Stagecoach Station Books In Order

Publication Order of Stagecoach Station Books

Stagecoach Station is western series of novels written under the house name Hank Mitchum. The sole author of this series who has been identified so far is James Reasoner who wrote the books, Death Valley, Panhandle, Wild West, Bonanza City and Taos. Mitchum began the publication of Stagecoach Station series in 1982 when Dodge City the first book in the series was published, and since then more than fifty books have been published.

Dodge City

Dodge City is the first book in Stagecoach Station series by Hank Mitchum. The year is 1878, and Burl Channing is the Federal Marshall and the man many came to know as the justice executioner. Frank Killian is the man Hank is after, a gambler who somehow acquired a windfall of money before turning into a faro dealer in Dodge City, Kansas. Their unavoidable battle is muddled by a young open minded widow and a host of other non-fictional and fictional characters in one of the deadliest locations of the old west.

Dodge City is the first book in a long and large forgotten book series of historical western books by Hank Mitchum, a house name that includes James Reasoner. The main plot revolving around the murder mystery and the person behind it is wonderfully done, and it is not resolved until the very end, at the climax. Additionally, there is a romance subplot that is beautifully done, and in between, there is plenty of stories build up, confrontational drama, all presented in a simple, easy and enjoyable style for the readers to enjoy. The narrative is set against actual history in Dodge City, and true historical events such as legendary locations like the original Boot Hill and the Long Branch Saloon as well as the death of Ed Masterson are beautifully described.

Laredo

Owen Pryor is a tough spot, after having served several years in prison for his earlier outlaw days, he has since turned over a new life and intends on starting a new honest new life as a rancher. However, now he has heard the rumors that his former gang boss is about to be executed at noon in the small town of Laredo, Texas and that the rest of the gang intent on busting the man out before the fateful hour, Owen faces a dilemma that challenges where his loyalties lie.

Cheyenne

The splendid Wells Fargo stage speeds along the trail from Billing, Montana headed to Wyoming carrying a secret parcel of gold. Riding on this beautiful ride is the strong-willed Caroline Wells, a brave young woman who will risk the dangers of the treacherous frontier, marauding Indians and the darkest corners of Cheyenne just to bring her fugitive brother back home. She finds help along the way from the proud rancher Kyle Warner. Kyle has a debt to pay to the man who once saved his life and also to settle scores with a gang of bloodthirsty, revenge-seeking men who are planning an evil plan on the backstreets of Cheyenne.

Cheyenne is a brilliant reminder of the good old-fashioned ways, the characters are well woven but pretty basic, it is full of humor, danger, and like any other western out there its full of romance. The westerns are a subset of historical books, but they get their unique classification thanks to the fact that they take place in the frontier western united states- Civil war era. The plots are often predictable, and the characters are often single or flat dimensional, unlike the characters you will find in historical novels. However, despite this, they offer a sense of contentment, plenty of cowboy adventure, a few subplots that are wrapped up nicely and quite a few characters since not all the good guys survive the gunslinging.

Tombstone
The fourth in Stagecoach Station series of westerns books published in the 1980’s takes transports the readers to the Tombstone Arizona, also known as The Town Too Tough To Die. Any book that is set in this small town during the year 1881 must deal with the famous gunfight at the O.K Corral.

We are introduced to Dan Stockard, a retired Pinkerton detective who has grown to despite some of Pinkerton techniques and opens his own private investigation firm. He takes his first case which requires him to investigate the person behind a series of armed theft of Wells Fargo treasure from Tombstone mines. For a western novel, the author does a wonderful job of presenting different historical characters brilliantly and accurately. Wyatt and his brothers are described as opportunists that they were, sometimes siding with the law and some other times crossing over from the side of the law.

The actual gunfight between the Clanton’s and McLowerys and the Earps/Doc Holliday takes place in chapter one of this book. Hank Mitchum also does a great job in developing the supporting characters that made part during that fateful day including other historical figures such as Curly Bill Brociusm, James Ringo, Earp wives, Big Nose Kate and even other lesser-known historical figures such as Marshall Williams, Frank Stillwell and Johnny Behan. Nellie Cashman also was known as the Miner Angel and also a true legend of the old west play a leading role in this narrative.

Seattle

This series installment features a wagon train journey from the small town of Baker in Oregon all the way to the small mining town of Seattle in 1863. The main character is the unusual Kate Harrow a savvy young woman with intents of transporting her three cargos to Seattle with the dreams of getting rich in the male-dominated territory.

Most of the actions in this story take place on the train journey itself, through the raging rivers, across the rough country and of course across the Indian Country where a gang of warriors preys on wagon trains. Seattle features plenty of interesting characters, well woven and creative plots, plenty of twists and turns and also plenty of gunfights scenes.

Will C. Knott wearing the Mitchum moniker wrote this novel and several others in Stagecoach Station series as well as a lot of Trailsman, Golden Hawk, Longarm, and Vengeance Seeker series.