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The Trail West #1
The Trail West
New York Times bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, authors of the popular Mountain Man series, comes a gritty, authentic saga.
In 1848, Dooley Monahan, son of struggling Iowa pioneers, went off to pick up a new milk cow. Young Dooley never came home. Now, nearly three decades later, Dooley Monahan has become an accidental legend, managing to plant a bullet in the chest of a dangerous outlaw. All Dooley really wants is to claim his reward at a bank in Phoenix and make his way north to a gold strike he read about in a newspaper. But fate has other plans. It starts with a family slaughtered by Apaches, a dog smarter than most humans Dooley knows, and a girl with a wounded soul. And the blood-hungry brothers of the outlaw Dooley killed will not give up their pursuit until they've avenged his death.
The farther Dooley tries to head north, destiny pushes him west. His trail is populated by strange friends and dangerous enemies, strewn with bad luck and bad blood--and frequently interrupted by sudden storms of gunfire.
In 1848, Dooley Monahan, son of struggling Iowa pioneers, went off to pick up a new milk cow. Young Dooley never came home. Now, nearly three decades later, Dooley Monahan has become an accidental legend, managing to plant a bullet in the chest of a dangerous outlaw. All Dooley really wants is to claim his reward at a bank in Phoenix and make his way north to a gold strike he read about in a newspaper. But fate has other plans. It starts with a family slaughtered by Apaches, a dog smarter than most humans Dooley knows, and a girl with a wounded soul. And the blood-hungry brothers of the outlaw Dooley killed will not give up their pursuit until they've avenged his death.
The farther Dooley tries to head north, destiny pushes him west. His trail is populated by strange friends and dangerous enemies, strewn with bad luck and bad blood--and frequently interrupted by sudden storms of gunfire.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,043 books1,451 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 20, 2023
An other great western by the Master.
June 16, 2026
Listen, in fairness, I’m departing from my genres here, but my sweet Christ was I bored out of my mind waiting for something to happen. What a weird completely unconnected string of events that wrapped up with a totally nonsensical and abrupt (not to mention mildly depressing) ending. I mean…it sure was a 300 page book set in the American West.
March 15, 2018
Just glad I picked this up used, ended up trading it back, and only out $0.25. Just reads like a section of short stories made into the book, the editing was atrocious and the writing wasn't even close to the language used in the 19th Century when this takes place.
Didn't like the Dooley Monahan, the writing isn't even close to what Bill would have done and just a shame that this wasn't released as a J.A. book. Since I just feel that any book the Estate releases, should be the same quality that Bill released and if not it shouldn't be released with Bill's name on it.
Didn't like the Dooley Monahan, the writing isn't even close to what Bill would have done and just a shame that this wasn't released as a J.A. book. Since I just feel that any book the Estate releases, should be the same quality that Bill released and if not it shouldn't be released with Bill's name on it.
September 9, 2024
Hubby loved this one too!
June 5, 2016
I'm sorry this book is terrible. The only other book I have stopped reading was Twilight (couldn't get through the first 25 pages of that bull crap). Maybe I have been spoiled by reading Dusty Richards' superb Western novels. I just cannot get into this novel, no matter how hard I try.
I like Monahan, the main character, an aging cowboy, but I have no personal connection to him at all. I know his back story and I know that he has a ton of broken bones, as the author keeps repeatedly telling us about his morning ritual where he works out the kinks of all of his broken bones. Okay, well the same could be said about any cowboy in the Old West who would have been thrown from horses and sleeping on the ground on the trail. That's hardly a defining characteristic. The only part of the story (I have stopped at page 108) that emotionally resonated with me is when he found the family massacred by the Indians and took the family dog with him. That's it. The young kid who he picks up with him is an okay character but I just can't get invested in him. So, he wants to know everything to know about Monahan's cowboy life.
They pick up a girl who is extremely annoying. There is a part where she screams so loudly that Monahan's pursuers actually think she is being raped. The reason for her blood-curdling screams? Apparently, she was disturbed by Monahan's morning routine where he works out the kinks of his broken bones. HUH? That is just stupid. I re-read that part multiple times trying to see if I had missed anything. Well, I hadn't.
