Marshall Grover

 Drift!

Larry & Stretch

by

Marshall Grover

(Len Meares)

With amiable drifters Larry Valentine and Stretch Emerson as her escort, a beautiful redhead ran the gauntlet of death, travelling many a violent mile to give her testimony in court. Only the boss-outlaw had been captured. The rest of the Sharkey gang was still at large ... and gunning for her! Here was a test of nerve and strength, a challenge no Texan could ignore. When the danger was greatest, the drifters battled on, out-shooting the lawless and thumbing their noses at law and order!

According to several sources, this story marks the very first appearance of Larry Valentine and Stretch Emerson — the pair who would become known throughout the West as The Texas Troubleshooters. Fittingly, when we meet them for the first time, they’re behind bars.

After the mistaken murder of a woman, their fine is unexpectedly paid on one condition: they must escort a young lady to Nash City to testify in a murder trial. Her testimony will send Curt Sharkey to the gallows, but his brother Gil and the rest of the Sharkey gang have no intention of letting that happen. What follows is a tense game of wits and a gun-blazing showdown at the end of the trail.

I grew up reading these books. Len Meares was incredibly prolific, and his long‑running Larry and Stretch series was always a favorite of mine. In this early entry, the Texas Troubleshooters are still finding their footing, but the trademark banter between the two friends is already firmly in place. The tone here is grittier than many of the later stories.

Overall, it’s a solid, well‑written read. The publication date of this particular edition is hard to pin down — early titles were reprinted multiple times — but it likely comes from somewhere in the 1960s.

It’s also available in eBook form if you want an easier way to revisit it. 

Find it here!

Marshall Grover

Trail Dust

By

Marshall Grover/Len Meares

(Larry & Stretch) 

Larry Valentine and Stretch Emerson, the two trouble-prone Texans, are back in action, diving straight into more chaos and mayhem. This time, their journey takes them to Riggsville, Colorado, to visit Stretch's cousin Sam. Stretch mistakenly believes Sam is a horse doctor, but in reality, Sam Emerson is the town sheriff.

During their visit, a massive stagecoach robbery occurs, with outlaws making off with $100,000. But that's not the Texans' biggest concern. They've been duped into escorting a wagon train to a remote town called Windy Dip. The catch? The cargo consists of 60 women headed for the womanless town.

To make matters worse, one of the women has stolen the outlaws' loot, and now they want it back. What ensues is a wild adventure filled with chaos, culminating in a high-stakes showdown where Larry and Stretch must stand their ground or meet their fate.

Another fantastic Larry & Stretch western, packed with sharp dialogue, fast pacing, and plenty of action, along with their signature dash of humor. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Larry & Stretch story without the obligatory brawl.

I read so many of these during my younger years, but there are still plenty I haven’t gotten to yet—this being one of them. The story feels just as lively as I remember, making it an enjoyable read. I’d guess this book was published in the early to mid-1960s, though I could be wrong.

If you come across one, give it a read. For American readers, the series was published under the name Larry & Streak by Marshall McCoy. I still can’t figure out why the names were changed.

Marshall Grover

 1000 Dollar Target

By

Marshall Grover

(Len Meares)

(Big Jim #11)

At showdown time … the big man needed a miracle! Was this to be the last ride of Big Jim Rand? The killers awaited him dead ahead. Another of them rode directly behind him, covering his back. And, inside the disused shack, a desperate woman risked her life to give Jim a fighting chance of survival. Big Jim had become the target for professional assassins because his quarry, the elusive and badly scared Jenner, had posted a bounty on him. As well as the professionals, a trio of inept amateurs invited themselves to the ruckus, injecting humor into an otherwise grim situation

The copy I read of "Big Jim" was published around 1968 (though don't quote me on that). Jim Rand, also known as Nevada Jim in the series published under the name Marshall McCoy in the US, once again rides into a heap of trouble, accompanied by his cowardly yet light-fingered Mexican companion, Benito Espina.

This time, the story follows him as he closes in on Jenner, the man who killed Big Jim's brother and the reason he's riding the vengeance trail.

However, Jenner gets warned, and a $1,000 bounty is placed on Big Jim's head. Five men decide to cash in, but five men may meet their end instead. This could very well be Jim Rand's final ride.

As always with Meares' storytelling, there's a touch of humor mixed with plenty of action. The book is well-written, and the series was quite popular in its heyday. While paperback copies are hard to come by now, Piccadilly Publishing has released some of the stories as ebooks, including this one, ensuring they are not lost to time.

Buy it here!

Marshall Grover

 A Bullet is Faster

Big Jim #22

By

Marshall Grover

(Len Meares)

Don't quote me but from what I can gather this book was first published around 1965/66. However, both covers look good. 

What appears to be a straightforward murder case is anything but simple. Amos Lanfield faces the gallows in a trial no rational lawyer would dare to take on. The case seems utterly hopeless. Yet, Julia Rigby, a determined female lawyer, has a different plan. She not only wants to represent the supposed killer, she figures she can win. But someone doesn't want her digging too deep.

Enter Jim Rand. Former cavalryman now hunter of Jenner, the man who killed his brother. Julia needs someone to look after her and Big Jim is just the man. 

Then when the final blazing showdown came, only one man would stand tall--Big Jim.   

A classic Len Mears western—lighthearted, with a touch of comedy, a dash of mystery, and a simple yet engaging story that’s well-written and entertaining. Like many of his westerns, it follows the timeless good vs. bad theme. I read a lot of his books as a kid, and they’re just as enjoyable now as they were back then.

Get the first book here!