What do you think?
Rate this book
The Range Detectives #2
Hang Them Slowly
JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE THE WILL DEFIES FEAR.
Stovepipe Stewart and Wilbur Coleman look like drifters, but don't be fooled. In this blazing Western saga, these two undercover cowboys get paid to find trouble--and to risk their lives to stomp it out. By any means necessary.
Strangers. Killers. Spies.
Vance Brewster is a hardworking young cowboy. Stovepipe and Wilbur are two new ranch hands working at his side. And all three are caught up in a brewing, trigger-happy Montana range war between the Rafter M and Three Rivers. Then the fury suddenly explodes--in a hail of gunfire the three men must show their hands: they're all hiding their true identities. With Vance falling in love with the daughter of the Three Rivers manager, and Stovepipe and Wilbur paid by a tycoon who needs the violence to stop, all three are in mortal danger. Their real enemies are hiding true identities of their own--and they're not nice men. The body count is about to go sky high . . . and Stovepipe and Wilbur would prefer not be be on top of the pile.
Live Free. Read Hard.
Stovepipe Stewart and Wilbur Coleman look like drifters, but don't be fooled. In this blazing Western saga, these two undercover cowboys get paid to find trouble--and to risk their lives to stomp it out. By any means necessary.
Strangers. Killers. Spies.
Vance Brewster is a hardworking young cowboy. Stovepipe and Wilbur are two new ranch hands working at his side. And all three are caught up in a brewing, trigger-happy Montana range war between the Rafter M and Three Rivers. Then the fury suddenly explodes--in a hail of gunfire the three men must show their hands: they're all hiding their true identities. With Vance falling in love with the daughter of the Three Rivers manager, and Stovepipe and Wilbur paid by a tycoon who needs the violence to stop, all three are in mortal danger. Their real enemies are hiding true identities of their own--and they're not nice men. The body count is about to go sky high . . . and Stovepipe and Wilbur would prefer not be be on top of the pile.
Live Free. Read Hard.
341 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,065 books1,465 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 18, 2016
This is a Walmart exclusive read, you won't find it any where else till November 2017 new and the other option is finding it previously read at your local Used Bookstore.
Two of my favorite niches in the Western genre are US Marshall/Texas Ranger/Sheriff themed or range Cowboy themed ones.
Hang Them Slowly's about range Detectives and Cowboy's, it's the second in the Range Detective series and I liked the first book, so why not read the second.
The sad thing with, 'Hang Them Slowly' is that it's written by a ghost writer, and unlike with the now defunct Ralph Compton Western books. These are written under the William W. Johnstone with J.A. Johnstone banner, the actual author's name doesn't appear on it.
This one takes place in Wagontongue, Montana, were a range war is brewing between Three Rivers and the Rafter M, were every problem gets blamed on the other and it won't take much to make them battle it out.
Unbeknown by either, Alfred Armbrister the owner of Three Rivers Ranch, hires Stovepipe Stewart and Wilbur Coleman two Range Detectives for the Cattlemen's Protective Association, to get to the bottom of the what's fueling the range war and also to keep an eye on his son.
Typical of William, you have the good verse evil, has several twist and turns, typical the good guys when bullets are fly miraculously survive, and the bad guys get killed.
It's another good addition to one of their best new series, being the Range Detectives, definitely worth it to the read and just hope that they don't change the ghost writer like they have on a few of them.
Two of my favorite niches in the Western genre are US Marshall/Texas Ranger/Sheriff themed or range Cowboy themed ones.
Hang Them Slowly's about range Detectives and Cowboy's, it's the second in the Range Detective series and I liked the first book, so why not read the second.
The sad thing with, 'Hang Them Slowly' is that it's written by a ghost writer, and unlike with the now defunct Ralph Compton Western books. These are written under the William W. Johnstone with J.A. Johnstone banner, the actual author's name doesn't appear on it.
This one takes place in Wagontongue, Montana, were a range war is brewing between Three Rivers and the Rafter M, were every problem gets blamed on the other and it won't take much to make them battle it out.
Unbeknown by either, Alfred Armbrister the owner of Three Rivers Ranch, hires Stovepipe Stewart and Wilbur Coleman two Range Detectives for the Cattlemen's Protective Association, to get to the bottom of the what's fueling the range war and also to keep an eye on his son.
Typical of William, you have the good verse evil, has several twist and turns, typical the good guys when bullets are fly miraculously survive, and the bad guys get killed.
It's another good addition to one of their best new series, being the Range Detectives, definitely worth it to the read and just hope that they don't change the ghost writer like they have on a few of them.
February 13, 2017
The Range Detectives series so far has been an excellent, well written addition to the Johnstone library. The newest entry in the series, Hang Them Slowly, continues this tradition. It is a well written, action packed mystery western with wonderful main characters, and a cast of enjoyable supporting characters. It is so easy to visualize the story as you read, feeling you're right in the thick of the action. A real page turner, you don't want to put it down until Stovepipe has figured it all out!
If this is J.A's work, hats off to her, the series is a lot of fun to read. If it had a hand by a ghost writer, well, keep that writer around cuz they have this formula down pat.
And to end on a gushy note, Stovepipe and Wilbur! How can you not just love these characters?! With their cleverness and witty banter, their smarts, horses, guns and gumption - any story with these pards is gonna be one hell of an adventure!
Keep em comin', make The Range Detectives one of your prominent, newer series and kindly give us new volumes often.
If this is J.A's work, hats off to her, the series is a lot of fun to read. If it had a hand by a ghost writer, well, keep that writer around cuz they have this formula down pat.
And to end on a gushy note, Stovepipe and Wilbur! How can you not just love these characters?! With their cleverness and witty banter, their smarts, horses, guns and gumption - any story with these pards is gonna be one hell of an adventure!
Keep em comin', make The Range Detectives one of your prominent, newer series and kindly give us new volumes often.
October 10, 2020
I enjoyed this so much!! Narrative was great and I loved the characters. The only other Western novels I've read so far are by Peter Brandvold (which I love reading). If I compare the two, those have more action (more bad guys die..LOL) and this one has a more intense story line. Look forward to reading the rest of this series and more from Johnstone.
October 26, 2019
I wish I could be more positive, Johnstone's work I've read before (maybe only short pieces?) was good. Unfortunately, this book is structured more like one for younger teens. Short 8 page chapters, lots of action (attempted murder, murder, fights) with repetitive climaxes just wasn't what I wanted. The emphasis on action and brief scenes left out too much of what brings a story to life. Read Hemingway and you'll see how despite short sentences he paints a complete mind-picture for readers. Sadly, I can give this yarn only 2 stars. And nobody got hung quickly or slowly, as the title hints. What in tarnation?!
July 16, 2019
Pure Western Entertainment!
As always William W. Johnstone doesn't disappoint one bit of an iota when it comes to western entertainment. If western action and adventure is what you're looking for this is a book for you!!!
As always William W. Johnstone doesn't disappoint one bit of an iota when it comes to western entertainment. If western action and adventure is what you're looking for this is a book for you!!!
July 31, 2019
Another great book from Johnstone....
February 4, 2020
Needed to continue my break so I read the next book in this series. I say about a 2.5 and I gave it a three.
June 29, 2020
A Western reminiscent of the old B westerns of the 40s.
2 under cover detectives are trying to find out who is causing trouble.
Decent mystery, shootouts and fist fights.
2 under cover detectives are trying to find out who is causing trouble.
Decent mystery, shootouts and fist fights.
July 10, 2020
The plot was very predictable thats really the only reason I rate it 3 stars because I wasnt surprised. However the dialogue was super hilarious and Stovepipe is truly iconic.
October 21, 2025
Range war between two large landowners. Too much repeated details. Get to the action more quickly, The ending was surprising, but believable.
September 18, 2026
Good enough to reRead when enough time goes by.
July 20, 2019
It’s a good story. I enjoyed the characters.
December 11, 2020
This one was another one that kept me guessing. I love these two and how Johnstone keeps them hidden for a bit. There is a few other twists that I enjoy. Honestly, the one thing that kept me from really enjoying this book was the girl of interest. She was super annoying and I had difficulty understanding why Vance fell for her. Oh well, she must have been beautiful.
December 1, 2016
Straight on Western story. J.A. Johnstone is a great story teller on his own. Carries on the tradition of his uncle (William W. Johnstone) quite well... (If not better).
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews