What do you think?
Rate this book
The Loner #2
The Devil's Badland
FIRST PRINTING, JULY 2009
1 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2009
75 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Johnstone
652 books228 followersJ.A. Johnstone learned to write from the master himself, Uncle William W. Johnstone, who began tutoring J.A. at an early age. After-school hours were often spent retyping manuscripts or researching his massive American Western History library as well as the more modern wars and conflicts. J.A. worked hard and learned, later going on to become the co-author of William W. Johnstone’s many bestselling westerns and thrillers. J.A. Johnstone lives on a ranch in Tennessee and more information is at WilliamJohnstone.net
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 11, 2019
This is my second time reading one of Johnstone dynasties, my first being the first of this series. It was definitely worth the read. I'm all for a good plot and good character development and Johnstone nailed it in this.
This book is just a continuation of Conrad Browning's journey to avenge his wife's cold-blooded murder. Now that he killed all the gunmen responsible, all he needs to do is find out who hired them... and why they wanted this to happen to him.
Here's the reasons why I rated this four stars instead of five. One, despite it being an amazing plot, it was extremely predictable throughout the novel. Example being, the author made this big deal about how Conrad's ex-fiancée was responsible for hiring his wife's murderers. Back it says on the back of the dang book, "... beautiful Miss Tarleton has a long memory- and she's never forgiven Conrad for breaking their engagement and marrying another. On top of that, she blames Conrad for her father's death. With a band of kill-crazy outlaws backing Pamela's play..." And it's like, we're suppose to be shocked she's the bad guy?
Another thing I wonder though, is how this series is going to progress. We finished the story arc (which I hate in the first place) and shouldn't Conrad's story end there. No doubt though, I'll continue the series but I'm wondering how the series can be as good as it has been now the main plotline is finished.
This book is just a continuation of Conrad Browning's journey to avenge his wife's cold-blooded murder. Now that he killed all the gunmen responsible, all he needs to do is find out who hired them... and why they wanted this to happen to him.
Here's the reasons why I rated this four stars instead of five. One, despite it being an amazing plot, it was extremely predictable throughout the novel. Example being, the author made this big deal about how Conrad's ex-fiancée was responsible for hiring his wife's murderers. Back it says on the back of the dang book, "... beautiful Miss Tarleton has a long memory- and she's never forgiven Conrad for breaking their engagement and marrying another. On top of that, she blames Conrad for her father's death. With a band of kill-crazy outlaws backing Pamela's play..." And it's like, we're suppose to be shocked she's the bad guy?
Another thing I wonder though, is how this series is going to progress. We finished the story arc (which I hate in the first place) and shouldn't Conrad's story end there. No doubt though, I'll continue the series but I'm wondering how the series can be as good as it has been now the main plotline is finished.
December 3, 2019
A great Western adventure read!
August 7, 2010
This is a great series so far. Westerns don't usually make it for me but this is a great read. Very good character building, and story line is believable. Have read first book:"Loner", and have to say these are the best two westerns I have ever read.
Conrad Browning is one his final leg of his vendetta to avenge the death of his wife.
Conrad Browning is one his final leg of his vendetta to avenge the death of his wife.
August 7, 2010
Immediate followup to the first book, and follows the gunslinger on his hunt for the person who hired the bad guys. Another fast paced, interesting read.
December 31, 2019
I binge read the series in one month, 12 books. That makes my 2nd western in one year and I loved it. This one takes place during the Wild Wild West and it was such a great adventure that I loved every minute of it. I recommend this to anyone who likes a fun adventure in the West .
November 6, 2020
Finishing the story of how Kid Morgan was 'created'. Started off interesting getting involved with something he shouldn't have, but that appears to be a common thing in these novels. Look forward to what kid's next journey is and where his path leads after this story.
January 3, 2018
Outstanding!
A very interesting and exciting tale written by the Master. This is a great story that portrays somewhat how life was in the old west.
A very interesting and exciting tale written by the Master. This is a great story that portrays somewhat how life was in the old west.
October 3, 2024
I am really enjoying this series! I love how the author continues to develop The Kid.
December 14, 2024
Had to read it in one tall swoop.
Love my westerns
Love my westerns
December 13, 2025
Fast moving
This book was very fast moving and very interesting, characters in this book
Will resurface in the next part of this series. Enjoyable read!
This book was very fast moving and very interesting, characters in this book
Will resurface in the next part of this series. Enjoyable read!
April 2, 2015
"With the broad brim of the hat pulled down to shield his face, no one would recognize him from a distance. Conrad Browning had returned to life for a while, but now he was dead again.
Long live Kid Morgan.
Well! What an exciting book! Wow!
The Devil's Badland was a pleasant and exhilarating read. I was very surprised by it, and I grew to love it!
The Devil's Badland is a western book about an odd rich stranger by the name of Conrad Browning. He travels alone, and many believe that he is dead; his wife, Rebel Browning, had been captured and murdered, and nobody had heard from Conrad since. He didn't even show up to Rebel's funeral. And so, everyone believed Conrad Browning was dead.
Only, Conrad isn't dead. He faked his own death.
Now he's looking for vengeance. He's out to go avenge his beloved wife's sudden death.
Conrad makes his way to the town of Val Verde, where Rebel is buried. He believes signs of who had killed Rebel will begin to show up once he visits her grave.
But before he can get to Val Verde, he ends up running into a nasty brawl between the MacTavish family, and the ruthless Devil Dave Whitfield and his men. Taking the sides of the poor MacTavishes, Conrad gets mixed into more trouble than he's expected.
In Val Verde, Conrad stumbles across a mysterious woman who he believes might be behind Rebel's death. Things start to unravel, and then Conrad finds his victims.
But then things get crazy; somebody has wounded the father, Hamish MacTavish, and kidnapped the beloved sister, Meggie MacTavish. The youngest son, Rory took Hamish into town to the doctor, and Conrad finds out that the oldest hotheaded brother, James, has set off alone to get his sister back.
If only Conrad knew how this all fit together into one evil plan.
What people don't know, is that Conrad Browning is the son of his famous murderous gunfighter father, Frank Morgan. What people don't know, is this odd loner has inherited the same talent and wit. What people don't know is that there is a vicious smart gunfighter hidden within Conrad.
What people don't know, is that Conrad Browning is Kid Morgan.
"...Recognition dawned in the killer's pain-wracked eyes. 'You're him! You're Browning!'
The Kid shook his head. 'Not anymore. The name's Kid Morgan.'
'K-Kid... Morgan? Hell, I... I heard of you... They say you've killed... half a dozen men.'
'More than that,' The Kid said. 'And two more now.'"
What caught me off guard at first, was the western twang and 'cowboy' dialogue often used in this book. Like this for instance:
"'Good shootin' lad!' his father called from one of the other loopholes. 'Ye downed the skalleyhooter!'
...
'Now kill 'im!' Hamish MacTavish roared. 'Get 'im afore he gets away!'
...
'Ach, I shoods hae known!' Hamish said as Rory hesitated."
Yeah. I was confused at first, but then it became really amusing to me, and it wasn't distracting after awhile; it was just the way they talked. Nothing wrong with that.
My favorite character would have to be James MacTavish. He's just so hotheaded and determined, and complains every chance he gets, but there's something deep within him that makes you like him. He cracked me up the whole time.
"Sure enough, James was the man who was holed up there. He glanced at Conrad and exclaimed, 'What the hell! You again?' Then he cranked the lever of his Winchester and continued firing at the riders, who were trying to circle around the boulders to get a better shot at him and Conrad."
Ah, I really loved James's character. I liked all of the good characters, come to think of it. It's just hard to determine who really is a good character and who isn't.
I really enjoyed this book! It was full of action and suspense and surprising plot twists! This is one of my first times reading a western book. Heck, I love the western genre. All of my absolute favorite movies are old 1970's western movies. And The Devil's Badland reminds me a lot of my favorite movie of all time, Pony Express Rider! Both stories have got brave men who are avenging the death of a loved one out West. This book has got sort of Tombstone feel to it, I believe. It was very entertaining to read!
My library was doing a 'blind-date with a book' thing, where they cover up some books in paper and just scrawl down the genre on the front, so you can't see which book you are getting. I picked out this one, and after I had started reading it, I realized this is the second book in a series. Hmm. To be perfectly honest, I felt like I didn't even need to read the first one to understand and love this book. I'm glad I got the chance to find this book; without the whole 'blind-date' thing, I probably wouldn't have found it!
Go read The Devil's Badland! Yeehaw!
"'Damn you, Browning! Damn you!'
'Too late,' The Kid said without turning around."
Long live Kid Morgan.
Well! What an exciting book! Wow!
The Devil's Badland was a pleasant and exhilarating read. I was very surprised by it, and I grew to love it!
The Devil's Badland is a western book about an odd rich stranger by the name of Conrad Browning. He travels alone, and many believe that he is dead; his wife, Rebel Browning, had been captured and murdered, and nobody had heard from Conrad since. He didn't even show up to Rebel's funeral. And so, everyone believed Conrad Browning was dead.
Only, Conrad isn't dead. He faked his own death.
Now he's looking for vengeance. He's out to go avenge his beloved wife's sudden death.
Conrad makes his way to the town of Val Verde, where Rebel is buried. He believes signs of who had killed Rebel will begin to show up once he visits her grave.
But before he can get to Val Verde, he ends up running into a nasty brawl between the MacTavish family, and the ruthless Devil Dave Whitfield and his men. Taking the sides of the poor MacTavishes, Conrad gets mixed into more trouble than he's expected.
In Val Verde, Conrad stumbles across a mysterious woman who he believes might be behind Rebel's death. Things start to unravel, and then Conrad finds his victims.
But then things get crazy; somebody has wounded the father, Hamish MacTavish, and kidnapped the beloved sister, Meggie MacTavish. The youngest son, Rory took Hamish into town to the doctor, and Conrad finds out that the oldest hotheaded brother, James, has set off alone to get his sister back.
If only Conrad knew how this all fit together into one evil plan.
What people don't know, is that Conrad Browning is the son of his famous murderous gunfighter father, Frank Morgan. What people don't know, is this odd loner has inherited the same talent and wit. What people don't know is that there is a vicious smart gunfighter hidden within Conrad.
What people don't know, is that Conrad Browning is Kid Morgan.
"...Recognition dawned in the killer's pain-wracked eyes. 'You're him! You're Browning!'
The Kid shook his head. 'Not anymore. The name's Kid Morgan.'
'K-Kid... Morgan? Hell, I... I heard of you... They say you've killed... half a dozen men.'
'More than that,' The Kid said. 'And two more now.'"
What caught me off guard at first, was the western twang and 'cowboy' dialogue often used in this book. Like this for instance:
"'Good shootin' lad!' his father called from one of the other loopholes. 'Ye downed the skalleyhooter!'
...
'Now kill 'im!' Hamish MacTavish roared. 'Get 'im afore he gets away!'
...
'Ach, I shoods hae known!' Hamish said as Rory hesitated."
Yeah. I was confused at first, but then it became really amusing to me, and it wasn't distracting after awhile; it was just the way they talked. Nothing wrong with that.
My favorite character would have to be James MacTavish. He's just so hotheaded and determined, and complains every chance he gets, but there's something deep within him that makes you like him. He cracked me up the whole time.
"Sure enough, James was the man who was holed up there. He glanced at Conrad and exclaimed, 'What the hell! You again?' Then he cranked the lever of his Winchester and continued firing at the riders, who were trying to circle around the boulders to get a better shot at him and Conrad."
Ah, I really loved James's character. I liked all of the good characters, come to think of it. It's just hard to determine who really is a good character and who isn't.
I really enjoyed this book! It was full of action and suspense and surprising plot twists! This is one of my first times reading a western book. Heck, I love the western genre. All of my absolute favorite movies are old 1970's western movies. And The Devil's Badland reminds me a lot of my favorite movie of all time, Pony Express Rider! Both stories have got brave men who are avenging the death of a loved one out West. This book has got sort of Tombstone feel to it, I believe. It was very entertaining to read!
My library was doing a 'blind-date with a book' thing, where they cover up some books in paper and just scrawl down the genre on the front, so you can't see which book you are getting. I picked out this one, and after I had started reading it, I realized this is the second book in a series. Hmm. To be perfectly honest, I felt like I didn't even need to read the first one to understand and love this book. I'm glad I got the chance to find this book; without the whole 'blind-date' thing, I probably wouldn't have found it!
Go read The Devil's Badland! Yeehaw!
"'Damn you, Browning! Damn you!'
'Too late,' The Kid said without turning around."
August 3, 2015
If only the rest of the Johnstone Clan series of books had such complex plots. This is the second in the series and that marks two that vary from the typical Johnstone story.
The writing is good, but one of the villains is way too obviously being hidden. It's the weakest part of the entire book. To the point I have to wonder if that was the point of the writer. However, the rest of the book is so good, that I'll let some sloppy writing slip by.
The characters are as well done as ever in a Johnstone book. Dialogue seems a bit simply approached and not as sharp as in other Johnstone books. The setting description is a bit sparse.
This is a superior story than most Johnstone books. I just feel the writing is a bit off.
Bottom line : I recommend this book. 6 out of 10 points.
The writing is good, but one of the villains is way too obviously being hidden. It's the weakest part of the entire book. To the point I have to wonder if that was the point of the writer. However, the rest of the book is so good, that I'll let some sloppy writing slip by.
The characters are as well done as ever in a Johnstone book. Dialogue seems a bit simply approached and not as sharp as in other Johnstone books. The setting description is a bit sparse.
This is a superior story than most Johnstone books. I just feel the writing is a bit off.
Bottom line : I recommend this book. 6 out of 10 points.
December 25, 2016
"A WOMAN SCORNED"
They all have met their "Waterloo"one way or another. Conrad Browning aka "The Loner", kept his word to find and kill all those responsible for her death. Lots of gun fights, intriguing is a good descriptions for the adventure. Scorn, murder also describes how Pamela felt. Nothing is worse or more deadly than a scorned woman..Nothing on earth can stop her from carrying out her "REVENGE" on the man who caused her heartbreak and humiliation. Another fast moving
western with lots action..
They all have met their "Waterloo"one way or another. Conrad Browning aka "The Loner", kept his word to find and kill all those responsible for her death. Lots of gun fights, intriguing is a good descriptions for the adventure. Scorn, murder also describes how Pamela felt. Nothing is worse or more deadly than a scorned woman..Nothing on earth can stop her from carrying out her "REVENGE" on the man who caused her heartbreak and humiliation. Another fast moving
western with lots action..
July 9, 2009
A bit disappointing, but not the writer's fault. For some reason, the publisher gives away a crucial plot point on the back cover that removes any suspense or guess work on the reader's part. I knew what was coming.
December 18, 2009
The back cover was a spoiler, so the mystery woman was not mysterious at all. The book had some great escape scenes, though.
February 3, 2021
Good Book easy to read.
August 19, 2016
The loner series
This series of books are a very good read this is the second time that I have read these books, and I find new things in the words of these books
This series of books are a very good read this is the second time that I have read these books, and I find new things in the words of these books
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews