Preacher's Peace

The First Mountain Man #9

by William W. Johnstone

Long before there was a mountain man called Preacher, a young adventurer set off with a team of fur traders from St. Louis for the time of his life. On a wild frontier, he sought a fortune. Instead, he found blood, betrayal, and the beginning of a legend. Armed only with a knife, surrounded by a fierce Blackfoot war party, the young man was forced to kill a warrior chief in an act of audacious courage. But when a grizzly bear attack left him half-dead, he could no longer protect himself. By the time the Blackfeet found him again, he had been abandoned and doublecrossed, with only one last trick up his the ability to talk himself out of an impossible situation -- and into a battle for his life.So began William Johnstone's masterful saga of the courageous loner who would become known as Preacher. Because when he was alone and desperate, he drew on a preacher's skills -- and a mountain man's cunning -- to give his enemies hell.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Fiction

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

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

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOOD to the last drop.

I found the author plagiarized one of his previous books (a couple of times), but it fit right into the story. There were two inconsistencies but I love Preacher books.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, I probably rate this as #3 of the Preacher’s series since it can be a little confusing, the official series on this is #9. This IS the book that shows how Preacher got his name as “Preacher” - given him by the Indians who captured him and were going to kill him.

I would count #1 as the book who shows young “Art” leaving home from the first time 12 yrs old (if I remember right) until he was 15.
I would count #2 as when Art was 15 yrs old and met very young Jenny (who was a slave being used for prostitution by her master), and he met his first two Mountain men who showed him the ropes of mountaineering.

I like I said I would count this as number #3 as he was still a young man in his 20’s, and is finally given the Mountain Man name, “Preacher”. There is a bit of back story told here, WORD FOR WORD, from the book I rate as #2 that Johnstone wrote - which adds unnecessary pages to this book if you’ve been reading the series, but is definitely helpful if you are reading this as as stand alone.

I have not read these in the “series order” according to book cover, as I was trying to understand the character “Preacher”, from a chronological order (I’m glad I read them that way)... however, suit yourself if following book number series that some things are cleared up and answered later down the line. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book from the Preacher series thus far.

All in all, I LOVE Johnstone’s writing, and he is one of my favorite Western authors! Recommended for those who like western genre.

[Preston Dannelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new name for a new man

A lot of things happen in this book as Arts character is forged on the anvil of the mountain life. After damn near killing him, a new man enters the scene. A badass story about a badass man!

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art decided to take his pelts to St Louis so he could get paid the max he could for them. A friend goes on the journey with him and all is going well until they are attacked and the friend is killed during the attack. After Preacher plants his friend in the ground he is camping and sees eyes staring at him. Long story short the eyes belong to a wolfdog that befriends Art and they make their way to St. Louis. After getting his pay he has to kill a man in self-defense and that leads to meeting Jenny again.

From there Preacher agrees to take a job for the fur trade company and this is where the story gets going the men he is in charge of are attacked by a large group of Blackfeet. Preachers and his men take cover on a small island-like piece of ground. As night falls Preacher sneaks into the Indian camp while they are asleep and kills the leader.

I won't give much more away but will say after Art is attacked by a Grizzly Bear and suffers life-threatening injuries the man who makes himself the new leader of the group makes the group leaving for dead.

To find out how this turns out and to find how Art gets the name Preacher you will have to read the book.

[Rick Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best of an excellent series. It's a prequel to earlier ones in the series. It contains several instances of Mr. Johnstone switching to another place/character just as the tension mounts. Great places when the reader says to himself: "No! What's going to..." Then, in true artistry, the next section is just as good and suspenseful. Love the series and this has been the best so far.

The audiobook is also excellent.

[Brannigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story a lot but felt a little robbed. I felt like the author spent far too much time on events in the last book so there wasn’t enough time to tell a detailed story in this book. I wouldn’t mind so much if the book was longer but it’s already short. I’ll try another book to see if this is his style or not. Hopefully not.

[Mark Vitale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love William Johnstone, Preacher rocks. This book is quality. I gave it three stars because I dislike flashbacks, he uses pages and pages to tell back story from previous books. I sometimes i think Authors are just trying to fill pages.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wanted a good audiobook and scrolling through the list on my library app picked this. I loved it! I love the young mountain man, Art, who became Preacher! Now I have to listen to or read the whole series.

[Kevin Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art gets his name - Preacher

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a good story. He did reuse some material from other books and left some unresolved issues at the end of the book.

[Ed Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining, easy to read

[Steve Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! I would recommend this series of books by William W Johnstone!

[Jeff Betcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

How he got the name.

Great book. Author does a great job of tying the life of Preacher together. Resharing bits of past books and building the man that is, Preacher.

[Lorie Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that I now know how he got the name preacher! I really enjoy all of this authors books. Going to look for the next installment.

[HornFan2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the continuing story of Preacher's early years, but this one pushes the believability of the writing for the reader and even credibility of it, based on the previous book, 'Preacher'.

Like in the previous book, Preacher gets mauled by a Sow Grizzly Bear with three Cubs, that he stumbles on why scouting ahead of his five man party, but it's his miraculous recovery and the continued times that Preacher their for Jennie in her time of need. That's made this one a least favorite from William, for me.

Otherwise it's not that bad of a book. Just seemed like the author caught himself as he was killing off the character and took it to the extreme by having him miraculously survive a bear attack that otherwise should have killed him.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

PREACHER'S BEGINNING

When you read these exciting adventures of Art, better know as "PREACHER" from this point on. A
bit of insight of how he was labeled with his new
name. We are introduced to Jennie, the slave from New Orleans whose freedom was bought with sharp shooting match which the Preacher won. We also find out how "DOG" becomes a
trusted and devoted partner as he accompanies Preacher on his many trips in the mountains and
occasional trading post for supplies. This is fast moving chronicle of the Preacher's life and the many friends/acquaintances he will have for a lifetime. But sadly these mountain men die from this harsh life they have chosen. So keep your coffee hot and watch your back..

[JD · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book. I enjoyed it and I believe that the authors have expanded on some of the events that truly occurred in the early days of the mountain man adventures, such as the constant attacks by the Blackfoot warriors, and the mauling and survival after an encounter with a Grizzly. A very similar tale is related about John Colter of the early mountain men.
Also, this book includes the story of how Art got the name Preacher. This was a very interesting episode and the reader can actually imagine that the captors would conclude that he, Art, was possessed by a spirit or the "Great Spirit" and would grant him his freedom.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did Art come by the name Preacher? This is the book that tells you how the brave young mountain man is rewarded the moniker. Bear fights and scoundrels keep Preacher from doing the things he finds just. Preacher always fights for what is right not because he wants to. This is why he becomes respected by both Indians and white man alike.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good western series. If you like Johnstone's writing you will like the series. Recommended