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MacCallister #2
The Killing
The Greatest Western Writer Of The 21st CenturyA family of Scottish warriors. A stranger in a new land. . .. From the bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, the blazing saga of Duff MacCallister, heir to a legacy of courage. A Killing Too FarDuff MacCallister fled the Scottish Highlands for a new world in Wyoming Territory. Betrothed to a good woman, Duff has the bad luck to be standing in the Chugwater Bank when a violent robbery explodes around him. With one man dead by Duff's gun, and another under arrest, a team of bandits swarms outside of town. As witnesses, Duff, a banker, and a beautiful barmaid are whisked into the town's hotel for safe-keeping as the outlaws threaten the defenseless town with a bloodbath if their fellow bandit isn't set free. Except no MacCallister has ever run from trouble. With a scoped Creedmoor rifle he goes after the Taylor gang, one bad guy at a time. . ..But Duff doesn't know that fate--and a little twist of frontier justice--will give the Taylor Gang one last chance for a shocking, treacherous act of revenge. . .First Time In Print!
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
227 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,055 books1,396 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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February 9, 2020CRACK KINGSLEY
Aye all you westerners here's another Duff MacCallister adventure for all to enjoy. He's becoming more entrenched with the town folks of Chugwater, Wyoming. He's returned from Scotland where he finally and hopefully come to terms with the death of his beloved Skye.
So now Duff is back at his ranch, and his partner in the gold mine Elmer Gordon, who also takes care of the ranch. They are good friends and that's a good thing, he's got Duff's back. It's good when you have that type of relationship. Shucks Duff MacCallister is a forced to be dealt with..So our friend has decided to buy cattle for his ranch. While in Scotland he spoke with a friend about raising "Black Angus Cattle" in America which wasn't unheard of. So Scotch agent provided him with a name of an agent in America who sells "Black Cattle Cattle ."Duff sent a wire to the Kansas City Cattle Exchange for an appointment to come and purchase his beloved "Black Angus Cattle." A Mr. Montgomery met with Duff in Kansas City and settled how many cattle he would purchase. The purchase was completed for approximately four hundred and fifty cattle. Now this is the humdinger, an agent working at the Exchange, Hodge Denman has a gambling habit which has gotten him in some mucky murky trouble with folks wanting their money..we know the type right??this is the second time Mr. Denman has gotten himself in trouble again, but this time he's really did the deal, he's forged his father-in-law's name on a loan for his business and home. He's also taken a loan on his home. He's in debt to these gambling houses for four thousand dollars. Folks that's a lot of money 💰💰for anyone to owe on something that shouldn't have occurred.
Hodge Denman set-up Duff for a robbery, hopefully the outcome would be death. That way Denman could leave his family and debts for a new start, which includes a new name. Duff was assaulted for the satchel which contained over sixteen thousand dollars. The sun who assaulted him was named Crack Kingsley, a mean ex-solder
who ran with the likes of "Doc Jennison, a jayhawker, who some really bad men. These men weren't any better than the rabble "Bloody Bill Anderson"again a rough bunch, no mercy or quarter from these raiders.
So Crack Kingsley does his part, but instead of delivering the satchel to Hodge Denman, Crack leaves town heading West. It's been over a week and Hodge hasn't heard from Crack, so that night 🌙 Hodge's father-in-law accuses him of forging his name and the bank was ready to foreclose on his business and home. Mrs. Denman has had enough and told Hodge that she was leaving and filing for divorce..what a hot 🔥🔥mess!
Bottom line to this mess was Hodge Denman house of cards crashed upon him so he takes a pistol and shoots his father-in-law and turns the gun upon himself, a murder suicide!!
Duff and Elmer go after the man Crack Kingsley to get his money back.
A another show of emigrants who aren't considered Americans, but who have left their birth country for another land to live free from persecution. You all know food, shelter and the right to make your own decisions. So all you Duff MacCallister readers please read "Book 2"
and ENJOY ENJOY this series.
Aye all you westerners here's another Duff MacCallister adventure for all to enjoy. He's becoming more entrenched with the town folks of Chugwater, Wyoming. He's returned from Scotland where he finally and hopefully come to terms with the death of his beloved Skye.
So now Duff is back at his ranch, and his partner in the gold mine Elmer Gordon, who also takes care of the ranch. They are good friends and that's a good thing, he's got Duff's back. It's good when you have that type of relationship. Shucks Duff MacCallister is a forced to be dealt with..So our friend has decided to buy cattle for his ranch. While in Scotland he spoke with a friend about raising "Black Angus Cattle" in America which wasn't unheard of. So Scotch agent provided him with a name of an agent in America who sells "Black Cattle Cattle ."Duff sent a wire to the Kansas City Cattle Exchange for an appointment to come and purchase his beloved "Black Angus Cattle." A Mr. Montgomery met with Duff in Kansas City and settled how many cattle he would purchase. The purchase was completed for approximately four hundred and fifty cattle. Now this is the humdinger, an agent working at the Exchange, Hodge Denman has a gambling habit which has gotten him in some mucky murky trouble with folks wanting their money..we know the type right??this is the second time Mr. Denman has gotten himself in trouble again, but this time he's really did the deal, he's forged his father-in-law's name on a loan for his business and home. He's also taken a loan on his home. He's in debt to these gambling houses for four thousand dollars. Folks that's a lot of money 💰💰for anyone to owe on something that shouldn't have occurred.
Hodge Denman set-up Duff for a robbery, hopefully the outcome would be death. That way Denman could leave his family and debts for a new start, which includes a new name. Duff was assaulted for the satchel which contained over sixteen thousand dollars. The sun who assaulted him was named Crack Kingsley, a mean ex-solder
who ran with the likes of "Doc Jennison, a jayhawker, who some really bad men. These men weren't any better than the rabble "Bloody Bill Anderson"again a rough bunch, no mercy or quarter from these raiders.
So Crack Kingsley does his part, but instead of delivering the satchel to Hodge Denman, Crack leaves town heading West. It's been over a week and Hodge hasn't heard from Crack, so that night 🌙 Hodge's father-in-law accuses him of forging his name and the bank was ready to foreclose on his business and home. Mrs. Denman has had enough and told Hodge that she was leaving and filing for divorce..what a hot 🔥🔥mess!
Bottom line to this mess was Hodge Denman house of cards crashed upon him so he takes a pistol and shoots his father-in-law and turns the gun upon himself, a murder suicide!!
Duff and Elmer go after the man Crack Kingsley to get his money back.
A another show of emigrants who aren't considered Americans, but who have left their birth country for another land to live free from persecution. You all know food, shelter and the right to make your own decisions. So all you Duff MacCallister readers please read "Book 2"
and ENJOY ENJOY this series.
June 16, 2023
The Black Cattle
Duff finds it difficult to buy the cattle he wants, a crooked business man with gambling debts, an outlaw with law breaking friends and a lot of cash sets the stage. Duff has friends that find a way to help him. A cowboy good story.
Duff finds it difficult to buy the cattle he wants, a crooked business man with gambling debts, an outlaw with law breaking friends and a lot of cash sets the stage. Duff has friends that find a way to help him. A cowboy good story.
February 15, 2017
Very Good!
This is a great tale as usual from this fine writer. Great plot and excellent writing as I always expect from him.
This is a great tale as usual from this fine writer. Great plot and excellent writing as I always expect from him.
June 8, 2019
I feel like Megan is gonna die in one of these books but I like her and that will make me sad.
November 17, 2020
Awesome read
Great fast action packed with great characters have a hard time putting down because anxious to find out out how it All unravels.
Great fast action packed with great characters have a hard time putting down because anxious to find out out how it All unravels.
January 27, 2023
Good old, easy reading western series. I like it.
May 18, 2023
Disappointed; much to short a read and a come on to pay more to continue following the theme of the story. I’ll avoid following this kind of con job from here on out!
February 7, 2017
Seems the Johnstone Clan corral let the MacCallister writers wander further from the ranch. Inconsistencies abound from the previous first book in the series. The writing improves, but not enough.
Not sure what went haywire or even why the Megan character had a spelling change to Meghan. Kinda fits this oddly handled character. In the first book she seemed to be written with personality issues. In this volume it gets worse. She's written as she is needed. Most of the characters are. Same with the main character who, in a year, seems to have shed his Scottish accent and ways mighty quick. The best written of the characters is the real bad guy in all of this.
The writing is a huge step up from the previous book, but still lacking. Settings and characters are below Johnstone standards. The story is OK, but missing typical Johnstone excitement levels. With substandard characters and the lesser writing, this book falls in as just another western novel.
Another thing is the title. Never did understand 'The Killing' aspect of the book. There is no specific "Killing" done in the book to warrant the title. Of course, that aligns with my usual complaint about the silly covers to this and other Johnstone books.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 4 out of 5 points.
Not sure what went haywire or even why the Megan character had a spelling change to Meghan. Kinda fits this oddly handled character. In the first book she seemed to be written with personality issues. In this volume it gets worse. She's written as she is needed. Most of the characters are. Same with the main character who, in a year, seems to have shed his Scottish accent and ways mighty quick. The best written of the characters is the real bad guy in all of this.
The writing is a huge step up from the previous book, but still lacking. Settings and characters are below Johnstone standards. The story is OK, but missing typical Johnstone excitement levels. With substandard characters and the lesser writing, this book falls in as just another western novel.
Another thing is the title. Never did understand 'The Killing' aspect of the book. There is no specific "Killing" done in the book to warrant the title. Of course, that aligns with my usual complaint about the silly covers to this and other Johnstone books.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 4 out of 5 points.
March 14, 2012
Duff MacCallister finally had his ranch ready for cattle and he didn't want longhorns. The plan was to introduce Black Angus, the Scottish breed, to Wyoming Territory. He made arrangements for five hundred head, twenty of them seed bulls.
He was double-crossed about here. The man handling the account owed a large gambling debt and finagled things around where Duff was told he would have to bring cash instead of a bank draft. Then he hires an outlaw, Crack Kingsley, to steal it from him. A blow to the head late one night while switching trains did the job.
He sends for his horse, Skye, and begins trailing the man when he learns Kingsley's identity. His friend, Elmer Gleason, brought his horse and is with him. Gleason has his own score to settle with Kingsley. During the war, the outlaw rode with Kansas Jayhawkers and raided a farm, killing the men and killing and raping the women. One of those women was Gleason's soon-to-be bride.
Nice, action-filled western.
One final thing. I don't know who wrote the back cover copy, but the book it describes bears no resemblance whatsoever to what was between the covers. Possibly the next book and they got the copy confused.
He was double-crossed about here. The man handling the account owed a large gambling debt and finagled things around where Duff was told he would have to bring cash instead of a bank draft. Then he hires an outlaw, Crack Kingsley, to steal it from him. A blow to the head late one night while switching trains did the job.
He sends for his horse, Skye, and begins trailing the man when he learns Kingsley's identity. His friend, Elmer Gleason, brought his horse and is with him. Gleason has his own score to settle with Kingsley. During the war, the outlaw rode with Kansas Jayhawkers and raided a farm, killing the men and killing and raping the women. One of those women was Gleason's soon-to-be bride.
Nice, action-filled western.
One final thing. I don't know who wrote the back cover copy, but the book it describes bears no resemblance whatsoever to what was between the covers. Possibly the next book and they got the copy confused.
November 4, 2016
MY THOUGHTS
Rather different than your normal Western reads. This is about a Scotsman coming and settling in the Wyoming territory. He plans on starting a cattle ranch with Black Angus, a new breed of Black Angus. I felt that Duff MacCallister is a character that you can actually like. He's a rancher, a cattleman, a shootist and an all around god person. The author gives you good plot and it's a good entertaining book. The author gives the reader a good plot, well written with characters you want to get to know. Maybe not your typical western but that's good. The descriptions of the characters allow you to picture them as though you are sitting in front of the Chugwater Bank and watching all of them as they go about their daily lives. Haven't read the first book but plan to and look forward to books 3--5. So if you like Westerns and want a little bit of a change from the ordinary, this is it. Try it and decide for yourself.
Rather different than your normal Western reads. This is about a Scotsman coming and settling in the Wyoming territory. He plans on starting a cattle ranch with Black Angus, a new breed of Black Angus. I felt that Duff MacCallister is a character that you can actually like. He's a rancher, a cattleman, a shootist and an all around god person. The author gives you good plot and it's a good entertaining book. The author gives the reader a good plot, well written with characters you want to get to know. Maybe not your typical western but that's good. The descriptions of the characters allow you to picture them as though you are sitting in front of the Chugwater Bank and watching all of them as they go about their daily lives. Haven't read the first book but plan to and look forward to books 3--5. So if you like Westerns and want a little bit of a change from the ordinary, this is it. Try it and decide for yourself.
December 6, 2012
I picked this up after reading other William Johnstone books and reading the back cover. It sounded like an interesting storyline. And it is. But the story in the book isn't the story described on the back cover. It's a totally different storyline about McCallister and his attempts to stock his ranch with Black Angus cattle and the obstacles that he encounters. A good read, but not what I expected from the back cover.
April 12, 2015
I'm hooked two books into the MacCallister series. Fun, Entertaining, and well researched Western Novel.
Style of writing is quick, fun, and exciting with an underlying story that always comes to point in the end.
Ok, I'm hooked and will read more.
Style of writing is quick, fun, and exciting with an underlying story that always comes to point in the end.
Ok, I'm hooked and will read more.
May 8, 2012
This is not my usual genre so it took me a while to get into it, but I did enjoy the story and will probably try another.
January 4, 2013
Loved it....cant wait for the next one to come out.
December 29, 2014
Loved it.
Johnstone western are the best I've read and if I had space and money they would be right beside my Louis L'Amour collection!
Johnstone western are the best I've read and if I had space and money they would be right beside my Louis L'Amour collection!
October 26, 2015
Well written, suspenseful, kept me interested. Not your typical, predictable western. The descriptions and characters were good.
November 13, 2015
Duff again!
Duff MacCallister ids real hero, a Western cattleman & a shootist! Good character, good storyline & a good, fun read!!!
Duff MacCallister ids real hero, a Western cattleman & a shootist! Good character, good storyline & a good, fun read!!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews