Well, 'Riders of the Purple Sage' by Zane Grey has elements of mystery in the Old West setting. It tells the story of a woman's struggle in a land full of secrets and danger. There are hidden motives and actions that keep the reader guessing as the plot unfolds in the context of the western frontier.
One popular old west mystery novel is 'The Ox - Bow Incident' by Walter Van Tilburg Clark. It's a gripping tale set in the Old West that involves mystery and moral dilemmas.
The 'Hopalong Cassidy' series by Clarence E. Mulford also has mystery elements in the old west. These novels follow the adventures of the cowboy Hopalong Cassidy. His encounters with various characters and situations in the rough and tumble old west often involve solving mysteries, like figuring out who is behind cattle rustling or other crimes in the western territory.
Some well - known old west novels include 'Shane' which tells the story of a mysterious gunslinger who comes to the aid of a homesteading family. It's a simple yet powerful tale. 'High Noon' is also great, it has a tense plot that unfolds as the town sheriff has to face a gang of outlaws alone. And then there's 'True Grit' with its memorable characters and a story of revenge in the old west.
A great 'old west romance novel' is 'The Outsider' by Penelope Williamson. It tells a story full of passion and adventure in the western frontier. The characters are well - developed and the romantic elements are interwoven with the challenges of the old west life.
One popular old west graphic novel is 'Jonah Hex'. It features a scarred anti - hero in the old west setting, with lots of action and moral ambiguity. Another is 'The Lone Ranger' graphic novels which bring the well - known character of the masked ranger and his Native American sidekick Tonto to life in a vivid visual way. And 'Red Dead Redemption: The Man from Blackwater' which is based on the popular video game and gives a great look into the old west world through its graphic novel format.
One of the old popular mystery stories is 'Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It features the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson solving complex mysteries in Victorian London.
The Time Traveler's Wife is also somewhat relevant. Although not strictly set in the old west all the time, it has time - traveling elements and a deep, romantic relationship at its core. It gives a unique perspective on how love can transcend time.
The story of Calamity Jane is another popular one. She was a tough and fearless woman in the old west. Her stories involve her relationships with other famous old west characters, her skills as a rider and a shooter, and her adventures in the wild frontier. You can find free versions of her story in various forms, like in some old - fashioned story collections that have been digitized and made freely available on the internet, or in local library archives that have been uploaded to online platforms for public access.
Zane Grey is a well - known author. His works often blend the elements of the old west with mystery and adventure. His vivid descriptions of the western landscapes and the complex characters add to the mystery in his novels.
Stephen King is a very popular author who has delved into 'old west horror novels'. His 'The Dark Tower' series combines the elements of the old west and horror quite well. Another is Cormac McCarthy with his 'Blood Meridian' which is a very dark and disturbing take on the old west with horror elements.
A less - known but great 'old west horror novel' is 'The Wendigo's Hunt' by Jack Hardy. It's about a group of settlers in the old west who encounter a Wendigo, a terrifying creature from Native American folklore. The author does a great job of building suspense as the settlers struggle to survive in the unforgiving western landscape while being hunted by this supernatural being. It has all the elements of a classic old west story, like cowboys, saloons, and long rides through the desert, but with a horror twist that makes it really stand out.
Well, 'The Virginian' is a classic among old west romance novels. It depicts the relationship between a cowboy and a schoolteacher in a charming way. Then there's 'Centennial' which, while covering a broad history of the west, also has engaging romantic sub - plots. Also, 'Lonesome Dove' has some great romantic elements as it follows the journey of cowboys and their relationships during their travels in the Old West.