WHEN WAR ERUPTS OVER MOONSHINE, BLOOD IS SPILLED ALONG WITH WHISKEY! Wild Bill Hickok may be gone, but Abilene is still a wild and woolly cow town in need of a strong marshal to bring law and order to its streets. That man is Lucas Flint . . . a legendary lawman sometimes known as the Rattler because of his swift and deadly speed with a Colt .45. Together with his deputy, dashing young gunfighter Cully Markham, Lucas Flint will take on any challenge that threatens the safety of the town and its people that he’s sworn to protect.
In this first collection of Rattler’s Law novels, Flint and Cody battle a ruthless criminal overlord who has taken over the town. A traveling circus visits Abilene, bringing with it unexpected danger. Cully finds himself at the head of a posse tracking down a gang of train robbers. Settlers want only a new place to make their homes, but a violent band of masked marauders has another idea. A half-Kiowa army scout visits Abilene, unaware that a renegade war party is on his trail. Lucas Flint travels to Wyoming to solve a murder and save an innocent woman from the gallows. Big-city criminals show up in Abilene intent on killing a famous pugilist.
Rattler's Law, Volume One includes: The Town Tamer, Deadeye, The Train Robbers, Rancher’s Revenge, Out for Blood, Shadow of the Gallows, A Solid Right Cross, and Whiskey Trail.
Lucas Flint is the new marshal of Abilene, Kansas, an experienced lawman but a man that had no plans to resume his career, much less in the notoriously wild town of Abilene. After all, to fill the shoes of the last marshal, Wild Bill Hickock would be no easy task. But his moniker of “Rattler” describes his lightning-fast draw, as fast as a rattlesnake and that reputation serves him well when facing down the bad guys.
This volume compiles the first eight novels in the series and each one of them is a joy to read. These are traditional westerns. If they were movies, they would be rated PG. Flint makes for a fine protagonist as the first novel sees him tame the town and subsequent tales depict situations where he must maintain the peace. Whether it's a circus that's come to town or a fiery visitor from the Women's Temperance Society looking to banish all whiskey, you can be sure Flint will find himself in the middle of it and having to use his fast draw to solve the problem. But he’s far from alone in his efforts, supported by major characters such as his loyal but rough-around-the-edges deputy Cully Markham, and a Scottish saloon proprietor named Angus MacQuarrie who can wield a mean shotgun. Other characters include the female town doctor, the school master, and Cully’s brother Joshua who also happens to be the town pastor.
Each story stands on its own but it’s a joy to return to the setting each time and revisit these characters. In some ways it reminds me of a television show like Gunsmoke, albeit with longer movie-length episodes. Prolific author James Reasoner has described these novels as rewritten and expanded versions of some of his early Western novels.
Wonderful stuff all the way through. Happily, I already own Volume 2, consisting of eight more novels. Can’t wait to get back to them.
I've only read the first book of the omnibus (8 books in all) and if the rest are like this one then it'll be top shelf writing that we expect from someone of the caliber of James Reasoner. Enjoyed the story which keeps you entertained all the way through. Easy reading and loved the action. Will definitely read the rest over time. Lovers of westerns will know what James Reasoner brings to his stories but for those that don't, pick this one up and find out for yourselves.
James Reasoner – Rattler’s Law Series, Vol One – Reviewed 3/14/21 – Read 3/4-7/21
In the “Legend of the Rattler”, Lucas Flint arrives in Abilene with a nun and a group of orphans.
On the trail to Wichita, Lucas Flint came upon a small wagon train that was stopped and being harassed by several men. Having been a lawman for many years, Lucas was not the type to stand by while women and children were in trouble. The Ruffins was going to take the oldest girl with them, knowing what they were going to use her for Lucas could not let that happen.
After dealing with the Ruffins, Flint offered to accompany the Dominican Nun, Sister Lorraine, as the group continued into Abilene. Their ultimate destination was to be Wichita to set up an orphanage. This was the same place that Flint was heading to also, so he offered to ride along with them. Little did they all know that they would end up settling in Abilene.
And the story begins…
Rattler's Law, Volume One includes The Town Tamer, Deadeye, The Train Robbers, Rancher’s Revenge, Out for Blood, Shadow of the Gallows, A Solid Right Cross, and Whiskey Trail.
What did I like? This Volume is filled with eight different stories featuring Flint Lucas in some way or another. Whether he was the lead character or not, it was interesting to follow him in all of these adventures of his life. The man was a legend and quick as a rattlesnake, thus he had been called “The Rattler”! Again, I am filled with the sense of the values that men during the 1800s were made of. I have often stated that these same values lack in our young today. Those of us that were raised by parents that had received that knowledge is so fortunate. I know that I passed it on to my children, but many have not. Both Lucas and his deputy, Cully, lead exciting and dangerous lives trying to protect their town and its residents. Or for that matter anyone that needed help.
What will you like? Shootouts, mystery, action, exciting characters, a little romance, and lots of intense moments. The characters are amazing, with the author’s touch of bringing them to life in our mind’s eye. The research shows in the details, clothes, weapons, animals, times, and most of all the places. James Reasoner has been around a long time and has many books out, each is filled with amazing storylines that will take you from here to there in the flash of a moment. Do not miss your opportunity to read eight wonderful stories about one of the legends in the old western Kansas towns. An excellent read for all!
I love western novels with well developed characters, intriguing plots, a bit of romance, well-written throughout, and the fact that this has a LOT of books compiled in one lovely bundle. I am just sad to have read the last chapter. But more books await that are written by James Reasoner. Please do take time to enjoy this compilation of entertaining stories. You won't be disappointed.
I the book OUT FOR BLOOD, for whatever really strange reason, our author changed major character names, and they were awful. He made Angus into Orion and Sister Lorraine into something I forget. That really ticked me off.
Wolfpack Publishing has been doing a great service to fans of action/adventure and Western novels by publishing both new and old books written by some of the best and most prolific of the old pros in those genres. James Reasoner is one of them. He’s written various types of novels but is probably best known for his Westerns, and rightly so. RATTLER’S LAW, Volume One, includes eight novels in Reasoner’s series about lawman Lucas Flint, sometimes called “The Rattler” — a nickname that reflects the lightning-fast speed of his draw. Reasoner has explained to readers of his popular “Rough Edges” blog (of which I am one) that the Rattler books are rewritten and expanded versions of some of his early Western novels. “More than director’s cut, not exactly a reboot, more like new books based on old ones,” he explained. “It’s a process I really haven’t done before now, which has made it fun.” The end results of this process are also fun to read if you’re a Western fan. The first novel in Volume One’s package of eight, “The Town Tamer,” is kind of an origin story. It tells us that Flint was once the Marshall of Wichita, but resigned after his wife Mary was shot and paralyzed by a bullet meant for him. She then wasted away over a period of three years and eventually died. This traumatized Flint so much that he not only gave up being a lawman, he also gave up wearing a six-gun, and basically lost his way. In “The Town Tamer,” Flint rides into the town of Abilene and finds it being terrorized by a gang of murderous thugs. During the course of the first novel, Flint gets his mojo back, starts wearing his six-gun again and, with some help from a young man named Cully Markham, he gives the bad guys a bloody education about why he’s called “The Rattler.” He becomes Abilene’s Marshall and makes Cully his Deputy. In each of the Rattler novels, Flint and Cully get involved in solving some kind of mystery and dealing with various villains. They’re all in traditional Western mode. If they were movies, the Rattler books would be rated PG. The scenes with violence are vividly and satisfyingly described, and Flint and Cully are adept at killing when necessary. But there are few four letter words and no explicit sex scenes — which is fine with me. If you want a whole bunch of classic Western reading for an amazingly low price, you’ll get it by adding RATTLER’S LAW, Volume One to your Kindle queue.
Volume 1 of Rattler’s Law is made up of 8 western novels. The action takes place in Abilene Kansas with the main character being the town’s Marshal Lucas Flint, whose fast draw is as quick as a rattlesnake’s strike; hence his nickname “The Rattler”. Most of these stories read like episodes that could have appeared on the old Gunsmoke television series. Not a lot of new ground is broken. The characters are well developed and likable enough, but there just isn’t a great deal of unexpected drama or unexpected outcomes in Abilene. Most plots coincide with typical western fare. In this particular story, a temperance movement representative from back east, a young, attractive women, is determined to eliminate alcohol from Abilene. She doesn’t meet with much acceptance nor does she have a lot of success in achieving her goal. However, she does create a lot of mayhem as she attempts to accomplish her stated goal. The stories are pleasant enough to read, just not a lot of real suspense or action. You know who the “good guys” are and you know they will prevail in the end.
4 plus stars. This is a collection of several later 1800's western based stories. Abilene Kansas marshal Lucas Flint, otherwise known as The Rattler, finds himself locking horns with numerous nefarious and law breaking characters. These stories were set within various themes, a few I didn't care for, but overall there was enough action to keep my interest.
There were several supporting characters offering a variety of interactions with the main player. I was sort of expecting "The Rattler" to be more on the wild side but Flint was a bit more tame than other sheriffs or lawmen I have encountered. Nonetheless, this is a well written novel and I am definitely considering reading book 2.
This counts as only one book, but there are a number of separate stories told by Me. Reasoner.
Each of the stories about Rattlesnake Flint is really good. I'm surprised some Hollywood type hasn't bought the movie or television rights - oh, wait, westerns, and where there is a moral to the story and the good guys win, doesn't sell these days. Maybe we'd be better off if it did.
Each story stands on it's own. I recommend each one and the entire book.
This book is a series of stories about a sheriff in Abilene, Kansas. The characters are very well written and the situations the sheriff gets into reminds me of the tv series Gunsmoke with Matt Dillon. Lucas Flint the sheriff in Abilene is deadly with a gun and he is sometimes known as the Rattler because of his fast speed and deadly accuracy with his Colt 45. I will be reading the next book in the series. You need to read this book.
A badge worn with honor Mr. Reasoner has unveiled a refreshing new protagonist in his Lucas Flint (aka Rattler) character. His plotlines are unique and not the conventional Western format allowing him to firmly grasp the reader's attention until the final chapter's punctuation mark. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
The stories were fun to read but a couple of them were dragging along and could have been finished much sooner. One In particular was the Train Robbers. A lot of reading for one book but 99% kept me awake and past bed time. Thanks for a very difficult job of writing a book like this.
I don't think I could put into words just how much I enjoyed this series! I enjoyed getting to know the characters, the town and felt like I was part of their life. There were times I found myself smiling, laughing out loud and even crying. I'm starting the 2nd omnibus today and looking forward to reading more by this author!
Great western story with twists that will keep you reading.
Many good stories wrapped up in one volume. James Reasoner had put the lives of many town citizens into different stories that all come together in one great chapter. This will be enjoyed by all readers.
I like a good western every now and then, this was over the top. These stories are great fun, adventurous, and surprisingly fresh. The characters and plots are full of surprises. Thank you James Reasoner for this collection.
Great read, a continuing story well linked and expertly written! Now I just downloaded Volume Two and can't wait to get started on it. I'll write a more in depth review when I complete Volume Two. Enjoy.
Glad it’s volume 1. I was at the end before I knew there is a volume 2. Can’t wait to start it. The characters are great. I enjoyed getting to know each one of them. I’m hoping Angus will be the center of a story in volume 2. Thanks for a fun read.
Stories with lots of action,believable characters and Christian morals make for interesting reading and enjoyable time spent ! Please continue to write these stories !
Thank you James Reasoned for a awesome read. There are several books in this column one. I hope to be able to get column two. I really like those books.
Now this is a a great telling of the old great western tales that grip you throughout the day or night could not put this set of stories down loved it.