The Unkillable Frank Lightning
by Josh Rountree
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Pub Date Jul 15 2025 | Archive Date Not set
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Description
With his signature lean, clean prose, Texan author Josh Rountree (The Legend of Charlie Fish) has penned a Frankenstein-inspired tale unlike any other. With equal parts Cormac McCarthy, Mary Shelley, and Stephen Graham Jones, Rountree coalesces myth and legend into a dramatic tale of love, death, and its terrible aftermath.
“With The Unkillable Frank Lightning, Rountree solidifies himself as not only one of the best writers working today, but makes the case for being the best Western writer of our present century.”
—C. S. Humble, author of That Light Sublime trilogy
Catherine Coldbridge is a complicated woman: a doctor, an occultist, and briefly, a widow. In 1879, her husband, Private Frank Humble, was killed in a Sioux attack. Consumed by grief, Catherine used her formidable skills to resurrect her husband. But after the reanimation, Frank lost his soul, becoming a vicious undead monster. Unable to face her failure or its murderous consequences, Catherine fled to grieve her failure.
Twenty-five years later, Catherine has decided she must make things right. She travels back to Texas with a pair of hired killers ready to destroy Frank. But Frank is no longer a monster; he is once again the kind man she knew. He has remade himself as the Unkillable Frank Lightning, traveling with the Wild West Show, and even taking on a mysterious young ward.
Now Catherine must face a series of moral dilemmas that cannot be resolved without considerable bloodshed.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
Advance Praise for The Unkillable Frank Lightning
“With The Unkillable Frank Lightning, Rountree solidifies himself as not only one of the best writers working today, but makes the case for being the best Western writer of our present century.”
—C. S. Humble, author of That Light Sublime trilogy
Praise for The Legend of Charlie Fish
San Antonio Current 10 Notable 2023 books from Texan Authors
Los Angeles Public Library Best Books of 2023
Locus Recommended Reading List
“A quintessential example of a weird western.” —Booklist
“A fantastic work of dark historical fiction, in the spirit of Lansdale, Gorman, Pronzini, and McMurtry.” —Brian Keene, author of the Rising series
“A tense, exciting, and gorgeous read that will sweep you up immediately and not let go, lingering even after you turn the last page.” —A. C. Wise, author of Wendy, Darling
“Odd, creepy, funny, The Black Lagoon meets the Six Gun universe. High up on the way-cool factor. You need this.” —Joe R. Lansdale, author of the Hap and Leonard series
“Equal parts touching and bizarre, The Legend of Charlie Fish is a Weird Western with heart and is a completely delightful read from start to finish.” —David Liss, author of The Peculiarities
Marketing Plan
Promotion targeting reviews and interviews in leading media venues
Author tour to include national appearances and radio features
Print and digital ARC distribution via Goodreads, NetGalley, and Edelweiss
Planned book giveaways to include Goodreads and Storygraph
Outreach to librarians and independent booksellers via Texan regional and national trade shows and mailings
Online promotion to include Icover reveal, launch event, Reddit AMA, and social media campaigns via Instagram, BlueSky, Facebook, and other outlets
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781616964368 |
| PRICE | $17.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 240 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Bookseller 1633954
Merely calling this gothic horror western a “Frankenstein retelling” is a bit of a disservice because it’s so much more than that. It’s a devastating epic about lost love, how far someone might go to keep it, and the consequences of that obsession. Rountree’s words are thoughtfully indulgent without being bloated. He writes grief like nobody else and is a master at dialog. I fell in love with these characters almost immediately. I also really appreciate the fact that the main character is a middle aged woman, a lead we so rarely get to read from. Once again, this author has blown me away with his beautiful storytelling.
