What do you think?
Rate this book
Cotton Pickens #4
Massacre Mountain
The Greatest Western Writer Of The 21st CenturyIn the booming mining town of Doubtful, Wyoming, Cotton Pickens is the law. And in William W. and J.A. Johnstone's rollicking new Western, the law is in a fight for its life. . .Making Of A MassacreCotton Pickens is feeling about as low as a man can get. Held up, robbed and fired from his job as sheriff, things get even worse when someone murders Cotton's horse Critter. And it's all happening just as a flashy, fleshy stage company comes to town. Some folks demand the show be shut down for immorality. Some folks--Cotton included--sure enjoy the proceedings. But when a man gets stabbed to death, a bank safe gets blown up, and another county's sheriff starts imposing his will, Cotton realizes that a dastardly plot is taking over Doubtful. Badge or no badge, Cotton is going to war. To catch a killer. To stand up to some self-righteous fatheads. And for the right to see a little bare-naked leg--or die trying. . .
- GenresWesterns
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
62 people are currently reading
94 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 22, 2015
William W. Johnstone is a well known Western writer with a reputation for writing books faithful to the horrify of the Old West. If this book is an example of his larest writing, I can only conclude he's become senile
I wanted to rate this book, I couldn't finish the first chapter, as a zero - but that's not possible to add in and average.
Even if this book was advertised as a western satire, it still missed the mark. It comed nowhere close to Cat Ballue and it missed the standard setting Blazing Saddles by at least two million miles. Did I say I couldn't finish the first chapter?
The protagonist is Sheriff Pickens. Are you ready? Sheriff Cotton Pickins. I don't mean to insult the learning disabled, but Pickens is a moron. He can't count above seven or eight, as a marrer of fact he's not sure which one comes after six.
While checking doors walking around the town's business district, he is held up my a masked bandit pointing a gun at the Sherrif's chest. The desperate bandit makes off with everything the Sherrif has on him, $1.50.
The next morning the mayor and the other big shots call Cotton in because of the "crime wave and fire him. Gotten won't accept being fired and he quits. The powers that be tell him he can't quit because they don't have a replacement Sheriff. He is fired but has to hang around until a replacement is found.
He would be better off just being a cowboy. During the time frame of the story, cowboys were paid $1/day, board and found. An average of $30 a month, boarding house cost a dollar a week and meals averaged 25¢ each. $30 + $4 + $7,50 = $41.50.
His pay is $40 per month and he pays for his meals and a room at the boarding house. He nets $28,50 a week, a difference of $13 to his deficit. Did I say he was a moron?
This book was a bad joke.
I wanted to rate this book, I couldn't finish the first chapter, as a zero - but that's not possible to add in and average.
Even if this book was advertised as a western satire, it still missed the mark. It comed nowhere close to Cat Ballue and it missed the standard setting Blazing Saddles by at least two million miles. Did I say I couldn't finish the first chapter?
The protagonist is Sheriff Pickens. Are you ready? Sheriff Cotton Pickins. I don't mean to insult the learning disabled, but Pickens is a moron. He can't count above seven or eight, as a marrer of fact he's not sure which one comes after six.
While checking doors walking around the town's business district, he is held up my a masked bandit pointing a gun at the Sherrif's chest. The desperate bandit makes off with everything the Sherrif has on him, $1.50.
The next morning the mayor and the other big shots call Cotton in because of the "crime wave and fire him. Gotten won't accept being fired and he quits. The powers that be tell him he can't quit because they don't have a replacement Sheriff. He is fired but has to hang around until a replacement is found.
He would be better off just being a cowboy. During the time frame of the story, cowboys were paid $1/day, board and found. An average of $30 a month, boarding house cost a dollar a week and meals averaged 25¢ each. $30 + $4 + $7,50 = $41.50.
His pay is $40 per month and he pays for his meals and a room at the boarding house. He nets $28,50 a week, a difference of $13 to his deficit. Did I say he was a moron?
This book was a bad joke.
October 18, 2011
Things hadn't gone well for Sheriff Cotton Pickens of Doubtful lately. He'd been robbed on Main Street. Then someone stole his horse, Critter. Someone broke into his room and took his gun belt and pistol(things had been peaceful of late and that thing was heavy), and then he found Critter outside of town, throat cut.
The leaders of Doubtful weren't happy. He was told he would be fired and they refused to let him quit until they hired a replacement.
The new Opera House was causing a stir. Half the town wanted it closed before it even opened. The Watch and Ward Society, run by the banker's wife, led the charge. They didn't like the shows booked: immoral and disgusting.
Ike Berg, "Iceberg," sheriff in a neighboring county was auditioning for the job, making arrests he wasn't legally able to do in Puma County.
A well dressed stranger was knifed to death in an alley.
Cotton began to get mad.
Most of the crime wave seemed aimed at him. Who wanted him out of the way?
And when the city council finally decided to fire him, HE refused, giving thirty days notice. He'd solve these crimes and then they could decide what to do about him.
This humorous series is becoming a favorite.
The leaders of Doubtful weren't happy. He was told he would be fired and they refused to let him quit until they hired a replacement.
The new Opera House was causing a stir. Half the town wanted it closed before it even opened. The Watch and Ward Society, run by the banker's wife, led the charge. They didn't like the shows booked: immoral and disgusting.
Ike Berg, "Iceberg," sheriff in a neighboring county was auditioning for the job, making arrests he wasn't legally able to do in Puma County.
A well dressed stranger was knifed to death in an alley.
Cotton began to get mad.
Most of the crime wave seemed aimed at him. Who wanted him out of the way?
And when the city council finally decided to fire him, HE refused, giving thirty days notice. He'd solve these crimes and then they could decide what to do about him.
This humorous series is becoming a favorite.
October 3, 2021
The comic relief in this book was good. The story line was fair. But the title of the book is misleading. I am not a big fan of the Cotton Pickens series, I thought the first book was excellent, but after that it went down hill.
There are two more books left in the series, I am debating whether to finish them or not. It is a little wearisome with his stupidity, and his momma always said, and especially with bowel movement escapades. I will have to think this over.
There are two more books left in the series, I am debating whether to finish them or not. It is a little wearisome with his stupidity, and his momma always said, and especially with bowel movement escapades. I will have to think this over.
February 8, 2019
The title of the book does not fit the story. But, in any case it was still entertaining.
October 6, 2021
I'm still wondering what Cotton Pickens real name is. I wonder if it ever gets revealed. This one was different and I did laugh as his character and the acting are spot on, but I'd say just ok.
July 5, 2025
#4 in the Cotton Pickens western series.
October 18, 2025
More tolerable than the previous installment
January 6, 2017
"HERE COMES COTTON"
All I will say is read, laugh and enjoy this adventure of Cotton Pickens. All the characters that your introduced to are funny. Mainly because we've all met someone like them...Cotton Pickens is so down to earth, all about country..yahoo..
All I will say is read, laugh and enjoy this adventure of Cotton Pickens. All the characters that your introduced to are funny. Mainly because we've all met someone like them...Cotton Pickens is so down to earth, all about country..yahoo..
June 22, 2012
Aside from the fact that there was no massacre, nor a mountain, this is an amusing horse opera. It has all the elements of a classic western except that it doesn't take itself seriously. Light reading, but recommended.
April 1, 2014
if you like westerns,you will love this.read the first three and they are just as good. the best part is they are all independent so weather you start with this one or the first one they will still make since.
March 22, 2014
good western
December 30, 2014
A new type of hero
Cottonwood not your usual Western hero. And this is not a typical western novel. It grows on you as you go along though.
Cottonwood not your usual Western hero. And this is not a typical western novel. It grows on you as you go along though.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews