Gunslingers: A Story of the Old West
Some legacies are written in gunsmoke.
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A father's worst nightmare becomes his daughter's dangerous journey in this multi-award-winning debut that launches the legendary Luxton Danner series.
About the Book
In this multi-award-winning debut that launches the Luxton Danner Series, John Layne delivers a powerful tale of family, vengeance, and frontier justice. Retired U.S. Deputy Marshal Joel Thornton thought he'd left his gunslinging days behind for a peaceful rancher's life. But when a revenge-seeking fugitive attacks his homestead days after his daughter Elizabeth's return, Thornton's dream of tranquility shatters in a hail of gunfire.
Badly wounded defending his home and family, Thornton makes an impossible choice—sending Elizabeth on a desperate ride across dangerous territory to find legendary lawman Ben Chance, the only man he trusts to save what he holds dear.
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Layne's cinematic style and profound understanding of the Old West shine through in this gripping adventure that has captured readers and critics alike. With its rich character development, authentic period details, and heart-pounding action, Gunslingers marks the emergence of a bold new voice in Western fiction.
Book One of the Luxton Danner Series​​
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Awards
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Gold Winner, American Book Fest International Book Awards - Western Fiction
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Silver Medalist, IPPY Awards - Mountain-West Regional Fiction
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Winner, Firebird Book Awards - Western, Southern, and Action-Adventure Fiction
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Winner, Book Excellence Award - Western Fiction
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Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards - Historical Fiction (Pre-1900s)
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Finalist, American Book Fest Best Book Awards - Western Fiction
Reviews & Praise
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
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A classic Western novel by an author with full mastery of the genre, John Layne's deftly crafted novel, Gunslingers: A Story of the Old West is an inherently compelling read from beginning to end. While unreservedly recommended for community library Western Fiction collections.
READERS' FAVORITE
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Gunslingers: A Story of the Old West by John Layne has everything readers look for in a Western. John Layne knows how to tell a story and the reader is left in no doubt that the author understands the geography in which the story takes place, and knows his way around guns. I felt as though I was taking part in the gun battles described in this novel. The story explores strong themes of family, adventure, love, and friendship. The story is rich in imagery and the easy-to-understand, highly descriptive prose sets the story apart and makes it a page-turner. Gunslingers is filled with action and is fast-paced. It is cinematic and readers will easily imagine the scenes and characters as they turn the pages. This is one of the best books I have read about the Old West, with characters that are memorable and action that is nonstop.
READERS' FAVORITE
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There is music in the prose, the language brimming with rich imagery, and sounds, sights, and feelings that inundate the reader's senses. A great story isn't just about the characters in it or what happens to these characters, but also about how it is told, and this author does it like no other. I was pulled in from the start by the power of the prose. Gunslingers: A Story of the Old West is set in a land that knows no laws, where the strong survive; the wild, wild west of the gunslingers. John Layne writes beautifully and captivates the hearts of readers through crisp and strong prose. The novel is action-packed, fast-paced, and skillfully balanced, with characters that are well-developed and humor that makes it irresistible.​​
READERS' FAVORITE
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John Layne has both a great sense of what makes a classic nostalgic Western, and what makes great reading in a modern-day adventure novel. What results is a well-rounded tale with multiple plotlines at play, emotional drama arcs but also mysteries and missing persons, old grudges, and new dangers. The writing style is atmospheric yet concise, getting us to the action fast when called for but still painting those historic scenes we know from cinema and television. The dialogue is also a triumph, harkening back to the old ways of speech but not so much that readers can’t engage with and understand the characters and their well-formed personal storylines. Overall, Gunslingers: A Story of the Old West delivers everything it promises and more. A highly recommended read for Western fans and newbies alike.