Hard Men to Kill

Hard Men to Kill #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

In this action-packed new series, a rascally pair of prospectors run for their lives from a gun-toting posse—and discover a million ways to die in San Francisco’s criminal underworld . . .

Charlie Dawson and his partner Clem don’t consider themselves bad guys. But they definitely made a bad error in judgment on a gold mine deal—turns out there was no gold—and ended up in a shootout with some very angry claim jumpers. Now a posse is in hot pursuit of Charlie and Clem. The unlucky pair hightail it to San Francisco, where they try to blend into the notorious red-light district known as Barbary Coast. Another bad decision on their part . . .
 
San Francisco is one wild place. Horses get stolen, folks get shanghaied, and Charlie and Clem get offers from some very shady characters with money to burn, so the boys  can’t refuse. A big boss banker wants to hire them to find a crate that was lost in a train derailment. Inside is a priceless golden spike created for the opening ceremony of a new rail line. Sounds like easy money to Charlie and Clem. Problem is, they’re not the only ones looking for it. A vicious gang of outlaws, a cold-blooded gunman—and a scheming femme fatale—are on a direct collision course with the hard-to-kill duo . . .
 
And they’re all heading for one very dead end.
 
Live Free. Read Hard.
williamjohnstone.net

Genres: Westerns

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published April 1, 2025

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

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

Hard Men To Kill is the first book in the series titled the same thing by William W Johnstone and Jay A Johnstone, we meet two minors Charlie and Clem who get ran off of the Betty Sue despite the fact they’ve been told no gold is in the rock soon after they’re driven out of town and decide to head to San Francisco. Through Dumb luck the two minors become finders of loss things whether it be a stolen horse of Shanghai banker son or a spike made out of gold. it’s the gold spike that gives them the most trouble and where one of them falls in love with Greta a woman no one should trust and is only out for herself, they almost get killed and Charlie believes he’s been abandoned by Clint for Greta. This book was OK but it was in no way like the other Johnstone westerns I feel like IDK it was too fanciful and although I enjoyed it it seems lately the books are missing something I cannot put my finger on but having said that I still enjoyed it and would still recommend it. #NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #WilliamAndJJohnstone, #HardMenToKill,

[Midge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action packed fast read. Miners get swindled out of their mine. Then they become "finders of lost things" when asked to locate someone. Then asked to find something. Get involved with more than anticipated. Very good.

[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.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, the irritating thing is still another another book of 2 palls and their adventures. The two are much like other recent #1-in-a-series duos the Johnstone Clan has unleashed as a claimed to be a series, that may never have a #2 book.

In this case, a #2 isn't needed and I'd suggest to stop here and revisit the few dozen other series left in the dust over the decades.
The more important thing I recognized with this #1-in-a-series is that it may be the best of the last few years.
There's the typical solid characters that is a Johnstone hallmark.
There's also a solid story that is very well plotted. There are twists. Turns. Humor. Fun.

If there is a series to keep, this is it. Drop the rest....or continue older series.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of ten points.
This book made available via NetGalley.com

[Paula Schumm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of this western novel. Two men own a gold mine that doesn’t produce. In order to bring in some cash, they start a business finding lost things. Recommended.

[Nolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. 👎