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Return of the Stranger #1
Outlaw Marshal
John “The Stranger” Brockman is back by popular demand!
For Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman, becoming a friend to former outlaw Whip Langford is easy. Saving his life is more complicated.
With John Brockman strongly encouraging him to accept salvation, former outlaw Whipley Langford determines to go straight. He won’t turn his life over to Christ, but he won’t go back to a life of robbing banks and trains either.
It’s not long before Whip is tracking old acquaintances, acting as a lawman without actually being one. Whip intercepts a train robbery and catches two of the thieves, but the two who escape frame him for murder.
John must ride hard and fast to save his friend from the noose, because it’s not only John Brockman who has grown fond of Whip. Beautiful widow Annabeth Cooper’s heart is also at stake.
For Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman, becoming a friend to former outlaw Whip Langford is easy. Saving his life is more complicated.
With John Brockman strongly encouraging him to accept salvation, former outlaw Whipley Langford determines to go straight. He won’t turn his life over to Christ, but he won’t go back to a life of robbing banks and trains either.
It’s not long before Whip is tracking old acquaintances, acting as a lawman without actually being one. Whip intercepts a train robbery and catches two of the thieves, but the two who escape frame him for murder.
John must ride hard and fast to save his friend from the noose, because it’s not only John Brockman who has grown fond of Whip. Beautiful widow Annabeth Cooper’s heart is also at stake.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2009
About the author
Al Lacy
113 books94 followersAl Lacy has written more than ninety novels, including the Angel of Mercy, Battles of Destiny, and Journeys of the Stranger series. He and his wife, JoAnna Lacy, are coauthors of the Mail Order Bride, Hannah of Fort Bridger, and Shadow of Liberty series. The Lacys make their home in the Colorado Rockies.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 10, 2009
I would classify this as in the top 5 worst reads ever. The plot itself would have been great: former outlaw turns his life around and becomes a lawman and falls in love, with a Christian theme.
This book is written so poorly. It reads like something done for 5th graders with simplistic language and dialog. The Christian references are WAY over the top, even for a believer like myself. The secondary hero of the book is so self righteous its almost embarrassing. I really don't have the words to express how terrible a read this was.
I know The Lacy's are respected authors and I respect them for writing in the Christian genre and attempting to tell a good wholesome story, but they really need to rethink how they author a book in the future. I won't be reading anything more by them.
This book is written so poorly. It reads like something done for 5th graders with simplistic language and dialog. The Christian references are WAY over the top, even for a believer like myself. The secondary hero of the book is so self righteous its almost embarrassing. I really don't have the words to express how terrible a read this was.
I know The Lacy's are respected authors and I respect them for writing in the Christian genre and attempting to tell a good wholesome story, but they really need to rethink how they author a book in the future. I won't be reading anything more by them.
March 3, 2021
As a Christian, I truly hope that no non-Christian ever makes the mistake of picking up this book. Nearly every conversation John has with Whip consists of telling him he will burn in hell, whilst his conversations with Christians consist of such syrupy and stilted dialogue that I felt physically ill and had to skim-read through most of it. If I had paid money for it, it would be in the rubbish bin right now. I could go on, but it would all be negative. I will say this though - it has a nice cover.
January 26, 2016
Not sure why I kept reading. Not well written or believable. Very unrealisitc and at times stilted conversation.
August 13, 2025
Great read. Glad Lacy came out with a few more "Stranger" books.
But the age of John doesn't like up. By my estimation and things the author put in the other books, John would have had to be in his early 40s when the other books ended, yet he's in his early 40s in this book with two kids, the oldest 14 years old.
Still a great read though
But the age of John doesn't like up. By my estimation and things the author put in the other books, John would have had to be in his early 40s when the other books ended, yet he's in his early 40s in this book with two kids, the oldest 14 years old.
Still a great read though
October 10, 2023
If you like very sweet fiction, with preaching of the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ in nearly every chapter, plus cowboys, outlaws, and marshals who always get their man, then you'll eat this up. It's all good stuff, but I could only take it in small chunks.
March 30, 2019
Ok read. Had the other two in the series and returned them to the Library without reading them. Predictable and not a great read.
October 28, 2023
The best thing about this book is the cover
December 29, 2024
very good
August 27, 2023
I’d like to give a better review, but it was so over the top. I’m a Christian, but the way the family worships strangers and fawns all over him. Of coarse they love him and are proud of him, but this was way beyond that. The other series are fantastic.
February 12, 2009
Outlaw Marshal
by Al & JoAnna Lacy
It’s 1887, in and around Denver, Colorado. Chief United States Marshal John Brockman, (already known to many readers as “The Stranger”) is back in the saddle, keeping law and order by capturing outlaws and adding stars to his crown by winning souls.
In Outlaw Marshal, Brockman brings several wanted men to justice, including well-known robber Whip Langford. As Brockman continues to visit Whip each time he brings a new inmate to the prison, he tries to lead the younger man to the Lord, but Whip doesn’t want to hear the story of salvation. Nevertheless, the two men find themselves developing a strong friendship.
Released from prison after saving the warden’s life, Whip winds up in Denver, where he meets Annabeth Cooper – a young widowed nurse, and a good friend of Brockman’s wife. Brockman hires him as a deputy, and now Whip is off fighting the crime in which he once partook.
It doesn’t take a lot to make Whip fall in love with Annabeth, but falling in love with Jesus is another story. It takes a hair-raising near-death experience to bring the former robber to his knees after being framed for murder.
Outlaw Marshal is an old-fashioned western with a twist – strong and persistent references to Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation. It’s rather interesting to think of blatantly God-fearing Christian men in the role of old-western heroes…sporting not only the familiar star on the chest but a loaded gun and the ability to use it well. The Lacy’s paint a unique picture of Christianity in the wild, wild west while delivering a blatant biblical message.
by Al & JoAnna Lacy
It’s 1887, in and around Denver, Colorado. Chief United States Marshal John Brockman, (already known to many readers as “The Stranger”) is back in the saddle, keeping law and order by capturing outlaws and adding stars to his crown by winning souls.
In Outlaw Marshal, Brockman brings several wanted men to justice, including well-known robber Whip Langford. As Brockman continues to visit Whip each time he brings a new inmate to the prison, he tries to lead the younger man to the Lord, but Whip doesn’t want to hear the story of salvation. Nevertheless, the two men find themselves developing a strong friendship.
Released from prison after saving the warden’s life, Whip winds up in Denver, where he meets Annabeth Cooper – a young widowed nurse, and a good friend of Brockman’s wife. Brockman hires him as a deputy, and now Whip is off fighting the crime in which he once partook.
It doesn’t take a lot to make Whip fall in love with Annabeth, but falling in love with Jesus is another story. It takes a hair-raising near-death experience to bring the former robber to his knees after being framed for murder.
Outlaw Marshal is an old-fashioned western with a twist – strong and persistent references to Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation. It’s rather interesting to think of blatantly God-fearing Christian men in the role of old-western heroes…sporting not only the familiar star on the chest but a loaded gun and the ability to use it well. The Lacy’s paint a unique picture of Christianity in the wild, wild west while delivering a blatant biblical message.
June 21, 2011
This is the continued Journey of the Stranger......sets several years after John & Breanna have been married and John is the Chief US Marshall out of the Denver office. He and Breanna have two children by this time, Paul 14 yrs. old & Ginny 12 yrs. old. Breanna is a nurse at the Mile High Hospital....& several characters from some of the former series make their way into this series. (smile) the Stranger is now known by his real name, John Brockman. This book is about a young outlaw named Whip who John captures, witnesses to, takes to prison where he(Whip) ends up saving the Wardens life. I'm enjoying the series very much.
September 14, 2009
Story was pretty good. A little more religious reference than some other Christian Romances. I know have to find the next one in this story & I have found that there is a series for both main characters in this title so I will be getting those to learn some background to their lives.
September 2, 2023
I loved the Stranger series, maybe I should have stopped there… this was nothing like the original series. So much more dialogue and a lot less action. A little disappointed…
June 28, 2016
Poorly written
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews