What do you think?
Rate this book
The First Mountain Man #16
Preacher's Fire
A Mountain Man In DisguiseA big city like St. Louis is the last place where a mountain man like Preacher would pick a fight. But how else will he get at the ruthless power broker who is using fear and bloodshed to take over the Western fur trade? A Killer In ControlShaving his beard, posing as a greedy hayseed from Ohio, the Preacher comes face-to-face with Shad Beaumont--who is leaving St. Louis with an army of hired gunmen. . .with the Preacher on his tail.And A Fire That's Just Begun To EruptThe odds couldn't be worse and the battleground couldn't be better. For the wild frontier is no place for fancy plots or poor disguises--but a fine spot for a killing ground. . .
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2009
121 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,040 books1,390 followersWilliam W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 26, 2025
I read a lot of the books featuring “Preacher” and have highly enjoyed many of them. This one? Not so much. His personality didn’t seem to be the same as the amazing mountain man and trapper I identified him with in the mountains.
February 7, 2017
Real page-turner. Strong first third, but kept getting thinner as it went along. This guy should stick to the mountains (Indians and wagon trains).
June 16, 2018
I am reading all of the mountain man episodes, but this particular one did not appeal to me. It takes place in a big city and is more like a "cloak and dagger" than the usual western.
March 29, 2011
In the beginning of my book it starts out with Preacher and his Uncle Dan are riding through som hills and they notice some crows fly up from the top of the hill where some Pawnee were awaiting them but Precher and Dan didn't know that. Preacher got a weird feeling in his body and came up with a plan to find out what it was that spooked the crows. So they started fighting and thats where I stopped. Overall the book has started out great.
2/8/11 I have just got to the part now where Preacher and Uncle Dan run into the wagon train going through the valley. One man on the wagon train,Buckhalter,doesn't believe Preacher and Dan that the cheif of the indians that jumped Preacher and Dan is going to jump the wagon train but another guy who is in charge of the train says that he wants Dan and Preacher to ride with them so the indians don't jump them.
2/9/11
What I read was that Preacher and Dan have just got on the wagon train and
Preacher has already just about killed Buckhalter because he keeps calling him a liar.
2/10/11
The cover of my book that I am reading looks like Preacher and the wagon train that is heading to Oregon are shooting at what I think is the indians because Preacher thinks that the indians are going to ambush them sometime and the cover kind of shows that.
5 Sentence Summary: 2/16/11
In my book today Preacher and Uncle Dan have just left the pilgrims camp ground because Preacher is determined to find out why Buckhalter wanted them out so bad. When they left they started heading towards St.Louis but they had a minor detour because they have a dog with them that is named DOG and when they were riding he started growling because he smelt something. Preacher and Dan thought maybe it was the Pawnee but after a couple seconds Preacher saw some shadow figures in the little bit of light there was and could tell that they were white men but he wasn't positive that they were Buckhalter's group. So he and Dan decided to follow them until the men stopped which they stopped only 50 yards from the wagon camp. Preacher and Dan had to act fast if they were going to bring some hope of evening the odds up for the pilgrims. They snuck up on some guys and then I got to the part where Preacher just had shot his second guy and thats it.
February 22, 2011
Do Preacher and Dan save the wagon train?
I think that I'll find out if Preacher and Dan save the wagon train.
Does Dan kill Buckhalter?
I think that Dan does kill Buckhalter.
February 23, 2011
I have made it halfway through chapter 9 an the book is fantastic. It really pulls you into the book to where you almost feel like you are actually their. In the middle of chapter 9 Preacher an Uncle Dan have just now left the wagon train and Preacher has just came up with the idea of disguizing himself so Beaumont or his men don't recognize him.
3/3/11: Problem,Action,Outcomes
Problem:
1.)Smoke needs to find out if Shad Beaumont owns Sally's whorehouse.
2.)Smoke is by himself and doesn't have any help if he gets himself into trouble trying to find out if Shad Beaumont owns Sally's.
Action:
1.)Distiguizes himself so nobody in St. Louis recognizes him when he goes to Sally's.
2.)He goes back to camp where Uncle Dan is at and lets him know about how his scouting of Beaumont was.
Outcome:
1.)He succeeds in finding out that Beaumont does own Sallys'.
2.)He gets on Beaumonts good side and is now working for him.
3/10/11
7 Sentence Summary:
I just got to chapter 19 and Preacher has just now figured out why Jessie and Cleve were saying they wanted to get rid of Beaumont for good. Preacher was ease dropping on their conversation outside the windo from Jessie's office. Thats when he heard them talking about killing Beaumont. Then Brutus looked out the window and saw Preacher sitting below the window ease-dropping. He then is told to come inside and tell them what he heard but he has to be careful about what he says because he doesn't know if they are trying to actually take Beaumont down or if they are trying to trick him.
