The Lightning Runner: A Western Story

by Max Brand, John Frederick

Outlaw Lawrence Grey has been captured in El Paso-- but Marshal Neilan will set him free if he can locate John Ray, now in Mexico, and heir to a fortune. During the search, Lawrence finds himself surrounding by intrigue, with his life threatened from all sides.

Genres: Westerns

268 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2010

About the author

Frederick Schiller Faust (see also Frederick Faust), aka Frank Austin, George Owen Baxter, Walter C. Butler, George Challis, Evin Evan, Evan Evans, Frederick Faust, John Frederick, Frederick Frost, David Manning, Peter Henry Morland, Lee Bolt, Peter Dawson, Martin Dexter, Dennis Lawson, M.B., Hugh Owen, Nicholas Silver

Max Brand, one of America's most popular and prolific novelists and author of such enduring works as Destry Rides Again and the Doctor Kildare stories, died on the Italian front in 1944.

Reviews

[Garth Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Western set in El Paso Texas in the days of the “Wild West”. The actions takes place on either side of the border. When it came to law enforcement the line between the good guys and the bad guys was very thin. The book is an action-packed adventure that tends to keep the reader turning the pages. Calling Rinky Dink a boy seems somewhat derogatory.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was first published in 1932 as a six part serial in “Street & Smith’s Western Story Magazine.” It was written under one of Frederick Schiller Faust’s pen names John Frederick. The story was published again in 2010 under Faust’s most popular nom de plume Max Brand. It has been published both in print and e-book and in 2013 Audible published it as an audiobook.

This is a different type of western, it first lead you on as routine western story then suddenly the plot changes. The story starts with notorious outlaw Lawrence Gray being captured near El Paso, Texas. Marshal Neilan has a proposal for him, to go to San Vicente Mexico and locate a man called John Ray. Four men that were previously sent were found dead or have disappeared. The reason for finding John Ray I will not divulge. The story winds its way though twists and turns and the ending is even a bigger twist.

The story is exciting and easy to read. It has humor, suspense, action and of course, romance. The story was written in 1932 and must be judged as of its time. I have read so many stories written in the 1920s and 1930s I have no problem mentally slipping into that time frame. If you would like a well written get away from it all story this book is for you. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Michael Sutherland does a good job narrating the story. He is a new narrator for me.

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different style of writing. Still trying to decide if I look his writing. Ok story.

[Bruce Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly gritty western with lots of action and a myriad of characters.

[Henry McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Max Brand book I’ve ever read. It’s great to add a new author to my favorite writers list.
Excellent writing with plenty of tension, suspense and mystery. Characters are three dimensional, settings and detail are authentic, plot complicated but not confusing. A very enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to reading more by Max Brand.

[A.R. Bredenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Lightning Runner" is a 1932 Western adventure written by Frederick Faust under his pen name Max Brand. In the story, a loner with a reputation as an outlaw is sent as an operative to Mexico to locate a missing man who has become heir to a fortune.

"The Lightning Runner" is a well-written mystery western with good characters and dialogue and reads well even after more than 80 years. The modern reader might find the story a little contrived, but not too badly. The plot reminds me a little of Dashiell Hammett in its occasional reliance on coincidence to help the protagonist in his task. On more than one occasion, Rinky-Dink (nickname for the main character) is hiding somewhere and happens to overhear a conversation that reveals exactly the information he needs at the moment.

I give this story a cleanness rating of four out of five stars. It contains no profanity or overt sensuality, but does include a fair amount of Western violence.

ARK

[Cornmaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traditional western with loner type characters, a "road trip", a beautiful woman, wide open spaces, and a wrong to be thwarted. The twist at the end was amusing.

I especially liked the rather formal banter between the characters, very 19th century and much different from how we speak today. Rinky Dink is simultaneously an honorable man and a criminal, with a distinctive way of assessing the morality of any particular situation. Very young by our standards, but not by that time's mores. Kind of a western Jack Reacher in some ways.

I don't read a lot of westerns, but I did enjoy this one.