Beyond the Badge: How Frank F. Fiore Is Reimagining the American Hero

When we think of classic American heroes, we think of sheriffs, soldiers, detectives, and—of course—cowboys. But in Jonathan Smyth Cowboy Sleuth: The Case of the Screaming Tunnel, author Frank F. Fiore fuses those identities into something new: a thinking-man’s cowboy, a haunted detective with spurs on his boots and ghosts on his trail.

It’s a bold reimagining of what a Western hero can be—and it’s just one reason Fiore’s latest novel is turning heads across genres.

An Unlikely Fusion That Just Works

At first glance, the cowboy and the detective might seem like polar opposites. One solves problems with grit and a quick draw. The other analyzes, deduces, and questions. But Fiore asked the question: what if you could be both?

And thus, Jonathan Smyth was born—a cowboy sleuth navigating not just lawless frontiers but unsolved mysteries and eerie legends that push the boundaries of reality. He rides into town not to tame it with violence—but to reveal the truth lurking just below the surface.

Smyth isn’t just a character. He’s a symbol of where storytelling is headed: layered, genre-bending, and emotionally resonant.

Why Frank Chose to Break the Mold

Frank F. Fiore has always been a storyteller who defies convention. With a background in thrillers and science fiction, he’s never been content writing “what’s expected.” He writes what challenges readers—and what challenges himself.

The Western genre, often seen as outdated or overdone, offered him an opportunity: to take the familiar framework of cowboys and frontier justice and fill it with modern themes—psychological depth, unsolved crimes, folklore, and fear of the unknown.

In The Case of the Screaming Tunnel, he’s not just telling a murder mystery. He’s building a mythos around a new kind of hero—one who isn’t just hunting a killer, but chasing something even more elusive: truth in a world built on fear.

Creating a Universe, Not Just a Novel

Fiore doesn’t see Jonathan Smyth Cowboy Sleuth as a standalone book. He sees it as the start of a series—each installment delving deeper into haunted towns, cold cases, and the personal demons Smyth carries with him.

Even more exciting? Fiore is exploring opportunities to bring Smyth’s world to life on screen. With a streaming series concept in development, the story’s cinematic scope—moody, mysterious, and mythic—is ready to captivate a whole new audience.

📺 Want to learn more about the streaming vision? Read this blog post📖 Haven’t read the book yet? Grab it on Amazon

Conclusion: The Cowboy, Evolved

Frank F. Fiore isn’t just writing Westerns. He’s reshaping them. He’s asking big questions—about justice, fear, memory, and the myths we build around our past.

In Jonathan Smyth Cowboy Sleuth, the hero isn’t perfect. He’s complex. Quiet. Smart. Haunted. And above all, relentless in his search for answers.

It’s not just about solving the case. It’s about standing for something when the world would rather you stay silent.

And that? That’s the kind of hero America—and storytelling—needs right now.