The Eagles Legacy

MacCallister #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone, P.J. Ochlan (Narrator)

From bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J. A. Johnstone comes a blazing new saga of the MacCallisters. One family, forging a destiny. One legacy, sworn to justice. One name, branded in the heart of America . . . The Scottish Highlands, 1885. Two men, brandishing knives, attack a young woman outside a pub. Duff MacCallister steps in and saves her-killing one of the assailants. Big mistake. The attacker was the sheriff's son, and now MacCallister is marked for death. His only hope: America. Here, in the sprawling land of dreams, Duff hopes to start a new life with his American cousins. Unfortunately, the sheriff's deputies are tracking him down-with nine of the deadliest cutthroats money can buy. Blazing a trail of blood and bullets all the way to the Rockies, Duff has to kill his enemies one by one-or die trying. But this time, Duff is not alone. He has a new ally by his side. A living legend of frontier justice. The gunslinger known as Falcon MacCallister . . .

Genres: Westerns, Audiobook, Suspense, Historical Fiction

Audio CD

Published December 4, 2018

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

[Phillip · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't just liked...I have LOVED the first two novels I've read by William Johnstone: Flintlock, and Shawn O'Brien, Town Tamer. They were both exceptionally well written and well plotted throughout. I realize William Johnstone has passed, and these recent novels are being written by a relative, JA Johnstone, but I honestly have to wonder if this is the case with this novel. The writing here is amateurish at best. The dialogue is forced and unnatural. Duff and Falcon seem to live in this odd world where politeness and generosity are a way of life in America, but that wasn't the case in 1870, and it certainly isn't the case today. The book is over 400 pages (on my iPad), yet the final shootout, which we are led to believe is going to be a doozy, last for about two pages. The rest is a travelogue of Duff's trek across the country to his new home in Wyoming. Along the way we get a few glimpses into Duff as a man. He is undoubtedly brave and loyal and a true gentleman, but after awhile, these encounters with various vagrants and villains seem formulaic--a ruffian insults a woman, Duff walks over and punches the guy, the guy grabs a gun and tries to kill Duff, and Duff either ends up killing him, or someone else does.
I honestly cannot put my finger on what's wrong here, exactly. I can't imagine that the same person who wrote Flintlock, wrote this novel. The writing styles seem completely different. I enjoyed parts of this novel, for sure. I was pleased with the outcome, but very little in this novel seemed plausible to me, and the dialogue...that dialogue...very few times in my life have I laughed out loud at dialogue that we should be taking at face value. I already purchased the other three novels in this series, and I suppose I'll get around to reading them at some point. Maybe the next one will get better. Maybe Johnstone was having a bad day (considering that he publishes 30 of these novels a year, it seems he really is writing these in one day). I would really like the truth regarding who is finishing these outlines and drafts of William Johnstone before he passed. I have to believe several ghost writers are involved in this project, because this one just isn't the quality I've come to expect.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining western novel about a man new to the west.

Former Scottish soldier forced to flea for his life, being pursued by villains

He must learn to acclimate to not only a new Land, but the wild west.

Humor and typical western action.

[David Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable tale

[Barbara Lee Wood]

DUFF MacCALLISTER,THE SCOT

A young Scotsman from of course Scotland by the name of Duff MacCallister owner of two hundred acre cattle farm has escaped to America. He was to be married to a lass named Skye, who worked in her father's inn was attacked by two brothers, bullies in the town. Their father, Angus Somerled was the town's Sheriff. Out of anger he started shooting and one of those bullets killed Skye.
So Duff killed one of the three Somerled brothers that's why the father Sheriff Angus Somerled started shooting. Both Duff and Skye were on their way to the Sheriff 's office to report the assault and the reason behind the death of
the Sheriff's son....a bunch of rapist!
Skye's father gave Duff money to buy his way to America, because his life would end hanging from the nearest tree. Sad state of affairs, that's one of the reasons so many Irish and Scottish emigrated to the United States Of America.
Freedom, Freedom from persecution, famines and free to live your life happily..right folks?
This Scottish Sheriff sent his Deputy to America to hunt and murder Duff MacCallister..The nerve of this man to think he has the authority and the right to extracts his "VENGENCE" on Duff MacCallister ..persecution across the big pond.
Well folks, this Duff MacCallister not only had the burden of assassins, but he was faced with racist
attitudes against the IRISH, in one what part of this action packed western adventure, per the author, a foul smelling alcoholic bigot made remarks about foreigners settling in this country aren't wanted!! This sounds familiar to you'll, we hear this same argument through out history. Bigots how does that work, every White person in those days emigrated from Europe!!!
Very 😢sad sad attitudes, but it didn't stop Duff MacCallister from settling and starting a new life in these United States and Territories. Hurtful but realistic..no shame, not one bit!
Paz Amigos

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duff MacCallister is a Scottish gentleman. His life is about to become all he could want. However, when trouble comes calling and he must protect his fiance, he flees for his life. Marked for death, America and a fresh start are his only options. Meeting his American cousins, Duff begins his American life. Being pursued, Duff and his gunslinger cousin, Falcon, end up in Wyoming where Duff plans to put down his roots. I love how the author researches his novels so that they are accurate. He makes sure that the history in his novels is true to the time. His characters are strongly written. Each story can be read as a stand alone but once you read one you will definitely want to start at the beginning and read the whole series. William Johnstone and Ralph Compton are my two favorite Western authors. I look forward to reading the series.

[Jay Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Scot's fiancee is killed the day before the wedding. He had killed a son of the Sheriff and she was killed as he was trying to turn himself in. He runs to America. The Sheriffs sons and a deputy follow. The Scot kills the other two sons of the Sheriff in New York. The Scot runs west and the deputy follows. Protected by distant family, the Scot tries to start anew. This is a decent Western (not great).

[Mike Warfel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Scott finds home

A fast moving adventure bouncing from fight to fight, the enemy keeps coming seeking an end to their false pride and unearned arrogance. Across the sea and across the western plains seeking a fresh start helped by family this is a good story in the Louis Lamour style. A good quick read.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Dip Me In Some Haggis!!!

Well Dip Me In Some Haggis and call me Rob Roy!!! Who would have imagined a western involving some fine Scottish lads could be so fun and entertaining. I definitely recommend this book to any and all fans of western/action adventures or any fans of the amazing Johnstone lads.

[Derrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The accent I get why, but not sure I enjoy it. The story is sad as well, so I'll be curious as to where the series goes from here. MacCallister is an interesting character, so I might go back and see what else I enjoy.

[ted tull · Rating 5 out of 5]

MacAllister: The Eagles Legacy

The Johnstones came up with another novel story line. This one takes us back to Duff's origins and comes full circle to joining his cousin Falcon in a tales of the wild west.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying the simplicity of Johnstone's books

[Hannah Katakam · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are very enjoyable graphic audio westerns and I very much enjoy the voice acting.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

MacCallister Dodges bad men when hes tricked into bringing cash to pay for a head of Black Angus Cattle for his ranch.
I really liked the story line, hope you do too.

[David Stramel]

Excellent

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, couldn't put the book down, on to #2

[pollymuz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook. It is good to listen to a good old western. From Scotland to America this was a good story where good verses evil.

[Truitti · Rating 4 out of 5]

24-24 The start of a great western series. Can't wait to find out what Duff does next. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public library through the Libby app.

[hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ not sure if i ironically liked it or it was actually good???

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duff MacCallister is the last member of his clan living in Scotland, He knows of distant kin in America because he's met the twins, Rosanna and Andrew, famous actors doing a play in Scotland. He'd received a letter from them and attended, with an invitation to visit or bring his soon to be bride, Skye, and live there.

A landowner and cattle rancher in his own right, he hadn't considered it until the night before his wedding, when looking for Skye, he finds her being assaulted by two of the Sheriff's sons, their intent obvious in her partially disrobed state. The brothers attack him with drawn dirks and he kills one of them.

Duff and Skye decide to turn themselves in to tell what happened and when the Sheriff sees him, he and the deputies open fire, killing Skye. Duff kills the two deputies, the Sheriff escaping, and flees, ending up stowing away on a freighter headed for America.

In New York, he finds his American cousins and gets a job in the theater they're working, settling in. He sends a letter to his fiancee's father letting him know where he's settled. But the sheriff has spies everywhere and intercepts the letter, sending his other two sons and a deputy to America to finish him off.

More violence follows and Duff decides he can't endanger his cousins. They send him west to meet and get aid from their brother Falcon MacCallister, named for the common ancestor he and Duff have in their family tree.

A small army is coming for Duff and Falcon. But neither man is to be taken lightly.

[HornFan2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read, definitely parts were written by William and finished off by a ghost writer. Had excellent storylines, just seemed like they could have added more pages for the end verse rushing it. Having good kill evil by hitting the easy button to do verse making it a systematic multiple battle with good conquering evil.

I just wish they gave the ghost writer's credit, the reader knows who wrote what or from 2016 on just let Charles G. West write everything. Doing this enables readers to do like what I did with the Ralph Compton series, were his estate gave writers credit for what they wrote, thus enabled me to know which ones I was going to skip verse buying others.

Lastly, J.A. and Kensington have been good or just plain bad with continuing on with the William W. Johnstone brand. I think they could have done it way better than they have.

They would have kept this old diehard fan of William's Westerns happy verse having me dedicate myself to keep reading their releases and just giving my unbiased, unfiltered honest review.

So a huge thank you to Walmart, Sam's Club for making these releases so cheap, for me to be able to afford to do this and A Novel Idea for the ones I purchase used due to them having bad reviews.

Do note that their are several series, that I have never bothered to read, even used and because they are just garbage.

[Flannery Kneel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up this gem at Wal-mart and what a gem it is! Hollywood! You need to get your hands on this one! Duff MacCallister after suffering the worst tragedy is forced out of Scotland his lifelong home, after he kills one of the Somerled men, the local Sheriff’s son and family enemies that have feuded for centuries. He secretly boards a merchant ship to America, and while aboard becomes an instant expert at being a shiphand.
Once in New York, he moves in with his distant cousins, famous theatre actors, Rosanna and Andrew MacCallister. The revengeful Sheriff in Argyllshire sends his remaining two sons and his deputy to follow him to America to take him down. Duff narrowly escapes the ambush and heads to MacCallister, CO where Rosanna and Andrew’s brother, the legendary Falcon MacCallister lives. The two become instant kinsmen and friends and hitch a plan to head to Wyoming so Duff can acquire land and begin his new life. What he doesn’t know is Deputy Malcolm is hot on his heels.
This epic novel is packed, with unrequited love, Wild West shootouts, bank robberies, saloons, adventure, gold mines, and the unending endurance of love, friendship, and loyalty. Any reader will be on the edge of his seat from start to finish!

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

​This is a terribly written book. The style of the writing of this Johnstone Clan ghost writer is familiar, though I can't recall which Johnstone book, or two, the person wrote. The constant amateur dialogue of questions for answers to move the narrative along is bad enough during a few pages. This continues throughout the book.

There's also less engaging characters than typical of a Johnstone book. The story starts in Scotland with characters that are brushed past. The similarily treated main character is then dumped into America where he adapts like a rock would. no mention of temerature or life style differences. Even his dialogue slides in and out of a brogue.

After hundreds of pages with lots of sub plots, the book ends as Westerns tend to do. But in this case with blazing speed of dissolution of bad guys that I didn't care about to begin with. The writing never, to me, developed to a feeling of real danger for the main character.

The settings, and there are a lot of them, are as brushed by as the characters. The entire endeavor is on a low par for the Johnstone Clan.

Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 3 out of 10 points.

[Tome Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I am hooked. Fun, entertaining, historical, and quick read.

Here is my description of the story in movie terms.

Clint Eastwood plays a Scottish immigrant who is forced to leave his homeland and secretly flee to the U.S in the later nineteenth century, just on the edge of the historical wild west times. He handles every altercation in typical Eastwood style right down to the witty banter with the bad guys all while trying to make a life for himself but not until all the bad guys are dead.

Lots of gun play and story for everyone and the book ends wanting you to read the next one, so I did and that one did the same thing so I bought the third one, I think you get the picture.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnstone nails another one

We tend to think our Western heroes were all born and bred in the west. In this book we learn that Americans of the early Western period might be from any where.
Tough men came from other countries as well as sometimes from Eastern cities or mountains. It took all kinds to make up the people of the West.

[Kyle H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly enjoyable but seemed like a poor cousin to Louis L'Amour's Sackett books, combining elements of the first one and a much later book or two. I won't read any more of the MacCallister series but may try another book by the author(s).

[Kevin C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another nicely written novel by Johnstone. Always an easy read.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent plot development.....nice storyline for a new series!

[Carol and Gary Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

First on a series. Fairly typical Western, filled with action. The writing was quite good, the characters were interesting and the plot was nicely developed. Not special but a good read.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scottish hero!

Duff is a nice addition to the MacCallister family! A genuine "Highlander" cut from the tartan...! Good read or a good yarn!