The Master Executioner

by Loren D. Estleman

Ordinary people do not understand Oscar Stone. Everything he does, he does impeccably. He is a profound student of his art, completely versed in its traditions over the centuries. He is a student of ropes and their properties, a master of the latest scientific knowledge about the human neck, a careful calculator of weights and drops, and an exacting observer of results.

For more than a quarter of a century he has worked to create a reputation as a man peerless in his the master executioner.

Yet he is utterly His devotion to his work costs him his marriage. Suddenly, one day, a piece of his past catches him unawares, and Oscar comes to a moment of devastating truth and for the first time knows himself.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Fiction

270 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2001

About the author

Loren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter.

Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.

Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. Not at all a traditional western, "The Master Executioner" is the story of Oscar Stone, civil war veteran turned carpenter turned hangman.

Stone is an interesting man, apprenticed to both a master carpenter and a studied executioner, he becomes exceptional at both trades. His skill at carpentry is what births both his marriage and his turn at the noose, and his skill at the noose is what destroys both marriage and carpentry career.

Stone and his teacher Rudd are both well-drawn characters, and you grow fond of both despite their gruesome job. It was interesting to track the path of the life of the Hangman--a character who is often present in western novels and films, but who is usually pushed to the background in favor of the gunslingers and land barons. I also learned some about the science of hanging, and the difference between a professional and a posse.

My only hangup with the book is the manner in which Gretchen (Stone's wife) is pushed out of the story. It seemed too rushed and far too reliant on luck. I would have preferred something that was drawn out a little more.

But overall, I really enjoyed this, and would recommend it to fans of Westerns who are looking for something off the beaten path.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent western novel with a bit of a twist. Instead of the usual novel of frontier justice and revenge with Colt's and Winchesters smoking up the plains here we have the story of one man. A Civil War veteran that finds his way into an apprenticeship with a carpenter. He makes his way to Kansas where he is commissioned to build a gallows. There he meets the hangman and begins a new apprenticeship and begins his move towards The Master Executioner.
This book really has a lot going for it and I was struggling between four and five stars. The ending of the book was really something else. Like a slap in the face with a wet towel (and what almost pushed this into the 5 star range). If you enjoy a good western this is one that should not be missed.

[Fredsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biography of a hangman. He was called to the profession by an older master who taught him everything he knew and eventually retired to become a preacher. Our hangman, Oscar, was drawn to the veteran executioner Rudd because of the precision of his techniques. Trained as a carpenter, Oscar was fascinated by the physics of the job. Rudd showed him the ropes and their properties, how to stretch and oil and tie them, how to calculate weights and drops, and how to find the exact placement on the human neck that would absolutely break the neck and not behead the criminal, or executionee.
Oscar follows his new profession. His wife leaves him immediately. As he travels from job to job, gallows to gallows, he keeps to himself. He is admired as a master and feared as an executioner and Rudd is his only friend. Eventually, after we have learned a good deal about some technical issues, Oscar's wife reappears and the plot resumes around her and her mysteries.
I loved reading this book until the wife showed up again. After that, some momentum was lost. Nonetheless, it's exotic, well-written, not very gruesome, packed with information, and provides an excellent portrait of a lonely man with a necessary but unpopular job.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 2001, this novel captures something of the sobering mood of that year. It’s about life and death and choices with unexpected consequences. Not really a story, it’s a character study of a young man emotionally marked by wartime atrocity. A Union soldier, still in his teens, he is witness to a clumsy and ghastly execution by hanging.

At war’s end, Oscar Stone is scarcely eighteen years old and the only surviving member of his family, his one brother dead and buried on the fields of Gettysburg. In need of stability and purpose, he resolves to marry and devote his life to a reliable trade. Temperament makes of him a man determined to not simply be good at what he does, but to become a master practitioner. That and pure circumstance lead him into a dark and singular profession. He becomes a hangman...

Read my review at my blog.

[Phair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focused, full of interesting detail & background with a well developed main character. I do like Estleman's work. At the time I read this I was very into Dr Quinn Medicine Woman and this book reminded me of the episode ("Matter of Life and Death"?) where the town has to hang a man and the acting sheriff (Quinn's eldest 'son') isn't up to the job. There was a lot more to 'learning the ropes' than you'd imagine. A good one.

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating read! The author's research is truly captivating!

"The Master Executioner" by Loren D. Estleman is a haunting and masterful tale set in the American West. The story follows Oscar Stone, a craftsman whose art lies in the gallows, ensuring death is swift and precise. As the bodies mount, questions about justice, humanity, and the price of a life spent wielding death arise. Oscar's journey is marked by a shadow from his past that resurfaces, forcing him to confront the truth about himself and the cost of his profession. Set against the gritty backdrop of frontier law and vengeance, Stone's story is one of profound complexity, where morality and duty clash.

Throughout the novel, Estleman movingly conveys the brutalizing effects of killing for the law, even when one is exceptionally skilled at it. The characters are vividly drawn, and the dialogue is sharp, making the reader deeply invested in Oscar's internal and external struggles. Overall, "The Master Executioner" is a gripping and thought-provoking read that delves into the psychological and moral complexities of a hangman's life. It's a powerful exploration of justice, redemption, and the human condition in the unforgiving landscape of the Old West. Prepare to explore the complexities of a life rarely considered. Grab your copy today and get ready for a profound lesson in justice.

• ASIN: B0DS6LW6KB
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 2/4/2025
• File Size: 5901 KB
• Print Length: 294 pages
• Genre: Frontier & Pioneer Western Fiction - Western Fiction Classics -

[R. W. Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story so much that after I started reading this book, burrowed from some ship’s library while on vacation with my family, because I wasn’t able to finish the story on the ship, I order a copy upon returning from vacation.

This book is also the catalyst that ignited my interest into the western genre. Since reading Estleman’s …Executioner, I have read several western authors and their stories. To name a few: Gray’s Riders…, Schaefer’s Shane (which I highly recommend), McMurtry (Lonesome Dove is a flat-out classic), and my all-time favorite western-genre author, Louis L’Amour. I can’t say with complete honesty how many L’Amour book I have read.

Now, if “dat ain’t” a vote of confidence for Estleman’s, The Master Executioner, I’m not sure what….

[Tin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the description of the book, I thought I might like the book, and boy did I. This was a great read and I would highly recommend if you find the description at all interesting.

The author masterfully navigates the subject. Particularly, the mastery of a craft and the art of execution I thought were handled very well. The characters are also well written and showed great depth. Through the story, I found nuggets of wisdom along with questions to think about. It had me reflecting on my own purposes and motivations.

Overall, I loved this story as it came with an interesting premise and executed (haha, get it?) on it brilliantly. I can’t say it’s a book for everyone, but it was definitely the book for me!

[Will Plunkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fascinating" is the word I'd use for this book: there's not much action for a western novel, but the deliberate nature of the protagonist makes for a deliberate plot. Not much surprise, either, but again, it fits so well that way. Point of contention: I don't think that Alex Trebek would approve of everyone reading from the Book of RevelationS, though!

[George Ronczy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A non-typical Western, about a man who learns to become the foremost professional hangman of his time and copes with the resultant complete loss of social contact that comes with it.

Highly recommended.

[FredM2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows a young boy into manhood while becoming an executioner. An executioner was a skilled profession but not always looked upon favorably by society. The book is loaded with details and was a very interesting read. I totally enjoyed the reading.

[Bayneeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young carpenter meets a professional hangman and changes careers. A companion piece to Estleman's later book, The Undertaker's Wife. Life in the west from very specific vantage points.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent character study of a professional hangman in the Old West.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strange subject but one that must have been done in the 1800's. Mr. Estleman does a super job of describing the detail of the job. I didn't like the sad ending.

[Ronda Six Garnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a surprise ending...

[Ben Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging story with some exciting twists and a fun portrayal of the brutal yet complex western frontier society.

[Robyn McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

These days it is popular to tell people to work and what they love and success will be sure to follow. The Master Executioner is about a man who takes this advice and its impact on his life.

This is not my grandfather's western. It is a modern novel that takes place in the years just after the Civil War and before the turn of the century, when people were migrating in hordes from east to west and industrial innovations were happening so fast the landscape could change from year to year.

Oscar Stone is a pragmatist. After abandoning his father's farm and serving in the Union army during the war, he decides to leave the east completely and travel to Missouri. He reasons that with a building boom going on, carpenters will be in short supply, so he apprentices and becomes an excellent carpenter. From his master he receives advice, which he takes to heart about being a craftsman and being meticulous and knowledgeable about your work. During his last months in the war, he sees a lynching, badly handled, and this affects him profoundly.

While apprenticed, Oscar meets a young woman and applies his formidable honesty and persistence in winning over her reluctant father and they take a wagon train west. But they are late to the party. There is a surfeit of carpenters and Oscar has a hard time finding work. Finally, he takes a temporary job building a gallows and meets Rudd, a master hangman. Rudd tells Oscar the young man has a gift and would likely make an excellent hangman. It is steady employment, and best of all, a chance to experience satisfaction in a job well done. Rudd offers to teach him everything he knows, and eventually, over his own misgivings, and his wife's flat opposition, Oscar becomes the hangman's apprentice. It is an experience and occupation that is both more satisfying and more unforgiving than he could ever have expected. He loses his wife over it and the majority of the book covers his subsequent career and attempts to locate her.

This is not a book of self-examination. Though generally more honest with himself than most people, Oscar Stone is not that kind of man. And Estleman deliberately confines himself to Oscar's actions and conversations, leaving it open about what the man actually feels which makes it ironically easier to understand him.

Though the novel is full of criminals, each walks the stage for a short time only, which makes it all the more remarkable that Estleman's clear writing can make them all so human and mostly pitiable. Oscar, however, remains the star, a man of neat habits who looks more like a banker than a hangman, a problem-solver, and a man who takes pride in providing each client with a swift and painless death.

Eventually Oscar finds his wife again and once more his life is altered permanently. The ending is one of those which seems inevitable and is therefore satisfying, but you don't anticipate it because Estleman's writing is like setting yourself afloat in a briskly moving creek - you go with the flow and are content to do so. In their ways, so did Rudd the hangman, and his apprentice Oscar Stone.

Historical novels about the old west are not a usual choice for me, but the subject and the sample I read made me want more so I bought the book. I am very glad I did.

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating read! The author's research is truly captivating!

"The Master Executioner" by Loren D. Estleman is a haunting and masterful tale set in the American West. The story follows Oscar Stone, a craftsman whose art lies in the gallows, ensuring death is swift and precise. As the bodies mount, questions about justice, humanity, and the price of a life spent wielding death arise. Oscar's journey is marked by a shadow from his past that resurfaces, forcing him to confront the truth about himself and the cost of his profession. Set against the gritty backdrop of frontier law and vengeance, Stone's story is one of profound complexity, where morality and duty clash.

Throughout the novel, Estleman movingly conveys the brutalizing effects of killing for the law, even when one is exceptionally skilled at it. The characters are vividly drawn, and the dialogue is sharp, making the reader deeply invested in Oscar's internal and external struggles. Overall, "The Master Executioner" is a gripping and thought-provoking read that delves into the psychological and moral complexities of a hangman's life. It's a powerful exploration of justice, redemption, and the human condition in the unforgiving landscape of the Old West. Prepare to explore the complexities of a life rarely considered. Grab your copy today and get ready for a profound lesson in justice.

• ASIN: B0DS6LW6KB
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 2/4/2025
• File Size: 5901 KB
• Print Length: 294 pages
• Genre: Frontier & Pioneer Western Fiction - Western Fiction Classics -

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the story of Oscar Stone is an interesting and absorbing one, the sparse dialog and focus on the main character (with little development of supporting characters), provides the reader with a very one-sided view of events. There is little sense that the plot is building up to anything important, and the author delivers with a surprisingly anticlimactic ending that leaves the reader feeling confused, frustrated, and bereft. When considering the overall introspective and psychological nature of the book, one wonders why the author chose such a stark and unsatisfying final scene.

[Matt Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel set in the second half of the 19th century in the American West. Explores the psychology of a professional hangman, who must come to terms with his isolation and reasons why he continues in his occupation despite loss of his wife and hostility from the public. Explores the change in his life as electric chairs replace hanging, and ends with . . . . I won't give it away. Good way to spend some time.

[Lee Tyner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first section of the book was very was interesting. However, the author has lots of sentences that are paragraph in length. Super long sentences with umpteen commas. Likewise, the paragraph development is very weak. Many have two or more topic topics and should be split with a transitions.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed it quite a bit, even wading through the writing style. I found myself wanting to pick it up every free chance which means I enjoyed it. Very interesting and good story.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#12 in the American West series. 2002 Western Heritage Award for Outstanding Western Novel.

The American West series - Hangman Oscar Stone is a master executioner, who prides himself on his careful and exacting work, until a sudden moment of realization and devastating truth forces him to come to terms with himself and his profession.

[Susannah Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great. I never would've read it if I weren't assigned to read a modern Western this week, but I'm so glad I did. Oscar Stone is a great character, and I loved the macabre science of it all.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the grisly subject matter, this book was written in the style of classical literature. I appreciated the attention to detail, and the story expressed the feelings of the executioner quite well.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine, but depressing character study of a hangman who in the end has nothing else but the mechanics -- and history, of his trade. To date, the best Estelman novel I have read.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, and a quick read, but I did not really think the ending was earned.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well-written novel set in the west in the post-Civil War era. The author shares a lot of history of that period and the science behind the making of a true master of a hangman.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

HB-B @ 2001, 7/01. The story of a carpenter-turned hangman in the years after the civil war. How he perfected his craft, how he inadvertently hanged his own son, how he met his death. Interesting.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I want to read more--a whole more--by this author.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, pleasantly surprised to find that it was better than I thought it would be.