William W. Johnstone

 Betrayal of the Mountain Man

by 

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

They called him fastest gun alive, but Smoke Jensen is determined to stay on the right side of the law. That is, until he's jumped by six low-life robbers who steal his shirt - and his identity. Smoke's tried for robbery and murder, and sentenced to hang in morning. Someone's out to frame the Mountain Man...someone who's made a big mistake. Barely managing to escape on the morning of his hanging, Smoke's going after the desperados who've set him up. The gang thinks they have nothing to fear; they've already divided up the loot and gone their separate ways. But Smoke's going to hunt them down one by one. Because nobody frames the Mountain Man. Nobody who plans on staying alive, that is.

Smoke Jensen faces the possible loss of his Sugarloaf ranch, and even for a man used to trouble, this time the odds are stacked high. Then Ebenezer Dooley and his gang frame him for bank robbery and murder, turning a bad situation into a disaster.

Convicted on damning evidence and sentenced to hang, Smoke refuses to die for another man’s crimes. After a jailbreak, he rides out to hunt down the men who set him up. Clearing his name is only half the mission—vengeance is the rest.

A strong, fast‑moving entry in the Mountain Man saga, this instalment delivers the action, grit, and frontier justice longtime fans expect. Even if you can guess where the trail leads, the journey is still a satisfying one.

5/5

William W. Johnstone

Bullets, Biscuits, and Bloodshed

by

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

Legendary bounty hunter Luke Jensen enlists the help of chuckwagon cook Dewey “Mac” McKenzie in a deadly manhunt—but ends up neck-deep in an even deadlier range war. . . .

Dewey “Mac” McKenzie doesn’t have much of an appetite for bounty hunting. Before he was a cook, Mac had a price on his head—and bounty hunters on his tail. Nowadays, he’d much rather be stewing beef over an open fire than opening fire on another man. Then he met Luke Jensen, bounty hunter extraordinaire. As a favor to his new friend, Mac agrees to join Luke on the trail of a wanted fugitive. A trail that leads them deep into Oregon timber country—and smack dab in the middle of a brewing war . . .The trouble starts in a saloon, a knuckle-busting brawl between the loggers from Pine Knob and some cowboys from a nearby ranch. When the ruckus turns bloody, Luke and Mac join the fray. Funny thing is, Luke takes the side of the ranchers while Mac teams up with the loggers. Which works out in their favor. By splitting up, they can now search for the fugitive in both groups at the same time. Mac steps in as the loggers’ new cook, while Luke joins the cowboys at the Triangle 7 Ranch, where this feud first ignited—and is getting hotter by the day. For Luke and Mac, that means stepping out of the frying pan—and into the gunfire.

Luke and Dewey return for another high‑stakes adventure—only this time, the fight is for their very lives.

While tracking a wanted fugitive into Oregon’s deep timber country, the pair stumble straight into a brewing war that’s about to explode. On one side stand the cowhands; on the other, the loggers. The hatred between them runs hot, fueled by a wedding that never quite made it to the “I do.”

But when bruising fistfights suddenly escalate into deadly gunfire, Luke and Mac realize something doesn’t add up. There’s more at play here than a simple feud—and a hidden third party may be pulling the strings. The only question is: who?

What follows is a fast‑moving, action‑packed western filled with everything fans crave—heroes and villains, brawls and shootouts, and a steady undercurrent of suspense.

Once I got into it, the pages practically turned themselves. The cliffhanger chapter endings made it almost impossible to stop reading.

This is another series that I'd like to see continue. 5/5.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for an ARC of this story. 

William W. Johnstone

 Shadow of a Dead Man

Shotgun Johnny #2

by

William W Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

HE WHO LIVES BY THE GUN . . .

Shotgun Johnny Greenway thought he’d hit rock bottom when he lost his wife and son, hung up his badge, and hit the bottle. But a pretty young woman gave him a second chance. Offered him a job riding shotgun for the Reverend’s Temptation Gold Mine. Gave him a reason to live. But even she can’t save him when the Starrett gang tries to rob the gold—and Johnny kills their leader . . .

. . . DIES BY THE GUN

When the dust clears, Shotgun Johnny is wanted for murder. The dead man’s father has powerful friends, including a town marshal who’s Johnny’s personal enemy. One wants the gold. The other wants the girl. Both want Johnny dead. With a $1000 bounty on his head—and half the county trying to kill him—Johnny’s got to prove his innocence. Not in a court of law. In a trial by shotgun . . .

When Johnny Greenway gets jumped for the gold bullion he’s hauling, the whole job explodes into chaos. By the time the dust settles, every outlaw is dead…except one, their leader, Rance Starrett, falls to a stray round fired by his own man — but his father refuses to believe it. Blinded by grief and rage, Garth Starrett swears he’ll spill Johnny’s blood in payment.

At the same time, Garth’s wife is plotting a vengeance of her own — something slow, cruel, and soaked in red. But Johnny Greenway isn’t the kind of man who goes down easy. Anyone hungry for the bounty on his head is about to learn exactly why folks call him Shotgun Johnny.

A cracking read from start to finish. The scenes hit hard, the action never lets up, and the story keeps you wondering just how much more punishment Johnny can take. This is the second Shotgun Johnny novel I’ve torn through, with one left. If the first two are anything to go by, calling it quits after three might’ve been a mistake — this series has plenty of fire left.

5/5.  

William W. Johnstone

 Fort Buzzard

by

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

They were innocent men, slaughtered in the Rockies. A party of land surveyors who met their grisly fate at the hands of the Crow Indians—or so it seems. Some folks think the story is a lie. And now it’s up to U.S. Army Lieutenant Ron Stanton to figure out what really happened up there in those desolate, blood soaked mountains. As his guides, Preacher and Jamie McCallister agree to retrace the footsteps of the doomed party—come hell or high water—but first they’ll have to pass through a particularly nasty piece of purgatory known as Fort Buzzard . . .

Fort Buzzard—officially Gullickson’s Fort—earned its nefarious nickname because of the human vultures it attracts. Namely the brutes and brawlers hired by Gullickson to protect his interests. When a nearby trading post is suddenly attacked—and two young women carried off by Indians—Preacher and McCallister smell a rat. The Crows swear they’re not responsible for the attack, the abduction, or the mountain party massacre. Preacher and McCallister believe them—but proving it won’t be easy. This road to justice only leads to more dead ends—and the biggest, bloodiest showdown in Rocky Mountain history . . .

Once again, Preacher and Jamie MacCallister ride straight into danger. This time they’re escorting a group of soldiers sent to uncover the truth behind the massacre of a survey team—supposedly at the hands of the Crow. But nothing about this mission is as simple as it first appears.

Trouble finds them early when they cross paths with a trader and his two daughters. Emma, fiery and stubborn, immediately clashes with Preacher—especially after he tosses her into the river. Her sister Jenny, couldn’t be more different.

Before long, the trading post is attacked, and the sisters are taken captive. Forced to split up, Preacher heads out to rescue the women, while MacCallister and Lieutenant Stanton push on to Gullickson’s Fort in search of answers about the murdered surveyors.

What follows is a double‑barreled burst of frontier action, with both men delivering justice the only way they know how.

The author once again delivers a top‑notch story. The pacing is tight, the writing flows effortlessly, and the characters—especially Emma—keep the pages turning. She may be headstrong and exasperating, but she’s unforgettable. Jenny provides a perfect contrast, adding balance to the cast.

If this truly is the final book in the series (as of 2024), it’s a strong finish. Still, I can’t help hoping there’s more to come. A great read. 5/5

William W. Johnstone

 The Last Ride of the Dirty Creek Gang

by

William W. Johnstone

and

J.A. Johnstone

In this explosive new series from the bestselling Johnstones, a once-notorious gang of retired bank robbers reunite for one last ride—and one last shot at glory . . .

Clay Carson thought his outlaw days were behind him. Years ago, he rode with the fearsome Dirty Creek Gang—and robbed half the banks in Texas. But then a fatally bungled heist in Fort Worth brought it all crashing down. The gang broke up, went their separate ways, and that was the end of that. But today the past came calling for Carson in the form of a telegram. It’s from Lemuel Jones—his old gang leader—who asks him to do something reckless, stupid, and downright crazy: round up the old gang for one last ride.

Jones says he hid away the gang’s biggest payday from their boldest bank job, and he just needs Carson and the gang to help him get it. Carson assumed his old boss gambled it away—and has doubts about his old gang members, too. All but one of them has gone straight, with respectable jobs like store clerk, ranch hand, and even banker. The only outlaw left has been captured and sentenced to hang. Which means the crew would have to bust him out of jail and ride off with a posse on their tail. It’s crazy, all right. But the Dirty Creek Gang is just crazy enough to give it a shot—even it’s their last . . .

An old crew is pulled back together by their dying leader for one last mission: recover the cash from their biggest bank job. Naturally, nothing goes according to plan.

The book is well‑written and packed with action, but it just didn’t hook me the way I hoped. I found my attention drifting, and I struggled to stay fully engaged. That said, every reader connects differently with a story, so others may enjoy it far more than I did.

Give it a try and decide for yourselves.

Thank you to Kensington and Net Galley for providing an ARC.

William W. Johnstone

 Brutal Night of the Mountain Man

First Mountain Man #44

by

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

Kate Coldane has sweated blood for this saloon, and she won't let it go down without a fight. Silas Atwood may be the richest rancher in Hudspeth County, but that doesn't give him the right to push her around. When Atwood sends one of his goons to cause trouble at her watering hole, Kate's son, Rusty, guns him down. It may have been self-defense, but Atwood is the law, and that means Rusty has to run.

The law's got nothing on justice

Rusty flees to the home of his uncle, Pearlie, who straps on his six-gun, intending to return to Hudspeth County and clear his nephew's name. But Smoke Jensen, the mountain man, won't let his friend ride into certain death. With a handful of brave souls, Smoke storms the town, ready to wage war against more than two dozen of Atwood's blood-hungry killers. Drunk with power and afraid of no man, Silas Atwood believes Smoke Jensen can be stopped with brute force alone.

Problem is, Silas Atwood doesn't know Smoke Jensen.

Smoke Jensen returns in fine form, delivering another fast‑paced, bullet‑riddled adventure.

When Pearlie’s nephew is framed for murder and sentenced to hang, he breaks free—only for his mother to be jailed in his place. If he doesn’t turn himself in, she’ll face the noose.

Word of the injustice reaches the Sugarloaf, and it isn’t just Pearlie who rides out. Smoke, Sally, and Cal saddle up as well, ready to take on Silas Atwood and the hardcases backing him.

The story follows the classic Smoke Jensen rhythm: one showdown leads to another, and when the villain runs out of hired guns, he simply brings in more. It’s familiar territory, but it’s exactly what fans come for and it makes for an entertaining, satisfying read.

The writing keeps the pace tight and the tension steady. As the plot unfolded, I found myself wondering when the townsfolk would finally find their backbone. All they needed was someone to show them the way and eventually, they do.

An enjoyable entry in the series, even if not the strongest I’ve read. Solid entertainment. 4/5

William W. Johnstone

 Preacher's Hell

by 

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. For Preacher, that road begins at a remote trading post in the Bitterroot Mountains. At first, it’s a friendly reunion with his old buddies Audie and Nighthawk. But then, a young Indian woman and her grandfather are attacked by a vicious gang of thieves—and all hell breaks loose. When the smoke clears, the gang’s leader, who goes by the name Mack Ozark, .has escaped, the grandfather is dead, and the woman is mortally wounded. Before she dies, she begs Preacher to look after a bundle she is carrying. Inside, wrapped in a blanket, are two blond-haired, blue-eyed babies. They’re clearly twins—and clearly not hers . . .

Who do the babies belong to? And what is a man like Preacher supposed to do with them? The only clue is a pair of gemstone necklaces around the babies’ necks. Preacher’s friend Audie recognizes the stones as star garnets from a nearby valley, where they head off to find the twins’ mother. Along the way, they realize they’re being followed by Mack Ozark.. He knows the babies’ father stole a fortune in jewels. He knows the babies’ blanket contains a map to the hidden gems. But he doesn’t know just how far a man like Preacher will go to protect those little angels—and send a devil like Ozark straight to hell . . .

The last thing Preacher and his friends, Audie and Nighthawk, are looking for is trouble. But trouble finds them anyway—twice over—in the form of twin babies. Harmless, you’d think.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Mack Ozark is determined to get his hands on these children and will kill anyone who stands in his way. He’s already murdered their father and is holding their mother captive. Preacher decides this is one damsel who needs rescuing, and soon he’s neck‑deep in danger. As if that weren’t enough, Preacher has made an enemy of an Indian brave to add yet another layer of peril.

It’s another well‑crafted adventure packed with action, keeping the pages turning right up to the explosive finale. I thoroughly enjoyed this story—fresh, unexpected, and built on an exciting premise.

This story will be published on  Feb. 24. 

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of this story. 

William W. Johnstone

 The Darkest Winter

By

William W Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

Exiled from the Smoky Mountains for gunning down a man in self-defense, Breck Wallace tries to make a new home in St. Louis, even tries his hand at romance, but some men are too wild to settle down. Breck is soon back on the trail, where a vicious gang of trappers, after his goods, picks up his scent and begins to dog his every step, until Breck’s only choice is to bed down for the winter with a tribe of friendly Indians. In the frigid, brutal cold of a Rocky Mountain winter, he hopes to find peace…but death is not done with Breck Wallace. When the trappers ambush the Indians and leave Breck for dead, the frontiersman must ride deeper into the mountains than he has ever gone before. Peace be damned. The blood will flow until vengeance is his alone…

Breck Wallace and his trusted trapping partner Morgan set out from St. Louis once again, bound for the unforgiving wilderness of the Rocky Mountains. But their journey nearly ends before it begins—someone wants Breck dead.

Deep in the wilds, they stumble upon Carnahan and his crew of trappers, saving them from a brutal Indian attack. Gratitude is short-lived, though. By dawn, one of Carnahan’s men—driven by spite—accuses Breck and Morgan of theft, igniting tensions that threaten to boil over.

And that’s just the start. What follows is a relentless gauntlet: a punishing winter, a vengeful adversary, and a descent into bloody conflict. This season in the Rockies may be Wallace’s most harrowing yet.

This is the second Frontiersman novel I’ve read, and apparently I’m tackling the series in reverse. No matter—the writing is sharp, the action gripping, and the suspense constant. The author’s depiction of the early 1800s frontier is bold and evocative, with broad strokes that bring the landscape to life without bogging it down in detail.

I’ve long been a fan of the Preacher Mountain Man books, but the Frontiersman series holds its own. This installment was a thrilling ride from start to finish—an easy 5-star read.

William W. Johnstone

 A Coffin for Tomahawk

By

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

Western legend Luke “Tomahawk” Callahan agrees to lead one last wagon train across the Mexican border—where revolution is brewing, bullets are flying, and all roads lead to death . . .

With just a single journey under his belt, first-time wagoneer Tomahawk Callahan became a national hero. It started as a challenge waged by a railroad mogul—a race between an old-time wagon train and a brand-new rail line—with the whole world watching. Against all odds, Tomahawk led his family business to victory. At the time, he thought it would be his first—and last—wagon train. But at his sister’s urging, he’s agreed to take on one final job, a never-before-attempted trip across the Mexican border . . .

But Mexico is undergoing bloody changes. After a brutal coup, General Porfirio Diaz is determined to bring “order and progress” to the country—while revolutionaries plot against him. Tomahawk’s wagon train could help modernize Mexico, bringing railroad workers, miners, and supplies—across a desert full of rattlesnakes, Apache, and other threats. The deadliest of all is a former priest known as Generalissimo “Padre” Rodriguez, who has his bloodthirsty sights set on the wagon train. Tomahawk’s got to drive his wagons out of this frying pan and into the fire—or they’ll all end up on a wagon trail to Hell . . .

