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Sidewinders #5
Deadwood Gulch
The Greatest Western Writer Of The 21st Century
Famed for his Mountain Man and Eagles epics, William W. Johnstone, with J.A. Johnstone, now introduces two hard-riding, trouble-prone Texans-with a knack for keeping the west as wild as it ever was. . .
When A Devil Comes Calling, Meet Him With A Gun. . .
Two years after Wild Bill Hickok made his mark on Deadwood, Scratch Morton and Bo Creel make theirs. Their job is guarding gold shipments from the mining camps-shipments that keep getting hijacked by a gang called the Devils of Deadwood who plunge pitchforks into their victims' bodies. With Thanksgiving approaching, Scratch just wants to carve a turkey with a handsome widow woman at his side. Course, when the U.S. Army comes to the rescue, all hell breaks loose. The widow gets taken hostage. So do a bunch of soldiers. Now, Scratch and Bo are going after missing gold and a band of vicious killers in the heart of a winter storm.
Some days, it just doesn't pay to get out of bed.
Famed for his Mountain Man and Eagles epics, William W. Johnstone, with J.A. Johnstone, now introduces two hard-riding, trouble-prone Texans-with a knack for keeping the west as wild as it ever was. . .
When A Devil Comes Calling, Meet Him With A Gun. . .
Two years after Wild Bill Hickok made his mark on Deadwood, Scratch Morton and Bo Creel make theirs. Their job is guarding gold shipments from the mining camps-shipments that keep getting hijacked by a gang called the Devils of Deadwood who plunge pitchforks into their victims' bodies. With Thanksgiving approaching, Scratch just wants to carve a turkey with a handsome widow woman at his side. Course, when the U.S. Army comes to the rescue, all hell breaks loose. The widow gets taken hostage. So do a bunch of soldiers. Now, Scratch and Bo are going after missing gold and a band of vicious killers in the heart of a winter storm.
Some days, it just doesn't pay to get out of bed.
- GenresWesterns
329 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,055 books1,423 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.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 17, 2022
In this instalment of the Sidewinders series we find the two saddle tramps in Deadwood Dakota territory. They find out that a gang has been stealing gold and cash from the mines and cashing them somewhere. They go on a heroic adventure to find out who is responcible and bring them to a quick western justice. I highly recommend this entire series.
June 12, 2011
When Bo Creel and Scratch Morton rode to Deadwood, they were nearly tapped out. They had no interest in working in the gold mines, so when they heard the tale of The Deadwood Devils, a gang robbing the gold wagons coming from the mines, they saw their chance. The gang got their name from their propensity for carving a pitchfork in the foreheads of the victims they left dead.
They got the idea of getting the mine owners to hire them to find these "Devils" and recover the stolen gold. They got nowhere, after a mining engineer they'd had a run-in with on their arrival in town passed the word around.
That is, until they came to the last mine, the Golden Queen, owned by young Martha Sutton after her father dropped dead of a heart attack. The mine was snake-bitten, several loads had been stolen, and she couldn't make payroll. The few miners loyal were working for room and board in the hope she would eventually get the money to pay them.
Drivers and guards had become scarce, So far, only one man had survived the raids, old Chloride Coleman, a driver thrown clear when the wagon crashed and he escaped in the underbrush. A stigma had become attached to him, the only survivor, he must be in with the gang.
Bo and Scratch team up with Chloride, he driving for Miss Sutton, they guards, to bring a load in from the mine. They become the first to fight off an attack from the "Devils" and gained a bit of celebrity. Such that the gang attempted to burn Chloride's shack one night, with all three inside.
Which confirmed what they already believed. The gang posed as honest citizens in town.
Could the three end the reign of terror and save the mines, thus Deadwood?
They were damn sure going to try.
They got the idea of getting the mine owners to hire them to find these "Devils" and recover the stolen gold. They got nowhere, after a mining engineer they'd had a run-in with on their arrival in town passed the word around.
That is, until they came to the last mine, the Golden Queen, owned by young Martha Sutton after her father dropped dead of a heart attack. The mine was snake-bitten, several loads had been stolen, and she couldn't make payroll. The few miners loyal were working for room and board in the hope she would eventually get the money to pay them.
Drivers and guards had become scarce, So far, only one man had survived the raids, old Chloride Coleman, a driver thrown clear when the wagon crashed and he escaped in the underbrush. A stigma had become attached to him, the only survivor, he must be in with the gang.
Bo and Scratch team up with Chloride, he driving for Miss Sutton, they guards, to bring a load in from the mine. They become the first to fight off an attack from the "Devils" and gained a bit of celebrity. Such that the gang attempted to burn Chloride's shack one night, with all three inside.
Which confirmed what they already believed. The gang posed as honest citizens in town.
Could the three end the reign of terror and save the mines, thus Deadwood?
They were damn sure going to try.
April 18, 2021
Another great book
You can't go wrong with this author, he writes nothing but the best. I loved reading Louis L'amour The Sacketts series, I think they write the same. The characters of these two are entertaining and love to see what trouble or help they get into. Will be reading the next book, sad to see the series is coming to the end.
You can't go wrong with this author, he writes nothing but the best. I loved reading Louis L'amour The Sacketts series, I think they write the same. The characters of these two are entertaining and love to see what trouble or help they get into. Will be reading the next book, sad to see the series is coming to the end.
June 15, 2024
Sidewinders is probably my favorite Johnstone series, and this one didn’t disappoint. Plenty of action, some humor, and lots of fun. I look forward to spending time with ol’ Bo and Scratch again soon! I’ll be disappointed when I reach the end of the series, but until then, I’ll keep riding the trail with them.
October 28, 2025
25-61. Good western. Bad guys, good guys and sweet ladies. Not as violently descriptive as some other novels Knox has penned. Not as intimately descriptive. Good story. I enjoyed the different approach and that a lady was in charge. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Libby app.
September 8, 2023
A great series
I've enjoyed this series and hope there just might be more to follow. They have been entertaining to read and full of action and adventure. Each tale was unique and kept the pages turning. Well written series,
I've enjoyed this series and hope there just might be more to follow. They have been entertaining to read and full of action and adventure. Each tale was unique and kept the pages turning. Well written series,
July 14, 2017
Great!
A really great tale of the west. Thrilling, interesting and good all the way through. The end was really a surprise.
A really great tale of the west. Thrilling, interesting and good all the way through. The end was really a surprise.
May 8, 2019
Comic books for big boys. Fun to read and learn a bit of history too.
January 15, 2024
I haven't read a book cover to cover for a long time, but I read this one in 9 hours without looking up. Now I can't wait to read the next one!
January 15, 2017
"HEADING DOWN TO MEXICO"
Heading down to Mexico way, where it's warm, sunny and complement with pretty senoritas. But before they reach their goal, Bo and Scratch need to earn a few dollars. Those familiar with the migration of the cow poke, know that there are men who never settle down; they roam all throughout the west taking any type of job, that will put a roof over their heads and a few pesos in their pockets. Sidewinders, this is the first time I've read about any of their journeys throughout the west. Not bad, lots of dialogue and the names of some of the characters are comical, it's so a fast read; u will not get bogged down with descriptive explanations. ENJOY..
Heading down to Mexico way, where it's warm, sunny and complement with pretty senoritas. But before they reach their goal, Bo and Scratch need to earn a few dollars. Those familiar with the migration of the cow poke, know that there are men who never settle down; they roam all throughout the west taking any type of job, that will put a roof over their heads and a few pesos in their pockets. Sidewinders, this is the first time I've read about any of their journeys throughout the west. Not bad, lots of dialogue and the names of some of the characters are comical, it's so a fast read; u will not get bogged down with descriptive explanations. ENJOY..
June 13, 2012
Gun-smoking, horse riding, shoot 'em up fun. Easy, quality read.
November 26, 2014
Your usual Johnstone read. Guns, pretty women, outlaws & drifting by the main characters. These books are like potatoe chips, good for a little while, but have no redeeming or lasting value.
November 20, 2015
A good story with a fast plot and interesting characters.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews