The Burning

The Last Gunfighter #8

by William W. Johnstone

William W. Johnstone's Gunfighter novels have made him a national bestselling author and confirmed his standing as America's most popular chronicler of the wild West--and of the men and women who tamed it. Now, he brings his gritty, hard-edged vision of the frontier to a story of greed, power and courage, as a beautiful land is caught in the grips of a dirty little war... The Burning When Frank Morgan sets up camp in a lush valley in Montana, the last thing he expects to see is fires lighting up the night sky as fields, farms and homes are torched by so-called "range detectives" working for two powerful ranchers. For the ranchers, the battle lines have been drawn in the form of newly settled farmland that's cutting through the ranges, separating cattle from grazing land and water. But the settlers are breaking no law, and no one is going to prevent them from building their homes and towns--until the ranchers turn to a pair of vicious mercenaries who won't stop until they run out of bullets. Now, Frank Morgan finds himself taking gun in hand once more to help folks who desperately need it. Having fought his way across the frontier, he knows his time may be up--but anyone fixing to kill the last gunfighter had better to be ready to die.

Genres: Westerns

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published October 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

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank buys some land and gets himself caught up in a range war (sound familiar? This was the same plot a few volumes back, and it was done a bit better there). I felt this volume was a bit slower than the usual mile-a-minute Last Gunfighter stories. Also, the ending is supposed to be a lead-in to the next volume, but it would have been better suited as a beginning to the next volume rather than as an ending to this one. As it is, it feels out of place and makes this volume outstay its welcome by a tiny bit.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Morgan is a gunfighter or a "gun slick". He is however unlike most any other well known gun-hand. Frank never hires out or sells his gun.

Although some argue he does sell his gun for the right price. Frank has a habit of getting involved with under-dogs. When he comes on a valley where farmers are being murdered and burned out by large land holders Frank does the only thing he can possibly do when confronted with a situation like this. It's none of Frank's business, no sir. The smart thing to do would be to just move on and mind his own business.

So Frank buys a small farm from a family who's been run out and planned to simply leave the land and take the loss (Frank as it happens is not only a famous gunfighter he's wealthy).

Now Frank is involved.

So another good action read. Be aware that you may want to open your windows to air out the smell of gun smoke, horse manure and so on.

Enjoy.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another Frank Morgan tale. This one reaches a bit too far as Frank builds a city....with random gun play involved.

It's all very silly. The main character is strapped with too much cash. Angry at some bad guys, he takes his cash and starts having churches, banks, jails, etc built. Just to spite the bad guys. The excuse given is the "Drifter' sometimes doesn't want to drift and wants to stop and settle in. That would be fine,if he was to stay there and upcoming books were about his being in the town. Readers know he's building it for no reason other to then drift. Thus the ending is apparent. I find this approach frustrating. A better approach would've been to have Morgan with a wealthy companion and they both built the town and the companion stayed behind.

This one also has the now, after 7 other volumes, familiar ending of chapters with a gunfight is to occur. The beginning of the next chapter has the gunfight occur. Then someone doesn't die and a few pages goes on with drivel about why someone doesn't get a doctor for the dying man. Geez. A few times is OK, but this happens through a few chapters and many books.

The plot is good, but construction falters in logic and, I found, the tale falls in. Making it worse is an odd stringing out of the ending which appears to be more padding than adding to the story. Adding to that is the representation of a continuation of the story in the next volume. That doesn't happen, which is just another frivolous bit of the book.

Another complaint is another set of sheriffs/barkeeps/store owners/etc. that are near duplicates from other volumes. More of the mechanical effort.

Finally the title has nothing to do with the contents of the book.

Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 4 out of ten.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like every book in this series so far, but I enjoyed this one even more, and I think it’s because — **MINOR SPOILER WARNING** — the main character, Frank Morgan (the Drifter), temporarily settles down in this new town, becoming sort of a “founding father” of the little burg, and as a result he (and the reader) gets to know other characters better than what is typical of books in this series. Of course, the Drifter can’t stay anywhere too long, and with him the read must go.

But this book, like its predecessors, offers all of the Frank Morgan guilty pleasures: tough talk, gunfights, and lots of coffee and trips to the local café. Highly recommended for fans of William W. Johnstone, Frank Morgan, and the general Western milieu.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DRIFTER

A great adventure featuring the one and only Frank Morgan. He's a strange man whose smart
and he's a philanthropist. He helps with knowledge and even though he's a force to reckon with he's reasonable.
He knows his life can end as quick as it takes to shoot a gun. Every gunnie who calls him out the thought surfaces, but it doesn't interfere with his aim or speed.
It's still a great series, and I hope he finds PEACE somewhere and somehow. A nice barn and pasture for Stormy, a warm corner for Dog. All we can say is RIDE EASY, FRANK MORGAN..🍵

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this one, Frank Morgan almost becomes a farmer. The ranchers are trying their best to get rid of the farmers but Frank happens to be on the scene, gets behind the farmers and spends his money on the building of the town ... in short does a whole lot of good works besides whittling down the bad guys. Great reading, as always.

[Bill Shupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written novel. Will Frank "the drifter" Morgan settle down in the growing town of Valley View or will he move on and continue his drifting. Still having want to be gunslingers pull iron on him. Read to find out.

[Terry L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Morgan Rides Again!

Another great Frank Morgan adventure! Frank once again steps in to help where he sees injustice carried out and ends up in a few gun fights in the process.

[Eric Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. Didn’t end with the typical shoot up. A nice little twist for the ending. This book made the character a little more deeper and realistic.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

24-50. Great western read. I am enjoying the adventures of Frank Morgan. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Libby app.

[larry brashear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good!

In fact really good! I really liked this tale of the old west. Great story of the triumph of good over evil.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good novel and entertaining. I enjoyed reading this novel and recommend this book to everyone

[Steven Bradley Jennings]

Awesome Book left me wanting more

I Love reading William W Johnstone books. This book was a great read Go ahead and just buy the book it's worth the money that's a fact