Bandit Heaven, Tom Clavin
Bandit Heaven, Tom Clavin
3 Rating(s)
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Bandit Heaven
The Hole-in-the-Wall Gangs and the Final Chapter of the Wild West

Author: Tom Clavin

Narrator: Johnny Heller

Unabridged: 7 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/22/2024


Synopsis

"The entire cowboy-outlaw era, which reached its climax in 1897 and ended around 1905, comes vividly alive in this kaleidoscopic work ... countless other instances of robbing, stealing and retribution, are woven splendidly into this rousing saga of the closing years of the outlaw epoch of the American West." —Wall Street Journal

From multiple New York Times bestselling author Tom Clavin comes the thrilling true story of the most infamous hangout for bandits, thieves and murderers of all time—and the lawmen tasked with rooting them out.

Robbers Roost, Brown’s Hole, and Hole-in-the-Wall were three hideouts that collectively were known to outlaws as “Bandit Heaven.” During the 1880s and ‘90s these remote locations in Wyoming and Utah harbored hundreds of train and bank robbers, horse and cattle thieves, the occasional killer, and anyone else with a price on his head.

Clavin's Bandit Heaven is the entertaining story of these tumultuous times and the colorful characters who rode the Outlaw Trail through the frigid mountain passes and throat-parching deserts that connected the three hideouts—well-guarded enclaves no sensible lawman would enter. There are the “star” residents like gregarious Butch Cassidy and his mostly silent sidekick the Sundance Kid, and an array of fascinating supporting players like the cold-blooded Kid Curry, and “Black Jack” Ketchum (who had the dubious distinction of being decapitated during a hanging), among others.

Most of the hard-riding action takes place in the mid- to late-1890s when Bandit Heaven came to be one of the few safe places left as the law closed in on the dwindling number of active outlaws. Most were dead by the beginning of the 20th century, gunned down by a galvanized law-enforcement system seeking rewards and glory. Ultimately, only Cassidy and Sundance escaped . . . to meet their fate 6000 miles away, becoming legends when they died in a fusillade of lead.

Bandit Heaven is a thrilling listen, filled with action, indelible characters, and some poignance for the true end of the Wild West outlaw.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

About Tom Clavin

TOM CLAVIN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and has worked as a newspaper editor, magazine writer, TV and radio commentator, and a reporter for The New York Times. He has received awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and National Newspaper Association. His books include the bestselling Frontier Lawmen trilogy—Wild Bill, Dodge City, and Tombstone—and Blood and Treasure, The Last Hill, and Throne of Grace with Bob Drury. He lives in Sag Harbor, NY.

About Johnny Heller

Johnny Heller was named a Golden Voice Lifetime Achievement Award Winner—one of the highest honors in the audiobook industry—in 2019. He has recorded over 1,100 audiobooks in every genre and is a five-time Audie Award winner and a 15-time nominee. He is a 2020 Odyssey Award winner and a 2023 Communicator Award winner for his work on Winnie the Pooh.Johnny was named an AudioFile Best Voice 2009-2011, 2014-2016, 2020, and 2024. He is a Publishers Weekly Listen Up Award Winner 2008-2018 and a multiple Booklist Editor’s Choice Winner. A winner of over 40 Earphone Awards and 4 SOVAS Awards, Johnny was named one of the top 50 Voices of the 20th Century by AudioFile.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Brendan on August 26, 2024

I read all of Tom Clavin's books and this is just another wonderful entry about the end of the Wild West. I'm not going to complicate this review because whether or not this book is for you is very simple. When Clavin writes about the Wild West, there is going to be some guaranteed elements. First,......more

Goodreads review by Thomas on April 03, 2025

Murder by suicide, evidently, was how the notorious Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid died; and not by the celebrated manner depicted in the 1969 film. Mr. Clavin has written, in this reader's opinion, the definitive history of America's most ruthless killers and bank robbers.......more

Goodreads review by Curt on February 17, 2025

"Bandit Heaven" by Tom Clavin is an exciting and educational 5-star read! The book delves into the lives of bandits and outlaws who carried out nefarious activities in Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado during the late nineteenth century. The central figures are Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, along wi......more

Goodreads review by Timothy on December 30, 2024

The latest Tom Clavin book on the history of the old west. This one centers on the infamous Hole-in-the-Wall or Robbers Roost. A notorious hide-out for outlaws. Those included; Blackjack Ketchum, Kid Curry, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Other names like Tom Horn, Isom Dart, Johnny Surango,......more

Goodreads review by Mike on November 10, 2024

I love Clavin's books. I started listening to them on CDs years ago. I had grown up watching movies and series about the Wild West and reading books about them too. I wanted something for long trips. Clavin has an easy almost conversational style to writing. If you want something factual and pleasan......more


Quotes

Praise for Tom Clavin:

“A rollicking tale of a Texas lawman and the iron-jawed contingent that rode with him...Fans of the Wild West and its pistol-packin’ miscreants will enjoy Clavin’s latest.” —Kirkus Reviews on Follow Me to Hell

“Fascinating … this is a stirring account.” —Forbes on Follow Me to Hell

“Clavin is one of the most popular and bestselling Western authors writing about the Old West … His pace keeps the story moving and he provides details on the historical characters and events that make you want to read more on the topic after [finishing] the book.” —True West on Follow Me to Hell

"Clavin knows Western history ... [he] tells a good story." ―Library Journal on Follow Me to Hell