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The Guns of Samuel Pritchard #4
The Trainwreckers
Gunfighting legend Sam Pritchard tracks down a notorious train saboteur—and nearly goes off the rails—in this fast-paced Western adventure from acclaimed author Sean Lynch. . . .
DEMENTED. DERANGED. DERAILED.
1875. The escalating rivalry between the two major railroad companies takes a dangerous—and deadly—turn when a train is deliberately derailed. Many are killed. More are injured. And Marshal Samuel Pritchard’s longtime friend is crippled for life. The mastermind behind the train wreck claims to be the infamous Civil War criminal Jem Rupe, aka “The Trainwrecker of Platte Bridge.” There’s just one Rupe has been dead for ten years. . . .
With an oath of vengeance on his lips—and a pair of Colt .45s on his hips—Pritchard sets off to find the trainwrecking fiend, whether it’s really Jem Rupe or some copy-cat maniac. Either way, he’ll have to ride the rails with some pretty deranged characters—crooked railroad tycoons, ruthless bounty hunters, trigger-happy gunfighters—before he reaches the end of the line. There’s just one way to stop a mass transit murderer . . . and that’s dead in his tracks.
“A riveting thriller that bristles with hard-boiled authenticity.”
—bestselling author Mark Greaney on Thy Partner’s Wife
“Sean Lynch spins a tale that is fast, fun and realistic.”
—bestselling author James O’Born on Like Hell
DEMENTED. DERANGED. DERAILED.
1875. The escalating rivalry between the two major railroad companies takes a dangerous—and deadly—turn when a train is deliberately derailed. Many are killed. More are injured. And Marshal Samuel Pritchard’s longtime friend is crippled for life. The mastermind behind the train wreck claims to be the infamous Civil War criminal Jem Rupe, aka “The Trainwrecker of Platte Bridge.” There’s just one Rupe has been dead for ten years. . . .
With an oath of vengeance on his lips—and a pair of Colt .45s on his hips—Pritchard sets off to find the trainwrecking fiend, whether it’s really Jem Rupe or some copy-cat maniac. Either way, he’ll have to ride the rails with some pretty deranged characters—crooked railroad tycoons, ruthless bounty hunters, trigger-happy gunfighters—before he reaches the end of the line. There’s just one way to stop a mass transit murderer . . . and that’s dead in his tracks.
“A riveting thriller that bristles with hard-boiled authenticity.”
—bestselling author Mark Greaney on Thy Partner’s Wife
“Sean Lynch spins a tale that is fast, fun and realistic.”
—bestselling author James O’Born on Like Hell
- GenresWesterns
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2021
11 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Sean Lynch
43 books57 followersSean Lynch served as an enlisted infantryman and spent three decades as a municipal police officer in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Learn more at www.seanlynchbooks.com
Learn more at www.seanlynchbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 12, 2021
Thanks to netgalley.com, Kensington Publishing and the author Sean Lynch for the advance ARC copy for my honest review and I purchased a copy from amazon.com.
It was the late author Bill Crider, with his 'Outrage at Blanco' novel that made me love revenge stories so much and in away revenge stories for me will always be a tribute to him.
This was my first read by author Sean Lynch, really like his writing a lot, although I do believe I have read several of his books for the WWJ brand novels and have to confess that I do have the 3 other books in the Guns of Sam Pritchard buried on my TBR list.
One of my favorite niches in the Western genre are the U.S. Marshall yarns and 'The Trainwreckers' checks off that box. Really like Town Marshal, County Sheriff and U.S. Marshal Sam Pritchard a lot, he comes across as a superhero, tough as nails, family oriented and you don't want him on your trail.
It's an enjoyable read, checks off everything you would want in a Western, good verses evil, has an intertwining story, suspenseful, do have some filler and the shooting scenes are kinda hokey.
Pritchard's virtually bulletproof, gets shot in the chest at one point, miraculously the bullet hits the wooden handle of a shoulder holstered revolver, ends up with just sore ribs and it's mentioned how the revolver gave up it's life.
Oh the good guys get grazed by bullets, have them pluck a shirt sleeve or feel the air from a bullet just missing them and the bad guys just end up getting shot up with lead. Then you have them heavily armed with a shot gun, Winchester rifle, five revolvers, with pockets full of bullets for the various guns and laughable how they never miss count of how many shots did they fire.
Definitely a good read, do recommend if your a Western fan to give Sean Lynch a try if you haven't yet. You'll realize, he's another piece of the puzzle as too whom the ghost writers for the William W. Johnstone brand novels are.
It was the late author Bill Crider, with his 'Outrage at Blanco' novel that made me love revenge stories so much and in away revenge stories for me will always be a tribute to him.
This was my first read by author Sean Lynch, really like his writing a lot, although I do believe I have read several of his books for the WWJ brand novels and have to confess that I do have the 3 other books in the Guns of Sam Pritchard buried on my TBR list.
One of my favorite niches in the Western genre are the U.S. Marshall yarns and 'The Trainwreckers' checks off that box. Really like Town Marshal, County Sheriff and U.S. Marshal Sam Pritchard a lot, he comes across as a superhero, tough as nails, family oriented and you don't want him on your trail.
It's an enjoyable read, checks off everything you would want in a Western, good verses evil, has an intertwining story, suspenseful, do have some filler and the shooting scenes are kinda hokey.
Pritchard's virtually bulletproof, gets shot in the chest at one point, miraculously the bullet hits the wooden handle of a shoulder holstered revolver, ends up with just sore ribs and it's mentioned how the revolver gave up it's life.
Oh the good guys get grazed by bullets, have them pluck a shirt sleeve or feel the air from a bullet just missing them and the bad guys just end up getting shot up with lead. Then you have them heavily armed with a shot gun, Winchester rifle, five revolvers, with pockets full of bullets for the various guns and laughable how they never miss count of how many shots did they fire.
Definitely a good read, do recommend if your a Western fan to give Sean Lynch a try if you haven't yet. You'll realize, he's another piece of the puzzle as too whom the ghost writers for the William W. Johnstone brand novels are.
July 3, 2021
The Trainwreckers by Sean Lynch, Book 4 of the Guns of Samuel Pritchard series (Pinnacle 2021) takes places in the late 1800s, a time when railroads were America's mode of long distance transportation and competing companies vied for business. In this case, it's in Missouri. When the local mayors band together to talk as a group to the two competing railroads, believing they are stronger as a group, the train taking them to the headquarters of one of the two businesses is attacked, derailed and all but one of the mayors is killed. The survivor, Ditch Clemson, the mayor of Atherton, almost dies and does lose a leg but not his courage. Turns out, he is the best friend of Atherton town Marshal and Missouri's Jackson County Sheriff Samuel Pritchard. No surprise, he takes this attack personally. Though the railroads try to convince him that this was the doing of outlaws, Pritchard doesn't believe that and sets out to prove it.
Good lines that remind me why I love the clear morals and honesty that percolate throughout every good Western:
"We’re all with you.” “Thank you,” Ditch said solemnly. “No thanks are needed,” the judge said. “It’s what men do.”
“Just don’t forget to return and give me that statement.” “I won’t,” Pritchard said. “I done gave you my word.”
I've read other books in this series (click here for two reviews) and find this one an excellent next saga, fully as enjoyable and engaging as Lynch's previous novels. I'll keep reading this series.
Good lines that remind me why I love the clear morals and honesty that percolate throughout every good Western:
"We’re all with you.” “Thank you,” Ditch said solemnly. “No thanks are needed,” the judge said. “It’s what men do.”
“Just don’t forget to return and give me that statement.” “I won’t,” Pritchard said. “I done gave you my word.”
I've read other books in this series (click here for two reviews) and find this one an excellent next saga, fully as enjoyable and engaging as Lynch's previous novels. I'll keep reading this series.
September 9, 2021
I love kicking back with a good, fast paced Western.
Sean Lynch has written a great one with The Trainwreckers.
Marshall Pritchard is a great protagonist. Fearless and quick on the draw.
One major catastrophe to start off the book, a few twists and turns later and a fun ride was had.
I’m already greatly looking forward to the next Western by Mr. Lynch.
Sean Lynch has written a great one with The Trainwreckers.
Marshall Pritchard is a great protagonist. Fearless and quick on the draw.
One major catastrophe to start off the book, a few twists and turns later and a fun ride was had.
I’m already greatly looking forward to the next Western by Mr. Lynch.
October 27, 2021
Sean Lynch knows how to write a western that satisfies true western lovers. This is book #4 in the Guns of Samual Pritchard series but by no means is it just another western. It definitely can be read as a stand alone but the first three books are excellent too. All 4 should be on your TBR list.
