Beginner's Luck

by Len Levinson

Bastard son of an outlaw and a whore, handsome Duane Braddock, seventeen, stumbles off the stage into lawless Titusville and gets his first look at the real world just before he's robbed. Two weeks out of the monastery that raised him, Duane can't ride a horse, shoot a gun, and is defenseless against the wiles of Wild West life, such as warm whiskey, wanton women, and screaming lead. But within forty-eight hours, Duane is feared by every gunman in the country as the notorious, quick-shooting, tough-riding, hard-loving Pecos Kid. Before the week is out, his victims include the town's best and the richest man, the meanest gang, the fastest gun, the prettiest woman, and the greatest friend a lucky new cowboy ever had. How it all comes to pass is how real legends are born…

Genres: Westerns

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

AKA John Mackie, J. Farragut Jones, Nicholas Brady and Gordon Davis; also has ghost written as Clay Dawson.

Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Len Levinson served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1954-1957, and graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Social Science. He relocated to NYC that year and worked as an advertising copywriter and public relations executive before becoming a full-time novelist.
Len has had over eighty titles published and has created and wrote a number of series, including The Apache Wars Saga, The Pecos Kid, The Rat Bastards, and The Sergeant.
After many years in NYC, Len moved to a small town (pop. 3100) in rural Illinois, where he is now surrounded by corn and soybean fields ... a peaceful, ideal location for a writer.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story of three talented orphan siblings who yearn for careers on the stage (except Victoria, the oldest one, who's sensible but clearly deep down has the makings of an actress) is even more improbable than Ballet Shoes, which is saying a lot. Every major turn of the plot is brought about by a wild coincidence, and they just pile up. However, it's amusing and fun. The characterizations of the children are well done, but the adults are all rather one-note. Despite that, I'd be happy to read more by Oriel Malet, and would read a sequel if there was one.

[Johnna Cornett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle book--One of my favorite books from childhood, which I enjoyed rereading this week. A little bit of Cinderella--three children escape from their severe wealthy aunt who has been their guardian since their theatrical parents died. A bit of show business, as the children connect with their poor theatrical aunt and get jobs performing in the theater. Sitcom like comic relief chapters about the youngest sibling. And a happy ending. A book that brings back my childhood fantasy of dancing and acting.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fun one for those who like Streatfeild's stories of kids on stage; the dancing kid was a brat, though, and the older sister, who I liked better, was shunted onto the sidelines for much of the story.

[Michael Morrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently this is the first of a series, and it does a good job of introducing the protagonist.
There are several interesting or sort-of interesting characters, but not anybody so interesting that a reader, or at least this reader, could really care about them.
This book will probably not offend or anger anyone. There's not enough depth.
However there is one scene, one passage, I loved.
Our hero, Duane, gets called "The Pecos Kid" by the local excuse for a "news" paper. Duane is just recently evicted from a monastery where he had lived nearly his entire existence after the death of both parents. He knows nothing about guns, or women, or alcohol, or, really, life.
He saw the "news" paper office, "looked at the new-fangled Washington printing press ... marveled at the wonders of the modern world. In only a day, you could flood a town with lies."
By golly, forecasting a world of The New York Times or The Washington Compost! Where one could flood an entire world with lies.
Author Levinson's picture of a dishonest editor and "news" paper might alone be worth the time and energy to read "Beginner's Luck (The Pecos Kid)" and lead one to read more in the series.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duane Braddock, seventeen years old, is an orphan, raised in a Benedictine monastery high in the Guadalupita mountains. He was forced to leave for fighting with another acolyte. Duane was on the first journey of his life. Riding on a stage for the first time, he arrived in the town of Titusville. Lester Boggs, another passenger on the stage, graciously offered to buy Duane a steak dinner and to meet him later at the Crystal Palace. Duane was fascinated by the men, the guns, and the excitement of the town. Within four hours he was robbed, beaten, insulted, and humiliated. Singer, Vanessa Fontaine fills the romance role and adds the spice that was lacking. It is a good story. I liked it and recommend it.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Streatfeild and very enjoyable. The author is also known for her long correspondence with Daphne DuMaurier.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author clearly meant this to be a series. The whole book takes place over about one month. It's a good start. Let's see what happens next. Not your average one book Western. Well worth reading.