The Forty-Niners: A Novel of the Gold Rush

The Forty-Niners #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

JOHNSTONE’S AMERICA. THE GOLD STANDARD.

Legendary national bestselling Western authors debut a bold, new series set in the wild, lawless, greed-filled historical era of the American Gold Rush.

THEY CALLED THEM THE FORTY-NINERS.
 
In January of 1848, the discovery of gold at Sutters Mill in California sparked a nationwide frenzy, fueling the dreams of Americans from coast to coast. By 1849, hundreds of thousands of fortune hunters from across the globe headed west to stake their claim. Armed with pan or pickaxe, driven by greed or glory, every last one of them was determined to strike it rich—or die trying. . . .
 
For Cord Bennett, it was more than a dream. California was his destiny—even if he didn’t know it yet. Forced to leave his family farm in the Ozarks, he reluctantly joins his two older brothers on the treacherous journey west. Together, they would endure harsh weather, fierce tribal attacks, and roving outlaws. But their biggest challenge comes when they reach the gold-rich canyon of Rio Oro. This small makeshift town is barely more than a campsite for prospectors—but the men who control it are as ruthless as any big-city criminals. And twice as deadly . . .
 
 This is the story of the men and women who risked their lives to make their fortunes in a boundless land of opportunity. But sometimes, all that glitters is not gold. And where there’s gold, there’s gunfire . . .
 
Live Free. Read Hard.
 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Fiction

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published August 26, 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

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no such thing as a bad Johnstone book. Westerns fill a large portion of my library with Johnstone titles holding several shelves. The stories are vividly portrayed and authentic to the era. Dust, mud and blood flow through the stories as the characters take the law into their own hands. The Johnstone name is branded on many series, each one following a family that has earned their right to claim their place in the history of the western settlers. Through these series, you can easily see the hardships that come naturally with each new generation.

The Forty-Niners is the start of a new series centered around three brothers as they make their way to California in the 1849 gold rush. They will face their challenges in the only way possible. Violence will be met with violence. With guns or fists, these brothers will take their place in the newest Johnstone dynasty. 5 easy stars from this western lover and charter member of the Johnstone fan club.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

I was hoping for more, but I'm grateful for what I got.

The story follows the Bennett brothers, Flint, Steven, and Cord, but the novel is mainly from the viewpoint of the youngest of the bunch, Cord. They, along with their Pa, set out to California for gold when the failure of their crops forced them to leave for a better, richer life. They make new friends, encounter danger wherever they go, and experience loss and betrayal, while they and the rest of the Forty-Niners hold onto the dream of becoming rich from the Gold Rush, even if it means losing everything, including their lives. Because there's no going back.

The plot was well-written and I was not expecting quite a few of the plot twists peppered in near the end of the book. I liked Cord's character because he sounds a lot like me: cautious, logical, and trying to be as practical as humanly possible. But that ends the similarities list. He is a smidge naive and gives everyone and their grandma the benefit of the doubt when he should be using his caution to hold back some of his trust. Unfortunately, not everyone has your best interest in mind and someone like Cord could get stepped on and manipulated without even knowing it. There is some romance in this book that I thought was nice, but that isn't the main focus of the story. The relationship between brothers and following through with your dreams even when you want to give up is the theme of this book. It's a Western (obviously) so expect guns, fighting, women, and alcohol sprinkled here and there to spice up the plot.

William W. Johnstone and J. A. Johnstone are great writers and if they make this a series, I'll be confused but not mad. I'd like to see what happens with Rio Oro City and Cord Bennett.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Interesting historical fiction about a group of people who travel to California to search for gold in 1849. I liked this story but I feel there are some points that need to be addressed. While the male characters were enjoyable, I felt that the women characters were pretty one dimensional. There were way too many uses of the term "soiled dove". I would have preferred fewer murders and less frequent mention of the guns being used, but I think your probable audience (middle aged and older men) rather like the violence and weapon talk. Spooner and Erskine should not have been killed and Steve could have survived. The ending should have been a little happier. I think this book would make an awesome movie.

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

When cord Barnett is told by his local sweetheart that goal was found in California he finds it interesting and even tells his Pa Vern about it despite the drought cord, Pa, Steven and Flint Barnett have no plans to head west but when Pa has a dream they found gold they sell the farm and do exactly that. Heading west can be a very dangerous endeavor and cord his brothers and Paul will find exactly that but when they reach the Platte river they will also find new friends in Abraham Olmsted and his beautiful nubile daughters Glory and Kat when others scoff at Mr. Olmsted bringing beautiful young girls to California people soon learn not only can the girls take care of their self but their poor isn’t shabby at it either, and not to mention they have new protectors in the Barnett Brothers. Cord has taken a liking to the redhead glory and Flynn although he has a wild streak he takes a shine to cat who it seems has a streak of her own. When they finally make it to Rio Ore California The journey may be over but the day they get there trouble soon finds them in the shape of Rick Jones and a town with no law he takes the position of resident outlaw and thinks he runs the town at least the underbelly he does along with Ellis the man who owns the bear flag saloon he isn’t the only one to fear so thankfully on the other side of the street there is Teddy’s bar who is the unofficial mayor of Rio Ore and is a man more chords speed and also a man he can respect. They also make new friends with ham and his childhood best friend who will eventually work for the Barnett and Olmsted claims. Unfortunately Flint Burnett doesn’t want to work hard and wants to find an easier way to make money they already heard about the reapers but what chord and Paul Olmsted didn’t hear was that once the group arrived in the settlement Flint make quick work of becoming a member. It isn’t until cord becomes Marshall and big lovable Steve becomes assistant Marshall and this is where the problem comes in Flint wants Steve to let him know the ins and outs of what’s happening in the town but when it comes right down to it Steve wants to have a change of heart. He looked up to his brother Flint and would do anything for him but Steve isn’t a bad guy in is finding it hard to hang with the evil side of his brother he loves both his brothers but he will have to choose between breaking the law and robbing their friends and neighbors are letting Cord know what his brother has been up to. I love the Johnstone westerns and I noticed not as many are coming out I hope that doesn’t mean it is the end of an era there is much more to the story I do have one critique however in the book they kept referring to them as the 49ers and that term didn’t come out until a few decades later but that was just a small critique and didn’t affect enjoyment of the book at all I love these books so much I thought the Barnetts were a great family with the exception of Flint and I also love Pa Olmsted. Are always fine the Johnstone writing so vivid he can really draw a picture in your head and you start giving the characters your own vision of what they’re doing in any certain situation not to mention he is great with catching small details that I find a lot of writers disregard. If you’re looking for a great book in the wild west you definitely won’t go wrong with the 49ers from William and J Johnstone I love this book and definitely recommend it. I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Atlas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Forty-Niners: A Novel of the Gold Rush (Forty-Niners, #1)
by William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thanks to Kensington for the gifted copy! 🤠📚

Vibe Check: gritty 🏜️, full of dust + danger 🌵, brotherhood at the heart 👊, gold fever and gunfire aplenty 💰🔫.

What I Liked:
• The Bennett brothers’ dynamic—family bonds tested on the harshest roads 👬
• Cord’s voice as the youngest brother, cautious yet determined to carve his place 🪓
• Authentic western grit: outlaw skirmishes, treacherous trails, and prospecting fever 🎖️
• Themes of perseverance, betrayal, and chasing dreams even when the odds are stacked ⚖️
• Unexpected twists toward the end that kept me turning the pages 📖

What Didn’t Work for Me:
• Cord’s naivete sometimes felt overdone—trusting when he really shouldn’t 🙈
• Some pacing lulls between action scenes ⏳
• Romance threads were light and not especially fleshed out 💔
• A few predictable Western tropes sprinkled in (the “you saw it coming” type) 🪶

Tropes/Elements:
• Sibling bonds 💪
• Harsh frontier survival 🏕️
• Found family + betrayal 🔪
• Gold Rush greed and glory ✨
• Gunfights and outlaw justice 🔥

Final Word: The Forty-Niners launches a new Johnstone saga with classic western grit, family loyalty, and the dream (or curse) of gold. Not flawless, but if you’re a fan of traditional westerns, this one hits like a whiskey shot—strong, dusty, and just enough burn to keep you coming back.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

This William Johnstone tale, The Forty-Niners (Pinnacle 2023), tells the story drawn from America's Gold Rush, often told and retold, but this one, thanks to Johnstone's voice, sounds fresh and new. You read how farmers and workers and any number of desperate people on America's East Coast and the Midwest found hope in the Gold Rush of 1849, so much so that the difficulties of traveling across the continent, fighting Indians, and overcoming Nature paled in comparison to the danger of starvation and losing everything they own, all for the hope that at the end of their ordeal will be the miracle of gold.

In this story, several families join together in a wagon train, supporting one another as they make their way down this rough cross-country trail, filled with Indians, hunger, thirst, and disease.   The characters are multilayered and complex, most easy to like, but of course, with the despicable ones. This story is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys the complexities of a life that isn’t completely good or bad but where people struggle to make their way as best they can.

[Tin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing

A riveting story that left me full of feelings. Sweet moments of brotherly camaraderie but also moments of loss and conflict.

Flint was a brilliantly done character who caused me so much anxiety and motivated the “would do anything for his ambition” character in such a real way—from the slow escalation and falling into greed and justifying it to himself along the way. Steve was also a surprisingly deep character who, despite his lack of smarts, had really profound lines and really grew into his own. And his moment at the end really got me good. The supporting cast were also great between Verne, the Olmsteads, etc.

The environment was also very well done between their journey through the plains and the town and claim itself. Really felt the shabby, dusty boom town feeling.

But yeah, I was hooked the whole time and there were many moments my eyes widened in shock or at a reveal. I really felt myself rooting for the characters and happy when things were resolving or terrified realizing the conflict awaiting.

I like, would recommend

[Frida Dillenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an epic story of a family of brothers moving west to California in search of gold and the dream of riches. One brother will do anything to get what he desires. One brother has a black and white sense of right and wrong and one brother follows.

As the story unfolds, through leaving their legacy land in the Ozark Mountains to travel across the Great Plains encountering Buffalo, Indians, outlaws and Mother Nature’s greatest storms, the family finds its way to northern California to stake claims to pan for gold.

As different prospectors find gold and sell to the local business man, raids happen that cause fear in the town. No one feels safe due to the robbers known as the Reapers.

A truly epic tale if the gold rush era.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Johnstone book. I received it as an ARC through Goodreads. Thank you to all who allowed me to receive and enjoy this book.
It is the first book in a series about the Gold Rush in California in 1849. Although there were many characters in the book, each was given a detailed description of their personalities and motives. The depth of their emotions in their difficult situations were described beautifully. The settings were rendered so that the reader could imagine the beauty of California and the ugliness of the town created for the miners.
It is a story of good and evil, hope and trust, disappointments and failures, not to be missed and thoroughly enjoyed.

[MEL Oh My That’s a lot of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forty-Niners: A Novel of the Gold Rush is a well-researched, vividly told story that clearly shows the author’s deep knowledge of the era. The historical details are rich, the setting feels authentic, and the characters bring the hardships and hopes of the Gold Rush to life in a believable way. While historical novels like this aren’t really my usual kind of read, I can absolutely see the appeal for readers who enjoy immersive history and frontier stories. If you love novels grounded in real events with a strong sense of time and place, this one delivers.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Johnstone westerns always are thrilling and authentic. This rip-roaring, danger around every bend in the road book didn't disappoint this reviewer. The short chapters make the reading easier for someone who has to stop frequently and rest her old eyes.

I won the book on Goodreads' giveaway. My only disappointment was that we never knew how many began the covered wagon journey from Fort Kearny to Rio Oro.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rollicking, teriffic read. The first half is a wagon train story, showing the adventure of how the Forty-Niners reach the gold fields of California from the Ozarks. I’m a sucker for a good wagon train tale, too! Wish we had a whole book of that.
But I ended up liking the second half, in California, just as much.
Lots of action and a great hero you can really root for. Plus some pretty big twists.
This is one of the best.
Highly recommended.

[Jeremy Enfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forty-Niners: A Novel of the Gold Rush is a solid entry in the Western / historical fiction genre. It captures the adventure, the dreams, and the danger of 1849 California, as well as the moral costs that come when hope meets chaos. It isn’t without its flaws—some characters are less developed than others, and the story treads familiar ground—but it delivers what fans of the Gold Rush saga expect: peril, ambition, family, and the struggle for survival.

[Bea Masters · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I wanted to read a western and I did. A truly astonishing number of guns per page. You’d think if this is the start of a series, they’d keep some bad guys alive for the next one, but I don’t know the conventions of the genre. Maybe the bad guys always die and the good guys always get a lawman’s badge, infinite ammo, and a virginal bride.

Thank you to the publisher for the copy I won in a giveaway!

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, with the Johnstone name attached, you’re in for a good read. We start off traveling from Arkansas to California and end up in gold country. Brothers take different paths as we get a good look the rough and tumble life of the 49ers. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not many stories keep me up past my bedtime. This one did.

New series by the Johnstone clan. A dad and his three sons head for the gold rush in California. Met up with another man and his two very pretty daughters. I thought this was a really good story. Looking forward to reading the next one in this series if the local library gets it.

[Truitti · Rating 4 out of 5]

25-62. Good novel about a family's quest for gold. It is set in a nebulous area of California. It necessarily a happy ever after story. I would have given it 5 stars if there was a definite area with a little history behind it. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Libby app.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read. Not my normal genre but received from @KensingtonBooks & @betweenthechapters.net. the writer had the plot roll out perfectly, not spending too much time in one place on the characters travels. Felt like a good depiction of the gold rush.

[Jordan Douglass · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book gave me a few 1883 vibes around the middle when they were traveling along the plains to California. It was a good, easy read. The ending surprised me but I would recommend. #GoodreadsGiveaway

[Allan Mac Manes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Different than most of the Johnstone books but very interesting. A book that captures your interest and is hard to put down.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Great story, characters and ending.

[Pauline Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my usual genre, so it surprised me when I loved it. My favorite historical fiction author is John Jakes, and the Johnstones are coming in as a close second.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining story. This was a Goodreads winner.

[Travelmaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical fiction about a family going west with hopes for more success than they're having on their farm.

[Jana Leah]

enjoyed

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Johnstones western books are the best, highly recommend this book.

[Robin Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Good storyline. Fast paced. Easy to read. The characters are well developed and typical, but right ending.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is absolutely not my usual reading genre, but I'll read anything about the California Gold Rush, so I gave it a try. It's perfectly serviceable, extremely formulaic, but a decent yarn.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this story from the very first page to the last page. It kept my attention on every page, very exciting! I would love to read more stories about "The Gold Rush".

[Dan Bedingfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, I could not put it down.

A great read, I look forward to more of Johnston's books. If you enjoy Western you will love his work.