Treasure Well: A Western Trio

by Max Brand

Book Overview

The three short novels in this new Max Brand trio comprise the story of Tom Fernald, a poverty-stricken sheepherder whose smallholding is mortgaged to the unscrupulous money-lender Peter Visconti. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843960825
• ISBN13: 9780843960822
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Leisure Books
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.1" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Treasure indeed!

Max Brands' fiction was a product of his era. In "Treasure Well", the moralistic themes of truth, doing the right thing, and forgiveness almost slap readers in the face. Tom Fernald is not the wealthiest man nor the smartest man in Griffon. The shadow of Mount Griffon loomed large on his sheep spread purchased with the help of Pete Visconti. As pock marked as the ground, his poverty and near dispair was obvious. Selling a herd of sheep, he rode home with $253 in his wallet. Gambler Bill Ransome meets him on the trail home, and relieves him of his windfall, humbling Tom in the process. Pete Visconti comes to call for his interest, which was now in the hands of the gambler, Ransome. Out of desperation, his anger and frustration turn to murderous thoughts, and he nearly kills Visconti. Taking the only asset Fernald owns, Visconti rides off and is thrown to his death in the process. Now, afraid of being accused of murder, Fernald hides the body and begins to search for the missing $ Visconti had hidden. The well shows him the way, and 435,000$ is his reward. Bill ransome returns and finds Tom with the money. Again, murder overcomes Tom, and he almost strangles Bill to death. Once, poor, now wealthy, Fernald turns his life around and reaps the rewards of his blood money. Still, Ransome is always around to remind him of his ill gotten gain... Treasure Well is a great set of novelettes that echo the virtues of truth, honesty, hard work, and love. "Tell the truth" Ransome tells Tom, "and you will have a clear conscience." Tom works hard, everyone knows that. His pursuit of a wife to share his wealth with is tainted with pride, and anger. Only when he humbles himself after he has been raised to prominence by the town does he truly find freedom again. Money has not fixed his life, but made it more complex. I loved these novelettes by Brand. Sure,the style of Brand is plodding at times, and these, for example, border on a High Noon style of psychological thriller. Treasure Well is fiction for our time. Good storytelling never goes out of style. Tim Lasiuta