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Fury Over Texas
The bestselling masters of the Great American Western pit heroes and villains, men and women, survivors and the unlucky, against the shocking power of Mother Nature in this epic standalone adventure set on the Texas frontier.
A stranger on a mission of revenge. A hurricane on a path of destruction.
THE STORM OF THE CENTURY HITS TEXAS—WITH A VENGEANCE.
At the height of the Civil War, a Confederate soldier was captured and held in New York’s infamous Elmira prison camp. He managed to escape during a snowstorm—after killing a sadistic guard—and made his way to Texas. There, he started a new life in the small lumber town of Pine Lick where he served as sheriff until he retired. Today, his son wears the badge; his nightmares of the war are long forgotten. But tonight, his past will return with a vengeance . . .
When nature unleashes its fury.
Sheriff Mack Armstrong is as fine a lawman as his father, dedicated to protecting the townspeople of Pine Lick—especially when trouble shows up. But when he hears that a mysterious newcomer is armed, angry, and looking to kill a man named Armstrong, he barely has a chance to react. Another force of nature arrives—even deadlier than the stranger. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime hurricane, the worst he’s ever seen. The windstorm tears apart the sawmill, the church, the homes. The torrential rains destroy the dam then flood the streets. And all Sheriff Armstrong can do is save as many people as he can—before the stranger gets revenge. . . .
A stranger on a mission of revenge. A hurricane on a path of destruction.
THE STORM OF THE CENTURY HITS TEXAS—WITH A VENGEANCE.
At the height of the Civil War, a Confederate soldier was captured and held in New York’s infamous Elmira prison camp. He managed to escape during a snowstorm—after killing a sadistic guard—and made his way to Texas. There, he started a new life in the small lumber town of Pine Lick where he served as sheriff until he retired. Today, his son wears the badge; his nightmares of the war are long forgotten. But tonight, his past will return with a vengeance . . .
When nature unleashes its fury.
Sheriff Mack Armstrong is as fine a lawman as his father, dedicated to protecting the townspeople of Pine Lick—especially when trouble shows up. But when he hears that a mysterious newcomer is armed, angry, and looking to kill a man named Armstrong, he barely has a chance to react. Another force of nature arrives—even deadlier than the stranger. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime hurricane, the worst he’s ever seen. The windstorm tears apart the sawmill, the church, the homes. The torrential rains destroy the dam then flood the streets. And all Sheriff Armstrong can do is save as many people as he can—before the stranger gets revenge. . . .
- GenresHistorical Fiction
354 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2026
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,041 books1,445 followersWilliam 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.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 12, 2026
Fury Over Texas by William W Johnstone in JA Johnstone, Let me start by saying there’s way too much to give a brief summary so what I will say is this retired sheriff Armstrong and his son current sheriff Mac Armstrong has hitman coming to town to take them out for something that happened during a snowstorm and Mac had nothing to do with. The man who owns the fancy gaming hall shoots a boy’s daddy right in front of him but the nine-year-old will be there to see him get his just desserts. A girl who worked at the dry good store is beaten and raped in the sheriff catches him in the act and learns throughout the hurricane to come that this man is nothing but a coward. there will be many who survive this hurricane and many who don’t and lots that wish they didn’t but being someone who lives in a hurricane area and I have sat praying the hurricane passes swiftly I think the author did a great job describing the heightened emotions and overall atmosphere of being smacked dab in the middle of a raging hurricane. I think this was a great book I do want to say there’s lots of rumors that claim after William W Johnstone‘s death his niece J Johnstone doesn’t write the current westerns and they’re written by ghost riders. The claim for this is because she has no other riding credits. in her defense she was writing books with her uncle long before he passed and I don’t know why he would pick her out of all his family members if she had no talent at all but having said that if this was written by a ghost rider they should definitely get him to write the future books as well because I absolutely love this book as I do most of the Johnstone westerns. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
WOW! I actually won a book in a Giveaway! That's hard to believe. Thanks for selecting me as a winner. Without getting into spoiler territory, let's see what we have......
For starters, this is a standalone novel. No sequels, no prequels. Those are rare and few and far between these days! If you're looking for an enjoyable read that admittedly, is kind of predictable in places, you need to pick this one up.
This is another one of those "finished by someone else since the listed author died" type of books although there's almost a 100% chance that the someone else was William Johnstone's co-author on numerous other books, J. A. Johnstone. As a result there's not that awkward transition you get on so many others that fall into that category.
The year is 1888 and the little town of Pine Lick in East Texas is getting pelted with rain, lots of it. Eventually, it becomes a hurricane in an area that supposedly doesn't get hurricanes, but this is the exception.
Meanwhile, the former sheriff of Pine Lick, a former soldier in the Confederate Army who was a P-O-W in New York's Elmira prison camp, had escaped after killing a rather sadistic guard, gone to Texas and tried to forget about the war. However, the guard's brother, another sadistic guard, hadn't forgotten and has spent years tracking down Branch Armstrong, the escaped prisoner, in hopes of exacting revenge.
Armstrong's son, Mack was now sheriff and he was having problems of his own, not to mention the bigger one he was going to have once the hurricane hit, destroyed the town's major industry, a sawmill and a broken dam and a resulting massive flood.
Who lives, who dies and what happens to the town and it's inhabitants obviously make up the majority of this fast-paced novel and a lot of people die while a small number survive. Who lives? Who dies? If you want to find out, you'll need to read the book because I'm not telling! WARNING: Some of the death scenes are quite graphic and not for the squeamish.
Like all of Johnstone's books, it reads fast and is enjoyable. It only took me a couple of days, due in part to the fact there wasn't anything worth watching on TV on Sunday, so I spent my time with a good book. Pick it up, you'll enjoy it as well.
For starters, this is a standalone novel. No sequels, no prequels. Those are rare and few and far between these days! If you're looking for an enjoyable read that admittedly, is kind of predictable in places, you need to pick this one up.
This is another one of those "finished by someone else since the listed author died" type of books although there's almost a 100% chance that the someone else was William Johnstone's co-author on numerous other books, J. A. Johnstone. As a result there's not that awkward transition you get on so many others that fall into that category.
The year is 1888 and the little town of Pine Lick in East Texas is getting pelted with rain, lots of it. Eventually, it becomes a hurricane in an area that supposedly doesn't get hurricanes, but this is the exception.
Meanwhile, the former sheriff of Pine Lick, a former soldier in the Confederate Army who was a P-O-W in New York's Elmira prison camp, had escaped after killing a rather sadistic guard, gone to Texas and tried to forget about the war. However, the guard's brother, another sadistic guard, hadn't forgotten and has spent years tracking down Branch Armstrong, the escaped prisoner, in hopes of exacting revenge.
Armstrong's son, Mack was now sheriff and he was having problems of his own, not to mention the bigger one he was going to have once the hurricane hit, destroyed the town's major industry, a sawmill and a broken dam and a resulting massive flood.
Who lives, who dies and what happens to the town and it's inhabitants obviously make up the majority of this fast-paced novel and a lot of people die while a small number survive. Who lives? Who dies? If you want to find out, you'll need to read the book because I'm not telling! WARNING: Some of the death scenes are quite graphic and not for the squeamish.
Like all of Johnstone's books, it reads fast and is enjoyable. It only took me a couple of days, due in part to the fact there wasn't anything worth watching on TV on Sunday, so I spent my time with a good book. Pick it up, you'll enjoy it as well.
July 4, 2026
At the height of the Civil War, a Confederate soldier was captured and held in New York’s infamous Elmira prison camp. He managed to escape during a snowstorm—after killing a sadistic guard—and made his way to Texas. There, he started a new life in the small lumber town of Pine Lick where he served as sheriff until he retired. Today, his son wears the badge; his nightmares of the war are long forgotten. But tonight, his past will return with a vengeance . . .
When nature unleashes its fury.
Sheriff Mack Armstrong is as fine a lawman as his father, dedicated to protecting the townspeople of Pine Lick—especially when trouble shows up. But when he hears that a mysterious newcomer is armed, angry, and looking to kill a man named Armstrong, he barely has a chance to react. Another force of nature arrives—even deadlier than the stranger. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime hurricane, the worst he’s ever seen. The windstorm tears apart the sawmill, the church, the homes. The torrential rains destroy the dam then flood the streets. And all Sheriff Armstrong can do is save as many people as he can—before the stranger gets revenge. . . .
A tale of revenge, destruction, and violence puts Sheriff Mack Armstrong to the test. His town has been nearly obliterated by a brutal storm and floods, and a determined killer is willing to do anything to get to Mack’s father. The story delivers plenty of action and tension, keeping the pages moving.
Overall, it’s not the strongest Johnstone novel I’ve read, but it’s solid. Some of his books can be hit or miss; this one lands somewhere in the middle. The vivid descriptions—especially of the storm—stand out, and I’d still recommend it to fellow western fans.
Thankyou to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this story.
When nature unleashes its fury.
