The Last Wagon Train

The Last Wagon Train #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

WILL THIS BE . . . THE LAST WAGON TRAIN?

A new railroad line is coming to Hansen's Bend—and the Old West will never be the same. Especially for the Callahans. They've been running the local wagon train outfit for years. But now a pompous rail boss named Arbuckle wants to put them out of business. This big-city weasel mocks the Callahans' "slow-poke" wagons—and bets he can finish laying track all the way to the end of the line before Callahan's wagon train even makes it over the mountains. Callahan accepts the challenge—and gets gunned down before it even starts . . .

But the contest isn't over. The wagoner's son, Luke "Tomahawk" Callahan, has returned to Hansen's Bend after five years as an army scout. He knows nothing about the rail boss's challenge or his father's murder-until he sees the newspaper "The Last Wagon Train?" The pretty lady journalist who wrote it wants to ride along and follow this story to the end. And of course, Tomahawk wants to defend his father's honor and avenge his death. But Arbuckle has sent his henchmen to sabotage the wagon train to make sure Tomahawk and his wagons are dead on arrival . . .

Genres: Westerns, Historical, Historical Fiction

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published October 22, 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

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to say that one could read just about any Johnstone book and find quality. The past five years or so has altered my stating or writing such. I don't know what's happened, but have included in my reviews a number of ideas. After reading through onward to 300 Johnstone books, there has definitely been a shift downward. Here is still another example of that.

I believe what first gets me is a third wagon train novel nearly in a row from the Johnstone Clan. I read the first two earlier this year and saw this was another writing of a haul west across the country and thought best to hold off as I had troubles with the first two. Didn't help, had trouble with this one, too.

What I marked most in this book were the endless contemporary phrases, Valley-Girl-like, throughout the entire book from ALL characters, whatever their persuasion. What makes that error glare is my simultaneously reading the Jonas Ward 'Buchanan' series of books written in the 1950s. What a contrast in language! Take into account when William was writing these and there has been quite a change. Is it to appeal to younger readers, bad writing or the lack of knowledge of the time period? Considering the odd assortment of instances which makes this book hard to pin in time, it's hard to know. Though, an editor should have better knowledge of the railroad industry throughout the 1800s to flag errors.

Of the three latest Johnstone books of traveling west, this one is the weakest. There's supposed to be a bad guy that is mentioned and there is confrontation, but throughout the book, I never read enough to find the conflict as to why there are so many later attacks. The attacks are more tacked on. The plot structure is just all are traveling west with obstacles thrown in. The connection between those that attacked and the bad guy is not better defined than involving money.

The ending, I found, very unsatisfying and as the focus was wrapping the story of the hero character and the bad guy got a short sendoff.

There are many better Johnstone Clan tales of wagon trains, specifically in the first quarter of the Preacher series. Hopefully, this is the Last of them.

Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action filled from start to finish. The story follows a young man leading a wagon train to Oregon for the first time. He is competing against the railroad that is building a railroad to the same location. Due to a prior bet that was made if Tom wins the company wins $10,000, if he loses the wagon train company is lost. It’s a battle till the very end. A great riveting story. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Wagon Train by William and Jay Johnstone is about Luke Tomahawk Callahan who after being impaled by a Native Americans arrow he’s convalescing when he reads an article titled the last wagon train. This interest him because his deceased father and uncle owned the Callahan brothers outfitters an outfit hopeful wagon trainers heading to Oregon and California. In the article it talks all about how his uncle Harold and a pompous railroad man named Archibald made a bet that the train could get to Oregon long before the slow poke wagon train. He asks for leave from his scouting duties with the military and heads back to Kansas to talk to his uncle. Unfortunately when he arrives he soon learns his uncle was gun down but his aunt Sheila tells him all about the bet. He at first wants to get out of the bed but after learning what a jerk the railroad man is he and his aunt announce the bed is on. Tomahawk will be responsible for hundreds of peoples lives and ask his uncles old second in command cookie, to help him navigate the trail. It isn’t long before they learned there is a Traitor in their mitts in the Railroad Man is it playing fare. This was a great book I love books about the Oregon Trail or wagon trains and this was a great one I did fine tomahawk was slightly different than most Johnstone heroes but still a hero just another great western by the John stones. #NetGalley, #Kensington Books, #WilliamAndJJohnstone, #TheLastWagonTrain,

[papasteve · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read about William W. Johnstone, you find out there may be a lot of fiction twisted in with fact. Evidently WWJ had died a couple of years before most people found out about it. There was no record of his death and no details I could find about how he died. But a bunch of books kept appearing after the fact. Either he wrote them from the grave, or someone was ghost writing stories under his name. Maybe like a bunch of best-selling authors, he had a stable of secondary writers who kept his name alive. Having said that, “The Last Wagon Train” reads a lot differently from other books of his that I have read. This one flowed better. Nice descriptive sentences. Good, consistent voices of the characters. No jerky-jerky storytelling like in previous books. So, maybe “The Last Wagon Train” was written by someone who knew how to write better than WWJ. But when it comes down to it, I don’t care who wrote this book—it’s a dang good story, very worthy of anyone’s time to read it.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Wagon Train (Pinnacle 2024) is a new story by William Johnstown about a wagon train headed down the Oregon Trail to Salem Oregon. This one is a break from the usual theme in that it is a race between the first railroad to run a line along that route and this final Wagon Train to see who can get there first. In this case, the railroad hasn't yet laid the lines so they can only win if they cheat. What a surprise. They try everything from burning up the wagons to an Indian attack to an inside guy who is tasked with making sure the wagon train loses.

It's a good story with plenty of clever action that made it almost impossible to put down. So why 4/5?  Because the twists and their resolutions were almost unbelievable albeit exciting. Still, there's lots of authentic information about the railroad era in America and the final days of wagon trains to keep history buffs turning pages.

[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.

[BlueFalkon95 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Wagon Train
by William W. Johnstone; J.A. Johnstone

4 Stars

Book 1 of The Last Wagon Train
Kensington Publishing
General Fiction Adult; Historical Fiction

This book The Last Wagon Train takes the reader back into the Wild West times. The beginning of steam trains and the end of an era for the Wagon Trains. A railway tycoon gives a huge challenge to the local Waggoner the challenge is accepted and a few things have gone wrong. The book was a little slow to start but a couple of chapters the plot begins to thicken and becomes rather interesting. A few simple twists and turns with some clever tricks are being made. The story follows a couple of tricky characters, a budding romance and friendships being created.

#TheLastWagonTrain #NetGalley.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from via NetGalley for my honest review of the book . The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke “Tomahawk” Callahan works with the Calvary as a scout and has come across a newspaper article that has his uncle making a bet with a railroad man about Callahans wagon train beating a train to the West Coast. By the time he gets to St. Louis and speaks to his Aunt, he finds that his uncle has passed and then he agrees to accept the challenge. It is a challenge along the way, for the railroad man is not playing fair and there is also someone on the wagon train working against him and for the train company. A very good book with many different characters and just enough action to keep the story moving along. A very good book.

[Jaco Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

ridiculous

I forgave all the conestogas apparently being pulled by two mules!?!
But when they decided to divert from the trail and the ambushers knew in advance /?? And they apparently could fire handguns accurately from galloping horses!!
Ridiculous, even allowing for all the other cliches!
Thus I did not get past half way!
A new author I could forgive. This is taking the pissistence.
The premise was ridiculous - the telling was good but the likelihood was RIDICULOUS!
The only excuse is that it was probably written before the well researched and written novels by CJ and RO!

[Susanne49 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I didn’t give it five stars because I save five stars for books that are completely outstanding like The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Sutterfeld.
I am a fan of Louis L’Amour and I find that William Johnstone is almost as good as a western writer. I liked the whole set up of this book, the bet between the wagon train and the railroad. The characters were different and show their own personalities. I guess rather early who the culprit was, but it did seem like there could be other possibilities. If you like westerns, give this author a try.

[leslie collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun Western and I am glad I read it. I think the main character Tomahawk Callahan is a memorable hero and someone I would love to know. The race between wagon train and iron train was a fun premise. We visit the landscape, the perils and the different people along the trail which makes the story enjoyable. If you want to visit the old west this a great book to start. I do plan to read more by the author. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rush to the west being Oregon, was on. It was a contest between the wagon train and the newly laid track for the train west. The locomotive group had bridges to build, and the wagons had hills to cross. This contest was the reason both groups worked hard, drove all day and then there was some cheating. It's an interesting book and every page was action. Thanks for a great read!

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have read a lot of stories of wagon trains through the years. This one was a little different. I liked it, kept me entertained. I was laughing at all the beans being eaten. People must have had a lot of gas. The only complaint about the story is it leaves you hanging at the end to set the reader up for the next story, A coffin for Tomahawk. Which is supposed to be out October 28, 2025.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+ I have read several books lately about wagon trains traveling the Oregon Trail. This one has an interesting twist…. The wagon train is trying to beat the building of railroad track and a train both heading to Salem, OR. Who will arrive first?

[RICHARD LEWIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callahan's Bet

A very good story! Has all the elements a good western! Plenty of action, strong characters, and a believable story line. It also includes just a touch of romance.I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. I would definitely recommend it!

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as a e book for my I Pad from net galley. I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. It is the first book I read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

[Donna M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mo 9

[Rick Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great entry from the Johnstones. This one is a bit different from the recipe of late that has gotten a bit old. Strongly recommended for a good western with a different twist

[Randall McCauley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story. But often could see what was coming.

Good at times but sometimes you could see what was coming. Then at times I was fooled completely. Check it out.

[Henry McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining plot.
Intriguing characters.
Believable challenges and obstacles.

[Francie Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I like Tomahawk Callahan. He is someone I’d like to meet. Strong in character and beliefs. I really did enjoy this book and hated when night time came.

[Keith Barros · Rating 5 out of 5]

compelling

Lots of unseen twists and turns in this book. A very compelling read. Enjoyable and readable. It will hold your interest.

[Lopsided · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good western. More a 3.5 star. 2.25 audio

[Adeline Russ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Wagon Train didn't hold my attention as much as I expected an historical novel to interest me. I didn't feel there was enough detail about a pioneer journey on the Oregon Trail. If you'd like a light read with Western flair, then you'll enjoy this book. Should you want more in depth and emotional experience then pass on this one.

I received this book free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenifer Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read! Was not expecting the villain to be who it turned out to be. Always like a hero who is truly good!!