Jack Slade
Song of the Butcherbird
Will be published approx. on 18. December 2025
Book
Hardback
216 pages
978-1-64821-153-9 (ISBN)
Description
A USA Today bestseller!
A tale of frontier justice in the early days of the Pony Express-based on a story you'd never believe was true.
Jack Slade is one of the few stationmasters on the Overland Stagecoach Company who has a code of honor and some skills with a wagon and a Colt. That's why he's chosen by company boss Benjamin Ficklin to clean out corruption on the line just as the Pony Express begins running.
But Slade also has a soft spot for hard liquor. That's why he rides into Julesburg unarmed, and why he's filled with six bullets and some buckshot in broad daylight by Jules Beni, the corrupt old station master.
Jack Slade: The Song of the Butcherbird is based on the true story of Slade's improbable survival, recovery, and redemption. With the help of his family; his loose-lipped, ne'er-do-well sidekick, Pete; and not a little liquid courage, Slade reluctantly returns to bring frontier law and justice to the plains-never again forgetting his revolver or Bowie knife.
Perfect for readers of westerns, quintessential American historical fiction, and fans of Yellowstone, Jack Slade is a vivid animation of frontier life and justice in the early days of the Pony Express-dusty, unforgiving, and stained in blood.
A tale of frontier justice in the early days of the Pony Express-based on a story you'd never believe was true.
Jack Slade is one of the few stationmasters on the Overland Stagecoach Company who has a code of honor and some skills with a wagon and a Colt. That's why he's chosen by company boss Benjamin Ficklin to clean out corruption on the line just as the Pony Express begins running.
But Slade also has a soft spot for hard liquor. That's why he rides into Julesburg unarmed, and why he's filled with six bullets and some buckshot in broad daylight by Jules Beni, the corrupt old station master.
Jack Slade: The Song of the Butcherbird is based on the true story of Slade's improbable survival, recovery, and redemption. With the help of his family; his loose-lipped, ne'er-do-well sidekick, Pete; and not a little liquid courage, Slade reluctantly returns to bring frontier law and justice to the plains-never again forgetting his revolver or Bowie knife.
Perfect for readers of westerns, quintessential American historical fiction, and fans of Yellowstone, Jack Slade is a vivid animation of frontier life and justice in the early days of the Pony Express-dusty, unforgiving, and stained in blood.
Reviews / Votes
"Gostick...deftly pivots to American folklore in this richly detailed western."-Booklist
"Fans of both historical fiction and Westerns will enjoy this American tale."
-Library Journal
"Set against the grit and grandeur of the western frontier, Song of the Butcherbird draws you in with rich detail, unforgettable characters, and dialogue that snaps with tension and wit. Adrian Gostick writes with the precision of a historian and the pacing of a master storyteller. Once you start, you won't want to stop until the final page turns."
-Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There
"You can almost hear the campfire crackling as Adrian Gostick masterfully spins the tale of Jack Slade. Jack's no hero, but, dang if you won't root for him anyway and remember his story of courage and resilience for years to come. "
-Liz Wiseman, New York Times bestselling author of Multipliers
"Adrian Gostick has done a brilliant job bringing historical figure Jack Slade to life. The messages of resilience, growth, and living values are as real today as yesterday. Great story; even better life messages."
-Dave Ulrich, bestselling author and Rensis Likert Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan
"What a ride! Jack Slade: Song of the Butcher Bird is storytelling at its finest. Adrian Gostick has captured the grit and heart of the Old West in a way that reminds me of Larry McMurtry and S.C. Gwynne. The characters stay with you, the writing is sharp, and the pacing never lets up. I couldn't put it down."
-Chester Elton, New York Times bestselling author of Leading with Gratitude
"Adrian Gostick has crafted a richly detailed, rollicking tale that transports you straight into the grit and dust of the frontier. Song of the Butcherbird captures the tension, humor, and raw humanity of the West with a storyteller's precision. It's a compelling ride: unpredictable, fast-paced, and hard to put down."
-Garry Ridge, chairman emeritus, WD-40 Company and bestselling author
"From the blood-soaked streets of Julesburg to the unforgiving frontier justice of the 1860s, Gostick has masterfully told a relentless tale of vengeance that will leave readers breathless. Jack Slade's transformation from lawman to legend is as compelling as it is terrifying-this is storytelling at its most primal and powerful."
-Martin Rooney, author of Blood Feud: Raising Cain, Coach to Coach, and High Ten
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Skyhorse Publishing
Product notice
Cloth
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
499 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-64821-153-9 (9781648211539)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Adrian Gostick is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers All In, The Carrot Principle, Leading with Gratitude, and Anxiety at Work. His award-winning books have been translated into 30 languages and have sold more than 1.5 million copies around the world.
His work has been called "fascinating," by Fortune magazine and "creative and refreshing" by the New York Times. He has appeared on NBC's "Today Show", CNN, and CNBC, and is often quoted in The Economist, Financial Times, Newsweek, and Wall Street Journal.
His work has been called "fascinating," by Fortune magazine and "creative and refreshing" by the New York Times. He has appeared on NBC's "Today Show", CNN, and CNBC, and is often quoted in The Economist, Financial Times, Newsweek, and Wall Street Journal.