USA Today bestselling author Sarah Gailey returns to the world of Upright Women Wanted with an explosive new story where a band of thieves must pull off a dangerous train heist in the name of resistance. Gailey’s latest novella follows a ragtag crew of horse thieves as they attempt an ambitious and dangerous train heist. Along the way, gunslinger Fletch and her team must decide if they want to be part of the greater resistance working covertly against the regime, or if this is just one big payday.
The Anarchist Cookbook meets Unforgiven in a story that is unapologetically about the means and methods one should use to interfere with the logistics and supply lines of those in power. Tor Books acquired World English rights from DongWon Song at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency.
Downright Scoundrels Needed by Sarah Gailey will be available in March 2027 from Tordotcom Publishing.
It’s not a crime if you don’t get caught.
Gunslinger Fletch and her ragtag crew of outlaws keep busy in the Southwest territory by dropping deputies and
stealingliberating their horses. As the Administration’s tyranny stretches across the country, each job proves riskier than the last—just how Fletch likes it.When the team is hired to pull off an elaborate and dangerous train heist of military materials, it could mean decades of hard labor—or death—if things go sideways. But Fletch never misses her mark, and this could be the score of a lifetime.
Principles are a liability, and as a rule, Fletch and her team are only there for the income, not the outcome. But as the plan evolves, they must soon reckon with questions of purpose. Will they join a greater resistance working covertly against the regime, or pursue the ultimate payday?
Buy the Book
Downright Scoundrels Needed
From author Sarah Gailey:
My trigger finger’s been itching for years, and now here we are—back in the saddle, riding hell-for-metal into certain doom. I wrote Upright Women Wanted as a story about what it’s like to start getting involved in a well-established movement. Downright Scoundrels Needed is about what it’s like to decide you’re not going down without a fight, a profit, and a body count. This one’s bloody, filthy, and a lawyer has advised me to tell you I don’t endorse any of the actions taken in it. But that lawyer isn’t here right now, so draw your own conclusions. And whatever you do, remember: Don’t get caught.
From executive editor Kelly Lonesome:
There simply couldn’t be a timelier moment to publish a follow-up to Upright Women Wanted, the acclaimed novella that helped pin Gailey on so many readers’ map! Downright Scoundrels Needed is a white knuckled gallop straight into danger, set in a near-future West that’s being mangled by the machinations of fascism. You’ll love riding along with Fletch and her crack team of weirdos (complimentary), and many of you will even recognize an old friend in these new pages! Gailey will leave you inspired, invigorated, and in awe with their latest tale of courage and resistance.
Sarah Gailey is a Hugo Award and British Fantasy Award winning and bestselling author of speculative fiction, short stories, and essays. Their nonfiction has been published by dozens of venues internationally. Their fiction has been published in over seven different languages. They have written comics for Marvel, EC, and BOOM! Studios, including multiple original series. They are the editor and publisher of Stone Soup and Love Letters: Reasons To Be Alive.
