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Texas John Slaughter #1
Texas John Slaughter
THE GREATEST WESTERN WRITERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Civil War soldier. Trail driver. Cattleman. Texas Ranger. The story of John Horton Slaughter is the story of the America West itself. Now bestselling authors William and J.A. Johnstone bring this legendary figure to life in the blazing saga of the first sheriff in U.S. history who could tame a town like Tombstone, Arizona.
A WESTERN LEGEND. AN AMERICAN HERO.
It s been barely a decade since the notorious gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Rustlers and outlaws still terrorize the land, and the good citizens of Tombstone are at the end of their ropes. Enter Texas John Slaughter the new sheriff of Cochise County and the toughest lawman west of the Rio Grande. With a backbone of steel to match the iron law of his badge, Texas John is determined to bring peace to this parched desert hell even if it kills him. Which it just might. When word gets out about an untapped vein of silver in the Dragoon Mountains, every man in town heads for the hills. The streets of Tombstone are an easy target for raiders, looters and one gang of outlaws foolish enough to kidnap Slaughter s young, pretty wife.
Forget keeping the peace. This is war.
Also Available in Audiobook "
Civil War soldier. Trail driver. Cattleman. Texas Ranger. The story of John Horton Slaughter is the story of the America West itself. Now bestselling authors William and J.A. Johnstone bring this legendary figure to life in the blazing saga of the first sheriff in U.S. history who could tame a town like Tombstone, Arizona.
A WESTERN LEGEND. AN AMERICAN HERO.
It s been barely a decade since the notorious gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Rustlers and outlaws still terrorize the land, and the good citizens of Tombstone are at the end of their ropes. Enter Texas John Slaughter the new sheriff of Cochise County and the toughest lawman west of the Rio Grande. With a backbone of steel to match the iron law of his badge, Texas John is determined to bring peace to this parched desert hell even if it kills him. Which it just might. When word gets out about an untapped vein of silver in the Dragoon Mountains, every man in town heads for the hills. The streets of Tombstone are an easy target for raiders, looters and one gang of outlaws foolish enough to kidnap Slaughter s young, pretty wife.
Forget keeping the peace. This is war.
Also Available in Audiobook "
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
124 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,040 books1,390 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 3, 2017
Texas John Slaughter was a Civil War Veteran, fought for the Confederates States of America, a Rancher with his brother and Cousins, was a two term Sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona, a prominent poker player and a legend in the West.
Unfortunately William W. Johnstone estate decide to write a series loosely based on Texas John's life, perhaps it would have been better to just write about a fictional character or add more historical facts about him into the storyline and develop some of the stories about him into novels.
Although I like this, it does seem at times to get unrealistic. For example you have a group of Mexican Revolutionaries rob the band in Tombstone, but miles from Mexico they stop in a little border town, just miles from the border and get drunk in a cantina owned by the leader of the group's sister.
All while Sheriff Texas John Slaughter was hot on their trail with a posse, 25 Calvary troops assist him and we all know when Slaughter was on your trail, your in a word of hurt.
He didn't back down, he shot it out without a care to the odds, or how big the enemy was and they do this even with the leader knowing who he is.
Then you have the whopper of the 25 Calvary troops going AWOL with supply train of weapons. Yup that's a Colonel, along with his whole platoon? Guess that's original since stealing uniforms, having one or two rogue outlaw soldiers with their gang killing the platoon or a handful of soldiers going AWOL has been well played in the Western genre.
Sadly William W. Johnstone would never write crap like Jo has let happen in the book, it's unbelievable, unrealistic and it just kills the good stuff in Texas John Slaughter.
I have every single Western that William W. Johnstone ever wrote, a bunch of the early series Smoke Jensen, Preacher, Frank Morgan, Eagles, etc are sadly out of print, they are hard to find used even and that's just wrong in my eyes.
Wouldn't it be better, rather than release all these half assed new series, true several like Sixkiller, Will Tanner or the Range Detectives are excellent.
Why not reprint all the series that have books out of print, introduce a new generation to your Uncles legendary writing, not all this new stuff and sure Bill would be smiling down on that or just let Chuck West write everything going forward.
I will say that I decide when I purchased it, that it was written loosely based on John Slaughter, be more based on a fictional character, but for me they easily could have gotten Chuck West to write it based on Louis Jensen (Smoke and Sally Jensen's son) forgoing being a rancher and instead becomes a famous Sheriff.
Unfortunately William W. Johnstone estate decide to write a series loosely based on Texas John's life, perhaps it would have been better to just write about a fictional character or add more historical facts about him into the storyline and develop some of the stories about him into novels.
Although I like this, it does seem at times to get unrealistic. For example you have a group of Mexican Revolutionaries rob the band in Tombstone, but miles from Mexico they stop in a little border town, just miles from the border and get drunk in a cantina owned by the leader of the group's sister.
All while Sheriff Texas John Slaughter was hot on their trail with a posse, 25 Calvary troops assist him and we all know when Slaughter was on your trail, your in a word of hurt.
He didn't back down, he shot it out without a care to the odds, or how big the enemy was and they do this even with the leader knowing who he is.
Then you have the whopper of the 25 Calvary troops going AWOL with supply train of weapons. Yup that's a Colonel, along with his whole platoon? Guess that's original since stealing uniforms, having one or two rogue outlaw soldiers with their gang killing the platoon or a handful of soldiers going AWOL has been well played in the Western genre.
Sadly William W. Johnstone would never write crap like Jo has let happen in the book, it's unbelievable, unrealistic and it just kills the good stuff in Texas John Slaughter.
I have every single Western that William W. Johnstone ever wrote, a bunch of the early series Smoke Jensen, Preacher, Frank Morgan, Eagles, etc are sadly out of print, they are hard to find used even and that's just wrong in my eyes.
Wouldn't it be better, rather than release all these half assed new series, true several like Sixkiller, Will Tanner or the Range Detectives are excellent.
Why not reprint all the series that have books out of print, introduce a new generation to your Uncles legendary writing, not all this new stuff and sure Bill would be smiling down on that or just let Chuck West write everything going forward.
I will say that I decide when I purchased it, that it was written loosely based on John Slaughter, be more based on a fictional character, but for me they easily could have gotten Chuck West to write it based on Louis Jensen (Smoke and Sally Jensen's son) forgoing being a rancher and instead becomes a famous Sheriff.
July 30, 2024
A well written western and another Johnstone where I wish the family told who the actual author is. Slaughter is the Sheriff of Cochise County based in Tombstone about a decade after the events of the OK corral. A rumor of a silver strike empties the town of fighting men leaving basically Slaughter and some old men and inexperienced youngsters. So when a large force of bandits robs the bank they have little chance though they mess up and take Slaughter's young wife. Slaughter will do anything to get her back even going against the odds with a very odd posse. Though it gets stranger and enemies come from other sources.
Highly recommended, a well done western that keeps the action moving while having some well written characters that you can root for.
Highly recommended, a well done western that keeps the action moving while having some well written characters that you can root for.
July 22, 2023
Gunslingers, a bank robbery, a kidnapping, double crosses and more. This Western takes place in the famous Tombstone and follows John Slaughter (based after a real person) and he is the sheriff and his wife is finally visiting for a while. That is until the local bank is robbed by a band of banditos. Slaughter rangles up a posse to go after them when he is double crossed. Will he get his beautiful wife back and the bank money or will he lose his wife to the bandits. Highly recommend if you are into westerns.
September 1, 2019
I had found the recent starts to Johnstone Clan series to be excellent. This is a major exception. Reading this gave me the impression this was actually a Smoke Jensen book converted into this novel. I'm sure it has occurred where one of their ghost writers submits a tale used before in one of the Johnstone clan series. This looks like one thrown away and then dusted off, repackaged and, for some reason, published. I recognize the story and it has already been in Johnstone books. Just written and executed better.
This is a particularly bad Johnstone entry. Strong characters marks Johnstone books. Not so here. Most are neither original or intersecting. Worst part if that Texas John is not interesting. By the end of the book, I couldn't care less what might happen to him or the rest. Those leading the Clan weren't paying attention here.
The writing is standard. Dialogue less than standard. Plot over used.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book: 4 out of 10 points.
This is a particularly bad Johnstone entry. Strong characters marks Johnstone books. Not so here. Most are neither original or intersecting. Worst part if that Texas John is not interesting. By the end of the book, I couldn't care less what might happen to him or the rest. Those leading the Clan weren't paying attention here.
The writing is standard. Dialogue less than standard. Plot over used.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book: 4 out of 10 points.
November 17, 2023
A very enjoyable western. When someone spreads a rumor that there is silver in the nearby mountains most of the men in town head out to try their luck leaving the town vulnerable. A gang does come and robs the bank and grabs the sheriff 's wife as a bonus. The sheriff manages to pull together a rag tag bunch of men to act as a posse and heads out in pursuit. But there is more excitement awaiting them than they expected.
I won this book quite a while back in a Goodread's giveaway and wish I had read it much sooner. Well written, interesting story and I really enjoyed it
This is my honest opinion and freely offered review.
I won this book quite a while back in a Goodread's giveaway and wish I had read it much sooner. Well written, interesting story and I really enjoyed it
This is my honest opinion and freely offered review.
August 4, 2022
Texas John forms a makeshift posse to track down a gang who robbed the local bank and kidnapped his wife. This story has all of the action that a Johnstone western has and it gives you a few twists that forces John and the gang leader to form a partnership that has to be made to save the life of everyone in the little town the gang and the posse are held up in.
I am not giving away much but will say this is another must read.
I am not giving away much but will say this is another must read.
November 17, 2025
What would you do for the woman you loved. Sheriff There Texas John Slaughter followed a band of robbers to within a few miles of Texas to get her back plus the money the robbers had stolen from the bank. There was a few twists and turns I had not expected that kept me interested in the story. This book is also based on a true event.
July 8, 2018
As usual with this Author I enjoy the characters and the swift movement of the story. A very enjoyable read.
June 24, 2020
Good Western Book
September 22, 2020
You know what you are getting here; a good old fashioned shoot 'em up.
January 10, 2023
Nothing like a good western. Good characters and story line, lots of action.
October 19, 2025
Texas John Slaughter
You know the good guys have to win but it took a lot of twists and turns to get there. It was a great story.
You know the good guys have to win but it took a lot of twists and turns to get there. It was a great story.
February 4, 2017
I won the book "Texas John Slaughter" from Goodreads to read and review.
I do not often read western novels, but, knowing that William W. Johnstone is, or was, a prominent writer in the field, I thought that I was in for a treat.
Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the quality and style of the writing. Mr. Johnstone apparently left a synopsis or notes of the plot before his death, and Johnstone , the son, finished the novel.
The author(s) noted that Texas John Slaughter was a real person in Western history if so, this book hardly does him proud. He is a cardboard stand-up . Aside from being the strong, silent , quiet -talk in' sharp-shootin' type the reader discovers little about him. Or about the others in the book. Chacon, the Mexican bandit/ revolutionary whose robbery of a Tombstone bank sets events in motion is standard fare: the former priest turned activist for the people. He is a leader of a bunch of thoughs who abhors violence. More? There is the wily, cigar-chewing Mexican bandit , the bar-fly sot who redeems himself by helping Slaughter find the bandits and valiant wife who gets tsken hostage by the bandit on their escape and who feels something for Chaco. Motivation and enlightens are seldom developed.
Mr. Johnstone apparently saw the same cowboy movies on those Saturday-afternoons that I did.
Ok, maybe cliches are all we expect or need, but when one recalls the depth of the John Wayne characters in " Red River" and "The Searchers" , Robert Mitchum of " Blood on The Moon " or Gary Cooper of "High Noon" this book reminds one of a low-end Saturday afternoon kids' matinee two-reeler. it you might think that I simply do not like western novels, the novels of Maria Russell , "Doc" and "Epitaph" and Joe Lansdale's "Paradise Sky" stand out in my recent reading choices for having memorable characters and stories with Compelling plots.
" Texas John Slaughter" is not terribly bad, it is just not very good.
P.S. While writing this review, I was watching a movie.broadcast on TCM called " The Big Country" ; now there is a western where motivation and character make all the difference. But I finished the book before watching the movie.
I do not often read western novels, but, knowing that William W. Johnstone is, or was, a prominent writer in the field, I thought that I was in for a treat.
Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the quality and style of the writing. Mr. Johnstone apparently left a synopsis or notes of the plot before his death, and Johnstone , the son, finished the novel.
The author(s) noted that Texas John Slaughter was a real person in Western history if so, this book hardly does him proud. He is a cardboard stand-up . Aside from being the strong, silent , quiet -talk in' sharp-shootin' type the reader discovers little about him. Or about the others in the book. Chacon, the Mexican bandit/ revolutionary whose robbery of a Tombstone bank sets events in motion is standard fare: the former priest turned activist for the people. He is a leader of a bunch of thoughs who abhors violence. More? There is the wily, cigar-chewing Mexican bandit , the bar-fly sot who redeems himself by helping Slaughter find the bandits and valiant wife who gets tsken hostage by the bandit on their escape and who feels something for Chaco. Motivation and enlightens are seldom developed.
Mr. Johnstone apparently saw the same cowboy movies on those Saturday-afternoons that I did.
Ok, maybe cliches are all we expect or need, but when one recalls the depth of the John Wayne characters in " Red River" and "The Searchers" , Robert Mitchum of " Blood on The Moon " or Gary Cooper of "High Noon" this book reminds one of a low-end Saturday afternoon kids' matinee two-reeler. it you might think that I simply do not like western novels, the novels of Maria Russell , "Doc" and "Epitaph" and Joe Lansdale's "Paradise Sky" stand out in my recent reading choices for having memorable characters and stories with Compelling plots.
" Texas John Slaughter" is not terribly bad, it is just not very good.
P.S. While writing this review, I was watching a movie.broadcast on TCM called " The Big Country" ; now there is a western where motivation and character make all the difference. But I finished the book before watching the movie.
January 26, 2017
I received a copy of Texas John Slaughter in exchange for a fair review. I have read many westerns by William W Johnstone and enjoyed them all. This book is no exception. The Johnstones have found an entertaining formula and continue to follow it providing readers with an escape into a good guys against the bad guys where good wins even when it looks hopeless. If you are looking for a straightforward adventure escape, this book is for you.
May 16, 2015
Texas John Slaughter was a real figure in the history of the old west. The author here points out that the story he tells is fictional, though it could possibly have happened.
Well done western worth reading.
Well done western worth reading.
June 12, 2014
Another excellent Johnstone book. Very enjoyable and factual.
January 12, 2017
Great!
Another rousing adventure from a very fine author. I love a good Western! It will take me a year or two to read all his books!
Another rousing adventure from a very fine author. I love a good Western! It will take me a year or two to read all his books!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews