Cutthroats

Slash & Pecos #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

Lifetime outlaws Jimmy "Slash" Braddock and Melvin "Pecos Kid" Baker are ready to call it quits, but when the younger members of their gang rebel, they must pull one last job to finance a retirement far away from the long arm of the law.

Genres: Westerns, Audiobook

347 pages, Hardcover

First published June 25, 2019

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

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cutthroat (Pinnacle 2019) is William Johnstone's latest Western and the first of a new series, Slash and Pecos Westerns. In this Johnstone Western, two outlaws, Slash and Pecos, are thrown out of their gang, barely managing to escape with their lives, and end up in the safest place they know--the hidden home of the widow of one of the gang members. They decide to pull one last job, designed to give them seed money to buy a freight business and live out their lives on the straight  side of the law. That plan is interrupted when bounty hunters track them down, burn them out, and leave them living in a cave--though not before Pecos and Slash kill most of them. With what seems to be their usual bad luck, the effort to go straight doesn't work any better than their escape and they end up in jail waiting to be hanged. To free themselves will require they do something they never would have thought they would.

This is a fast moving story with lots of detail on life and culture of the old west. A good addition to the plethora of other westerns out by William Johnstone et al.

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new series from William W. Johnstone was a pleasant surprise. Interesting charcters and a different kind of plot. Still I'm a sucker for westerns, I can't help myself. I have to thank #Netgalley and #Kensington for giving me the opportunity to try #Cutthroats If someone out there think that some of the books from this author has been a little tame lately, try this it is really good.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slash and Pecos, former leaders of the Snake River Marauders, a band of cutthroat robbers, have decided to retire from their thieving ways. However, as they are pulling one last heist to fund their retirement they are captured by the law and offered one out to save them from the gallows - hunt down their former gang and kill each and every one.
A highly entertaining, old fashioned western full of thrills and laughs.

[Malum · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have read any William W. Johnstone Westerns (or whoever is ghostwriting his stuff nowadays), then you know what to expect here from the formula that they all follow. That's not always a bad thing, though. When you watch a slasher movie you know exactly what you are getting, but it can still be fun.

The problem with this particular book, though, is that the plot was all over the place, and it took a long time before the real goal of the characters was solidified.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever western. Imagine, the old TV show Alias Smith and Jones - only they are 30 years older.

2 outlaws are drafted into being Bounty Hunters for a crippled US Marshall!

1st job, Hunt down their old gang....

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes awhile to get into this one ... starts out slow and not as much fun reading as the Mountain Man series and others of the Johnstones. However, the last half, especially the train robbery, could well make a suspenseful movie. I liked it.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all the other Slash and Pecos stories, but the library didn’t have this one until now. So, I got to read the first story in the series of the two criminals having to go after other criminals. Okay story, although I highly doubt a guy being shot a few inches above the belt in the side could keep on moving and even ride a horse. Some parts of the story were good others downright stupid.

Jaycee has a seven shot Colt. Amazing. She shot at Ed the rancher seven times and never reloaded.

How does one shoot the chain off of handcuffs when the person has their hands behind their back and not hit the person?

[Jeff Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea why they call themselves cutthroats. They are mindful of the old Alias Sith an Jones series on TV. They rob trains and banks and want to go honest. A miner spoiler, they never shot at anyone that wasn't trying to kill them. They don't have a governor to ask for amnesty, like the TV series. What they have is a Chief Sheriff that is doing his best to make their lives miserable. There are too many twists and turns in this to describe them without giving too much away. Suffice it to say, there is plenty of action and humor here.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Johnstone books. I measure all other Westerns against Louis L'Amour and JA Johnstone. This is a new series with an even more unique story line and cast of characters than usual. In book one, CUTTHROATS, the backstory is set for two not quite reformed outlaws to track and kill the members of their former gang. This arrangement will keep them from the gallows while hopefully keeping on the right side of the law. Dedicated Johnstone readers like myself can already anticipate our two manhunters running into all sorts of trouble. I'll happily keep reading as long as they ride.

[Craig Wakefield · Rating 2 out of 5]

No this is not Cutthroat Canyon by the very same William W. Johnstone. However, when you have written over 300 books it may be easy to confuse the title of one book with another. I do not believe that I have read any Johnstone books before. This one though was not worth finishing. I became tired of counting the number of dead that came from the hands of our two protagonists -- Jimmy "Slash Bradcock and Melvin "Pecos Bill" Baker.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHERE ARE THEY

A good example of how you can turn your life around from bad boys with bounties hanging over you or you can make a deal with the Devil and become legal business owners.
Lots of good comradery of old cut throats, who were tired of the owlhoots trail. Two men and a woman who was married to a cut throat whose now dead and buried, are going straight, getting descent jobs, no more running, hiding from the bounty hunters.
S great story.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-stop action as two old timers decide it’s well past time to give up their gang and go straight

They had never been caught and their gang had a reputation for minimum violence until they left the outfit. And the new gang leaders changed all that with random killing and rabid violence. So the US Marshall strikes a deal. Excellent characters, plenty of twists even to the end. Well worth the time.

[Carl Grider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the overall book and story a lot. What kept me from rating it higher was the sheer amount of times the word "cutthroat (s)" was used. It was like the author was paid by the number of times it could get worked in. Also the hardcover jacket gave away very specific plot points that spoiled cool parts of the book.

[James f. white, jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome and authentic Western by my all-time favorite Western author, William Johnstone.

As always when reading a Johnstone Western, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cutthroats. It’s well written and chock full of exciting “shoot-em-up” action with just a smidge of romance. Guaranteed to please anyone who loves great westerns

[Bow Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me back into reading with all of its twists and turns all the way through. It’s nonstop action never lets up and it makes the novel difficult to put down. The western setting and the two outlaws protagonists are a joy to read about and Slash and Pecks have great chemistry. I will be continuing through the series and am excited for the new releases this year!

[Darlene Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slash, Jimmy Braddock and Pecos Kid, Melvin Baker were aging outlaws who planned to purchase an run a freight business after pulling one more job. Life holds many surprises for the two men. WM Johnstone is a masterful story teller who incorporates some information about the past. I enjoy reading books written by this author.

[Mike H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most Johnstone books, it was an entertaining read. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but the only issue I have with their novels are the typos/proofreading errors. Slow down a bit and reread before you publish. With that said, I'm still a fan.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredibly easy read. The amazing storyline made it difficult to put down at times. Scenery was described so perfectly that I could envision being on the trails, riding alongside the cutthroats. If you love Westerns, this is definitely a fantastic read!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve never given less than five stars to a William W. Johnstone yarn and I don’t ever foresee doing that. This is my twenty second book of his that I’ve read and I don’t think that I’ve even made a dent yet.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another remarkable story!

I really enjoy the stories from these authors, lots of action and this one even had some romance! Loved both of these two older guys who are trying so hard to start a new lifestyle! Can't believe he didn't name the Appy though!

[debra black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Research needed

Well, this book is between a good western shoot em up and unreadable. One
One page he has a 10ga shotgun and the next page
its a 10 Ga. And Winchester never made a Yellowboy, Marlin did. Does anyone ever proofread anymore?

[Joy Maples · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cut above story

This is another of the author's good clean Western stories. I have read a number of Mr. Johnstone's books and enjoyed all of them .
Looking forward to the next one.

[THOMAS E. TONEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cutthroats

Good book about two outlaws who reformed and went after their old gang after they had gone on a rampage of murder and robbing! Very good book with much action and adventure.

[John Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun reading

A totally different kind of story with so many twists and turns you almost get dizzy. The storyline is quite unique yet compelling to read. I'm looking forward to book two.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cutthroats was a pretty good read. Though, it is not my favorite by Mr Johnstone. I give it three and a half stars.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a first time reader of author William W. Johnstone's works, I was impressed by the plot and the characters of "Cutthroats. I'd highly recommend this book to any reader...female or male.

[Donna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy in return for this review. Good book!

[Martha Peebles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cutthroats

As always a great read from the Johnstone’s. I so enjoy these books. I have never read one I didn’t like. Thank you for a great read.

[Greg O'Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun western. A bit repetitive, but good read. I'll certainly be picking up some other books by Johnstone.

[Joshua Bunnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better new series Johnstone has written in a while