Sheriff Mack Armstrong is as fine a lawman as his father, dedicated to protecting the townspeople of Pine Lick—especially when trouble shows up. But when he hears that a mysterious newcomer is armed, angry, and looking to kill a man named Armstrong, he barely has a chance to react. Another force of nature arrives—even deadlier than the stranger. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime hurricane, the worst he’s ever seen. The windstorm tears apart the sawmill, the church, the homes. The torrential rains destroy the dam then flood the streets. And all Sheriff Armstrong can do is save as many people as he can—before the stranger gets revenge. . . .
A tale of revenge, destruction, and violence puts Sheriff Mack Armstrong to the test. His town has been nearly obliterated by a brutal storm and floods, and a determined killer is willing to do anything to get to Mack’s father. The story delivers plenty of action and tension, keeping the pages moving.
Overall, it’s not the strongest Johnstone novel I’ve read, but it’s solid. Some of his books can be hit or miss; this one lands somewhere in the middle. The vivid descriptions—especially of the storm—stand out, and I’d still recommend it to fellow western fans.
Thankyou to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sheriff Mack Armstrong, son of retired Sheriff Armstrong, is always up to the job of keeping peace in the Western town of Pine Lick, but today, this week, this month, that may change. He's not only threatened by Confederate soldiers lingering from the Civil War and intent on finding a lost treasure, but a once-in-a-lifetime hurricane which threatens the integrity of the nearby dam. That would be the dam that holds the local river back from flooding the town. As though that weren't enough, a man with a grudge against Mack's retired father shows up to bring justice regardless the cost to himself.
That's a lot of bad guys, but the real story of William Johnstone's Fury Over Texas (Pinnacle 2026) is how different people in and out of Pine Lick react to the disasters bearing down on them. We watch them struggle with facing these life ending events and come to terms with what that requires of them. There are many back and forth plots and subplots, but despite that--or maybe because of it--the story is a little slow to develop. There were too many characters we had to understand and buy into and they were all over the place. Overall, I'd say the story--unlike most Westerns--is character driven where readers must get into the heads of many people to understand the fury that overtakes Pine Lick.
Having said that, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where weather was portrayed so vividly. If you can read this book and not don a raincoat , you’re a rare bread. This is a wild ride with lots of pain and agony.
That's a lot of bad guys, but the real story of William Johnstone's Fury Over Texas (Pinnacle 2026) is how different people in and out of Pine Lick react to the disasters bearing down on them. We watch them struggle with facing these life ending events and come to terms with what that requires of them. There are many back and forth plots and subplots, but despite that--or maybe because of it--the story is a little slow to develop. There were too many characters we had to understand and buy into and they were all over the place. Overall, I'd say the story--unlike most Westerns--is character driven where readers must get into the heads of many people to understand the fury that overtakes Pine Lick.
Having said that, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where weather was portrayed so vividly. If you can read this book and not don a raincoat , you’re a rare bread. This is a wild ride with lots of pain and agony.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Fury Over Texas" by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is an entertaining 4-star Western! The main characters are Sheriff Mack Armstrong and his father, former Sheriff Branch Armstrong. In many ways, though, this is a story about the entire town of Pine Lick and the people who call it home. There are a lot of characters introduced throughout the novel, which felt a little overwhelming at first. As the story unfolds, however, their connections become clear and everything comes together nicely. The mix of honorable townsfolk and ruthless villains creates plenty of engaging conflict. As I've mentioned in previous reviews of this series, I really enjoy the old-school dialogue and colorful expressions. I wish some of those phrases would make a comeback!
The book is essentially divided into two parts. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half, but I felt the second half was drawn out and a bit overdone. If this is your first Johnston western, I wouldn't let this one be your only impression. I'd recommend giving another book a try.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more from the series. I already have an ARC of Whiskey Woods waiting on my Kindle.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing | Pinnacle, William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
The book is essentially divided into two parts. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half, but I felt the second half was drawn out and a bit overdone. If this is your first Johnston western, I wouldn't let this one be your only impression. I'd recommend giving another book a try.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more from the series. I already have an ARC of Whiskey Woods waiting on my Kindle.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing | Pinnacle, William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
July 6, 2026
A new western by the Johnstones is a reason to treat myself to a binge-reading day. William W Johnstone and J A Johnstone are prolific writers of some of the best westerns currently being released. Their characters include frontiersmen, cowboys, sharpshooters, saloon owners, reformed outlaws, and generations of families that settled the West. The stories span several generations. Characters from one series have been known to make appearances in another series. The territories they live and work in are authentically detailed. You can smell the dust, horses, cattle, and more. The tools they use are authentic to the eras. These books are the closest to actual history as you can find in popular fiction.
Fury Over Texas introduces a new character to the world of Johnstone. Sheriff Mack Armstrong follows his father's footsteps to become the sheriff of Pine Lick, Texas. His father settled in Texas after escaping a Confederate prison, a past he's not proud of. The same day a hurricane comes on shore at Pine Lick, a stranger enters town, looking for revenge and a man named Armstrong. Mack is too busy trying to save his town and its citizens to worry about the stranger. Events build in layers until it's time to fight for what's right and what's his. Another 5 star read.
Fury Over Texas introduces a new character to the world of Johnstone. Sheriff Mack Armstrong follows his father's footsteps to become the sheriff of Pine Lick, Texas. His father settled in Texas after escaping a Confederate prison, a past he's not proud of. The same day a hurricane comes on shore at Pine Lick, a stranger enters town, looking for revenge and a man named Armstrong. Mack is too busy trying to save his town and its citizens to worry about the stranger. Events build in layers until it's time to fight for what's right and what's his. Another 5 star read.
July 16, 2026
I don’t normally read Western novels, but I wanted to give it a chance. The book was just ok for me.
I found the different character perspectives confusing at times and the actual plot wasn’t as interesting as I thought. I was expecting lots of drama and standoffs, but a lot of the book was just going on about how the town reacted to a big storm.
The book was also unnecessarily gory.
A 3/5 for me.
I found the different character perspectives confusing at times and the actual plot wasn’t as interesting as I thought. I was expecting lots of drama and standoffs, but a lot of the book was just going on about how the town reacted to a big storm.
The book was also unnecessarily gory.
A 3/5 for me.
June 28, 2026
Wow! So much in there. Definitely not your typical Western, but not without its main cast of characters that you are apt to find. It had me on the edge of my seat and there were times I just couldn’t put it down. Truly enjoyable!
July 13, 2026
If you’re a Johnstone fan, this one won’t disappoint. As usual his story is well thought out with believable characters. The story moves along at a good pace with a few twists and turns along the way.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Great
July 2, 2026
This book was great. Plenty of action. I did not want to put it down. It is about a hurricane that hits the Texas town of Pine Lick. It also has plenty of bad guys stirring up trouble.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The intent is fine, it's the writing by the Ghost Writer that botches the job. As a multi-generation, native Floridian and Florida historian, I've been through plenty of storms and read of more. The writer shoulda done the same.
There are some very good fictional novels of hurricanes on land. 'Murder in the Wind' by J.D. MacDonald, 'One Deadly Eye' by Randy Wayne White, etc. Understanding a storm is living through one. This is geared more to Johnstone's old horror series than a "Western" tale. Especially the flood portion.
The flood is written more as a supernatural force. Floods can't turn people's bones to dust, yet that is written more than once as other outcomes were written out of a realty of a flood.
Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 5 out of ten points.
Read this book via early access via NetGalley.com
There are some very good fictional novels of hurricanes on land. 'Murder in the Wind' by J.D. MacDonald, 'One Deadly Eye' by Randy Wayne White, etc. Understanding a storm is living through one. This is geared more to Johnstone's old horror series than a "Western" tale. Especially the flood portion.
The flood is written more as a supernatural force. Floods can't turn people's bones to dust, yet that is written more than once as other outcomes were written out of a realty of a flood.
Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 5 out of ten points.
Read this book via early access via NetGalley.com
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This western fiction by Johnstone is set in 1888 Pine Lick, Texas. The chief protagonist is Sheriff Mack Armstrong and he does everything he can to keep his community safe. His father, Branch Armstrong was the previous sheriff and was a man who had put his violent past behind him. The relative peace in Pine Lick is shattered when a man arrives with the intent of seeking revenge on Mack’s father.
Mark is determined to stop the man, but he has another battle on his hands. The town of Pine Lick has been hit with a violent hurricane, destroying just about everything in its path. In fact, the town is also hit by torrential rainstorms which create flooding conditions. Mack certainly has his hands full. Chaos abounds in more ways than one.
I thought this was a well-written story and it captured my attention from start to finish. Will read more by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Pinnacle and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Mark is determined to stop the man, but he has another battle on his hands. The town of Pine Lick has been hit with a violent hurricane, destroying just about everything in its path. In fact, the town is also hit by torrential rainstorms which create flooding conditions. Mack certainly has his hands full. Chaos abounds in more ways than one.
I thought this was a well-written story and it captured my attention from start to finish. Will read more by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Pinnacle and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews