Journey into Violence

The Kerrigans: A Texas Dynasty #3

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

A Texas frontier family faces deadly conspiracies both at home and on the trail in this Western saga from the New York Times–bestselling authors.   The Kerrigans risked everything to stake a claim under a big Texas sky. Now one brave woman is fighting to keep that home, against hard weather, harder luck, and the West’s most dangerous men.  A Ranch Divided . . .   Kate Kerrigan has made the hard journey to Dodge City, where a cowboy she hired has been accused of killing a prostitute. Despite his notorious past, Kate still trusts Hank Lowry. And when a hired killer comes after her, she knows she has struck a nerve. Someone has framed Hank for murder in order to cover up an even more sinister crime . . .   Meanwhile, Kate’s son Quinn is manning the home front as it comes under siege. A wagon train full of gravely ill travelers has come to the parched Kerrigan ranch, being led by a man on a secret mission. And when the shooting suddenly starts, one wrong step could be fatal . . . Back in west Texas, the Kerrigan ranch is under siege. A wagon train full of gravely ill travelers has come on to the parched Kerrigan range, being led by a man on a secret mission. With Kate's son Quinn manning the home front, one wrong step could be fatal when the shooting suddenly starts . . .

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2016

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

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I can officially confirm the fact that I love westerns. They truly have everything that you could possibly want in a great book and this one was no exception. So much happens in this one book and you are never without excitement. Good verses evil, the hardships of the western frontier and an exceptional cast of characters makes this book so much fun to read. I especially loved Kate who is such a tough and brave woman. In fact, as soon as I was done reading this book, I went out and purchased the rest of the series and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, I do enjoy this series and this book and really enjoy the character of Kate. In saying that, sometimes it feels the book goes into many different directions and is not as great in detail as others. It is a series but it does not follow each other, for instance what happen with the doctor that was living on the property?

[Jodeane D. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome...

I can't get enough of William W Johnstone! Although I'm a Preacher and Smoke Jensen junkie, I'm
really getting to like his other series. This series has become a favorite. Kate Kerrigan is a remarkable
woman. Frank Cobb is one to have on you're side. Fast on the draw and shoot with deadly accuracy.
All I can say is "Another job well done" by Mr. Johnstone.

[Jewell Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book!

The story line was different and as always, exciting and interesting. Many different and always quickly moving things happening to lots of different people. Never a dull moment.

[larry brashear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

A really good tale of good winning over evil. I am sure are many cases of yesteryear that had tough frontier woman of substance leading the way!

[Tena · Rating 4 out of 5]

And now I have to wait for the next one.

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another tale of adventure as Kate Kerrigan grows the West Texas ranch with her two sons and top hand Frank Cobb. On to book #4

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

[Brady Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journey into Violence by William Johnstone is the book that I am doing my book review on. I have read a lot of books writing by Johnstone and all of them have pleased me. I think Johnstone is one of the best western writers that ever existed.


The Journey into Violence is about a woman that is named Kate Kerrigan. Kate owns a big ranch in the state of Texas. She also has a lot of cow punchers and cowboys working for her but her main hand goes by the name of Frank Cobb. Frank Cobb was a slick gunfighter until he wanted to settle down and work Kate's ranch.


One day on the Kerrigan ranch a young cowboy showed up out of the blue. The cowboys name was Hank Lowery. Hank is also a gunfighter who wants to lose his reputation so he comes to Kate for help. Kate makes him a cowhand but things stir up between Hank and Frank. The two gunfighters learn how to get along especially with Kate on their tail.


When it comes to the annual cattle drive Kate brings along Hank, Frank and Kate's son Trace. The cattle team drive the cattle all the way to Dodge city in Kansas. When the team get to Dodge, Hank goes and finds himself a poker game while the other cowboys/cowgirls hit the hay. When Hank is done from his poker game he starts walking back to the hotel when he hears a girl scream, Hank goes to the rescue but when he gets there the girl is already dead. The sheriff finally shows up and thinks Hank killed the poor lady. The sheriff then locks up Hank and leaves Kate, Frank and Trace wondering what happened that night. Kate knows that Hank didn’t kill the girl, so she is set out on finding the real killer. When Kate gets close a epic gunfight erupts out of the conflict. You should read the book to see what happens next.


The genre of this book would be a western because this book took place in that time period when there was cowboys and gunslingers. Some of the themes of this book would include justice, death and courage.


I would rate this book a four out of five stars for it's thrilling gunfights. I really liked this book because it gave me an idea of how hard it would be to live back in the good old western days. Just imagine getting shot over a card game, that sounds ridiculous to us but it was really common back then. I can also imagine the cattle drive and how you would eat dust on the whole trip because I have had some experience chasing cattle and eating their dust. This book was also a page turner because you were on the edge of your seat and you wanted to know what would happen next.


Here is an example of a great and epic gunfight that happened at a train station between Hank, Drugo Odell and a big black man who wants revenge


"Hank drew. Even as his fingers closed on the Colt's handle he realized he was a full second too slow. Odell's gun came up, the man still grinning, but then the morning exploded. Odell's back arched like a drawn bow as two barrels of buckshot slammed into him. Hit hard, he turned, his face shocked. A black man held a smoking Greener in his hand. He said "That was for my sister Alva."


I would recommend you picking up this book and reading it because I really enjoyed it for it's detail about the old west and how it was changing during that time period.

[Patricia Spagnoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journey into Violence (The Kerrigans A Texas Mystery) by William W. Johnstone is exactly as the title states -- violent. Rape and murder abound in this book making one wonder how anyone survived life in the settling of Texas.

Journey into Violence (The Kerrigans A Texas Dynasty)by William W. Johnstone is just as the title states -- violent. Rape and murder abound in this book making one wonder how anyone survived the settling of Texas. I don't usually read westerns but I did enjoy the Kerrigan series (especially the matriarch Kate Kerrigan).

[Richard Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

This was a well written book of the western frontier. It has the big rancher, the gunslinger and the ranch is owned by a lady and her Segundo is an old gunslinger. Then th e railroad comes and helps her become even bigger.

[David Royall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book

Good book if you like multiple plots. I tend to like anything The Johnstones publish. Been enjoying these books since before William passed on.