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
Texas author Josh Rountree (The Legend of Charlie Fish) has created a devastating Frankenstein-inspired tale set in the Wild West. With equal parts Cormac McCarthy, Mary Shelley, and Stephen Graham Jones, Rountree creates a work of historical horror that deftly navigates the terrible aftermath of love and death.
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, Private Frank Humble, Catherine's husband, was killed in a Sioux attack. Consumed by grief, she used her formidable skills to resurrect him. But Frank lost his soul after the reanimation, and disappeared after a killing spree. Unable to face her failure and its murderous consequences, Catherine fled to grieve.
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 has remade himself as the Unkillable Frank Lightning, traveling with the Wild West Show.
Reaching for a last chance at redemption, Frank and Catherine are at an impasse. As time runs out, their final choices may result in 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
“The Unkillable Frank Lightning is a tale cinched tighter than sunbaked rawhide. This western reimagining of Shelley’s classic sticks true to the heart of the story, while giving us something entirely new and breathlessly exciting.”
—Chris Panatier, author of The Redemption of Morgan Bright
“The Unkillable Frank Lightning, much like The Legend of Charlie Fish, becomes a kind of paean to the outcast, to the monstrous, and to a land where, once upon a time, there was room enough for them find both love and acceptance.”
—Fan Fi Addict
“Western horror at its finest. With this feral retelling of Frankenstein, Rountree weaves a damn good story.”
—Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, author of Grim Root
“This is the F-Monster we’ve always wanted, in a yarn we never knew we needed―until now. Welcome to Josh Rountree’s TEX-sylvania!”
―David J. Schow, screenwriter of The Crow
“Rountree continues to hitch his wagon to his unique and fun storytelling genre―the neo-Gothic Western monster mash. His work, as always, is full of heart.”
―David Sandner, author of The Afterlife of Frankenstein
“The Unkillable Frank Lightning stands with the best of Charles Portis, Joe R. Lansdale, and Larry McMurtry. Buckle up for a wild ride.”
―William Jensen, author of Cities of Men
“[The Unkillable Frank Lightning], like every damn word I have read from Josh Rountree, is perfection.”
―John Boden, author of Etiquette of Booby Traps
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 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
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.
Michael D, Reviewer
This book was very well-written. The prose flowed so easily and stoked the imagination. I’ve read a lot of books that were inspired by Frankenstein, and this is definitely the best one. It perfectly evoked both what made that book great, and what makes the Western genre great. I highly recommend it.
Amber O, Reviewer
The Unkillable Frank Lightening by Josh Rountree is a fantastic blend of Western grit and supernatural horror. I love a good genre-bending novel, and this one delivers in spades. Equal parts Frankenstein and Lonesome Dove, it masterfully weaves elements of folklore, vengeance, and the uncanny into a gripping, atmospheric tale.
The non-linear narrative adds depth, revealing character motivations in a way that keeps you invested while maintaining a steady, suspenseful pace. The action sequences are as brutal as they are compelling, shaping the characters as much as they propel the story forward. Rountree balances horror and Western traditions seamlessly, creating a novel that feels both fresh and timeless.
This book was a joy to read, and I found myself completely immersed in its eerie, dust-choked world. If you love stories that defy easy categorization while delivering a gripping, unforgettable experience, The Unkillable Frank Lightening is a must-read.
My thanks to NetGalley, Tachyon Publications, and Josh Rountree for an ARC of the Unkillable Frank Lightning in exchange for my honest opinions.
Daniel F, Reviewer
In The Unkillable Frank Lightning by Josh Rountree, my newest review book from Net Galley, a doctor loses her husband and then decides to bring him back to life. He comes back as a monster and years later, she decides to finally put an end to him with the help of two killers.
The Unkillable Frank Lightning is a western and a monster tale. Its steeped in the Old West and also features complex characters, morally grey people who live and die and some that live again. Its a fantastic tale. Josh Rountree tells it in the first person mode, with the Doctor-Catherine and her voice is so well defined. She is a character we root for and worry about in equal measure.
The writing in this book is so very good. Its descriptive and poetic at times but not overly so. The dialogue was good too. And I thought the jump from past to “present” and back again worked well. I enjoyed this book so much. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I wasn’t sure what would happen next and I absolutely loved the ending.
I also want to read The Legend of Charlie Fish by Josh Rountree now, since one of the characters in this book comes from that one. I didn’t feel like I was missing out though. The Unkillable Frank Lightning is its own tale. It wasn’t until the afterword that I even knew that the one character came from another one of Josh Rountree’s books. I will definitely look into reading The Legend of Charlie Fish as soon as can.
The Unkillable Frank Lightning is an excellent tale. You don’t even have to like Western novels. The blending of western and monster tale works so well. The book absolutely sings and I think anyone could enjoy this book. It can be a violent tale, without a doubt, but it was also a beautiful tale. It was just so good.
I highly recommend The Unkillable Frank Lightning by Josh Rountree. I’m glad I got to read it early!
The Unkillable Frank Lightning comes out on July 15th, 2025. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an early digital copy of the book.
Dana S, Reviewer
At its heart, this is a tale of loss, resurrection, and redemption. We are carried along on this journey with Catherine Coldbridge at the helm. She is a deeply flawed character, haunted and broken. She has experienced deep love and heartbreaking loss, and her life has been flipped upside-down by the choices she has made trying to deal with it. Regardless of her mistakes, I couldn't help but have compassion for her.
Rountree holds true to Shelley's Frankenstein tale, right down to the doctor's monstrosity and the monster's humanity. Small details taken from the original are masterfully woven into this story. It's a treat.
I was happy to see a bit of Charlie Fish peek into the story. You don't have to read The Legend of Charlie Fish prior to this - they are separate stories - but I recommend it anyway because it's a wonderful book.
When reading Josh Rountree, you're put in the hands of a horror Western extraordinaire. His storytelling is gritty and bold, and you can smell the blood and dirt in his writing. He is an auto-buy author for me, and I recommend his books to everyone.
David R, Reviewer
This is a novel set in a realistic wild west setting which features magick, resurrection, and has an emotional reach which impacts the reader as it progresses.
A woman uses a spell to bring her husband back to life. He's been massacred along with others and she must replace some of his body parts with those of others for the spell to take effect. That's a particularly gruesome yet detailed scene.
But of course that comes with consequences. When she last saw her husband, he was a rampaging monster, causing her to flee in fear and guilt.
Years later and she's hired two killers to accompany her because she now wants to end her husband's life again. He's a performer in a wild west revue show and he is the Unkillable Frank Lightning. But he's a changed man. He's sweet and has friends, nothing like the monster he was.
We'll follow all of these wonderfully written characters as moral choices must be made which are hard to follow. The choices which could, and do, lead to bloodshed in the blink of an eye and the resulting fallout leads us on a horrific trail and nobody involved will be the same again.
I loved Josh's novel Charlie Fish and I was thrilled to see a certain character from that world have a huge impact in this novel. If you've read Charlie Fish you'll know.
This is a great story that takes a Frankenstein like tale and gives it a fresh makeover while delivering the terror, action, and heartfelt moments we all love. I highly recommend this one.
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