RUNNERS
BOOK TWO IN THE OAKLEY SERIES
By Phil Oakley
Historical Fiction / Depression Era / Family Saga
Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing
Pages: 206
Publication Date: March 31, 2025
*** SYNOPSIS ***
From the author of Little Hatchet, this gripping historical saga continues—a powerful story of resilience, family, and the price of ambition.
Perfect for fans of epic generational tales and action-packed historical fiction.
Walter Oakley and his wife, Ada, used the westward expansion of America to establish themselves as model citizens in the town of Telegraph, Texas. Now, they watch in despair as their children lurch from one crisis to another — rum running, train-hopping outlaws, shattered dreams. With one child dead and another on the wrong side of the law, Walter and Ada struggle to keep their younger children on the straight and narrow. But trouble and temptation beckon as Prohibition and the Great Depression give way to the horrors of World War II. Will hope survive the chaos?
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*** REVIEW ***
Not having read the first book in the series, or the synopsis of this one before starting Runners I mistakenly thought the entire story was going to be about Ray and his adventures riding the rails and going to California from Texas. Because of that, it was a surprise when the storyline took a turn from focusing on Ray and picked up with the other siblings in this family.
Including an introduction, briefly outlining what came before and what the reader could expect in this installment of the ongoing series, would have helped clarify all of this for any reader like me who was coming into it without prior knowledge.
I started writing my review when the storyline was focused on Ray’s adventures, which are full of drama and interesting characters. I enjoyed following Ray on both of his journeys riding the rails from Texas to California. Obviously the first time he attempted it he didn’t make it, but he had learned a lot and the second time he’s more successful. His concern and compassion for the Okies traveling to California because of the horrible conditions during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era that decimated so many farms is a nice part of his personality.
It was harder for me to get invested in the sections focused on the other siblings. The fact that so many of them turned to drink, even knowing that drink played such a big role in the death of the oldest boy, Glenn, seemed odd to me. The daughter, Jimmie, is presented as the one who tips the bottle more than what’s wise, which leads her to a promiscuous life. And Ralph gets involved with illegal activity that was also a result of poor choices.
Those poor choices that all the siblings make is a cause of great heartbreak for Ada and Walt, and any parent can relate to that heartbreak. I certainly did. It was because of that pain they were causing, and the fact that they knew they were inflicting this on parents who loved them so dearly, that I had a hard time liking those people. Perhaps that was the intent of the author? To simply show them in all their disgrace as a life lesson.
Think about how your actions affect your parents.
Some of the strengths of the book are the vivid descriptions, not only of the landscapes and cities that Ray sees on his travels, but also the speakeasies, sights in New York City that Maryon experiences, and the “jungles” where hobos, as they were called in that time period, gathered to share a fire and a meal. It all comes across as real.
There is plenty of drama and action in the lives of all the siblings, making this a satisfying read for those who like adventure along with their history lessons.
***ABOUT THE AUTHOR ***
Phil Oakley is a novelist and veteran journalist with experience in the motion picture industry. He is a retired regional executive with The Walt Disney Company (ABC News), a former director of the Louisiana Film Commission, and a retired editor with the Dallas Morning News. He covered presidents and presidential campaigns beginning with Lyndon Johnson and ending with George W. Bush. He was a television and radio anchor and reporter with national awards from Columbia University, the Radio-Television News Directors Association, and a National Headliner Award. He began work on his first novel in 1964 while a student at the University of Texas at Austin. He has written nine novels.
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Great review, Maryann. My experience with the book was much like yours with jumping in on the second of the series, but I knew it was book 2, and I read book one’s synopsis and some reviews to get ahead of the curve. Very descriptive but yes, so so sad the kids didn’t break the chain with alcohol.