The Chuckwagon Trail

Chuckwagon Trail #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

Johnstone Country.  Frontier Spirit Lives Here.
  National bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone spin a breakneck tale about a heroic chuckwagon cook who knows just what to do when cowboys get hungry—for revenge . . .
 
THE CHUCKWAGON TRAIL
 
Framed for murder, Dewey “Mac” McKenzie is running for his life. Though Mac’s never even made a pot of coffee, he talks his way onto a cattle drive heading west—as a chuckwagon cook. Turns out he has a natural talent for turning salt pork and dried beans into culinary gold. He’s as good with a pot and pan as he is with a gun—which comes in handy on a dangerous trail drive beset with rustlers, hostile Indians, ornery weather, and deadly stampedes. Mac can hold his own with any cowboy twice his age. At least until the real showdown begins. . . .
 
Trail hand, Deke Northrup, is one mean spit in the eye. Before long, he’s made enemies of all his men. When Mac learns that Northrup is planning to double-cross the herd’s owner, he stands up to the trail boss and his henchman. He might be outgunned and outnumbered, but Mac’s ready to serve up some blazing frontier justice—with a healthy helping of vengeance. . . .
 
Live Free. Read Hard.
www.williamjohnstone.net

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Audiobook, Adventure

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2017

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

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This western historical novel has a twist from the usual cowboy story. Instead of our hero being a gun fighter, he is a cook. Our protagonist, Dewey “Mac” McKenzie, flees New Orleans with nothing but the clothes on his back. He ends up being hired on as a chuckwagon cook of a Texas herd heading to Abilene. The author provides information about life on a cattle drive. There is some action, but it is not non- stop like some stories. There is also information about the chuckwagon that I found interesting.

With all that is going on in the world currently, I found this a great way to escape into another time and place. Life seemed simpler then but probably was just as complicated as it is today.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and thirty-five minutes. Danny Campbell does a good job narrating the book.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.35 stars ... Fast-paced, non-stop action and drama. Exactly what you want from a western. The Johnstones know how to spin a thrilling tale! 🐎🐎🐎🐎

[Ken W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

4.25 stars. Non-stop excitement on a trail drive through Texas! Fast paced action and a great main character and a top notch supporting cast! Definitely continuing this series!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for a fast-paced, action-packed, and entertaining story based on a cattle drive involving a young man on the run from the law. Looking forward to reading more in this series.

[Eli - Bookworm & Vine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to like this book more than I did. Out of the frying pan and into the fire was the constant theme to this book.

[Sophia]

I love westerns, but haven't had a chance to branch out and try even all the big name writers. So, when the opportunity arose, I picked up this first in a series. The blurb caught my eye as I love stories set on cattle drives- built in excitement.

Sadly, I didn't get far before I realized this book was not for me. I tried a few different times and got further each time, but it wasn't a mood and my opinion didn't change. Truthfully, I think it will be a favorite with many. The premise is good, the voice of the hero, Mac, is good and a favorite part for me, but the writing style was not meshing for me. I was distracted or annoyed as I kept going. The backdrop, setting and descriptions were on the money, but I struggled with the flowery or stilted way of describing and at times the dialogue got me for the same reason. Its not bad writing particularly in this genre, just wasn't my preference or to taste.

[Rachaelbookhunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun start to a series. Full of action and humor. Moves from one impossible scenario the main character must navigate to the next. A quick, entertaining read.

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

So done with this book. I do enjoy a good western every now and again and thought this story would satiate my hankerin'. Nope. At every turn there was a disaster or some misfortune. So annoying.

[KaZz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one wow credit to the boys to making the sales didn't think they would ❤ the recipe's in the name thank you my son enjoys Mac's golden biscuits

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chuckwagon Trail is Book one from William W Johnstone’s Chuckwagon Trail series. I enjoyed this western and I give it four stars. I look forward to more of the series.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the main character. Mac is making due in New Orleans when he is framed for a murder. He escapes and makes his way to Waco, Texas and after a quick lesson in biscuit making, he is given a job as a cook on a cattle drive. The book has ups and downs and the crew moves north to Abilene. It is a great story with great characters.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up in a very rural part of Idaho where we worked on farms, helped with cattle, crops, etc. I thought I might like this western, as I hadn't read one in awhile, but this was just too over the top for me. The story is super engaging, so I plan to put it in my school library, but too unrealistic. Each chapter was pretty much like an episode of a serial cattle trail-type show, with some crazy problem to solve. It just got exhausting. I do think the writing was pretty good, but it was just the overall storyline. For those who really want constant action, this would do the trick.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

FOOD ON THE TRAIL

From a misbegotten love, murder and on the run from the law in New Orleans. This adventure of a man on the run from a shady wealthy French family who have a shipping business, and the daughter of a wealth New Orleans banker who are about to unite in a marriage which will guarantee more wealth..
A young man utilizes his skill as cook to get a job cooking for a cattle drive going to Abilene, Texas.
Lots of action, thrills and the ugly head of greed all stirred into a tasty pot of beans.
You will be also enjoy the recipes at the end of the book. Especially the biscuits and the beans.
The recipe for a "Cowboys Breakfast," we've all prepared many times, as dinner or lunch with a tossed salad as a side add a nice steak..delicious.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like all of the Johnstone books but I think this character (Mac McKenzie) is now my favorite. He is young, funny, enthusiastic, and a great problem solver. In this story he starts out as a young fella who wants to marry a girl out of his league, only to end up on a riverboat taking him to Texas. Then, being broke and having nothing but the clothes on his back, he finally gets a job as cook on a trail drive. He's a great cook and he also does the scouting, and he's happy with just that. However, with experience being the best teacher, by the end of the trail he is boss. I can't wait to see what the next episode brings.

[Linda Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved his book. For me, it started slowly and not being sure I was getting into it, I put it aside to read something else. But when I got back to it, I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the characters, especially MAC. He just couldn't seem to gt a break, which made the story all the more interesting for me. Sometimes to the point of not wanting to continue due to the fact that I knew someone was always out to get him. I'm surprised he didn't get killed. But it's a story... and it ended well. Thus, loving the story!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't kid you, this is typical Johnstone Fair. Johnstone uses a basic formula , but that doesn't mean it is not a fun read.

Falsely accused of a crime, our hero becomes a Trail Drive Cook - an interesting tail of a cattle drive told from the viewpoint of a tenderfoot cook.

[Jim McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple cowboy book with interesting characters and problems. It's well written, a fun read, and appropriate for all age groups. My only criticism is in the cover art. The handgun being held by Mac on the cover is not the Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolver he lives with throughout the book.

[Kelly Is Brighid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pablum. Or a really big book for 9-11 year old boys.

[MaskedSkull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si les interesa tener la mejor experiencia de este libro, recomiendo consigan el audiobook sacado por "Graphic Audio".

Yehaaawww!! (?)

Ejem! ya que saque eso de mi sistema procedo a dar mi review xD honestamente este book es muy sencilla su historia pero es la clasica historia de vaqueros que podrias esperar en una película, tiene de todo un poco: acción, comedia, drama, intriga, incluso un poquito de romance trágico, pero lo que diría que se lleva las palmas es el protagonista "Mac", un cocinero que termina haciendo de todo por su grupo de rancheros hasta el final, cambiando su vida para bien.

Realmente me dejo con ganas de seguir leyendo/oyendo la saga, si alguna vez has tenido curiosidad por conocer el genero western, este es un buen inicio.

[Becky R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up in a very rural part of Idaho where we worked on farms, helped with cattle, crops, etc. I thought I might like this western, as I hadn't read one in awhile, but this was just too over the top for me. The story is super engaging, so I plan to put it in my school library, but too unrealistic. Each chapter was pretty much like an episode of a serial cattle trail-type show, with some crazy problem to solve. It just got exhausting. I do think the writing was pretty good, but it was just the overall storyline. For those who really want constant action, this would do the trick.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually really enjoy the Johnstone books. I can't say the same for this one, though. It was well-written, but the amount of problems that the characters had in this book (non-stop) was overwhelming. It got very tiring just sort of working through one problem after another.

I will read other Johnstone books, but I'm also hesitant to read any other books in this particular series, just in case they're all written by the same ghost writer.

[Christen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I would give my least read genre a five star rating, but here we are. So much happens in this book that there's never a dull moment. There are even emotional parts that almost made me tear up. The whole adventure begins when the main character falls in love with the wrong person and gets framed for murder. Who can't relate to that? I highly recommend this book if you enjoy action, adventure, and found family, all centered around a chuckwagon.

[Captain Basil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little off beat but I liked it. The story takes a while to get going but it is a good Cattle Drive story. My only complaint is that the main character seems to fail too often. Sure, the reader wants to see him lean the ropes and pay his dues, but I felt the author over-did it this time. Still and all this was a good story and I would definitely read another in this series.

[Nancy Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dewey Mackenzie was a honest, hardworking young man that trouble seemed to follow around

First it was being framed for a murder he did not commit. Then it was being robbed of all the supplies for the covers and cookwagon. There were rustler to help drive off, damsel in distress, tornado, hail, stampedes and more rustlers.

[kathi Driskell · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good cowboy/cowhand story

It was hard to get started in this book as the beginning really was hard to put together. But once it settled in it was a good story of cow drives and the men that drove them. They had their troubles and their excitement but sometimes the story dragged a bit
Overall it was worth reading.

[Marty Solotki · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale of a wandering sole who ends up as a cook on the Chuckwagon Trail after falsely being accused of murder. While there’s a lot of interesting action, the story meanders like the trail itself and forgets some key points along the way. The ending was a solid one, if a little rushed. The Audible version narrated by Danny Campbell is definitely worth a listen as Mr. Campbell has a great voice for the genre.

[Joseph Baiocco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Each chapter flowed like an old-time '40s western serial. A little disappointed that there was no real resolution to the murder charge against the protagonist. This is the first book by this author that I have read. Was the main character featured in another of his books?

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johnstone is a master of Westerns. While there were parts of the story that I didn't enjoy (the constant problems that presented themselves), but the overall story I enjoyed and will take the plunge into the 2nd one. Great job GA!

[See · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action and intrigue.

Dewey (Mac) Mac Kenzie gets into and out of more trouble than seems possible for man. Especially a Chuck wagon cook. But, he keeps going and helping out his friends and this makes for a very interesting story.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Read

A mild western tale with adequate action. The book was good but had a “young adult” feel to it. The characters weren’t too deep and many of the situations were quick and shallow. The story, however, was well told.