Callahan had no desire to head south with the wagon train—but he did. And what awaited him was chaos incarnate: Apaches on the warpath, bloodthirsty revolutionaries, a ruthless one-eyed woman with a taste for murder, and a Mexican insurgent known, ironically, as Padre.

The journey alone was a gauntlet of peril, but things only worsened upon arrival. Captured and cast into a dungeon, Callahan found himself fighting not just for freedom, but for survival. In the end, it all boiled down to a desperate last stand—just a handful of men facing off against an entire revolutionary army. The odds were impossible. But Callahan never played by the odds.

This tale moves at a brisk pace, with solid writing that held my attention throughout most of the ride. The narrative splits evenly—half devoted to the perilous wagon train journey into Mexico, the other half focused on Callahan’s capture and daring escape. While I personally found it a notch below the first installment, it still delivers plenty to satisfy fans of the western genre. And the cover art? Absolutely striking—one of the series’ standout features.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC of this book. 

William W. Johnstone

 Thunder of the Mountain Man

By

William W Johnstone

and 

J.A. Johnstone

Thaddeus Bolton sees himself as a cattle king. His ambitions are as big as the land and stock he just purchased near Smoke Jensen’s Sugarloaf ranch. Bolton and his family are friendly enough, although in the case of his wife Emmaline, perhaps too friendly. While her husband stakes his claim with plans to spread throughout the territory, she’s set her sights on Smoke. But fending her off is the least of Smoke’s worries when outlaws sweep across the valley on daring rustling raids—hitting every ranch except Bolton’s.

Fearing it’s only a matter of time before his cattle falls prey to the rustlers, Bolton takes the law into his own hands. Forming a band of vigilantes, he tracks down the men he believes are the thieves and hangs them, despite no evidence linking them to the crimes. Then when Bolton’s ranch is actually rustled, his vigilantes go on an even deadlier, merciless rampage.

To stop the escalating violence, Smoke forms his own posse to bring the outlaws to justice—only to discover that Bolton’s plans are sinister and downright evil.

Now Smoke will have to prove Bolton’s corruption…before the entire valley erupts in a blood-soaked range war . . .

Just when it seems the Smoke Jensen saga has ridden off into the sunset, a new chapter thunders in. Smoke’s got fresh neighbors—Thaddeus Bolton and his kin—and with them comes a storm of trouble.

Rustlers hit Bolton’s spread hard, but that’s just the beginning. His wife sets her sights on Smoke, stirring up tension that cuts deeper than any cattle raid. And then there’s Bolton’s daughter, sweet on Cal—or maybe Cal’s the one doing the sweet-talking.

To clean up the mess, Bolton brings in regulators with orders to string up the rustlers. But the truth’s got more twists than a mountain trail, and when the dust settles, it all explodes in a smoke-choked showdown.

Another gripping tale from the Johnstone camp, packed with action, suspense, and plenty of twists. The writing is sharp, the pacing tight, and the story keeps you guessing right up to the final pages when the truth comes crashing down and the schemers are unmasked.

This time, Cal steps into the spotlight, offering a fresh angle that adds depth and variety to the narrative. His expanded role brings a welcome shift in perspective and keeps the story feeling fresh.

Western fans will find plenty to love here—it's a wild ride from start to finish.

This book will be published in Nov. 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the Arc of this story.

William W. Johnstone

 The Texas Hill Country

By

William W Johnstone

(J.A. Johnstone)

This story will be published in late Sept. 2025

Introducing a bold new saga from the bestselling Johnstones. This is the epic story of new arrivals in the Old West—a proud family of dreamers in the untamed wilds of Texas Hill Country . . .

