Gumshoe Delivers on Wild West Adventures

HarperAlley

The latest graphic novel from Erie-based writer and artist Brenna Thummler hit bookstores on Jan. 13. Gumshoe tells the story of a postal-service obsessed tween who has a friend-filled caper in the present-day American Wild West.

There's someone wreaking havoc on the institution dearest to you … and you've just been mistaken for them.

That's hard enough to imagine dealing with as an adult. But for Willa, an 11-year-old girl with dreams of being a mail carrier, it's something she needs to get to the bottom of – lickety-split.

Gumshoe is the latest graphic novel from the Erie-based cartoonist Brenna Thummler. Released on Jan. 13, 2026, the book follows the character Willa as she tracks down the infamous Two Gum Tilly through modern-day Arizona.

A smart, shy girl with a true affinity for the postal service, Willa loves sending letters. The stamps, the paper, the anticipation – she appreciates them on a higher level. Much to her dismay however, the outlaw known as Two Gum Tilly has been on the run, stealing mail for years.

When Willa herself is mistaken for Tilly, she joins forces with the Gumshoe Gang. This group of lively, like-minded peers is bent on pursuing the bandit as well. While overcoming her shyness, Willa comes out of her shell, with the help of the girls, in a fun-filled adventure packed with absurd and colorful moments.

"I think this book to me was such a testament to self-growth," Thummler asserted. "Watching how far I myself have come." Thummler noted that she "really wanted to give the characters in this book the chance to experience joy."

With its technicolor landscapes, Wild West cosplay, and empowering friendships, Gumshoe delivers on fun. Bright in both palette and tone, it's Thummler's most lively and amusing graphic novel to date. Balanced and easily accessible, this middle-grade Wild West escape story doesn't sacrifice the author's trademark thoughtfulness and sincerity.

"I feel like a lot of the kids' books nowadays that we're reading are pretty true to life," Thummler stated. "People are really starting to write about a lot of big problems that kids face, which is incredibly important and is the reason that I wrote the Sheets series in the first place." Thummler reasoned that "while that is so important, it's also so important to allow kids to know what happiness and adventure are and not grow up too quickly, and I think this book is at its core an escape and an absurd adventure."

As the follow-up to the successful Sheets graphic novel trilogy, Gumshoe does have some big cowboy boots to fill. The much-loved coming-of-age tale about ghosts and laundry served as a defining point in Thummler's career, with the deluxe edition topping out at over 1,000 pages. While ultimately hopeful, Sheets, Delicates, and Lights all have an air of melancholy at their core.

"I spent so much time of my life working on these books that were very sad," Thummler noted. "I feel like they reflected a lot about where I was in my life and the transition from college into the real world and facing a lot of problems at that age."

"I think there will be a lot of crossover," she wagered. Because I think at the core of my writing, regardless of the tone, there are these young girls who are really struggling internally and afraid to face and externalize their fears."

"At their heart, they are still girls trying to figure themselves out and that hasn't gone away."

Brenna Thummer, an alum of Erie's 40 Under 40 in 2023, recently added Gumshoe to her canon of published work which also includes the graphic novel trilogy Sheets, as well as the art for an adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. (Photo: Jessica Hunter)

Gumshoe, though, is certainly not without its sincerity or struggles. Its passionate protagonist has to overcome her own social anxieties to be true to herself and win the day. With a foundation that's honest, it's balanced out by a storyline that's at times both madcap and animated.

The titular Gumshoe Gang helps drive the story as well, inspiring the main character and drawing her out of her comfort zone. This rang true to Thummler's own experiences even into adulthood. "I pull a lot from people I know like my friends who are so different from me and how much they've sparked my life and changed who I am as a person," she said. "So it was so important for Willa to meet this wacky gang of girls who are so different from her – so loud, so energetic, and who are going for what they want, and not necessarily letting their problems stand in the way."

The book also looks markedly different from its predecessors. Specifically, the color palette is brighter and more intense, illustrating the almost-foreign sense of wonder palpable in the western United States. "It's been so great to not have to use the same color palette. You don't even know," Thummler laughed.

Far from the autumnal town of Sheets, similar to Thummler's nearby hometown of Meadville, Gumshoe is set in the fictional Arizona town of Stony Lonesome. "If you're stuck in this one town it does feel very monotonous and so to be able to capture an entirely new place was great," admitted Thummler. To prepare for the new scenery, the author took a road trip to the southwest with her mother, taking reference photographs and experiencing the environment firsthand. "It truly felt like I was stepping into a different country because Arizona is so different from what I'm used to," Thummler explained. "I felt like I was experiencing a different place for myself, and I was able to put that into the book and make it more fun and bright."

A Real Release Hootenanny

Wednesday, Jan. 28

In celebration of the book's release, there will be a themed launch party at Werner Books.

"It was really important for me to make this so much more than just a book signing. Like I don't want to pull people out into the cold in January just for me to put my name in their book," Thummler jokes.

In addition to book signings, the evening plans to be an immersive event keeping with the theme of cowgirls and the post office.

Werner's Jennifer Allen is helping to organize activity stations like stamp coloring and letter crafting, complete with a mock post office box and a photo booth.

In addition to custom drink flights from the cafe, there will be live music by the Buttermilk Falls Gang. Perfectly echoing the tone of the book, the local quartet was handpicked by Thummler after she worked with guitarist and vocalist Lacey Keck at the Academy Theatre in Meadville.

Guests are encouraged to dress up in their most appropriate Wild West and/or postal attire.

"It's about giving people a fun time and celebrating the story and making it mean something more to them."

5 to 7:30 p.m. // Werner Books, 3608 Liberty St. // Free // All Ages // For more information, visit wernerbooks.com/events