River of Blood

The Frontiersman #2

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

America's most popular Western novelists continue their bold new series featuring Breckenridge Wallace, a big, strong, fierce kid fighting for a home in the towering Rocky Mountains.

He followed the call of the wild. Killers followed him.

Breck Wallace was turning into a true mountain man on the American frontier. As a teenager in Tennessee, he killed in self defense, then left behind the woman he loved. With a gun and trap lines he is learning how to survive in the Rockies, braving the punishing elements, ruthless outlaws, and forging an uneasy peace with the Indians. But as dangerous as life is, nothing is worse than a powerful man with a murderous grudge.

Breckenridge has left two such men in his past—and they both send cold-blooded killers for hire after him. Now the young frontiersman must fight a whole new kind of enemy—armed with his courage, strength, and raw skills with a knife and a gun.

Genres: Westerns

292 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

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

[Jeff]

pdg

[Lynden Joslin]

The book The Frontiers Man River of Blood written by William W. Johnstone is about a young man named Breckinridge wallace. After Breckinridge, killed a man in self defence he has to trying to survive in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The Book The Frontiers man River of Blood does not fit well into the genre Western for many reasons. An example of this is in the text from Trap of Gold by Louis it says “Western stories are usually about heroic loners,”. In the book The Frontiers man it is shown that Breckinridge works with three others and not alone. Morgan Baxter, Roscoe Akins, and Amos Fulbright. This group of men work together to survive in the wild.

Another example of why this book is not best classified as a western is the fact that in most Westerns, the main character is trying to save the town from violent gun slingers. In this story, Breckenridge the main character is trying to stay away from the main city and the assassins. I have mixed feelings about this book and its assigned genre. The book has many aspects of being a western but it could be classified as an adventure book as well.

I enjoyed this book for several reasons. The author in his writing was very descriptive and it really helped me to visualize where, and what the character was all about. I found the character Breckenridge to be very clever, and extremely courageous at such a young age. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes adventure and In closing, I have never read a Western book before and found it to be very entertaining. Because of this book I think I will read more Western genre books.

[John Burns]

Another wild man's story

A Tale of Endurance: The Challenging Life of a Mountain Man

In the rugged wilderness of the American frontier, mountain men faced extraordinary challenges that tested the limits of human survival. These intrepid explorers braved harsh landscapes, extreme weather conditions, and constant physical hardships while navigating uncharted territories. Their daily existence demanded incredible strength, resilience, and adaptability as they traversed mountainous regions, hunted for sustenance, and traded with indigenous tribes. The life of a mountain man was characterized by isolation, physical demands, and a constant struggle against nature's unforgiving elements. From surviving brutal winters to defending themselves against wild animals and potential conflicts, these pioneers embodied the spirit of adventure and human determination in the most challenging environments of early American frontier life.

[David Burnworth]

Breck Wallace and his three newly made friends from the opening book in this series are in the Colorado mountains learning to be mountain men minding their own business when this adventure begins. Breck is treed by a bear after holding its cub. From there the story has two sets of hired killers after Breck, from incidents that happen back home (Book 1 of the series). Breck will lose a friend before the adventure is over and the famous Preacher (From many books that William W. Johnstone) written makes a cameo in this one saving Breck from death.
This book was much better than the first book in this series.

[Nolan]

Breck is an idiot in the beginning of this book. Reminds me of a stupid tourist in a national park. Cute little bear, I'll go over and pet it. Mama bear is close by. Know how that is going to turn out.

Ramrod with a piece of cloth put through a bullet hole to clean the wound. 🙄

I was surprised that once men were killed by Breck and his friends that they didn't take the weapons, powder, shot and anything thing of value off of the dead men.

Overall, the book was okay, had lots of killing, mayhem, trapper rendezvous, Indians, friendly and not, whores, revenge seekers and Preacher. Breck falls in love and plans to marry, also clears his name in the end.

[Kurt Vosper]

Clearly written mostly (or entirely) by Johnstone's grand daughter. a story of a newer mountain man, Breckinridge Wallace. Wallace and friends are trappers who are heading to and then attending a 'rendezvous' -- a meeting place/time for trappers, traders and other types of business (whiskey and women). While there Wallace has no idea that problems from his past have found him. Overall a decent little page turner, Preacher even makes a short appearance.

[Mahay]

This story had strong characters but a very cliché storyline. Beaver trappers head out to a rendezvous in the woods where they will party with whores and drinks. The main character, Breck Wallace, has people out to kill him, which spoils the rendezvous festivities. Indians attack, Breck falls in love with a prostitute, blah blah blah. It was kind of boring.

[Dick Dubay]

An enjoyable read

I enjoyed reading this book. Lots of action and adventure. Interesting characters and setting. As always, from these authors, this is a well written story. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys westerners.

[E. Franmklin]

Action Galore

Good book. Too short. Characters are shallow but believable. Needed more description of the Blackfoot raid. Overall a pretty good read

[rick merritt]

Keep it going

Looking forward to more.
Action and more. Both friends and foe. Want to know more about this period in the ways of the mountain men.

[Susan M Wells, Bookmark Reviews]

Full of twists and turns

Once you think you know what will happen, keep reading as you will be surprised. The thrill never stops. How could it, it's the frontier!

[Derrick]

I'm enjoying this series. The main character in this one is funny and likable, even though things don't go his way. I also enjoyed the cameo in this one.

[Richard Guerrero]

I did enjoy this even though it gets silly at times. I did enjoy it a little more than the first one. Just a funny good silly western read.

[Chamal]

Well... It feels like he needed more fact finding. Else, all I've read so far cannot be correct. I don't suppose native people behaved the same way the "white" people did.

[Lyle.Burns]

one of the best books I have read.

[larry brashear]

Very Good!

Really well written and edited with a fine cast of characters and interesting plot. Good from start to finish and hard to put down.