The Gauntlet Runner: A Tale from the French and Indian War

The Gauntlet Runner #1

by S. Thomas Bailey

Private Jacob Murray, a twenty-six-year-old Pennsylvanian volunteer in the ranks of George Washington's Virginia Provincial Militia, is scouting the dense, almost impassable Ohio Valley wilderness in May 1754. Together with his twin brother, Israel, and two Mingo warriors, Jacob searches for a party of French troops encroaching on British soil. Back at home, Murray's wife, Maggie, and their four children carve out a meager existence until a group of French and Huron war parties raid their small farm. Taken captive, they are unsure if they will live to see their husband and father again. With word spreading that French-backed Huron raiding parties are decimating the Pennsylvania countryside and taking white captives, young Major Washington, Murray, and a French officer bent on revenge are destined to cross paths. As three hostile powers continue to vie for control of the coveted Ohio Valley, a war soon begins that will engulf them all. The Gauntlet Runner tells a tale of fractured lives, broken treaties, and the stark realities of the struggles faced by early American settlers as they risk their lives to cultivate the young, formidable nation.

Genres: Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2011

About the author

I am an independent researcher of early North American life, a raw historian at heart, and a writer by choice.

My own sense of history is enriched by a Mi'kmag grandfather and a family tree that can be traced back to the young surveyor James Cook, who began his career mapping out the St. Lawrence River system for General Wolfe during the French and Indian War.

I have just released my first book in the Gauntlet Runner series, titled The Gauntlet Runner-A Tale from the French and Indian War.

I hope you enjoy it!

Reviews

[John Edgecombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gauntlet Runner is a novel set in the time of the French-Indian war in the 1750s in America. This war eventually set the stage for American independence from Britain. The novel takes place in the early stages of this war and describes the experiences of Private Jacob Murray and his family. Although the story is fictional, it includes some real personalities of the time, including a young George Washington and the Seneca "Half-King" Tanaghrisson.

The plot is fast-paced and kept my interest at a high level throughout the entire story. The author S. Thomas Bailey goes into great detail describing the trials and tribulations that soldiers and settlers must have experienced during this time period. At the end of each chapter, I was left wondering what would become of Jacob and his wife Maggie and children. I also learned a great deal about the French-Indian war and can't wait for the next book in this series.

This book deserves a five star rating and is a must-read for anyone interested in early North American history.

[Robert Medak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gauntlet Runner, while a work of fiction, is about real battles that took place in early America before the fight for independence.

As a reviewer I must mention that there is a graphic description of the torture of Indian captives that some may find disturbing. It all depends on the individual reader and their level of comfort with the descriptions. Many such incidents have been recorded and depicted in numerous movies dealing with the “White Man” and Indians (Now called Native American).

S. Thomas Bailey, author of the Gauntlet Runner is a researcher of early North American life as a raw historian.

If you are at all interested in early American history, Gauntlet Runner is a book that should be added to your required reading list.

This reviewer assigns a four out of five stars to Gauntlet Runner with a must read recommendation.
Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of the Gauntlet Runner for yourself.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written & researched but not totally engrossing. There was a little too much emphasis on the battles -style was somewhat reminiscent of Bernard Cornwell. By that I mean a nice mix of personal and tactical detail but there was a little too much emphasis on torture & gore for my tastes.

A few spots showed a lack of editing (for example the same information presented different ways within the same section as if trying out different approaches but both got left in).

A decent F&I story that gives you lots of information about actual events from both colonists' and Indian pov. The ending made it obvious that the story is to be continued...

[Penny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book so I could fill in some gaps in my knowledge of early American history. The research may have been thorough - I don't know enough yet to really say. To be fair, this was marketed as historical fiction so that may set the bar a little lower in that regard. The writing and the editing however were most definitely sub-par. I expect more polish when I invest my money and time in any read. I agree with others that a sequel is most likely planned but I won't be reading it.

[Ray Estabrook · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so terrible it was laughable. Wow. Patricia bought it for me as part of a theme of French and Indian War presents ( a documentary also) but I was si9mply stunned by this mess of a book. I'd be embarrassed to even sell this at a yard sale; so I'm tossing it in the trash.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to finish it. Great Historical Narrative. The writing flowed well.