Knockdown

Rig Warrior #4

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE THE WILL DEFIES FEAR.  
They call him “The Rig Warrior.” Barry Rivers. Long haul trucker. Special Defender of freedom.  Patriot. Government sanctioned killer.
 
A NATION OFF THE RAILS
No one saw the first attack coming. A perfectly orchestrated assault on a mass-transit railroad line that left countless Americans dead. Then came more attacks. More rail systems sabotaged. More civilian lives lost. Intelligence experts are convinced this is no ordinary terrorist attack. To pull off something like this, it would take a deep-state traitor with dark foreign connections. And to stop them, it will take someone who isn’t afraid to shed blood.  
 
A HERO OFF THE GRID
Enter Barry Rivers, the Rig Warrior. An urban legend in the intelligence community, Rivers has been living off the radar for years. But when he sees his country under attack, he reaches out to his son in the FBI to track down the enemies in our own government. To these high-ranking traitors, Rivers is a threat to their global agenda. But when Rivers revs up his tricked-out 18-wheeler—and goes after a runaway train on a collision course with disaster—all bets are off. The war is on. And with  Barry Rivers at the wheel, it’s going to be the ultimate knockdown, drag-out fight for America’s future . . .
 
Live Free. Read Hard.

Genres: Westerns

404 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2020

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

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading the first book in this series, years ago. I don't really recall much about the book itself other than the cover and the premise.

Something like 30 years after the first book, comes this, the fourth book in the series.

The Rig Warrior, Barry Rivers, is now over 70, but still active as a one man wrecking crew fighting terrorists and the deep state. An alliance between the two is targeting the railroads in a scheme to bring down the country and the constitution.

Along for the ride are Barry's nephew, and a woman who works for Homeland Security. Of course, the two fall in love.

Lots of driving and shooting, and that's what we came for.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty straight-forward fast-paced, action book, full of terrorists, drug cartels, and power hungry madmen. Not a bad read, but a typical plot, and one you would likely find in movies, that would have the likes of John Travolta, Nicholas Cage, Jason Statham.

For those who are Johnstone fans, from way back, this is the 4th of the Rig Warrior series, but takes place 20-30 years late, and Barry Rivers is in his 60's/70s.

Likes: The moving around across the country, from southern New Mexico, to New York to Colorado. Scenic descriptions. Some Action scenes.

Dislikes: Some action scenes. How many times can a bullet whizz by your head. Think it happened umpteen times. Some mistakes, where in one scene a bad guy is thrown into the truck, bound with cuffs, but no mention of him beyond that. Ending was wrapped up to fast, but also reminds me of some the cheaper action movies.

Still for a fast paced action filled read, its not bad.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barry Rivers, long haul trucker, has been fighting for freedom and justice for decades. He is the Rig Warrior, a legend in the intelligence community, most believe he is just an urban legend. Now, after living off the grid for years he reaches out to his nephew for help. America faces her biggest threat yet and Barry and his nephew will face down Mexican drug cartels, Islamic terrorists, a crazed globalist billionaire and most deadly, the shadowy Deep State imbedded in the U.S. government.
This is nonstop page turning action from the beginning as the patriots travel across the country in their specialized 18 wheeler dispensing justice through bullets and blood.

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I have read anyone in this series but it is A ok. The only thing I wonder is how big is his rig? Knockdown features Barry Rivers aka. The Rig Warrior and his nephew Jake. Together they go up against terrorist on the American soil. I have been a fan of William W. Johnstone for many years now and J.A. Johnstone is continuing the stories very well. Most books are straightforward where the white hats and the black hats are clearly identified. Most often they also end on a good note. Escapism at it's best. I must thank #Pinnacle #KensingtonBooks and #Netgalley for giving me this ARC to review.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best known for their western series, the family Johnstone has applied their story building skills to a political/ action/ thriller. This is not the first time we've seen this genre from them. Their Ashes series is a very interesting read, especially with the fights between the political parties these days. With over 600 titles to their fame, the Johnstones can definitely tell a good story.
Knockdown is the first in a new series...sort of. The Rig Warrior is an earlier series that had taken a hiatus, but has now returned. A deliberate attack on a mass transit rail line has killed many Americans and disrupted the peace and quiet of Barry Rivers, the Rig Warrior. Not many story lines are based on a man who drives a built out 18 wheeler, so of course, the Johnstones give us a different kind of hero. As the FBI, in the form of River's son, works to stop anymore of this home grown terrorism, we readers are taken on a definite long haul along with a cast of home grown heroes. As always....Live Free, Read Hard.

[Deborah Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrorist in America

I really enjoyed this gift from the author and publisher. I discovered that I need to go back and read more from this series. This story is action packed from the beginning to the end. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

[Peter Ackerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Knockdown by William W. Johnsone at first looks like a perfect men's adventure. This novel re-opens a series that began and finished a while back (note: I have not read any of the others), and this novel picks up in modern days. One does not have to have read the other works to read this one.

Quickly the relationships within the series are set out. The protagonist is Barry "Dog" Rivers who has been driving his super spruced up truck, as a special undercover operative. His nephew, Jake, is an FBI, agent, and their paths end up crossing her in this story.

There is not too much to the plot, it is laid out as move from point A to point B and find sone explosive action to set the reader to point C. It is pretty basic and predictable. It is also sort of sad. As a fan of Men's Adventure, I look forward to these, but where as something written in the 1970's may have some elements regarding women or race that we cringe at now, this book which takes place today is cringe worthy.

The overall antagonist is the "Deep State," and so it is not surprising that the bad guys on the ground are not only Mexican but Arab. The book is filled with turban wearing folk, and you can bet that each one is a terrorist. If you have a confederate flag hanging on your wall, you will probably love this book. If you have any sensibility you, like me, might feel sad to know that some of the people who read this book feel as the author's protagonist does.


For mindless action, this has it. Yet I think it would have done better if set in a dystopian future, or a decade or three ago. All in all I found this first, and mostly likely last to be read by me book, about "Dog" the truck driver, just that.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over, Butch and Sundance, Batman and Robin, and Abbott and Costello, as we meet Barry and Jake. Deep undercover Barry hasto call in reinforcements in the form of his FBI nephew Jake in a fight to find out who are the good guys and who are the bad guys in nefarious plot that could destroy America. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Donald Paulsrud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but it drags at times.It is a good suspense story but it makes some big leaps at times. "Dog" is a superhuman, one man anti-terrorist killing machine who drives a specially outfitted big rig and has all kinds of secret connections to help him with his job. In this book he is aided by his nephew (an FBI agent) and ends up taking on a Mexican drug cartel, and Arab terrorist group and the dreaded Deep State. It is a good book, but not as good as his westerns.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent example of what could happen

This is a fictional work but will make you stop and think about it. This is the GOOD VS the BAD. It is well written and the plot has more twists and turns than a snake. Is the deep state real, this should make you think about politics. Johnstone books are always great.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knockdown was okay, although a bit bit of a bumpy ride for me. Both the storyline and general writing just did not gell. 3 star read

My thanks to goodreads and the book's giveaway sponsors for the opportunity to obtain and read a copy of this book.

[T Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pure action entertainment, maybe not too realistic, and there's no need to think very much. It's well written and with good characters, so all in all OK.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need the first ones now lol didn't even pay attention if there were more just really love these authors

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in a good series.

[Ron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book.

I managed to get about 40% through, It took me many days. I was finding more reasons not to read it.

In my personal opinion, This is not a very well written book.

[Ron Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rcsva13

I have read all four of this series. This was not as good as the other books in this series. A bit of a disappointment.

[Tracy Ashe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very much the truth in our country at this time.

[James Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down keeps you on the edge or you seat.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read the other books from the Rig Warrior series, this is the first one. Barry Rivers, his nephew Jake and a young female from Homeland come together to go after some bad guys. Brings out the Deep State conspiracy in this story. Pretty good story and very fast paced.

The truck. A semi-truck that is a prototype and modified to the max. Glass that is bullet proof, has body armor and no flat tires if shot at, plus much more. Has an apartment in the back of the cab. It's a Kenworth z1000. Never says anything about pulling a trailer. Just about the truck. Has eighteen wheels and runs on gasoline. Chapter 21 talks about the 18 wheels. Several times in the book the driver being Barry or Jake push down the gas pedal. They gas up at a convenience store. Doesn't say anything about shifting gears so must be an automatic.

Someone is shot. They go to a veterinarian. This guy has human blood on hand? Impressive.