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The First Mountain Man #11

Preacher's Journey

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The Greatest Western Writer Of The 21st Century

Before he became a legend, Preacher was a trapper peacefully plying his trade in the Rocky Mountains. But people needed a hero. . .and Preacher was the only one around.

Now a wagon train of pioneers is struggling westward toward Oregon through the howling winter--and a band of Arikara warriors are hot on their trail. Little do the Arikaras suspect that they're about to come face-to-face--and gun-to-gun--with a ferocious fight they never expected. . .courtesy of a wily mountain man. As Preacher struggles to bring the settlers to safety, he learns the real reason they were attacked--and begins to suspect that the secrets they've been keeping equal to a worse kind of danger. With treachery in the air, more Arikaras on the warpath, and a deadly deep freeze bearing down, trust is a thing of the past--and survival is all that matters.

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

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268 people want to read

About the author

William W. Johnstone

1,040 books1,392 followers
William 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.

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5 stars
423 (57%)
4 stars
219 (29%)
3 stars
78 (10%)
2 stars
8 (1%)
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9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Little Timmy.
7,399 reviews60 followers
February 23, 2016
Pretty good western series. If you like Johnstone's writing you will like the series. Recommended
Profile Image for Tara Hall.
Author 88 books449 followers
March 9, 2014
I had read Johnstone's Preacher spinoff series of his Mountain Man series more than 10 years ago, and a few years ago, found this newer installment in a local Walmart. This book was as good as the others in the series, which means it was a very easy to read Western romp where the bad guys always get whats coming to them, the damsel in distress is saved, and Preacher goes on his lonely way again to other adventures, after kicking some ass. There is little swearing in the books, and no sex, but a lot of violence and a fair bit of gore. There are almost no grey characters either in Johnstone's books - everyone is either firmly hero or villan. All this was typical of the late Johnstone, and one of the reasons I enjoyed reading his Westerns and other action-adventure books from time to time. All of his series books could more or less be read in any order as well, so if you do like Westerns and enjoy this kind of writing, try one.
Profile Image for Jeremy.
62 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2013
Another great Johnstone novel. Preacher is the man's man...the John Wayne of the mountainous frontier...
282 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2023
Preacher happens upon a wagon train where he finds a group of pilgrims trying to make a late, very last journey to Orego. He quickly sets them straight letting them know it is impossible to make the trip so late in the year. He agrees to take them back to Garvy's Fort so they can stay there until they can make arrangements to head to Orgon. Right away Preacher feels there is more to the story the family has given him and almost as quickly the group gets into trouble. First, two so-called mountain men join the party only to cause trouble which causes Preacher to take action. Then a band of usually peaceful Arkara Warriors attacks the wagon train. Without giving anything important away I will say that it gets a lot worse before remotely getting better. There are enough ups and downs for the wagon train to keep you on the edge of your seat.
623 reviews
May 14, 2018
Preacher finds himself taking care of a family going to Oregon. The problem is that they should have waited for spring to make the trip. Also, Preacher took on the job with no idea of the internal problems within the family. When it is apparent that they cannot go on because of the weather, of course they turn back to the nearest civilization... with some mad indians on their tail. Preacher and his dog take care of all of the bad guys, as usual, and at the end of the story, heads for Texas and a warmer climate. Very entertaining.
Profile Image for E. Franmklin.
Author 1 book3 followers
May 19, 2020
One of the best

A real action tale. Deception and fury in a blistering winter. Secrets that Preacher dug out of green men unfamiliar with the frontier. Tracked by vengeance filled indians, terrible death awaits those unprepared. A strong tale by an excellent author, this book will become one to enjoy again later.
Profile Image for Rob Caudill Jr..
6 reviews
October 6, 2021
Always enjoy an adventure with Preacher!

The Arikara are out for blood against a small family from Philadelphia. Preacher does all that he can to temper the conflicts the family faces from the frontier and with one another., but not without great loss. Such a thrill to read and experience the first mountain man in another wild adventure!
Profile Image for Kathy Dobronyi.
Author 1 book15 followers
December 11, 2020
I like Preacher and thought he was well written. Plot got a little farfetched from time to time, but the story continually moved forward until the end. Sadly, that seemed more than a little contrived.
32 reviews
October 11, 2022
Preacher Never fails to draw me into the story!

Preacher is probably one of the best characters I’ve ever read. He really draws you into a great time that I always wished I coulda been a part of. Well, now you can through these pages. Get to reading! You’ll love it!
Profile Image for Preston  Dannelley.
348 reviews11 followers
June 23, 2019
Baby-sittin greenhorns...again

A few twists and turns make this story quite different and as always quite interesting. Read on folks, I know you will enjoy it!
4 reviews
March 18, 2020
Another great book

Another great book on to the next.
William Johnston’s has yet to let my wife and myself down love this series

Profile Image for Erik Waters.
17 reviews
November 29, 2021
Had annoying continuity errors. It was like several chapters of the previous book were ignored. Otherwise... loved it.
2 reviews
Read
February 3, 2022
Excellent

Very good reading. Hard to put it down. Look forward to next book in series. Johnstone keeps your interest up.
43 reviews
February 18, 2022
Preachers Journey

Book 11 is just as good as the first 10. The Johnstone s came up with a completely different story line. It was a good one too. Keep them coming.....
Profile Image for Joshua Bunnell.
Author 10 books1 follower
April 2, 2022
Great Preacher book, definitely one of the most rewarding endings in a while.
21 reviews
March 23, 2024
Another great book

I have gotten hooked on the books by William W. Johnstone. There are history lessons in most of them too.
Profile Image for Eric.
755 reviews
May 13, 2015
Preacher just wants to live his life peacefully without problems from others. But does that ever happen? No the pilgrims always want to go west at the wrong times and Preacher can't say no. This time a family has a secret that gets not only them but Preacher in trouble by the Indians.
731 reviews2 followers
July 20, 2013
Another good novel by this author.
1 review
April 8, 2015
I enjoy the Preacher series by Johnstone.
Profile Image for Brad Meyers.
73 reviews8 followers
May 12, 2015
Preacher's a badass like always. I will read all of these eventually.
13 reviews
August 7, 2015
Great Western novel

Good characters and action. If you like westerners this book will be a good read. Now time for me to go back and read some of the earlier Mountain Men novels.
Profile Image for Tony Dincau.
Author 1 book14 followers
July 17, 2016
William takes you there, and writes to make you feel you are living it. Well done!
862 reviews2 followers
April 11, 2017
A Great Book!

This is a very enjoyable story full of adventure and thrills. I read this from front to back without putting it down.
1,249 reviews23 followers
Read
January 11, 2018
PREACHER LEADS THE WAY

Preacher aides, protects three families headed for Oregon, to settle and start a new life. What Preacher doesn't know is that these pioneers are hiding secrets, that could cause the death of everyone in the wagon train.
As always lots of western actions that happens to pioneers traveling through Indian territories; also there's the dangers of ambushes from owlhoots.
Another great Preacher and Dog helping where they can, afterwards he's heading south to Texas, where he will spend the winter..but you never know what adventures he'll run into heading south.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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