Red River Reunion
Two legends. One Mission. No Surrender.
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When outlaws threaten to destroy a Texas border town, two legendary lawmen prove why they're the most feared partnership in the West—and bring hell to those who'd destroy their piece of Texas. Winner of five international literary awards.
About the Book
In this multi-award-winning second installment of the Luxton Danner series, John Layne reunites two legendary lawmen in a tale that proves justice on the American frontier comes at a deadly price. Set in 1877 along the dangerous Texas border, U.S. Deputy Marshal Luxton Danner and Texas Ranger Wes Payne forge an unlikely alliance to protect a vulnerable town from forces that threaten to tear it apart.
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Against a backdrop of lawlessness and betrayal, these two seasoned gunfighters must risk everything to defend those who can't defend themselves. Through Layne's masterful storytelling and rich period detail, the Old West springs to life with authentic characters, pulse-pounding action, and the raw reality of frontier justice.
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This critically acclaimed novel, now also an award-winning screenplay with seven international accolades, has captured readers and critics alike, earning multiple literary honors including three Firebird Book Awards for Western, Southern, and Action-Adventure Fiction. The story's powerful narrative earned it a place on the prestigious Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Short List for Historical Fiction, cementing Layne's reputation as a bold voice in Western fiction.
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Book Two of the Luxton Danner Series​​
Order the Book
Paperback & Ebook
Thalia​
Awards
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Winner, Firebird Book Awards - Western, Southern, and Action-Adventure Fiction
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Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Short List - Historical Fiction
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Finalist, American Book Fest International Book Awards - Western Fiction
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Screenplay Adaptation: Seven International Awards
Reviews & Praise
ERIC HOFFER AWARDS
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This is an epic story set in the Old West. Set in a simpler time, the citizens of Red River have a Marshall and Texas Ranger keeping them safe from a world of outlaws. Layne's vivid writing draws a clear and believable picture of the time and place. He does an excellent job portraying the 19th-Century American West in a way that feels authentic. The story starts with an attention-grabbing opening and holds the reader’s attention with a slew of believable characters, fast-paced action, and skillful writing—suspenseful and entertaining.
CYNTHIA BRIAN, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
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If you want an engrossing and entertaining read based on real events that transpired in 1877, John Layne’s historical novel, Red River Reunion delivers. His prose is poetry, beautifully written with lush details that made me feel that I was living in the period. I fell in love with his characters and came away with an increased respect for the men and women who braved the Wild West arriving on horseback and wagons to settle in a dangerous and untamed frontier. Hats off to the U.S. Marshalls and Texas Rangers who risked all to protect and serve. A truly authentic Western experience. Back in the saddle again riding into the sunset! Red River Reunion is a 5 STAR read!
READER'S FAVORITE
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5 Stars! Red River Reunion is entertaining in its unbridled violence, the laudable grit of its characters, and the vivid illustration of the life and frequent hazards in the early West. John Layne’s direct statement of morality, that is, of giving a dose of one’s own medicine, is well-dramatized in a manner that lets characters with their rifles and revolvers do the talking. The simplicity of the plot proves that Red River Reunion can provide you with good company on a long flight or in any situation conducive to reading.
G. MICHAEL HOPF, USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
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John Layne’s second novel, Red River Reunion, is brimming with period detail and authenticity. His historical knowledge, coupled with his law enforcement background, makes this book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the Old West.
BOYCE MCCLAIN'S COLLECTORS' CORNER
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What I really enjoy about the novel is the feeling of authenticity. It’s obvious from the start that the author has done his research. John Layne's prose perfectly describes The Old West. The characters feel like real people. The book describes their struggles, their hardships, and their determination to make a life for themselves in the new mostly unexplored territory. Red River Reunion is a book to be savored, read slowly, and enjoyed. I highly recommend the book and I’m anxious to see what other books the author has planned in the future.
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
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John Layne's attention to rich details craft scenarios that embrace issues of wealth and land ownership; young family fugitives; women who assume roles of unexpected power as they embrace the independence and resilience of a frontier lifestyle; and lives wasted because rescue didn't come in time. All these angles contribute to the rich fabric of Western daily experience.
The descriptions, changing relationships, and Western-style confrontation and legal developments set Red River Reunion aside from many genre reads. Its moral, ethical, and psychological threads provide solid insights into the changing perspectives of all the characters involved in building and preserving lives in this environment.
DONIGAN MERRITT, AUTHOR
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​John Layne’s latest novel is a sure-fire hit for fans of the literature of the Old West, especially in Texas. This book deserves to be at the top of anyone’s list of the best works in the Western genre.