns for probably 12 years, until i picked up Warlock. in fact, this is probably the reason i couldn't pick up All the Pretty Horses for a decade after i decided i should read it. that's the irrational way i operate. "
— dead, 5/10/2013" Just started the Sackett series...great so far. This was a fun quick read. You can tell it is setting up the rest of the series. Starting the second in the series today. Very excited to follow this drama. "
— Jaclyn, 1/21/2013" Rereading the series, prolly at least the 6th or 7th time. "
— Nicole, 12/12/2012" Really enjoyed this first book in the Sackett series . . . more of a historical adventure novel than a western. "
— Jillybean, 8/1/2012" This is the second book by Louis L'Amour that I have read and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I loved the storyline, the setting and the characters. Mr. L'Amour has been surprising me! Very much recommended. "
— Ginger, 3/27/2012" My grandfather read this series and nearly everything from Louis L'Amour and I regret not reading them sooner. This book is my favorite piece of fiction that's not sci-fi, fantasy or otherwise geeky. "
— Tim, 3/2/2012" If you read the Sackett series to your kids, they are going to get a pretty good picture of the civilization of our country. It also follows a family on the westward migration. And it is clean enough to read. "
— Lois, 1/23/2012" This one is not really a "Western" but it starts the series that goes on to the West. This one starts in London and is the beginning of the Sackett's story. I devoured them all. "
— Arlene, 3/30/2011" This is the second book by Louis L'Amour that I have read and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I loved the storyline, the setting and the characters. Mr. L'Amour has been surprising me! Very much recommended. "
— Ginger, 3/24/2011" The Sackett books are great fun to read. "
— Seth, 3/20/2011" Listened to this again with Johnn on our trip to Alberta. He loves these books so it is impossible not to enjoy a good Louis L'Amour with him! :) <br/>This is the first of all the Sacket books. "
— Jan, 2/13/2011" Read this one over the weekend. This book helps to show why some early settlers of North America wanted to come. The hero in the book gets a lot of very fortuitous breaks. He also highlights the importance and impact that hard work, imagination, persistence, and good friends can have on someone. "
— uintahiker, 2/1/2011" A good read that catches your interest early and keeps you going until the end. Short enough for a quick read, but I'm excited to find the rest of the books in the series to read the rest of the story. "
— Stacey, 1/26/2011" If you read the Sackett series to your kids, they are going to get a pretty good picture of the civilization of our country. It also follows a family on the westward migration. And it is clean enough to read. "
— Lois, 12/29/2010" it was a great story glad to finally hear the beginning of the sackett saga, have seen movies of the later sacketts in America, their story is a true western, My Dad read Louis L'Amour, so kinda neat to enjoy the same books my dad did "
— Mom, 12/10/2010" Sacketts were never my favs of L'Amour, somehow. <br/>I noticed my friend Mark was reading LL, and realized I'd neglected to add him (and so many others) to this list. Went through a real Western phase many moons ago, and read most of LL. "
— Mackay, 12/9/2010" These books are so much fun to read. Good, clean adventure books. "
— Chris, 11/27/2010" Classic. Pretty fun. I will look for more of them. "
— Pam, 10/16/2010" I finally got to the first book in the series now that I have read almost all of the others. It did not dissappoint and it was nice to fill in some of the pieces I had gleaned from the others. "
— Teddy, 10/2/2010" I listened to this one on CD. Apparently it's a 14 book series. So far I'm enjoying it, we'll see how far I get in the series. It's something to do while I clean! "
— Michelle, 8/31/2010" This is the second Louis L'Amour book I've read and I really liked both. This is a great adventure book set in the 1600's. I would like to read more of the stories in this series. "
— Jennie, 5/21/2010Louis L’Amour (1908–1988) was an American author whose Western stories are loved the world over. Born in Jamestown, North Dakota, he was the most decorated author in the history of American letters. In 1982 he was the first American author ever to be awarded a Special National Gold Medal by the United States Congress for lifetime literary achievement, and in 1984 President Reagan awarded him the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the nation. He was also a recipient of the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award.
John Curless is a theater, film, and television actor. He has appeared on Broadway in Journeys End, The Sound of Music, and The King and I and off-Broadway in Passion Play, Comic Potential, and The Entertainer. His film and television credits include Vibrations, Ed, and NYPD Blue. His audiobook narrations have been awarded two AudioFile Earphones Awards.