The Execution of Rooker Flynn

Locke Institute #3

by A.R. Witham

Most of this story takes place in the 13 hours surrounding
the execution of Rooker Flynn.

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need a fantasy series to kick you out of a slump - fun, filled with snark, wit, and humour, great action, that doesn’t take itself too seriously - read this.

What I most enjoyed about this series is the focus on friendship. The trust, bond, inside jokes. Even the fighting and withdrawal.

The humour and easily readable writing style kept me turning the pages. The author’s use of language is inventive and sharp.

The plot was probably the weakest aspect. It was action-packed and filled with hijinks, but you’re never truly worried for the characters or about the stakes. It almost felt young YA in this sense despite the darkness this particular book brought.

The ending was cheesy, but also suited the tone of this series. I don’t know whether to rate this three or rounded up four stars.

Arc gifted by author.

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[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog

4.5 stars

The Execution of Rooker Flynn is, dare I say it, a perfectly executed finale. I mean, this entire book is just one big satisfying climax full of action, pay-off, growth, sacrifice, and triumph that had me crying tears of both immense joy and sorrow along the way, and I loved every single second of the wild emotional rollercoaster.

Now, I already had a blast with The Execution of Rooker Flynn when I had the honour of being an alpha reader for it, and then I somehow adored it even more in its final form (especially listening to the audiobook performed by the one and only Andy himself). And call me biased all you want, but I think there is truly just no denying that Witham is an exceptionally gifted storyteller who wields his words like they’re the most awe-inspiring type of magick.

For me, the characters have always been the heart of this story, and the conclusion to their journeys here is just everything I could have wished for and more. Like, Locke & Jean? Royce & Hadrian? Frodo & Sam? They have got nothing on Jack & Rooker’s bromance, and I will die on that hill. No, it wasn’t smooth sailing for them the entire way through, but all the tragedy only made the triumphs feel more earned and rewarding to me, and I loved how this finale showcased just how much they have helped each other grow and heal in the most unexpected ways. Yay for trauma bonding, I guess.

But it’s not just Jack & Rooker who absolutely steal the show here, but the side characters as well, be they goodies or baddies. I mean, we just have to take a little moment of appreciation for Gerba Whipmarples, the most deliciously despicable villain I have read in a long while (Umbridge, who?). We get to spend a lot more time in her POV in The Execution of Rooker Flynn, and I loved how Witham was able to maintain her wicked villain status while also giving her more depth as her backstory and motivations are unearthed.

And you know what, her actions might have been terrible, but at least it brought together this motley crew of morally grey misfits. The friendships and found family vibes in this series are just off the charts, and I really appreciated how everyone had their own role to play in the big takedown of the Locke Institute. Whether it was seeing familiar faces from The Legend of Black Jack coming to the rescue or some of the badass underdogs we got to know in the prison camps getting their time to shine, I was cheering for them all along the way. And there are definitely some heavy sacrifices along the way (MY HEART!), but ultimately I just loved how everyone got their own sense of closure, no matter how triumphant or brutally bittersweet that might have looked for them.

Now, with this entire book taking place in the 13 hours surrounding the dreaded execution of Rooker Flynn, it could very easily have become a rushed ending, and yet it totally isn’t. Normally I get so easily exhausted by fast-paced narratives that just keep barreling onward at breakneck speed, but it totally worked for me here because of how Witham managed to sprinkle so many moments of call-back, reflection, and introspection throughout all the non-stop pulse-pounding action here. Those little moments didn’t just raise the emotional stakes to incredible heights, but it ultimately also resulted in the most satisfying pay-off as promises you had probably already forgotten were even made in the first two books are finally fulfilled here.

There’s quite a bit of horror and tragedy packed within these pages, but at its core it’s such a beautifully human story with a ton of heart. Especially the last chapter of The Execution of Rooker Flynn just had my emotions running absolutely crazy, which is exactly what you want when you come to the end of a great series. The Locke Institute trilogy just started with a bang and then only got darker, deeper, and stronger along the way, and I honestly think it’s everything you could wish for in a swashbuckling dark fantasy adventure.

[Andrews WizardlyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful conclusion to the trilogy if you want to cry stick till then and read a perfect authors note. I’m not crying YOU ARE.

A seriously great adventure

[Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Epic Farewell to a Brilliant Trilogy

Lord of Sea and Sky! this is the perfect finale to an already phenomenal trilogy. This book deepened my love for Keymark and brought everything to life so vividly, it felt like I was right there on the deck with the crew.

