Beans, Bourbon, and Blood

Luke Jensen-Dewey McKenzie #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. HOMESTYLE JUSTICE WITH A SIDE OF SLAUGHTER.

In this explosive new series, Western legend Luke Jensen teams up with chuckwagon cook Dewey “Mac” McKenzie to dish out a steaming plate of hot-blooded justice. But in a corrupt town like Hangman’s Hill, revenge is a dish best served cold . . .

BEANS, BOURBON, AND A RECIPE FOR DISASTER

The sight of a rotting corpse hanging from a noose is enough to stop any man in his tracks—and Luke Jensen is no exception. Sure, he could just keep riding through. He’s got a prisoner to deliver, after all. But when a group of men show up with another prisoner for another hanging, Luke can’t turn his back—especially when the condemned man keeps swearing he’s innocent. Right up to the moment he’s hung by the neck till he’s dead . . .

Welcome to Hannigan’s Hill, Wyoming. Better known as Hangman’s Hill.
Luke’s pretty shaken up by what he’s seen and decides to stay the night, get some rest and grab some grub. The town marshal agrees to lock up Luke’s prisoner while Luke heads to a local saloon and restaurant called Mac’s Place. The pub’s owner—a former chuckwagon cook named Dewey “Mac” McKensie—serves up a bellyfull of chow and an earful of gossip. According to Mac, the whole stinking town is run by corrupt cattle baron Ezra Hannigan. Ezra owns practically everything. Including the town marshal. And anyone who gets in his way ends up swinging from a rope . . .

Mac might be just an excellent cook. But he’s got a ferocious appetite for justice—and a fearsome new friend in Luke Jensen. Together, they could end Hannigan’s reign of terror. But when Hannigan calls in his hired guns, it’ll be their necks on the line . . . or dancing from the end of a rope.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 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

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bounty hunter Luke Jensen has never been my favorite character but here he teams up with Dewey "Mac" McKenzie from the Chuckwagon Trail series in a good western with an old theme. Beans, Bourbon, and Blood by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is a rather traditional western with a small comunity held in an iron grip by a powerful rancher and his corrupt judge and town marshall. This is supposed tpo be a new series and I think that it will be a good one, not that the Johnstone estate needs more series. Still I am a sucker for westerns and this is one and I will continue reading the work from Johnstone. I thank Pinnacle and Netgalley fro letting me read this advance copy.

[Curt Dunnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Beans, Bourbon, and Blood” by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is an action-packed, 5-star western! Bounty hunter Luke Jensen finds himself in the middle of trouble upon arriving in the town of Hannigan’s Hill. Luke quickly befriends Dewey McKenzie, the owner of the best restaurant in town. Can these two save the town before it’s too late?

This is only the second western I have read, and I am hooked on the Johnstones’ books! The stories are engaging, with no shortage of action. I absolutely love the vocabulary—who can’t appreciate people being called “varmint” or “double-dang skunk”? There is enough character development to make you feel connected with the characters in the story. I am definitely going to read more by these authors. I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Luke gets into as this series continues!

Thanks to Kensington Books, William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

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

Beans, Bourbon and Blood by William W Johnstone in J a Johnstone find Luke Jensen traveling with his latest prisoner a con artist named Stallings and they need a place to stay for at least the night. Right before reaching Burlington Hill settlement they run up on a weak old corpse. The duo soon sees the sheriff who Luke learned name is Bowen. He’s swiftly let Luke know he’s more than welcome to stow his prisoner and stay in town but to mine his own business. The sheriff and his men also have a prisoner who’s crying that he is innocent and so something tells Luke he’s not lying. Soon after arriving in town everyone who speaks to seems to talk double talk in the main message Lucas is exactly what the sheriff already told him to mind his own business but when the sheriff jumps Luke and what Luke believes is a try at getting the reward for his prisoner the sheriff has just made the business in Burlington Hill Luke’s business. Luke would’ve been stomped into the pavement if not for his new friend and local cook Dewey McKenzie and despite Dewey and his assistant telling Luke to get his prisoner and leave town Luke refuses to, after all he is a Jensen. Before the end of the book Stallings will prove he is more good, than bad, Luke gets a partner, defend the first amendment and by the time he leaves town it will have a new name. This was a great book with once again a great plot I love the way the Johnstones right fight scenes as it is so easy to picture it in the gun fight are usually my favorite part. They write such great heroes in this book and I love the new character Dewey McKenzie although for some reason he seems so familiar to me. If you love great westerns then you definitely should start this new series with Luke and his new partner Mac, he makes the best biscuits and can handle a six shooter.#PelicanAndKensingtonBooks,#NetGalley, #WilliamWNJAJohnstone, #BeansBourbonInBlood,#Luke Jensen,

[Rachaelbookhunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beans, Bourbon, and Blood is a lot of fun. The main characters are from other series by William W Johnstone. We get a good sense they have a lot of history that should be read about.

The story is full of action. There are plenty of characters to root for and against, and maybe even one that could go either way. There is a lot of talk about food. I enjoyed seeing how the town ran a newspaper and a popular restaurant.

The main story itself is very good, a case of a town standing up against the big bad. After everything is resolved there is some excitement to see where the next book in the series will take Luke Jensen and Mac Mckenzie. I also hope we get to follow up with the town.

[Mandy Lehti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beans, Bourbon, and Blood by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is a rip-roaring Western that kicks down the saloon doors and never looks back. It’s classic Johnstone Country where the whiskey’s strong, the villains are rotten, and justice gets served with a smoking six shooter and a side of grit.

The story ropes readers in from the first grisly scene: Luke Jensen, a bounty hunter with his own moral code, rides into Hangman’s Hill a town so crooked it could give a snake vertigo. When Luke witnesses a hanging that doesn’t sit right, he’s pulled into a deadly standoff between decency and corruption. Enter Dewey “Mac” McKenzie, a chuckwagon cook with a big heart, quick wit, and a skillet full of righteous fury. Together, they take on a town owned by a ruthless cattle baron, and the result is pure Western gold.

Johnstone’s trademark storytelling shines through sharp dialogue, bullet fast pacing, and characters you can practically smell the gunpowder on. Luke’s stoic sense of honor paired with Mac’s down home charm makes for a dynamic duo that’s as entertaining as it is deadly. The humor crackles, the tension builds like a thunderstorm, and when the shooting starts, you can almost hear the echo off the canyon walls.

For readers who love Longmire, Tombstone, or the classic Westerns of Louis L’Amour, Beans, Bourbon, and Blood delivers everything you’d want: a tough-as-nails hero, a crooked town begging for a reckoning, and a story steeped in justice, vengeance, and good old-fashioned grit.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

In William Johnstone's latest Jensen Universe novel, Beans Bourbon and Blood (Pinnacle July 2024) a Luke Jensen Dewey McKenzie Western, Luke Jensen is the bounty hunter son of Smoke Jensen. Rather than join his father's successful ranch, he wanders the West, bringing the worst criminals to justice for the bounty on their heads. He's highly successful at this and it suits his nomadic personality more than staying in one place working a ranch. In this episode, Luke tracks down a con artist who infuriated a US Senator enough that he offered Luke a massive bounty to bring the man to justice. Luke incarcerates the man in Hannigan’s Hill, Wyoming, planning to move on the next day. The Senator tells him to wait there for further instructions which turns into a week, or longer, giving Luke time to befriend Mac McKenzie, the owner of the town's most popular café, who tells him about a rich rancher doing everything legal and illegal to take over the town and surrounding areas, including killing anyone in his way. Luke hates injustice, but might have left it alone except that Mac's life is threatened. Now, Luke can't stand back.

This is another good story, led by a fascinating character who I enjoy immensely. It is perfect for the Luke Jensen portion of the Jensen Universe.

[Bryan Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Jensen is a bounty hunter who’s seen his share of violence and with his current captive he plans on taking the reward and possibly relaxing but when he enters a small town in Wyoming something does not sit well with him. Along the way Luke will find friends from a cook, a colorful bounty hunter, a newsman, and a few more. This is a first of Johnstone’s many novels for me and it will not be my last as I am hooked if he tells more stories like this. With plenty of story, background for characters, exposition, and a hell of a lot of old west be ready for the ride. Hop on your horse and be ready for some totals.

Hanged man x2
Dead bodies x21
Arson x2
About 10 gallons of blood
about 2000 rounds of ammo
Freedom of the press
Midnight street brawl
Midnight homestead gun battle
Midnight showdown with double cross
Cafe beat down brawl
Brawl in Sherri’s jail x2
Brothel surprise sex with knockout

Food descriptions to make you salivate
Saloon smell : whiskey, beer, rum, lilac, tobacco, sawdust, unwashed flesh , human waste
One eyed ruthless bounty hunter

Slang
Who hit John - whiskey

Swedish
jävla skitstöular!" - fucking bastards

“The only real law is what a man packs with him."

[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.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the old west at its ugliest! It should be simple. Luke Jensen, Bounty Hunter, has a prisoner who is on the wanted list, has a bounty on his head and Luke plans to collect. He is on his way to Hannigan's Hill to request his prisoner be held, use the telegraph office to contact the person who hired him, and wait for a response. He would collect his $2500 bounty and leave the area. It all changed in a flash. As he entered the area, on the hill by the roadway was a hangman's tree with a man hanging who had been there for a few days. This was extraordinary! The storyline is excellent, and the writing brings the reader into the town itself. I could see the criminal activities, taste the pie at Mac's and read the paper printed by the local news outlet. This book details the corrupt cattle ranch owner, the activities in the saloon and the people that live in the area. Thanks for great writing!

[Gerald Matzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this story of the Old West, a bounty hunter with a prisoner comes across a hanging just outside the town of Hannigan’s Hill. Something doesn’t seem right and as the story unfolds, he discovers that the town is run by Ezra Hannigan and his hand picked Marshall and Judge do whatever he wants. The more time he spends there the more friends he makes and he becomes determined to put a stop to the bullies who make life miserable for most people in and around the town. It is a fast paced story with some great characters. Johnstone tells a good yarn.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Luke Jensen book that has him arriving in town with a footing corpse hanging from a tree. He can leave his prisoner in the jail but what he finds in the town is that one man Ezra Hannigan is set on owning everything around in the area and will go to any lengths to get what he wants. He makes friends with Mac a former trail cook and along with a few others they set out to finally put an end to the man’s way. A good story with many different and excellent characters to help the story along. A very good Western.

[Nae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, but then I always love reading a western of any kind ... the bad guys are bad, good guys are goof, the good guy generally ends up with the girl and bad guys end up in jail. For mw westerns are relaxing reading, no stressing over the ambiguities just easy feet up with a libation in hand reading :)

[PearlDoll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Came for the Bourbon, Stayed for the Beans, and Bled Internally from the boredom.
I won't lie, I read this faster than I even thought.
This book had all the ingredients for a hearty Western stew: a grizzled bounty hunter, a corrupt cattle baron, and a town named Hangman’s Hill (subtle). But somehow, it all simmered down to lukewarm cliché. Yikes

[Lizenbyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luke Jensen enters Hannigan Hill as a bounty hunter with a prisoner. He finds that the town is terrorized by Ezra Hannigan as he tries to get ranches and run the town in a reign of terror and greed. Luke makes friends and they ultimately overthrow Ezra's men.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

24-81. Great action packed western. Haven't read this scenario before. Enjoyed the humor, fight scenes, and the villains. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Libby app.

[Dirk Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a good read

I really enjoyed reading this book. Lots of action. Can't wait for the next one the series. I think others will enjoy this book also. I would recommend this book to everyone

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

Exciting…!!!

Quite a page turner. Each chapter was written about characters who had charm and savvy. Definitely, a hard book to put down (even when nature made its call 😅😂🤣). Recommended for all ages.

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another new series. I thought this was a bit of a slow-paced story. Rather boring in a lot of areas. Also, same type story, of a rancher who wants more land, has his own men as sheriff and deputies on his payroll. Has the town treed and scared of him. Been done before.

[Grady Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure From Start to Finish

Luke Jensen does it again as a bounty hunter. He’s always getting caught in helping others overcome evil for good! He definitely worth reading about!!

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

SO boring .I had to skim read to try to finish it .

It dragged n dragged and should been 1/3 shorter ..maybe thrn the action would of seemed like action

[Jenifer Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved to see another Luke Jensen! Loved to see the pairing with Dewey McKenzie

[Rob Novo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. Characters are pretty typical but very entertaining. Definitely worth reading

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick. Easy. Enjoyable.

[Chris Heath · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very modest book compared to other action authors. That is, the writing isn't very "suspence-ful" or skilled. I don't plan to read any more of this series.

[Margaret Pagnotta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too violent for me.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Scott Mcleod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Luke Jensen story, and he gets to meet a character from another book series; the chuck wagon cook Mac!

[Jason Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book, I was engaged and enjoyed the storyline.