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Gunnie Rose [Dramatized Adaptation] #1
An Easy Death [Dramatized Adaptation]
The beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, the inspiration for HBO’s True Blood, and the Midnight Crossroad trilogy adapted for NBC’s Midnight, Texas, has written a taut new thriller—the first in the Gunnie Rose series—centered on a young gunslinging mercenary, Lizbeth Rose.
Set in a fractured United States, in the southwestern country now known as Texoma. A world where magic is acknowledged but mistrusted, especially by a young gunslinger named Lizbeth Rose. Battered by a run across the border to Mexico Lizbeth Rose takes a job offer from a pair of Russian wizards to be their local guide and gunnie. For the wizards, Gunnie Rose has already acquired a fearsome reputation and they’re at a desperate crossroad, even if they won’t admit it. They’re searching through the small border towns near Mexico, trying to locate a low-level magic practitioner, Oleg Karkarov. The wizards believe Oleg is a direct descendant of Grigori Rasputin, and that Oleg’s blood can save the young tsar’s life.
As the trio journey through an altered America, shattered into several countries by the assassination of Franklin Roosevelt and the Great Depression, they’re set on by enemies. It’s clear that a powerful force does not want them to succeed in their mission. Lizbeth Rose is a gunnie who has never failed a client, but her oath will test all of her skills and resolve to get them all out alive.
Set in a fractured United States, in the southwestern country now known as Texoma. A world where magic is acknowledged but mistrusted, especially by a young gunslinger named Lizbeth Rose. Battered by a run across the border to Mexico Lizbeth Rose takes a job offer from a pair of Russian wizards to be their local guide and gunnie. For the wizards, Gunnie Rose has already acquired a fearsome reputation and they’re at a desperate crossroad, even if they won’t admit it. They’re searching through the small border towns near Mexico, trying to locate a low-level magic practitioner, Oleg Karkarov. The wizards believe Oleg is a direct descendant of Grigori Rasputin, and that Oleg’s blood can save the young tsar’s life.
As the trio journey through an altered America, shattered into several countries by the assassination of Franklin Roosevelt and the Great Depression, they’re set on by enemies. It’s clear that a powerful force does not want them to succeed in their mission. Lizbeth Rose is a gunnie who has never failed a client, but her oath will test all of her skills and resolve to get them all out alive.
Audio CD
Published June 3, 2020
3 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Charlaine Harris
205 books37k followersCharlaine Harris has been a published writer for over forty years. Her first two books were standalones, followed by a long sabbatical when she was having children. Then she began the Aurora Teagarden book, mysteries featuring a short librarian (eventually adapted for Hallmark movies). The darker Lily Bard books came next, about a house cleaner with a dark past and considerable fighting skills.
Tired of abiding by the mystery rules, Harris wrote a novel about a telepathic barmaid that took at least two years to sell. When the book was published, it turned into a best seller, and DEAD UNTIL DARK and the subsequent Sookie books were adapted in Alan Ball's "True Blood" series. At the same time, Harris began the Harper Connelly books. Harper can find the bones of the dead and see their last minute.
When those two series wound to a close, the next three books were about a mysterious town in Texas, called Midnight.
A change in publisher and editor led to Harris's novels about a female gunslinger in an alternate America, Lizbeth Rose. The Gunnie Rose books concluded with the sixth novel.
She's thinking about what to write next.
Tired of abiding by the mystery rules, Harris wrote a novel about a telepathic barmaid that took at least two years to sell. When the book was published, it turned into a best seller, and DEAD UNTIL DARK and the subsequent Sookie books were adapted in Alan Ball's "True Blood" series. At the same time, Harris began the Harper Connelly books. Harper can find the bones of the dead and see their last minute.
When those two series wound to a close, the next three books were about a mysterious town in Texas, called Midnight.
A change in publisher and editor led to Harris's novels about a female gunslinger in an alternate America, Lizbeth Rose. The Gunnie Rose books concluded with the sixth novel.
She's thinking about what to write next.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 30, 2025
A gunslinging woman mercenary in a post-apocalyptic alternate history magical adventure with an Old West-vibe sounds like high adventure and good times. Charlaine Harris has crossed into new genres before to great success so I had no doubt picking up this curious blend of genres woven together for a new series.
An Easy Death is the opener in a new series and did a fab job introducing the post-apocalyptic world, the tough gal main character- Lizbeth Rose- and the cast of characters around her. At the same time, An Easy Death presented an exciting, gritty, riveting story without losing suspense or pace because of the intros.
Lizbeth is a hard, common-sense gunfighter living in the former territory of Oklahoma-Texas and her work takes her across the border into the expanded Mexico and other regional “countries” that were once the former US. The US, after Roosevelt’s death, was bitten off by Canada, Britain, Mexico, and Russia. With the Russians who took California, has come magic-wielders. Lizbeth has grown up tough and has a gift with firearms and tactics plus hard-knocks experience that matured her early and filed down all her soft edges. She loves her small town, her little house, and her mom and step-dad, but she’s independent and goes her own way, including her merc work and reputation among fellow “gunnies”.
And, due to her beginnings, Lizbeth can’t abide these Russian wizards, but due to the need to earn a living, she has to take a job protecting a pair of them on their mysterious mission south into Mexico. A great deal of lethal attacks on their party convinces Lizbeth that someone doesn’t want the pair to succeed in whatever it is they’re up to.
Everything about this story worked for me. I was fully engaged with the world, plot, and most of all, Lizbeth from the opening of the story and this only solidified as the story progressed. Though barely a whiff of romance comes late in the story, I liked how Lizbeth and Eli showed some low-level sparks. This was gritty and rough like a good western, but with those curious added features of the occasional modernism that survived from the 1940s and the magic and culture the Russians brought with them.
The full cast of familiar Graphic Audio voice artists was stellar as were the sound effects that all worked to immerse me deeply in An Easy Death’s story.
All in all, An Easy Death was the promise of all the good things as I eagerly push forward into the rest of the series. Because of the crossing of the genres this will appeal to a wider group from Western-lovers to Urban Fantasy, to Alt History, and Dystopian fans.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy 7.28.25.
An Easy Death is the opener in a new series and did a fab job introducing the post-apocalyptic world, the tough gal main character- Lizbeth Rose- and the cast of characters around her. At the same time, An Easy Death presented an exciting, gritty, riveting story without losing suspense or pace because of the intros.
Lizbeth is a hard, common-sense gunfighter living in the former territory of Oklahoma-Texas and her work takes her across the border into the expanded Mexico and other regional “countries” that were once the former US. The US, after Roosevelt’s death, was bitten off by Canada, Britain, Mexico, and Russia. With the Russians who took California, has come magic-wielders. Lizbeth has grown up tough and has a gift with firearms and tactics plus hard-knocks experience that matured her early and filed down all her soft edges. She loves her small town, her little house, and her mom and step-dad, but she’s independent and goes her own way, including her merc work and reputation among fellow “gunnies”.
And, due to her beginnings, Lizbeth can’t abide these Russian wizards, but due to the need to earn a living, she has to take a job protecting a pair of them on their mysterious mission south into Mexico. A great deal of lethal attacks on their party convinces Lizbeth that someone doesn’t want the pair to succeed in whatever it is they’re up to.
Everything about this story worked for me. I was fully engaged with the world, plot, and most of all, Lizbeth from the opening of the story and this only solidified as the story progressed. Though barely a whiff of romance comes late in the story, I liked how Lizbeth and Eli showed some low-level sparks. This was gritty and rough like a good western, but with those curious added features of the occasional modernism that survived from the 1940s and the magic and culture the Russians brought with them.
The full cast of familiar Graphic Audio voice artists was stellar as were the sound effects that all worked to immerse me deeply in An Easy Death’s story.
All in all, An Easy Death was the promise of all the good things as I eagerly push forward into the rest of the series. Because of the crossing of the genres this will appeal to a wider group from Western-lovers to Urban Fantasy, to Alt History, and Dystopian fans.
My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy 7.28.25.
June 19, 2025
An Easy Death is book one in the Gunnie Rose series by Charlaine Harris. It’s a post-apocalyptic magical adventure with an old-west vibe.
I saw a review at Books of My Heart for An Easy Death and so, I decided to pick up the GraphicAudio; which I found at my library.
When I started I wasn’t sure what I was getting into and if I’d like it; because it’s a curious blend of genres woven together. This story introduces us to a peculiar post-apocalyptic world with a tough gal main character, Gunnie Lizbeth Rose, and an unpredictable cast of characters around her.
Gunnie Rose is a gunfighter living in the former territory of Oklahoma-Texas. She’s got a gift with firearms, tactics, and has grown up tough; because of this world and its experience that have matured her early and filed down all those soft edges. She loves her small town, her little house, and her mom and step-dad, but she’s independent. Going her own way, which includes her work and reputation among fellow “gunnies”. I really enjoyed Gunnie Rose. She takes no shit, has a strong head on her shoulders and goes with the flow, plus she’s smart. These are things I enjoy in my female characters.
The story starts off strong and ends strong. There is no shortage of gun fights, magical battles, and life threatening situations. Once I got used to this post-apocalyptic world I enjoyed myself, the world, plot and most of all, Gunnie Rose. I liked the journey, quest, and mystery.
As for any romance a whisper of a romance comes late in the story. I liked how Lizbeth and Eli showed some low-level sparks.
I listened to the GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. The full cast of GraphicAudio voice artists was top notch as were the sound effects that all worked to immerse me deeply into the story. I had a really good time and recommend the GA.
All and all I really enjoyed this first taste of the Gunnie Rose series and look forward to listening to A Longer Fall in GraphicAudio.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
GraphicAudio: 4 Stars
I saw a review at Books of My Heart for An Easy Death and so, I decided to pick up the GraphicAudio; which I found at my library.
When I started I wasn’t sure what I was getting into and if I’d like it; because it’s a curious blend of genres woven together. This story introduces us to a peculiar post-apocalyptic world with a tough gal main character, Gunnie Lizbeth Rose, and an unpredictable cast of characters around her.
Gunnie Rose is a gunfighter living in the former territory of Oklahoma-Texas. She’s got a gift with firearms, tactics, and has grown up tough; because of this world and its experience that have matured her early and filed down all those soft edges. She loves her small town, her little house, and her mom and step-dad, but she’s independent. Going her own way, which includes her work and reputation among fellow “gunnies”. I really enjoyed Gunnie Rose. She takes no shit, has a strong head on her shoulders and goes with the flow, plus she’s smart. These are things I enjoy in my female characters.
The story starts off strong and ends strong. There is no shortage of gun fights, magical battles, and life threatening situations. Once I got used to this post-apocalyptic world I enjoyed myself, the world, plot and most of all, Gunnie Rose. I liked the journey, quest, and mystery.
As for any romance a whisper of a romance comes late in the story. I liked how Lizbeth and Eli showed some low-level sparks.
I listened to the GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. The full cast of GraphicAudio voice artists was top notch as were the sound effects that all worked to immerse me deeply into the story. I had a really good time and recommend the GA.
All and all I really enjoyed this first taste of the Gunnie Rose series and look forward to listening to A Longer Fall in GraphicAudio.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
GraphicAudio: 4 Stars
May 19, 2023
I like gunslinger (gunnie) Lizbeth, who is young but skilled in her profession. I enjoyed all the action, and how Harris lets her main characters be in real danger, and watching how the altered history matches up to what I know of the region. I'm looking forward to more.
Really held up on rereading, and also gave me the chance to see how carefully Harris builds the structure and develops the characters.
The dramatized version was a lot of fun and helped encourage me to clean my kitchen (I liked to listen to audio books while doing that chore.).
Really held up on rereading, and also gave me the chance to see how carefully Harris builds the structure and develops the characters.
The dramatized version was a lot of fun and helped encourage me to clean my kitchen (I liked to listen to audio books while doing that chore.).
August 16, 2025
this ended up being a dnf - though I lasted all the way to the 80% mark, when I asked myself a question - why am I continuing to subject myself to this repetitive, kind of boring read???
None of the characters are very likeable, and all are a little too similar. The characters and the story itself felt very one note - there was no balance, it was just repetitive grimness. The romance element felt forced, and these two had no connections or chemistry. If any other author had written this I doubt it would have ever been published.
None of the characters are very likeable, and all are a little too similar. The characters and the story itself felt very one note - there was no balance, it was just repetitive grimness. The romance element felt forced, and these two had no connections or chemistry. If any other author had written this I doubt it would have ever been published.
January 19, 2026
Very similar vibe to the Kate Daniels series, but that just means I enjoyed it all the more!
June 18, 2024
This was an interesting start to the series. I liked it on dramatized adaptation audiobook. I’d continue with the series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews