Hard Luck Money

The Loner #14

by J.A. Johnstone

Katherine Lupo believes her dad, a career train robber, was sprung by someone who wanted to set up Lupo for another crime and then killed him when the job was done.

A Texas Ranger believes her. And he turns to The Loner, a man with the guile and courage to go undercover and find out who was behind Lupo's escape and murder. Posing as train robber, The Loner finds what he is after: a cold blooded and deadly master criminal. But from the get-go, The Loner is fighting for his life, for the lives of men and women on the right side of the law and one desperate shot to plant an evil man six feet under in Boot Hill.

Genres: Westerns

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

J.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

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like western reads, this is an other than is following up on the books written by another writer who has passed away. Terry Johnstone. All in all a good read. I read western occasionally as a break from other literature. This one will likely lead me to read others. Character development is always important and this has some good characters developed.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The entire series was better than most of the other Johnstone Clan series, until this one. The contrived story is silly and ridiculous. The scheme of the bad guys is interesting, but wouldn't have worked over and over and over again at the same prison. The chance written for the main character was out of character. The insertion of The Kid into the prison to thwart the bad guys and what transpires is also silly.

Worse, it's all mostly predictable, thus giving little interest in so much written of details.
The most interesting aspects of the story; the main bad guy, Grey, and the appearance of a good guy; were given far too few pages versus far too much written of everything else that was obvious.

The characters were good as always. Though, I wish there had been more focus of the Grey character in the plot. Same true for the paper-thin good guy that appears.

The ending could've played with all this more, but a too-fast ending stops that.

Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

[Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that I listened to this one out of order, but I've listened to enough of them to know that this one was one of my favorites. While I would have possibly done the opening differently, I still think the book was so different than any other western that I've listened to so far. Just in the premise, while not new by any means, I just haven't seen it done in a western yet. Great job!

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conrad Browning, aka Kid Morgan was reluctant to take the offer made by the Texas Rangers. Both of them. The first was a permanent badge as a Ranger. The second was the undercover mission for them that would require he go into prison.

You see, a pattern had emerged involving prison escapes. A bank robber would escape and then become involved in a series of bank robberies. His face was never covered and the inevitable killing on jobs here and there would drive the bounty on him up. Then he would be illed and taken in for the bounty. It had happened several times and it was always the same bounty hunter.

A young woman had come to the Rangers, Katherine Lupo, and begged for help. Yes, her father had been a bank robber and was serving his time. He sworn to go straight when he got out. And the thing was, he always planned his jobs carefully. No one was ever hurt on them.

The Ranger believed there was someone in the prison working with these outlaws. They wanted the Kid to go in as an outlaw named Reese. The hope was he would be broken out and they could find the ringleader before making arrests. A Ranger would be placed to follow them and when the Kid gave the signal, he'd get a band of Rangers and move in.

A good plan. Nut as usual with these things, good plans go awry sometime.

Liked this one.

[Yeva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to be good. It's not so deep that you feel trapped by the character, but at the same time you feel invested in The Kid. There is always plenty of action, plenty of owlhoots being ventilated, and this book had a funny twist with a Baptist preacher character named John Schofield. Couldn't help but laugh at that one. All in all, this book compliments the series, and I can't wait for the next story by J.A. Johnstone.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent read. Picks up shortly after the previous book with Kid helping out the Rangers. He manages to play a believable bad guy, and helps bring the group down. Fast read, can't wait for the next book.

[Gina]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11825912

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second rate western. Don't bother with this one. If I want a good Western I'll stick with L'Amour.

[Robert Cynova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Good read I like the series have read them all. Will look forward to reading the remaining ones. Very exciting