I mentioned that Monahan is being pursued. Alf and his mentally disabled brother Dev are hot on his trail. They are outlaws and Monahan accidentally killed their brother and they have sworn revenge. Dev is literally one of the most annoying characters I have ever come across in literature. I get it, he is disabled, and the reader is supposed to be annoyed like Alf is but enough is enough. Way too much repetitive dialogue from him. It's like, I get the point, he's disabled, you don't need to beat me over the head with it. I started cringing every time the action turned back to Alf and Dev. Entire pages are devoted to Dev barking at his brother over coffee that was accidentally spilled in a river or him singing a song and yelling out the last word. Really? You can make it clear that a character is disabled and annoying to his brother without completely frustrating the reader.
Let's go back to the girl they pick up. She is completely one-dimensional. She flies off the handle, literally attacking the younger cowboy..for what again? She is completely irritating. None of these characters (except Monahan) have any subtlety, nuance, complexity or layers. They are all cardboard cut-outs. That does not make a good story. They are not memorable, other than Monahan, and I don't care what happens to them. That is a problem as Monahan is the main character but he is sharing the stage with the girl and the young cowboy.
I do like Alf but again, I feel I know nothing about him. He just has an annoying brother with a disability and wants to kill Monahan. That's it?
I am giving up on this novel and moving on to the next Dusty Richards book. I need Western novels that weave stories with complex characterizations. This isn't it.
I like Monahan, the main character, an aging cowboy, but I have no personal connection to him at all. I know his back story and I know that he has a ton of broken bones, as the author keeps repeatedly telling us about his morning ritual where he works out the kinks of all of his broken bones. Okay, well the same could be said about any cowboy in the Old West who would have been thrown from horses and sleeping on the ground on the trail. That's hardly a defining characteristic. The only part of the story (I have stopped at page 108) that emotionally resonated with me is when he found the family massacred by the Indians and took the family dog with him. That's it. The young kid who he picks up with him is an okay character but I just can't get invested in him. So, he wants to know everything to know about Monahan's cowboy life.
They pick up a girl who is extremely annoying. There is a part where she screams so loudly that Monahan's pursuers actually think she is being raped. The reason for her blood-curdling screams? Apparently, she was disturbed by Monahan's morning routine where he works out the kinks of his broken bones. HUH? That is just stupid. I re-read that part multiple times trying to see if I had missed anything. Well, I hadn't.
I mentioned that Monahan is being pursued. Alf and his mentally disabled brother Dev are hot on his trail. They are outlaws and Monahan accidentally killed their brother and they have sworn revenge. Dev is literally one of the most annoying characters I have ever come across in literature. I get it, he is disabled, and the reader is supposed to be annoyed like Alf is but enough is enough. Way too much repetitive dialogue from him. It's like, I get the point, he's disabled, you don't need to beat me over the head with it. I started cringing every time the action turned back to Alf and Dev. Entire pages are devoted to Dev barking at his brother over coffee that was accidentally spilled in a river or him singing a song and yelling out the last word. Really? You can make it clear that a character is disabled and annoying to his brother without completely frustrating the reader.
Let's go back to the girl they pick up. She is completely one-dimensional. She flies off the handle, literally attacking the younger cowboy..for what again? She is completely irritating. None of these characters (except Monahan) have any subtlety, nuance, complexity or layers. They are all cardboard cut-outs. That does not make a good story. They are not memorable, other than Monahan, and I don't care what happens to them. That is a problem as Monahan is the main character but he is sharing the stage with the girl and the young cowboy.
I do like Alf but again, I feel I know nothing about him. He just has an annoying brother with a disability and wants to kill Monahan. That's it?
I am giving up on this novel and moving on to the next Dusty Richards book. I need Western novels that weave stories with complex characterizations. This isn't it.
March 14, 2018
I saw someone else's review that said this reads like a collection of short stories that were stitched together and I'm inclined to agree. There isn't much of an overarching plot line, and the culmination of most of the conflicts are anti-climactic, and in one specific case a bit lazy. The writing is readable, but the story is weak if that makes any sense.
October 10, 2017
This is clearly being written by a writer outside of the typical Johnstone Clan. The entire drive of the book is so very different from Johnstone books. I really liked it. This book is very much a character study and his adventures.
This Johnstone volume is head and shoulders above most Johnstone books. Thewre are many places throughout the book where I realized a typical Johnstone book would have had a simple, often poorly written, bit in it. This one not only gives more complexity, but it's also entertaining reading.
The weakest parts of the books are the front and end pieces. Both are stilted.
Otherwise this is a great book.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of 10 points.
This Johnstone volume is head and shoulders above most Johnstone books. Thewre are many places throughout the book where I realized a typical Johnstone book would have had a simple, often poorly written, bit in it. This one not only gives more complexity, but it's also entertaining reading.
The weakest parts of the books are the front and end pieces. Both are stilted.
Otherwise this is a great book.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of 10 points.
May 21, 2020
A very interesting book. Dooley is one of the most unique protagonist I have read in a long time.
We find out that Dooley has memory problems, no doubt due to a untreated TBI. (Or so you assume based on his history).
As he travels he picks up stray people, finds a very intelligent dog named Blue, had apparently has a backstory that he can't remember.
It seems he is a legend in the west but not in his mind.
Just a complete different type of Western hero. One of my favorites in a long time.
We find out that Dooley has memory problems, no doubt due to a untreated TBI. (Or so you assume based on his history).
As he travels he picks up stray people, finds a very intelligent dog named Blue, had apparently has a backstory that he can't remember.
It seems he is a legend in the west but not in his mind.
Just a complete different type of Western hero. One of my favorites in a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2024
I checked to make sure I had read the same book that got panned in the first review, because I really enjoyed the book. I liked the characters and the adventure they set off on. I was a little puzzled by the ending, until I saw that there are two more books in the Dooley Monahan series. I will read the other two as they become available.
I am a devoted fan of Louis L’Amour, and have become a fan of the Johnstone western sagas. I recommend them.
I am a devoted fan of Louis L’Amour, and have become a fan of the Johnstone western sagas. I recommend them.
July 10, 2018
Three stars is generous. This book won’t go down as a literary classic, and it sure as hell won’t make you want to pick it up again. However, it’s a fun adventure western that will help you pass the time.
January 29, 2019
It sure was interesting life path the main character experience. The new people introduced to his life and his solitary road trip sure turned his life in an mission of kindness and concern for people that counted on him to make the right decisions based on their trust in him
December 18, 2019
A boy, a Girl and a Dog
An old forgetful cowboy is joined by a boy, a girl and a dog in his adventure in Arizona, where he is hunted by a set of muderers, fights off Indians and fights the girls pervert guardian.
An old forgetful cowboy is joined by a boy, a girl and a dog in his adventure in Arizona, where he is hunted by a set of muderers, fights off Indians and fights the girls pervert guardian.
November 1, 2020
Borrowed this Graphic Audio book from Hoopla and thought it was pretty okay. I haven’t read many westerns, so my experience is limited, but the narration was great. I may listen to other books as I understand this is a series.
March 16, 2021
A cowboy with amnesia makes for a story that's funny, but hard to follow at times. It was however a pretty good book, but I did find out that this book was the first book in a series of three after I had read two and three first. It was written by J.A. Johnstone not his Uncle William W. Johnstone.
June 18, 2022
Western-themed book about Dooley Monahan, an aging cowboy who killed an outlaw. He is pursued by the outlaw's brothers as he, a fellow cowboy and a young girl meander across the west. Parts of the story were interesting, but the ending, to me, was incomplete.
July 23, 2018
Just OK. Some good spots, a few confusing spots.
September 16, 2018
I haven't read a western in awhile. It was more feeling than a true western. I might try another by this author.
August 5, 2019
Just average
Hard read. Didn’t care for the characters. Story line was slow and predictable. I would pass on this book.Boring and a time was wasted.
Hard read. Didn’t care for the characters. Story line was slow and predictable. I would pass on this book.Boring and a time was wasted.
October 17, 2019
More character driven than action.
February 25, 2020
Good story
Like all Johnston’s stories it is filled with mystery and action. I have the next book already. Just need a few moments to get it started.
Like all Johnston’s stories it is filled with mystery and action. I have the next book already. Just need a few moments to get it started.
December 5, 2022
These westerns are always a great read. Looking forward to seeing what else happens to old Dooley
June 25, 2019
DOOLEY MONAHAN
Another great western adventure by two great western writing authorities. Your going to enjoy reading about Dooley Monahan and his lively misadventures thru life.
Another great western adventure by two great western writing authorities. Your going to enjoy reading about Dooley Monahan and his lively misadventures thru life.
Read
October 2, 2016Good but weak ending
February 15, 2013
Less a shoot-em-up western, more a character study of an aging cowboy. Dooley Monahan was sent by his father in 1850 to pick up a milk cow for their Iowa farm. Dooley was just twenty. After making arrangements for the cow, he fell into bad company and never returned.
It's nearly thirty years later and Dooley is not old, but a life time of broken bones, the occasional gun wound, and his foggy memory that takes odd moments to cut out has left him feeling old. He's also built up something of a reputation, most of it untrue, but you know how people embellish. Of course, the outlaw he killed only added to that.
For three years now, he'd been on the move, the voucher for the reward in his wallet, knowing the man's two brothers were looking for him also.
He'd had a dream for a couple of years, fueled by the newspaper reports of gold in Alaska, of going up there and making his fortune. Life keeps getting in the way though.
Apaches slaughter a family just before he gets lured there by the family dog. He buries them and the dog goes with him. He runs into a young man who's life he'd saved a few years before from the hooves of a bucking stallion. The dog finds a young girl, abused by an "uncle," who'd ran away.
Suddenly he had a family of sorts when all he wanted to do was head north. He keeps nudging west though to avoid the outlaw brothers, along the way meeting an assortment of characters, both old and new, not to mention Apaches.
I kind of liked this one. Not sure if it's the beginning of a series, though, as other reviewers assume.
It's nearly thirty years later and Dooley is not old, but a life time of broken bones, the occasional gun wound, and his foggy memory that takes odd moments to cut out has left him feeling old. He's also built up something of a reputation, most of it untrue, but you know how people embellish. Of course, the outlaw he killed only added to that.
For three years now, he'd been on the move, the voucher for the reward in his wallet, knowing the man's two brothers were looking for him also.
He'd had a dream for a couple of years, fueled by the newspaper reports of gold in Alaska, of going up there and making his fortune. Life keeps getting in the way though.
Apaches slaughter a family just before he gets lured there by the family dog. He buries them and the dog goes with him. He runs into a young man who's life he'd saved a few years before from the hooves of a bucking stallion. The dog finds a young girl, abused by an "uncle," who'd ran away.
Suddenly he had a family of sorts when all he wanted to do was head north. He keeps nudging west though to avoid the outlaw brothers, along the way meeting an assortment of characters, both old and new, not to mention Apaches.
I kind of liked this one. Not sure if it's the beginning of a series, though, as other reviewers assume.
November 10, 2015
Good and interesting read, a bit different than the usual Westerns - as it follows a rag-tag group of individuals who are less 'shoot 'em up" and more so trying to find a place to belong. I enjoyed all the characters and the good character development. There were a few parts that made me laugh out loud, which always endears a book to me.
August 23, 2013
Enjoyable read. I will look for more by this author. Do wish I could find them in larger print though.
Want to Read
October 25, 2015eh
April 24, 2017
So-So!
This is a very confusing book and I really do not even see an ending to it. Too bad because at first it seemed to have potential.
This is a very confusing book and I really do not even see an ending to it. Too bad because at first it seemed to have potential.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews