Louis L'Amour is the consummate Western writer. Every place he wrote about, he had either been to or knew through his conversations with old-timers that it existed at the time of the story. He painted with words. Pick any book. My first was Comstock Load and still one of my favorites. It's a longer one, though. Haunted Mesa is more modern day. It is a very good book, but not one you would choose if you want to see if you like the genre.
Kiwi, thanks for the heads up on the JT Edson.