To fully appreciate the story’s depth, you do need to have read the first two books—but trust me, it’s worth the journey. The trilogy wraps up with grace, heart, and excitement.

Rooker Flynn has officially earned his place as my favorite pirate character ever to sail across the pages of a book. His chemistry with Jack is electric—what a dynamic duo! I found myself wishing I could tag along on their adventures... well, maybe just during the peaceful stretches.

Andy, you were already my favorite indie author, and this book only reinforces that. Please don’t stop! I felt a thrill just seeing the title of your next tale, and I’ll be championing every Keymark book you've written—and all those to come.

Here’s to Rooker, Jack, the entire Venture Brigand crew, and to Andy himself—I’m raising a glass of Añejo in your honor.

[Lezlie The Nerdy Narrative · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stayed up late last night to finish this one and my goodness, how I cried!!! What an adventure this trilogy has been - and this final installation was outstanding. What began in the first book as a swashbuckling adventure turned into a phenomenal story of a true and loyal friendship, an unbreakable bond between "brothers" and it was just beautiful. It's like the emotions from the whole trilogy bottled themselves up in me until this last breathtaking book and when I got to the end, the dam broke and I just cried and cried and cried.

If you're an audiobook lover, I cannot recommend the audio for this series enough. The author himself narrates and he just nails it - he captures every emotion, the magic and mystery, the terror and anger - I can't imagine any other narrator doing it more justice.

[Madison Goodyear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh hell yes. Y’all are in for a TREAT!! This is officially one of my favorite trilogies, and our boy knows how to write an ending!

[Viking Jam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: It is a Wonderful feeling to be excited about reading every night. And another good thing about an exceptional writer/novel is that you don't have any critical things to say, so your book reviews are extremely short.

I ain't giving any story line shjt away. GET THIS!!

[Joshua Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic conclusion to this trilogy. I am a sucker for a well-written friendship, and Witham just nails it in this one. This conclusion was fast-paced with a lot of action sequences, but always slowed down for meaningful character moments which made the action scenes more impactful. Rooker's character arc from book 1 to book 3 is nuanced and well-developed, with some poignancy to his final scenes. A fine self-published book series that's worth your time!

[S. Bavey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review here:

https://pagechewing.com/the-execution...

[Donna Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to A.R. Witham for the ARC.

**MINOR SPOILERS FOR THE LOCKE INSTITUTE SERIES**

I love being so thoroughly satisfied with the ending of a trilogy and at the same time so sad that it's over and I don't get any more of the tale!! 😭😭I could spend a long time living the adventures of Jack and Rooker. The Execution of Rooker Flynn completes the Locke Institute trilogy with a pulse pounding, creature-filled, nightmare inducing story that is also so full of heart and friendship that your emotions are in for quite the roller coaster ride!! The story also takes place in a single day so buckle up buttercup......it's on!!!!
When we were last at the Insitute, Rooker had given up the love of his life and Jack was left in the clutches of Gerba to await Rooker's execution. What follows is two friends doing anything and everything to help save each and those they have suffered with on Huanghun before Gerba can complete her mission to find the heart of Huanghun and bring destruction to all of them. Along the way we get the backstory of how Rooker came to be along with his becoming master of the Venture Brigand. I adored this part of the story, and delving into Rooker's heart and soul and how he and Jack become everything to each other brought me to tears multiple times. The action is intense as all of our heroes and villains come to their final reckoning and the amount of shiq and strigoi plus other creepies is at holy shit levels. PHEW!!! Huge congrats to Andy on a fantastic conclusion to the series and I highly recommend all the books in the world of Keymark to fantasy fans who want characters filled with heart and wild adventures that will keep you turning the pages!!

[Tony Adventure · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did receive an eARC for this book.
What an excellent finale to this exceptional trilogy! So much fun. Absolutely packed full of action, heart, and closure. There’s still plenty of open doors for more stories, but this chapter is neatly wrapped up. I can’t wait for more from Witham. I know the exceptionalism will only continue. So much fun!
Full review to come on the channel soon.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Where’s the dog?” THAT sequence absolutely broke my heart. I hate when bad or sad things happen to animals (especially dogs), that’s my one thing I don’t handle well.

The Execution of Rooker Flynn is one heck of a finale! So many emotions. And the action! I feel like fight scenes are incredibly difficult to write well and every action described is easy to play out in my mind. Part 3 is where it’s at.

The ending is not what I expected but I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Thank you to A.R. Witham for the ARC copy!!

[Kate Sibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: If you have not read the first two books, do not read any further. This is the third book in the trilogy and there will be spoilers.

I'm not really sure how to start this review. You see, I'm still gasping for breath after a frenetic 350 page whirlwind roared to it's conclusion. The Execution of Rooker Flynn takes place immediately after the conclusion of The Trial of... and is the final 13 hours of the trilogy. Rooker has sacrificed everything to save Jack's life and now he faces the long drop. How will the pair beat Rooker's death sentence and stop Gerba Whipmarples?

The Locke Institute trilogy has, so far, not cowed away from big topics and even bigger emotions. This, as the final book, takes all of that which has gone before and ramps it up to 11. I was crying before the end of the prologue ("What happened to the dog, Rooker?"). I was sobbing even harder by the last chapter. I have adored the Jack and Rooker pairing, seeing how they have survived their trials and tribulations. It hasn't been easy but it's been a ride! If found family is your thing, then I would recommend this trilogy heartily. After all, no family is perfect.

All the elements that made the other two books successful are still here. The character work is still on point. The writing is is well done - descriptive without being too flowery. The plot is devious and clever. If there had to be a "bad" point, I would say that is does feel a little rushed but that works within the boundaries of the story. The whole third book takes place over 13 hours and that also makes sense due to the plotlines. It is rushed but it is meant to be. It is meant to make you feel breathless and that you need a little sit down. This is the conclusion to a story that has not let up over 1000 pages, so the conclusion is not going to be sedentary! There are some plot points that have been left open-ended but I feel that we have not seen the last of the effects from the island of Huanghun.

This is the spectacular conclusion to the Locke Institute trilogy and brings it to a worthy end. It is dark and there are some frightful moments but there are some periods of absolute joy. The bromance between the main characters, while nowhere near smooth sailing, has been wonderful to watch as it developed. In all, this has been a ride and I have enjoyed every minute of it. A great adventure with a solid heart.

I received a free copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Vinay Badri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 4.5 starrer

I love series enders, especially when done well and even more when it is just payoff after payoff after payoff. All the effort that the author has spent in seeding the previous books pays off handsomely pretty much non-stop. This is not to say that there arent moment of contemplation or reflection, those are there but the book is much jauntier and thrilling for it.

It is also a pretty clever book with some of the escapades in the initial parts of the book - AR Witham is like a magician, he cleverly distracts you with what the right hand is doing while focusing your attention on the left hand and when the right hand magic hits, its fantastic. The action beats hit almost non-stop and there is a particular spider-dragon sequence that is immensely satisfying, heart-pounding and gristly poetic and draws parallels to the Pirates of the Carribean movies

The climax sequence (the climax is the book but for the sake of this review, we will talk of the last few sections) is again action-packed, bloody, gritty and brings about just the right balance of doom and finality to proceedings, played out against a backdrop where everything falls apart. I would also like to draw attention to the ultimate fate of the villain, the loathsome Gerba Whipmarples - in a way the comeuppance comes in a manner that is a bit left-field but also immensely satisfying and gratifying

In between all that are our leads. The places that Jack and Rooker Flynn find each other is in keeping with the history that they have shared despite all the negativity and betrayals. I liked how the relationship/ friendship progressed even if them communicating everything by thought was stretching it a bit too far

The final sequences were also pretty great and fitting to the journeys of Black Jack and Rooker Flynn and where it may take them. This is literally just the perfect book if you want non-stop action and fabulous entertainment with just the right amount of character work and motivational depth. I finished this book in little less than a day and a half in the midst of a working day if you need any further endorsement :)

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book drew me in and held me delightfully-captive from beginning to end. The palpable tension held me in thrall. The plot kept me guessing. The characters were realistic and identifiable. And, every setting was described in such a way as to make me feel like I was an actual bystander in that scene. Once I started reading this story, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Patrick Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to keep this short to avoid spoiling the ending in any way as there are so many directions this story could have gone.

Witham nails the ending and sticks true to what the series is; fast paced with moments that will break your heart, then give you hope, and then drowns you in despair until you can find another sliver of hope that just might lead to happiness.

I definitely recommend this series and hope you give it a shot and enjoy the ride.

[Joey Parton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great end to a fantastic trilogy. I cried, I laughed, I cheered aloud. Do yourself a favor and check out this series!