They came to America to start a new life. Three brothers and their sister, the Braxton heirs lost everything they had in Europe so they boarded a ship to the Texas coast, hoping to stake a claim in the land of opportunity. They knew frontier life would be hard. But their troubles begin before they even reach Texas. A man is killed on board—a member of the fierce MacLochlainn clan who blame one of the Braxtons for his death. So begins a blood-drenched feud that will haunt and pursue them as they try to build a future in Texas Hill Country . . .

Now a fugitive on the run, the wrongly accused Perry Braxton changes his name and joins the Texas Rangers—waiting for the day his past catches up to him. His oldest brother, Athelston, struggles to build a ranch in Commanche territory while the middle brother Jeremy turns to gambling and running with outlaws. Their sister, Bodie, falls in love with a rugged frontiersman, who teaches her the importance of riding, hunting—and shooting—in a life-or-death game of survival. Each of the siblings have forged a path of their own. But when one of them is in trouble—and a rival is out for revenge—the Braxtons stick together. Because family is family. And blood is thicker than bullets . . .

This story reminded me so much of the early Sackett books from western author Louis L'Amour. Family comes to America to make a life for themselves, runs into trouble, sorts it out. 

The Braxtons lost everything and are forced to leave their home country in favor of greener pastures. Or so they think. However, while on that trip, one of them is accused of murder. Upon arrival the accused escapes and somehow by good fortune ends up signed on as a Texas Ranger under the name Jack Smith.

Meanwhile the rest of his family are headed to the Texas Hill Country where they start a new life building a ranch. But trouble seems to follow them wherever they go and it soon isn't long before it rears its ugly head once more in the form of rustlers. Only this time, they have an ace in the hole. One of the rustlers is also a Braxton. And soon the story is rushing along to its shattering gunsmoke filled conclusion.

Really enjoyed this story. Well Written and fast-paced. Plenty of western action which keeps the pages turning. As stated above it reminded me of L'Amour's early Sackett stories which I loved. In the pages were a great cast of characters and hopefully this will be the start of a great new series. Like the Sacketts I can see each character having their own leading role. 

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

William W. Johnstone

 Trigger Happy

Nathan Stark #2

By

William W Johnstone

Steely-eyed. Quick as a rattler. Unforgiving as the desert sun. The stories of Nathan Stark’s grit and determination as a manhunter across Indian territory are legendary. He stalks the wild western frontier on behalf of the army, pursuing hostiles to avenge his slaughtered family—and redeem his own failure to protect them.

Once again reluctantly partnered with Crow scout Moses Red Buffalo, Nathan has been assigned to assist the U.S. cavalry in escorting a large band of Blackfoot Indians across Montana and into Canada. Refusing to leave, Chief Thunder Elk threatens to wage war if his tribe is not left alone. Wealthy rancher Bennett McGreevey wants the land the Blackfoot call home, and he’s powerful enough to ensure the army does his bidding.

But Nathan Stark is not a soldier. And no cattle baron is going to give him marching orders. It’s a perfect storm for bullets to rain sheer hell across the land . . .

This was another well-written story, bringing the two main characters together again as comrades. The book picks up almost exactly where the first one left off, resolving a lingering loose end from the previous installment. It's a solid series, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book soon. That said, I personally didn't find this one as good as the first in the series.

The two main characters are complete opposites, like chalk and cheese, and often clash with each other. I think this dynamic works well even if it gets a little wearing in some patches.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of this book.    

William W. Johnstone

 The Jackals #1

by

William W Johnstone

and

J.A. Johnstone

Even at 4 stars it was still a good read. Started a little differently with stories around each man before they came together. 

That was when the story and the excitement really kicked off. Holed up in a waystation with an Apache war party outside, a woman sentenced to hang inside, along with a cowardly thief who stole $50,000 from the murderous Hawkin gang who are now on his trail and wanting it back.

Then there is the newspaper man who thinks very little of the three men he has dubbed the 'Jackals'. Ex-cavalry sergeant Sean Keegan, bounty hunter Jed Breen, and ex-Texas Ranger Matt McCulloch.

Now it is all down to fate. Who will die? What will happen to the money? And who will survive the bloody siege?

Overall the book was well written and the story interesting. Would recommend to western lovers.