Drifter
Stranded in the Old West Book 1
ASIN B08L6K4C24
I read this after reading the Reacher Experiment books! I really enjoyed that series, and decided to give these a try next. I have picked up a few books by Hardin from various series. A few years ago I read my first Reacher novel. I had picked up one for my dad, and after giving the back a read, I grabbed the eBook for myself. In under a year I had read all the Reacher Novels in print and all the books in the Hunt for Jack Reacher by Diane Capri. Since then I have read 60 books in the Reacher universe and am expanding out to the three series by Jude Hardin now.
The description of this book and same as some of the others is:
“The first book in a new series of mystery/thrillers, and also a continuation of The Reacher Experiment and The Reacher Code series!
Jake Ruger is not his real name.
He doesn’t remember his real name. Or anything else about himself.
But he does remember a few things. Like cars. And airplanes. And smartphones.
Which don’t seem to exist anymore.
Which is impossible.
The world he appears to be trapped in—a world both astonishingly beautiful and horrifically hostile, situated in and around the town of Total Wreck, Arizona in 1882—must be part of an elaborate reenactment project.
That’s what he thinks.
Until the bullets start flying…”
This is a fast-paced, genre bending novella that breathes fresh life into the traditional Western by injecting elements of science fiction and psychological mystery. The story centres on a classic trope that of a protagonist with total amnesia; but adds a compelling, high concept twist that keeps the reader hooked from the opening pages. Because we know it is related to the Reacher Experiment, we can assume who it is. He remembers the world with planes, cars, computers. But that is not the world he awakens in.
The story follows a man who is going by the name Jake Ruger, though he is acutely aware that this identity is a fabrication. He has no recollection of his name, his past, or how he arrived at his current location. While his personal history is entirely erased, his mind retains vivid, detailed knowledge of modern technology like cars, airplanes, and smartphones.
The narrative conflict intensifies as Ruger wakes up in the hostile, desolate landscape of Total Wreck, Arizona, in the year 1882. Surrounded by a world devoid of the modern inventions embedded in his memory, Ruger initially rationalizes his bizarre situation by assuming he is trapped in an elaborate, high-tech historical re-enactment. However, Hardin effectively shatters this psychological coping mechanism when real bullets start flying. This pivotal moment forces Ruger to abandon his theories and confront a harsh reality: he is genuinely fighting for survival in the lawless Old West.
This is an excellent novella. I read it over a large tea sitting on the porch on a cold fall evening. And I really wish there were more than two volumes in the series.=, for this was a great read.
An excellent little story, that I can easily recommend.
Books by Jude Hardin:
Books in the Jack Reacher Experiment Series:
…
The Reacher Experiment Books 1-3
The Reacher Experiment Books 4-6
The Reacher Experiment Books 7-9
…
The Reacher Experiment: The Complete Series Books 1-9
…
The Reacher Code Series:
Timestream 1
Timestream 2
Timestream 3
…
Jack Reacher Files Series:
Fugative
Choke
Hostage
Velocity
The Girl from the Wrong Side of Cordial
…
Nicholas Colt Series:
Pocket-47
Crosscut
Snuff Tag 9
Rattled
Colt
Key Death
Blood Tattoo
The Blood Notebooks
...
Nicholas Colt Crossover Books:
Racked (with J.A. Konrath)
Lady 52 (with J.A. Konrath)
Sycamore Bluff
...
Midnight Creek Series:
The Cold Gray Adiós
A Single Red Alibi
...
Stranded in the Old West:
Pickin' & Grin Inn Mystery Series:
Dead Ain't Your Color
Friends in Freshly Dug Places
...
iSEAL Series:
iSeal
iSEAL 2
...
Other Books:
Codename: Hollowpoint
aka Fused
A Thin Ribbon of Smoke
aka Witness
Rocked
aka Cage Fight
Au Revoir from a Bridge to Nowhere
Fire and Ice
Choke
The Blood Notebooks
...