6 Sentence Summary:3/29/2011\Make-Up for 3/7/2011
Preacher has just now been let in on the job of Beaumont stealing his own merchandise from a boat that contains non-members of his gang. Preacher is trying to help Sally get back at Beaumont for what he did to Cassandra when Preacher was not at the whorehouse. So Sally tells him to try to get in on the attack that Beaumont plan to do on the riverboat. Preacher has just gone to Red Mikes' to get more information on what the plan of attack is. He also has gone to Red Mikes' to let the crew that he will be joining them. They are all starting to make the plan and thats all I've read so far.
3/29/11
Question: What Is Something You Have Experienced That Is Similar To The Action Of Your Book?
I have experienced riding a horse through a river while going to meet somebody during hunting season.
2/8/11 I have just got to the part now where Preacher and Uncle Dan run into the wagon train going through the valley. One man on the wagon train,Buckhalter,doesn't believe Preacher and Dan that the cheif of the indians that jumped Preacher and Dan is going to jump the wagon train but another guy who is in charge of the train says that he wants Dan and Preacher to ride with them so the indians don't jump them.
2/9/11
What I read was that Preacher and Dan have just got on the wagon train and
Preacher has already just about killed Buckhalter because he keeps calling him a liar.
2/10/11
The cover of my book that I am reading looks like Preacher and the wagon train that is heading to Oregon are shooting at what I think is the indians because Preacher thinks that the indians are going to ambush them sometime and the cover kind of shows that.
5 Sentence Summary: 2/16/11
In my book today Preacher and Uncle Dan have just left the pilgrims camp ground because Preacher is determined to find out why Buckhalter wanted them out so bad. When they left they started heading towards St.Louis but they had a minor detour because they have a dog with them that is named DOG and when they were riding he started growling because he smelt something. Preacher and Dan thought maybe it was the Pawnee but after a couple seconds Preacher saw some shadow figures in the little bit of light there was and could tell that they were white men but he wasn't positive that they were Buckhalter's group. So he and Dan decided to follow them until the men stopped which they stopped only 50 yards from the wagon camp. Preacher and Dan had to act fast if they were going to bring some hope of evening the odds up for the pilgrims. They snuck up on some guys and then I got to the part where Preacher just had shot his second guy and thats it.
February 22, 2011
Do Preacher and Dan save the wagon train?
I think that I'll find out if Preacher and Dan save the wagon train.
Does Dan kill Buckhalter?
I think that Dan does kill Buckhalter.
February 23, 2011
I have made it halfway through chapter 9 an the book is fantastic. It really pulls you into the book to where you almost feel like you are actually their. In the middle of chapter 9 Preacher an Uncle Dan have just now left the wagon train and Preacher has just came up with the idea of disguizing himself so Beaumont or his men don't recognize him.
3/3/11: Problem,Action,Outcomes
Problem:
1.)Smoke needs to find out if Shad Beaumont owns Sally's whorehouse.
2.)Smoke is by himself and doesn't have any help if he gets himself into trouble trying to find out if Shad Beaumont owns Sally's.
Action:
1.)Distiguizes himself so nobody in St. Louis recognizes him when he goes to Sally's.
2.)He goes back to camp where Uncle Dan is at and lets him know about how his scouting of Beaumont was.
Outcome:
1.)He succeeds in finding out that Beaumont does own Sallys'.
2.)He gets on Beaumonts good side and is now working for him.
3/10/11
7 Sentence Summary:
I just got to chapter 19 and Preacher has just now figured out why Jessie and Cleve were saying they wanted to get rid of Beaumont for good. Preacher was ease dropping on their conversation outside the windo from Jessie's office. Thats when he heard them talking about killing Beaumont. Then Brutus looked out the window and saw Preacher sitting below the window ease-dropping. He then is told to come inside and tell them what he heard but he has to be careful about what he says because he doesn't know if they are trying to actually take Beaumont down or if they are trying to trick him.
6 Sentence Summary:3/29/2011\Make-Up for 3/7/2011
Preacher has just now been let in on the job of Beaumont stealing his own merchandise from a boat that contains non-members of his gang. Preacher is trying to help Sally get back at Beaumont for what he did to Cassandra when Preacher was not at the whorehouse. So Sally tells him to try to get in on the attack that Beaumont plan to do on the riverboat. Preacher has just gone to Red Mikes' to get more information on what the plan of attack is. He also has gone to Red Mikes' to let the crew that he will be joining them. They are all starting to make the plan and thats all I've read so far.
3/29/11
Question: What Is Something You Have Experienced That Is Similar To The Action Of Your Book?
I have experienced riding a horse through a river while going to meet somebody during hunting season.
February 23, 2018
PREACHER GOES TO ST. LOUIS
Another great moving action filled western with our friends from the Rockies, Preacher, Uncle Dan Sullivan, Dog and Horse. Everyone on their way to St. Loos(Louis), to locate a devious thug named "Shad Beaumont." A man killer who had caused the death of Uncle Dan's nephew Pete. Now Beaumont had the nerve to put a "BOUNTY"
on Preacher, because Preacher slayed all the thugs Beaumont had sent to take over the fur business of the Hudson Bay Fur Company. It's what we call a syndicate today extending out west...you know wealth..and no law to hinder your extortion...,but there was a blockade called
"PREACHER."
Everyone will ENJOY this adventure series of
"THE FIRST MOUNTAIN MAN, PREACHER."
Another great moving action filled western with our friends from the Rockies, Preacher, Uncle Dan Sullivan, Dog and Horse. Everyone on their way to St. Loos(Louis), to locate a devious thug named "Shad Beaumont." A man killer who had caused the death of Uncle Dan's nephew Pete. Now Beaumont had the nerve to put a "BOUNTY"
on Preacher, because Preacher slayed all the thugs Beaumont had sent to take over the fur business of the Hudson Bay Fur Company. It's what we call a syndicate today extending out west...you know wealth..and no law to hinder your extortion...,but there was a blockade called
"PREACHER."
Everyone will ENJOY this adventure series of
"THE FIRST MOUNTAIN MAN, PREACHER."
March 9, 2024
The man called Preacher and his friend Uncle Dan head to St. Louis to take care of the notorious Shane
Beaumont. They face a small war party of Pawnee before they get very far into their journey. From there Preacher comes up with a plan to get to Beaumont, which includes shaving his beard and playactin as a farmer to slowly get close to the polecat he is after. There are enough twists in this one to keep you reading with Preacher dressing in a suit and playing body guard to his prey.
Beaumont. They face a small war party of Pawnee before they get very far into their journey. From there Preacher comes up with a plan to get to Beaumont, which includes shaving his beard and playactin as a farmer to slowly get close to the polecat he is after. There are enough twists in this one to keep you reading with Preacher dressing in a suit and playing body guard to his prey.
December 18, 2021
A good story
People do like a good story and this is one of
Johnstone’s best. Preacher’s been in tough spots before but this one’s unique. I’ll never look at St Louis the same again.
People do like a good story and this is one of
Johnstone’s best. Preacher’s been in tough spots before but this one’s unique. I’ll never look at St Louis the same again.
December 5, 2016
A very good and entertaining novel. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend this book to everyone.
January 28, 2019
Love this whole series....
July 28, 2019
Another great story!!!
Preacher becomes judge, jury, and executioner as he chases down the man responsible for killing his friends and picks up some help along the way.
Preacher becomes judge, jury, and executioner as he chases down the man responsible for killing his friends and picks up some help along the way.
November 17, 2019
Excellent book
Very good western book exellent to keep you ontheplot william johnstone always keep you going to the very end of the book
Very good western book exellent to keep you ontheplot william johnstone always keep you going to the very end of the book
May 19, 2020
Another great book in the First Mountain Man series.
December 1, 2020
This was a great read....just like the rest couldn't put the book down
February 8, 2022
Don't play with the bad guy, just shoot him!
November 21, 2022
Wonderful author and stories
Johnstone makes these tails seem true. I enjoy all of his series that I have tried. Keep them coming. His bio leads to these tales.
Johnstone makes these tails seem true. I enjoy all of his series that I have tried. Keep them coming. His bio leads to these tales.
November 22, 2022
Great action book
January 23, 2010
Shad Beaumont has become a thorn in Preacher's side. He wants to control all the fur business is the Rockies. Preacher has broken up plans more than once and Beaumont has sent killers after him.
Preacher decides to go undercover into Saint Louis to deal with the man for a final time. He shaves his beard, cuts his hair, and with the aid of his friend Uncle Dan, gets "farm boy" clothes, working his way into Beaumont's employ as a bodyguard.
His intent is to make him suffer looses before the final blow. Too many people have died, innocents, at his hand for Preacher to just kill him outright. Not his way anyway.
But things don't always go off without a hitch.
Preacher decides to go undercover into Saint Louis to deal with the man for a final time. He shaves his beard, cuts his hair, and with the aid of his friend Uncle Dan, gets "farm boy" clothes, working his way into Beaumont's employ as a bodyguard.
His intent is to make him suffer looses before the final blow. Too many people have died, innocents, at his hand for Preacher to just kill him outright. Not his way anyway.
But things don't always go off without a hitch.
December 24, 2014
Another good one
Preacher never fails,with the help of his friends and he makes some good friends. Strong and well intentioned men usually do.
Preacher never fails,with the help of his friends and he makes some good friends. Strong and well intentioned men usually do.
June 17, 2015
Awesome Book to read Y'alls
Preacher at his best. He's out of the mountains and dealing with a monster in St Louis. I say buy it now.
Preacher at his best. He's out of the mountains and dealing with a monster in St Louis. I say buy it now.
November 4, 2015
Preacher is awesome!
Count on action, twists and excitement whenever you read any of the First Mountain Man series! Always a good read!
Count on action, twists and excitement whenever you read any of the First Mountain Man series! Always a good read!
March 25, 2017
Another great Johnstone Western novel. Plenty of action, intrigue, a bit of romance, and a good solid plot. I would want Preacher in my corner any day.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews