Hombre: A Novel

“Although known for his mysteries, Elmore Leonard has penned some of the best western fiction ever.”
—USA Today

“A classic….Leonard’s writing style is as effortless and enjoyable as watching a good movie.”
—Portland Oregonian

Grand Master Elmore Leonard is justifiably acknowledged as “the best writer of crime fiction alive” (Newsweek)—and, in fact, one of the very best ever, alongside other all-time greats like John D. MacDonald, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, and Robert Parker. But he has also many acclaimed masterworks of American western fiction to his credit—including Hombre, the basis for the classic Hollywood motion picture starring Paul Newman. Set in Arizona mining country, Hombre is the tale of a white man raised by Indians, who must come to the aid of people who hate him when their stagecoach is attacked by outlaws. As thrilling as his contemporary novels of crime, double-cross, and murder in Detroit and Miami, Hombre is Elmore Leonard at his riveting best—no less than one would expect from the creator of U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Justified).

John Russell was raised as an Apache, and even served as a member of the tribal police. Now the time has come for him to leave the San Carlos reservation far behind and live again as a white man. The stagecoach passengers he's traveling with want nothing to do with this man they call "Hombre," forcing him to ride in the boot with the driver. But they change their tune when outlaws ride down on them. Suddenly they all must rely on Russell's guns and his ability to survive in the desert. They shunned John Russell, and now they must follow him . . . or die.