Dry Road to Nowhere

Frontier Overland Company #2

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. TRAVEL AT YOUR OWN RISK. Some call it the most dangerous stagecoach in the West. But the hard-driving owners of the Frontier Overland Company will get you where you want to go—if you don’t mind a detour through hell . . . The Civil War is over. But Wyoming Territory is still a battleground for the native tribes who live there. Most folks avoid the area like the plague. But not former Texas Ranger Butch Keeler and his saloon fight buddy Tucker Cobb. They figured Wyoming would be the perfect place to launch the Frontier Overland Company—a rough-and-ready stagecoach operation that dares to go where others fear to tread. Butch and Cobb aren’t afraid of much—but their next stagecoach trip could change all that. And it just might be their last . . . The passengers are good Colonel McBride, who’s delivering much-needed supplies to Fort Washington, and his lovely niece, who wants to visit her dying father. Even though the road to get there is overrun with armed Lakota, Cheyenne, and other deadly threats, Butch and Cobb are determined to help an old friend. Problem is, their worst enemy—a power-hungry business rival and self-described “King”—is out there. Waiting for them. Laying a trap to destroy their operation. And plotting to burn everything to the ground. Over Butch and Cobb’s dead bodies . . .

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

In William Johnston's Dry Road to Nowhere (Pinnacle 2024), Book 2 of the Frontier Overland Company, Former Texas Ranger Butch Keeler and his buddy Tucker Cobb start their own stagecoach line, eager to be their own boss without someone else making the decisions. Book 1 tells of a somewhat rocky but successful start. Book 2 picks up as they become blacklisted by King Charles Hagen, the power house rich guy in the area who won't take no for an answer when he tells them he is going to buy them out. When they refuse, Hagen decides it'll be just as easy to run them out of business. Butch and Tucker don't quit, doing everything possible to attract what business they can and survive until--hopefully--Hagen will give up. The stakes get deadly when the woman Cobb is in love with--a soiled dove--becomes part of Hagen's plan to drive the the feisty stagecoach owners off the map.

It's a good story, a bit predictable at times, a few spots where plot points seem forced rather than organic, but it is kept interesting by the uncommon nature of the two main characters. I would like more details about running a stage coach line in the late 1800s since this isn't a storyline covered in many other old west books. Overall, a good read and I had no problem finishing the book.

[James Cheatham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've become a fan of westerns as of 2003. My first true love was and is "Tombstone".

This was my first ever western book. Going in with an open mind, I was not disappointed at all. The characters were easy to relate to, the plot was not predictable (which I truly appreciate), and the ending was unexpected!

[Oren T. Bergfald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story…!!! 🤠🤠🤠

Awesome Western. With a focus on friendship, romance and a gripping trial, “A Dry Road to Nowhere” will leave readers wanting more. Recommended for all readers. 📖📚📘📕

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, the title doesn't fit the book. The volume is so well done, it deserves a more related moniker.

This is the first Johnstone Clan series that is working as a serial. This is the 2nd entry and, as the book ends, there will be a 3rd. That's fine with me. This series is in my top 5 of the current Johnstone Clan books.

This one has the buddies in a few adventures and is written smoothly to the point, at the end, it's hard to imagine that the book had started with indians and defending a fort. The bulk of the book is a very well written story of two men immersed in the chaos brought by an unseen enemy and those that work for him. The bouncing back and forth to two cities and bad guys cleverly dropped in unexpected places makes a thrilling book.

This is certainly one of the best Johnstone Clan books of the past few years. Trouble being waiting for #3 int he series.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of ten points.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no such thing as a bad Johnstone western. Each series is built around main characters whose belief in the law and family is absolute, even if they've had to be reformed to get there. From Preacher, the original mountain man to the Jensen family to Perly Gates, to.....well, you get the point. Many times, characters from one series will show up in another as supporting hands. The communities are true to the era, clothing, guns, food and troubles are all what you'd find if you looked them up in the history books. No two stories are the same, each character or set of characters is unique and so are their stories. The writing is skillful, readers are pulled into the story and you will laugh and cry right along with the characters. I made the mistake of picking up a Johnstone western my uncle was reading. Ive been hooked ever since. Now I share them with my reading family and will continue as long as new Johnstones are released.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second story in the series of The Frontier Overland Company. I gave the first story a 2 rating. This one was better. The first part Butch Keeling and Tucker Cobb, and three others take a load of supplies to a fort that is blocked by Lakota and Cheyenne Indians.

The next part is Cobb’s girlfriend, Jane who is a soiled dove take off with Keeling on the stagecoach to a different town. However, they are still having problems with King Charles Hagen, hiring killers to take them down. There are some slow boring parts in the story, but mostly interesting enough to keep my attention. Plus, the ending surprised me, about jane. Didn’t see that one coming.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is back with Butch and Tucker still working at holding onto their stagecoach and now being hired by Colonel McBride to deliver supplies to the Fort that he used to be assigned to. Meanwhile, they must fight their way through because King wants to do away with all of them including the men in the Fort. A good story.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

24-65 One of the best Westerns Johnstone has written. Love the stage and the adventure. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Libby app.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are helluva good westerns. I miss the ol timey stories like these books. Glad I found this author.