The Outlaw Noble Salt: A Novel

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 3,770 ratings

Price: 26.33

Last update: 08-22-2024


About this item

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Harmon comes a sweepingly romantic tale of risk, redemption, and what happens when America’s most famous outlaw falls in love.

When infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy decides to go straight, he discovers that too many of the powerful men he crossed won’t let bygones be bygones. To have a chance at a new life, he’ll have to become someone else entirely.

A brief, fateful encounter with the celebrated singer Jane Touissant on the eve of his escape offers a glimpse of what might have been, but Butch disappears, leaving her behind, until their paths unexpectedly converge again in Paris.

Despite having discovered his true identity, Jane trusts the outlaw and enlists his protection on her upcoming American tour. Although Butch is reluctant to agree, fearing his sordid past may put the woman and her young son in danger, the salvation she offers is too hard to resist.

As they set forth on their journey, Butch’s past and Jane’s secrets put them at risk from threats far greater than the law, and this legend of the American West will have to decide what matters most—his life, his legacy, or the woman he loves.


Top reviews from the United States

Kaci
5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite Amy Harmon book!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2024
The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon is one of my new favorite books- with a morally grey character you cannot help but fall in love with. From his haikus to his swoon-worthy quotes to the gentle way he treated Augustus and Jane, I fell more and more in love with outlaw Robert Leroy Parker- or, as they preferred to call him, Noble Salt- with every page I read.

Amy Harmon’s books never fail to move me. The Outlaw Noble Salt is a masterfully written, beautiful, emotional, heartfelt story about love, second chances, and redemption. The devotion and relationships in this story- both romantic and familial- will stay with me for a long time.

The romance between Jane and Noble felt like a balm to my soul. Everyone deserves to be loved in the way that Noble loved Jane. The reasoning behind his nickname for her made my heart melt. Though this romance in the real Butch Cassidy’s story didn’t exist, it felt so incredibly real.

Jane’s relationship with her son Augustus was so heartwarming. They were so protective of each other and both drew strength from and for one another.

Augustus’ relationship with Noble was so healing. I loved the way they connected over haikus and how easy Noble made Augustus feel safe and accepted.

I cried over Robert’s relationship with his brother. They both loved each other so much, but Van showed it by wanting to be near Robert, and Robert showed it by trying to stay away. The sacrifices they both made for each other in the end had me bawling my eyes out.

If you only buy one book this year, let it be this one. It’s perfection. Amy Harmon, I think Robert would have loved the love story you gave him. I immediately preordered a physical copy when I finished reading because I NEED this for my shelf.

“They can’t kill Noble Salt. He only existed for you. He’s yours.”

THANK YOU to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an early copy of The Outlaw Noble Salt. All opinions are my own. *I read an uncorrected ARC, so it’s possible quotes may change.”

5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tanya Atkinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction At Its Best
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024
By many accounts, outlaw Butch Cassidy never took a life. And while he did rob trains and banks, he was also something of a folk hero for using some his of ill-gotten gains to help others (paying off a widow's mortgage, helping farmers who could not pay their bills). In The Outlaw Noble Salt, Amy Harmon reimagined a life for Butch Cassidy where he fell in love with a beautiful and talented singer and turned his life inside out to protect her and her young son.

Just after the turn of the 20th century, Butch Cassidy meets the famous singer Jane Toussaint. In a case of mistaken identity, Butch takes the pseudonym Noble Salt and neither forgot their brief encounter. A serendipitous meeting six years later brings them back together and changes the course of both their lives.

At a glance, Butch and Jane were an unlikely pairing and had nothing in common, but both were attempting to escape their past, just as they continued to be plagued by it. Harmon painted Cassidy as an introspective man, reflecting on has past, and unhappy with where his choices had led him. Jane’s life, despite outward appearances, had not been easy and she was escaping a gilded cage. Her hard exterior and cold demeanor, along with her incredible resilience, were all for the protection of her son and herself. And speaking of her son, Augustus (Gus) was remarkably precocious and the purest of souls. Born with a facial disfigurement that made him susceptible to harsh judgement and outright cruelty, Gus was still an empathetic soul. I adored his sweetness, his curiosity, and forthrightness. And his relationship with Butch was so honest and heartfelt, making it one of my favorite aspects of the story.

The secondary characters were just as vividly drawn, some fictionalized figures (like Harry “the Sundance Kid” Longabaugh), and others invented by Harmon. Butch’s complex relationship with his brother Van was an interesting addition to the story, and so many of the ancillary characters felt so real that I was certain I could look them up in history books.

As always, Harmon’s writing was simply beautiful. With just a few words she could make my heart ache, make me smile, or make me stop and ponder the truth in her words. One addition that I adored was Butch’s penchant for hokku. These were used throughout the novel, including being used as chapter headings, and were often poignant and added to the story.

This mix of historical fiction/alternate history and romance was everything I love in a book. Amy Harmon had me utterly entranced by the gentleman outlaw, and I found myself wishing for another hundred pages because I was not ready to say goodbye. This redemptive story with its oh so flawed characters will stay with me for a very long time.
ShaninTennessee
4.0 out of 5 stars Poignant Insights on an Outlaw
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2024
This book was interesting, with memorable characters and plot. The story kept me engaged, and the author drew me in and
made me care about the characters. (I also loved the haikus, aka hokkas). I felt the deep-seated sorrow and longing of Butch, and it was nice to imagine an alternate ending to his life (whose ending time and place still causes some historical debate).

Tale of an outlaw
Daring life trapped in regret
Legend of longing

Well done Ms. Amy
I am feeling all the feels
Sweet melancholy
AZMom
5.0 out of 5 stars Hope and Heartbreak
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
Excellent story! The characters are wonderful….human, flawed, wise, foolish, good and bad. You kind of can’t help falling in love with Gus and Butch, in particular. After about two chapters the story captured me. It is very sweet and moving but there is also danger and fear. And towards the end, you wonder how it’s going to end. I love books like that. Great book!

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