Am I the only Western reader who thought The Gunsmith series had drawn its final curtain with book #491, Invitation to a Bank Robbery, published in 2024, marking the end of an era with the passing of the author Robert J. Randisi (1951-2024)? The beloved author, who crafted this engaging series under the pseudonym J.R. Roberts, seemed to close the door on Clint Adams’s adventures. Yet, here we are, greeted by a surprise: Speaking Volumes has released the 492nd installment, A Fortune for the Gunsmith. So, the question lingers—did Randisi leave a stash of unpublished Gunsmith tales behind?
Spoiler alert: he did not. Invitation to a Bank Robbery remains Randisi's final contribution to the series, despite "J.R. Roberts" proudly stamped on the cover of this new installment. The true author? That would be Marcus Pelegrimas, whose name lurks quietly on the copyright page. I only made this discovery after devouring the eBook this afternoon. Did it alter my feelings about the narrative? Not in the least. The distinct shift in voice was palpable; I suspected as much from the get-go.
Now, onto the synopsis—well, sort of. I took the liberty of rewriting it for clarity. Clint Adams has always trusted his instincts, those sharp little devils that have maneuvered him through countless scrapes. When he steps in to assist an old friend on a perilous job, Clint dives headfirst into chaos, and the situation grows murkier the deeper he gets. To heighten the drama, a fortune teller ominously warns him of a shadowy figure poised to put a bullet in his back. Although Clint has little faith in palm readers, the bullets that whiz past him are all too real. A moment of hesitation amidst the gunfire could mean curtains for any gunslinger, even for someone of Clint’s caliber.
In essence, Clint finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time—again. Poor Toby, his loyal steed, even takes a hit, but fret not; he survives the ordeal. The bad guys slip through Clint’s fingers, forcing him to linger in the town of Deveraux while Toby mends. After a night spent with a gypsy, Clint discovers trouble is brewing—somehow intertwined with the bandits he crossed paths with on the trail. An assassination plot thickens the plot, and I can’t help but wonder if the author drew inspiration from our chaotic world of 2024, but that’s purely speculative.
Then we have the enigma that is James "Jim" Mason. I admit, my knowledge of the entire Gunsmith canon isn’t exhaustive—did this character pop up before? For a fleeting moment, I imagined he could be James T. West from "Wild Wild West," given the crossovers in the series, but alas, I was mistaken. Jim boasts an array of badges, including a U.S. Marshal’s, but he remains draped in mystery, leaving readers craving more by the final page. And speaking of endings, this one doesn’t tie everything up nicely; rather, it dangles a tantalizing thread for future installments. Yes, indeed, this isn’t the last we’ll see of The Gunsmith—stay tuned for #493, The Wrong Room, arriving on the horizon, though a specific date remains shrouded in mystery.
I may be in the minority, but I’m genuinely excited to see The Gunsmith legacy carry on, provided Randisi’s estate—or his family—granted the proper thumbs-up for additional tales posthumously. There's bound to be comparisons between Marcus Pelegrimas’s writing and Randisi’s—I totally get that, and I did a bit of mental gymnastics comparing the two. Randisi was a singular talent, irreplaceable in every sense. Still, I’m glad to see the legacy continuing; perhaps other Western authors will come to play in Clint Adams’s sandbox, sprinkling their unique flavors into the mix.
A Fortune for the Gunsmith is far from perfect, but I relished the chance to reconnect with Clint Adams, a character who feels like an old friend. Sure, the tone and atmosphere feel slightly off—after all, different author, different vibe—but sometimes you just have to roll with it. Expect shootouts, a dash of romance, a splash of violence, and those delicious plot twists that make Gunsmith books so delightful. ╌★★★½✰
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〜B.J. Burgess
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“The plot thickens… especially when you comment.” 〜B.J. Burgess