Brutal Vengeance

The Loner #13

by J.A. Johnstone

In a land of legends The Loner has nothing to prove. That's usually when violence finds its way to him. . .

Vengeance Will Be Mine

For a posse chasing a murderous band of outlaws, a quiet kid with a lightning fast gun is good company. And when the outlaws turn around and attack the posse, The Loner doesn't have a choice: he's now caught up in a running gun battle across West Texas. The Loner knows the men he's fighting are bad to the bone--led by a merciless killer named Warren Latch. But what about the guys on his side? As men on both sides of the fight bite the dust, the Loner has fewer allies and no way out. That's when a beautiful bounty hunter appears on the scene--to lead the way into another vendetta, another betrayal, and one final, bloody fight to the death. . .

Genres: Westerns

315 pages, 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

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Warren Latch gang, forty strong, virtually destroyed the small town of Fire Hill descending on it to take a ranch payroll temporarily stored in the stage office safe. They left the twon burned to the ground and half its people dead.

The posse, lead by a Texas ranger, was in pursuit when some overzealous towns people opened fire on Kid Morgan as he was riding along. never one to kill anyone without knowing why, Morgan fired over their heads until the ranger could straighten things out.

He joined the posse, which followed the easy trail, never mind the trail of destruction left behind. At one small farm, they caught a few who'd raped and murdered a mother and her two daughters, killing them, and burying the three women just as the father and two brothers got back from a small drive to sell the herd.

They joined the posse.

It was an uneasy bunch. One, Vint Reilly, was the station master from Fire Hill. He was seriously burned from trying to pull his wife out of their burning home. Laudanum was all that kept him going, he should be in bed, but a burning rage for vengeance was consuming him. One store owner, his home and business gone, was almost as bad. The ranch owner had the same desire for vengeance because of his wife and daughter.

The Kid knew what that sort of vengeance could do to a man. he'd had the same thing once. But he'd had the training and skill to control the rage. They didn't.

When the gang turned on them and made forays to stop them, a running gun battle across west Texas began.

And, out of the blue, Lace McCall turns up. A female bounty hunter the Kid had had dealings with before when she was hunting him because of fake wanted posters put out by an outlaw he was after.

Things couldn't get any worse.

Then they did when the ranger was seriously injured by a bullet and the posse gets divided with the kid and half on one side and the insane Vint Reilly and some of the townspeople on the other.

A fine western by whatever author is behind the house name J. A. Johnstone.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very good western. A consistency I find in 'The Loner' series by the Johnstone Gang. The story starts well and charges across the pages with a more satisfactory ending than most Johnstone Clan books.

The tale starts well with a massive fire and mass death and establishes the bad guy as a bad guy. The Loner falls in with the good guys out to get the bad guy and so the tale goes. The characters are typical Johnstone developed with more depth and definition found in most books.

A complaint is the rather obvious tinker toy construction of the story. The story starts with a bad guy that has a bad reputation for killing explained later in the book. But the book starts with an action inconsistent with the later description. Indicating the pieces were not checked if they fit together. There are a number of parts of the book that don't fit with other parts.

Still the whole is fun and exciting and well worth reading.

Bottom line: i recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.

[E. Franmklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge for a Town Burne

A town destroyed, angry survivors, and led by a crazed, burned citizen who had only one reason; kill all the son'bitches that had taken his wife in a furious raid. The leader Of The outlaws, thought he was invincible and led a tough gang of ruthless men who feared his insanity ...and the pay was good. The Loner Joined the posse of angry towns people led by a Texas Ranger. A good tale with lots of action. A couple of editing errors broke my concentration. It would have gotten 5 stars otherwise.

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only thing I didn't enjoy was that the bad guy character wasn't very evolved. They should have spent more time exploring the cool things about it instead of just throwing up some stuff at the very end as well as the other tidbit they gave at the beginning. It was nice to see an old character as well throughout. I always enjoy the connections.

[Nai Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 .

[Ted Cartier · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book inthis series

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced story with lots of murder and mayhem.

[Vince Waechter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than your average western.

[Yeva · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. A. Johnstone has written another winner. A funny thing happened today, though. Our librarian found that there were two number 11 books in this sentence, but no number 12. This is 13. So, if you're reading through this series, beware of looking for number 12. Still this was a great book, and Johnstone has brought back a great character. Lace is in this book--hotter than ever. Okay JA we're ready for number 14.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm truly enjoying this series and am glad it didn't end with the original plot line. It was fun seeing an old character, and the common sense attitude that Kid Morgan is good about. Lots of action, along with some good quietly serious points throughout the book.

[Elizabeth Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it brings you back to the old days. What I hate in every book is the cliff hanger in the end! The Kid is the main character, the lady love is Lace Mcall. I will still wonder what becomes of them and their 'relationship'.

[Brian Burhoe]

J A has done a great job of continuing Willam A Johnstone's Western sagas and adding his own characters to the mix. Getting on there to being the New Louis L'Amour? Yup.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cliff hanger!!! Great plot!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

really couldn't get into this book. will be taking it to a resident where I work. he likes to read westerns