In the late 1800s, goods requiring long haul were sent by train, so trains ruled the west and their owners were king. Cities along the tracks were help hostage to the train schedules and costs changed as quickly as the smokw blew. A committee of city mayors decide to take their complaints directly to the train owners. Along the way, their train is derailed. All but one of the mayors dies in the wreck and he is gravely injured. He's also friends with Sheriff, sometimes Marshall, Pritchard and asks him to find out who set up the derailment.
The story is well written, the back stories of the characters match the time period and the lawmen are single minded, they will find their quarries, its just a matter of time. I LOVE westerns. The genre is not as popular as it once was so it's hard to find good, much less great, writers. Sean Lynch is definitely one of the better writers of the genre. Treat yourself and your reading circle and read/share his books.
In the late 1800s, goods requiring long haul were sent by train, so trains ruled the west and their owners were king. Cities along the tracks were help hostage to the train schedules and costs changed as quickly as the smokw blew. A committee of city mayors decide to take their complaints directly to the train owners. Along the way, their train is derailed. All but one of the mayors dies in the wreck and he is gravely injured. He's also friends with Sheriff, sometimes Marshall, Pritchard and asks him to find out who set up the derailment.
The story is well written, the back stories of the characters match the time period and the lawmen are single minded, they will find their quarries, its just a matter of time. I LOVE westerns. The genre is not as popular as it once was so it's hard to find good, much less great, writers. Sean Lynch is definitely one of the better writers of the genre. Treat yourself and your reading circle and read/share his books.
October 20, 2021
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book
ohh man i love this series... the famous gunfighter who takes up as sheriff in his town and at times is sworn in as a marshall....
a train crashes killing many people but among the bodies are mayors who were to attend a meeting about the railways and they are all shot dead... apart from one... who is left alive to tell them who and why....
its a set up but which railway company is behind it... that and more is about to be revealed when pritchard goes gunning for the baddies
wow loved this one...kept me reading till late at night...couldnt put it down
cant wait for the next one in this series
ohh man i love this series... the famous gunfighter who takes up as sheriff in his town and at times is sworn in as a marshall....
a train crashes killing many people but among the bodies are mayors who were to attend a meeting about the railways and they are all shot dead... apart from one... who is left alive to tell them who and why....
its a set up but which railway company is behind it... that and more is about to be revealed when pritchard goes gunning for the baddies
wow loved this one...kept me reading till late at night...couldnt put it down
cant wait for the next one in this series
January 11, 2023
Excellent Western Novel. Sam Pritchard the hero marshall dispenses justice and solves crimes his stories are well told and are the can't put it down variety. This fourth of a series but I think the story leaves room for a fith some time. Ask Sean Lynch is there going to be book five? I have not revealed any spoilers but is a series worth reading if you like Westerns.
February 7, 2023
Outstanding series!
I read all 4 of these in that many days, and now, dang it all, I gotta wait till the next one!
I can't wait!!!
I read all 4 of these in that many days, and now, dang it all, I gotta wait till the next one!
I can't wait!!!
May 12, 2023
excellent read
April 9, 2023
An unputdownable book! Beautiful story with suspense on every page it seemed. The lead character is a super hero in the sense he always knows what right looks like and delivers as the situation dictates. Can not wait to read another Sean Lynch novel.
November 17, 2021
Having read the other books in this series, I chose to take my time reading "The Trainwreckers" so I could savor the excitement I've come to enjoy reading them. I'm glad I did. The story is fast paced, full of jaw clenching moments and is a blast to read! The characters predicaments jumped off the pages while the plot twisted and turned. I looked forward at the end of my busy day to read what they were all up too. Sean has many talents, and writing is one of his finest. I highly recommend reading this book and all he's written!
November 9, 2021
I got into reading dogeared Western paperbacks in Viet Nam in 1969 and still enjoy today. Especially "Trainwreckers", book #4 in an outstanding 1860's Western series about an evil railroad baron willing to win a route through Missouri by any means necessary. He is vigorously opposed by Jefferson County Sheriff and US Marshal Samuel Pritchard AKA Smokin' Joe Atherton. By any measure, this very entertaining series by the very talented Sean Lynch is Western Crime fiction 2.0!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews