The latest historical novel from R.J. Linteau, Motor City, is an unflinching, emotional, and sharply written journey through grit, grief, and the rise of one unforgettable character—Angus Drummond. This isn’t just a coming-of-age tale. It’s a story of survival, identity, and one boy’s refusal to stay down. From horse stables in Scotland to the chaos of industrial America, Motor City captures both the brutality and beauty of life in motion.
Written with intense realism and care for historical accuracy, R.J. Linteau paints a vivid portrait of what it means to grow up against impossible odds. Readers follow young Angus as he claws his way through abuse, poverty, and heartbreak, fueled only by grit, intellect, and a dream to build something better—something that moves.
“I’m needin’ to set things straight. You see, it’s me who’ll be makin’ hamburger out of Mr. ‘New York’ Tommy O’Brien. And I want more than a few early freeloaders witnessing it.”
— Motor City, Chapter 6, 1899 Detroit, Michigan, p. 42
A Life Built on Grit
At its core, Motor City is a deep character study wrapped in the steel-cold facts of America’s industrial rise. Young Angus Drummond, orphaned, beaten, and overlooked, becomes a symbol of working-class resilience. The book doesn’t shy away from showing pain—physical, emotional, and social. We see Angus grow from a curious stable boy to a fearless fighter, a determined engineer, and eventually a dreamer chasing the motor-powered future in Detroit.
The most unforgettable moment comes when Angus signs up to fight a professional boxer in front of a packed arena—not for glory, but for justice. It’s not just a match; it’s a fight for dignity, revenge, and self-worth. That moment—the climax—is where you feel Angus’s entire past clashing with his present. The stakes are brutal, but they’re real. You root for him like he’s your own flesh and blood.
Motor City doesn’t stop at drama. Linteau delivers a fascinating look at early labor struggles, immigration, and innovation. There’s a brilliant balance of personal story and historical detail that makes the narrative feel lived-in, not just told.
The Man Behind the Storyline
R.J. Linteau is no stranger to history. With a background in architecture and real-estate development, he brings a grounded understanding of structure—both literal and literary. Motor City is his fourth novel, and it’s arguably his most emotionally charged yet. He’s also penned two screenplays and countless short stories, all orbiting real-world events with fictional characters dropped right into the storm. His passion? Making history come alive by exploring what it felt like to live through it.
Born in New York City and now based in Georgia with his wife of over 40 years, R.J. Linteau writes with a quiet authority that only comes from someone who’s done the reading, walked the streets, and built things—on paper and in life.
Motor City is a must-read. This novel invites you to witness the fight, feel the loss, and believe in the rise of someone who refused to stay down.
Motor City
R.J. Linteau
Grab your copy now—because Angus Drummond’s story doesn’t just entertain, it demands to be felt.