Hell's Half Acre

Hell's Half Acre #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

In this Western series debut, Fort Worth is the deadliest place on the Texas frontier. Good thing the new sheriff isn’t afraid to die—or kill. “Stay the hell out of Fort Worth.” Those were the last words uttered by the boomtown’s last sheriff. Rail-thin and half starved, desperate cowpuncher Jess Casey ignores the travel advice. Instead, Casey not only enters Fort Worth, he takes the dead man’s job. Now it’s up to him to keep the peace in a body-riddled slice of heaven known as Hell’s Half Acre—home of notorious outlaws like Kurt Koenig and his merciless gang. For Koenig, the only good lawman is a dead one, and he puts a pretty price on Casey’s head. For Casey, that means war. Against him are the frontier’s fastest draw and a host of murderous triggers. On his side are decades of rock-hard Texas living, a couple of ne’er-do-well deputies, and the good sense to do all his talking behind the barrel of a fast-blazing gun . . .

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 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

[RollingT · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book in a listing of "historical fiction" on the overdrive section of my library for ebooks. It seems romance novels are also instoiricsl fiction according to overdrive. As far as I am conerned neither qualify. But as a Western HHA qualifies. Oh sure, Ft. Worth, TX exists and come of the street names are used and some chacter names are borrowed from the history books. but this is just a plain shoot 'em Western. Passes time but there are better ways where you can actually learn some true hisrtory.

[Dean Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't overly excited for the first chapter or two, then the story got better and better. It morphed into an intriguing Western novel with great personalities of the main characters. There was just enough dry humor to make it icing on the cake. Overall, it was very well written. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Neil Campau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read! I was not sure I liked this new character but the more I read Jess grew on me. Looking for more.

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a greedy not-so street smart professor comes up with the stupid plan that long-time prison inmates can be set free into society is set in motion Sheriff Jess Carey is the one to pay the price. The released convicts plan on taking over Hell's Half Acre and Carey is one of three people who are in their way. Can all three survive? Will the bad guys get the win? I won't give it away but will say only a few survive this awesome story. There are enough twist and turns in this one to keep you reading deep into the night.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of a man who loses his job as a cowboy because he's 34 and can't handle the work or so the owner says. So he becomes the sheriff of Ft. Worth, Texas. The town has the dangers of a bad place to be; gunfights, gambling, bad people and a section called "Hell's Half Acre" where opium and morphine are easily acquired in the opium dens.

Jess Casey decides he's going to clear it up and makes some dangerous enemy's.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is off to a better start than the Will Tanner series. Must be a different house author. The pacing was much faster and the story moved with greater ease. This series has potential.

Hell's Half Acre is the ''bad side '' of Fort Worth Texas and our intrepid hero finds himself the new County Sheriff who was hired by the town marshal (who is a bit of a villain). Jess Casey is a newly retired/laid off cowboy looking for work, because his body cannot take punching anymore. He slowly finds that he is getting the hang of being a law man and grows into the job.

Well worth the read as simply fun cowboy story.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not much of a western fan but this was a enjoyable read! Lots of action and a mystery to solve kept me going. The writing is easy and I think better than Louis L'Amour, at least on my ear.

It was a short, fun story to take me away for a few hours!

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different Western

I, for one, appreciate a different approach to life in the old West, especially when written with skill and flair!

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly not too bad of a read. These last few years it seems most of these books by this author have been getting real silly. A good western read.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book!

Loved this story about the puncher turned sheriff! A really rough and tumble storyline! Almost too rough for me but still couldn't put it down!

[Darel Krieger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a good old western tale.

[Kenton Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off weird but got better after a couple chapters

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I was not getting into this, but by the end, the main character had me. Guess on to the next book.

[Sue Boros · Rating 4 out of 5]

An individual cow poke is heading to a better life in his older years or is he? The story has good depth of characters and enough twists to keep you interested.

[Zac Pickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

an absolute banger. felt like I was really a sheriff back in the gunslinging days.

[Charles Darlage · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terrible. It tried to present itself as a murder mystery. The main character never really shot a gun before and had never been in a gun fight, becomes Sheriff of Hell's Half Acre in Ft. Worth. Finds out he is quick on the draw and probably the best shot in town. On several occasions he survived an assassination attempt by pure luck. The first time by being curious what was in the bottom drawer of his new desk in the Sheriff's office, he bent down just as an assassin fires a shot at his head. The second time a dust storm blows open the office door, he gets up to close it just as the mysterious assassin shoots. And of course misses. He prepares to draw fight an experienced gunman in a bar. Luckily, a clumsy waitress drops a tray of drinks just as the draw is about to happen distracting the killer so our lucky 'hero' can shoot him.
He is also a horrible detective. The whole book he suspects 2 different people of being the murderer he is hunting. With no evidence, only his suspicions, he is ready to hang one of them. Even after everyone keeps telling him that guy is not smart enough nor ambitious enough to be the brain behind the crime sprees. Even when the evidence of who is the mastermind has been made very clear, our 'hero' has to have the villain spell it out for him.
Characters where introduced only to be killed the next paragraph and no character had his or her own voice.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read and worthy series addition to the Johnstone library. There's been a lot of new books, which while I do enjoy, some of the series feel rushed, a bit sloppy and like the ghostwriter couldn't quite project enough.

With Hell's Half Acre we get a historic setting, a time and place of violence, drugs, prostitutes and killers. The backdrop of the city makes this a stationary Western - contained to an area, which is beneficial to this type of story. It gives more time to the character development - useful, given there's quite a few colorful characters to get to know.

Our hero stumbles into the position of sheriff, a trial by fire, with not much else going on for himself, he sticks. Crime abounds from his first day until he's buried neck deep in a mystery that must be solved, or he and the other business owners will find themselves with a bullet in the back - or worse.

I was enthralled the whole time I read. I liked the characters, the settings.. I liked how a few characters are not so cut and dry, good or bad. It's leading up to an interesting series that hopefully continues in the next edition.

(For those unsure about reading this title:) I love Westerns, both traditional and mystery Westerns. Some people do not enjoy the latter and I see it coloring their enjoyment of the story. As long as you know there is a mystery to solve and enjoy that fact, or at least abide by it, then you should enjoy this book.

[larry brashear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

This is a great story and a thrill a minute! It is full of surprises with an intriguing plot. Written by a master!

[Jerry Blackerby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great W.w. Johnstone book. I loved this one, because I remember hearing about Hell's Half Acre in north Ft. Worth. I grew up a little west of Ft. Worth, but heard a lot about the town because I had relatives living there.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

much better book then was expected. It has the feel of a typical Johnstone western but much more then most. it reminds me of Deadwood with the air of a murder mystery as an added bonus. Looking forward to more books in the series to be released.

[Jeff]

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