Bury the Hatchet

Buck Trammel #2

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

Former Pinkerton agent Buck Trammel has made quite a name for himself in the Old West. Now he's got to live up to his own legend--or get gutshot trying...Johnstone Country. The Bullets Stop Here.

IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ’EM, SHOOT ’EM

There are two things a man can never escape: his past and his destiny. For Buck Trammel, that past includes a fatal mistake that ended his career as a Pinkerton—and a deadly shootout with the Bower gang in a Witchita saloon. Call it luck or call it fate, but the famous Deputy Wyatt Earp was there to give Buck some advice: Run for your life. Maybe it was Earp’s warning that saved him from the gang’s wrath. Maybe it was destiny that brought him to the town of Blackstone, Wyoming, where his biggest problem is a father-son brewing war. But Trammel’s luck is about to run dry. . .

The gang’s ruthless boss, Old Man Bower, knows where Trammel lives. He’s assembled a small army of gunslingers. He’s hired a Pinkerton with a grudge against Trammel. And he’s coming to town to bury the hatchet . . .

Genres: Westerns

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 25, 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 won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Buck Trammel is the marshal of a small Wyoming town. He's got a friendly enemy in the person of a gambler, the usual cattle baron, the young deputy, and lady doctor/girlfriend.

Some guy wants Trammel dead, so he put a bounty on his head, and hires the Pinkerton agency to kill him and his friend. This leads to various gunfights and other escapades.

About an average Johnstone western.

[Jim A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although set in Wyoming in the mid 1870s, it could just as easily be set in today's corporate world. Full of backstabbing, power hungry people. In the middle is Trammel trying to keep a lid on some of it and trying to blow the lid off another part of it.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnstone's Bury the Hatchet (Pinnacle 2020), second in the Buck Trammel Westerns series, picks up where the last left off. Buck, West Point graduate, former Pinkerton agent, former bouncer in a saloon, is ow Sheriff in the town "owned" by his ex-best-friend's father. He sets out to do the job right and bring order and justice to a town sadly lacking in both. Unfortunately, that crosses legal paths with is former friend, Adam Hagen, now boss of the town's illicit opium den. Trammel is furious and forswears him as a friend until their mutual past comes back to threaten their present. A wealthy man, father to a son Trammel and Hagen killed in a fair fight before arriving at this town decides to seek revenge for the boy's death. He hires the Pinkerton Agency where Trammel used to work to bring the boy justice by killing Trammel and Hagen.

An interesting part of this book beyond the clever characters and the tricky plot is the erudite wisdom that Trammel relies on to guide his actions. Look at these:

"Without knowledge, skill cannot be focused. Without skill, strength cannot be brought to bear. And without strength, knowledge cannot be applied.”
,,
“Heaven will not brook two suns, nor the earth two masters.”

"...when modern answers fail us, a wise man must turn to antiquity for guidance.”

As an armchair philosopher, I loved these.

Despite continuing the plot laid out earlier in the series, the book can be read as a standalone without losing anything. As usual, it is drenched in the old west, giving readers a feel for how life was lived over a hundred years ago. 

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenges continue for Sheriff Buck Trammel, as he and Adam are still in the sights of two camps, and possibly three. The Bowman family in Wichita still has a bounty on their heads, thinking they are responsible for the death of their sons, so the Pinkerton's are sent to Wyoming territory to take them out. The other is Charles Hagan, father? of Adam and head of the Blackstone Ranch with strong influence in the territory.

Very action packed western with plenty of dialogue and side items (love interests, opium dealings, a loopy deputy (reminds me of Gunsmoke), and the usual under the table dealings that make westerns and fun read.

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

One ok western with William W. Johnstone and J. A. Johnstones latest character Buck Trammel. Most of the story is typical western stuff with good guys and bad guys but the characters are not the usual suspects. I really enjoy this series and it gives me a couple of hours flight from reality. I must thank #Pinnacle #KensingtonBooks and #Netgalley for giving me this arc.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the majority of what I read falls more in the thriller/ mystery genre, I can never pass up a good western. And any western written by the Johnstones is a good one. They have several different characters that each carry their own series, each set in a different part of the emerging civilization of the wild, wild west. From the mountain men that settled the northwest territories to the pioneers bringing everything they own westward to live in harsh conditions while building their own dynasties to our local lawmen, just trying to keep the peace and protect their towns and citizens, Johnstone on the cover means an excellent read inside.

Bury the Hatchet continues the Buck Trammel series. Buck is a highly qualified sheriff in Blackstone, Wyoming, a town trying to escape their past and build a better future. But as always, there are those that would keep the town from this brighter future....aka, the bad guys. This book can definitely be read as a stand alone and enjoyed. Buck's varied back story is fed into the book as the action heats up and the lead starts flying. His logic and opinions will lead you to believe he can change Blackstone's future all by himself, but he does need just a little help.

These series all are so well written that you'll see these towns and their citizens, both good and bad, as they make history come alive. I wasn't always a western fan, a friend recommended a Johnstone book many years ago and I've been hooked ever since. Read this book, it may very well be the "hook" for you too.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy a great historical western story-line, this book is for you. Both my hubby and I have read this adventure and loved every moment of it. There’s the lawmen, deadly shootouts and a female doctor that manages to patch up the men who face danger every day. Sheriff Trammel is a busy man with rowdy drinking, opium dens and nightly gambling plus the feuds of family and Pinkerton men. This is an exciting story and one you want to read right up until The End. We thank the authors for the gift of this book that we totally loved.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bury the Hatchet is the second in a new series ghost-written under the Johnstone name. I had not read the first in the series, but the book unfolded in such a way as to summarize necessary events without being drawn out or slowing down the plot of the current novel. The lead characters were quite interesting. The friendship between the two leads feels a lot like the relationship of the two leads in the TV show Justified. Ultimately, while not ground breaking in any way, this was a fun read.

[Eric Fisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next to Lamour, Johnstone books have become my next favorite. I just find it hard to put them down. I can usually read one book in a given weekend if not sooner. A lot of people bash the ghost writers for the present Johnstone books but these books are exactly what I’m looking for “an escape” from present times. I cannot wait for the third installment in the Buck Trammel series. Until then it’s off to start my next Johnstone book.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a western in awhile and this was a good one. There's all the standard elements: a hard-nosed sheriff, a kid deputy, the stereotype town, the pretty sweet lady, the dangerous gang of gunslingers, etc. It all comes together in an action packed story that made an exciting read. This is a series that has caught my interest.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly entertaining. I wasn't sure about the whole J.A. Johnstone / William W. Johnstone thing, but I got pretty invested in this novel. It is well written and there is a very good balance between action and intrigue (it isn't all just gunplay).

All in all, not a lot to find fault with here.

[Kevin Key · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good western from the Johnstone’s! A big man of character becomes the sheriff of Blackstone. With the support of the town, he fights against the area boss as well as the Pinkerton’s. They were bought by the father of a past rightful killing by the sheriff.

[George W Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheriff Buck Trammel once again brings the law to Blackstone.

Buck not only faces the danger of King Charles but also a Larrime outlaw who has joined forces with thirteen Pinkerton men . They are all gunning for Buck. Exciting western from a fine author.

[John Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series

Book two of this series is everything you have come to expect from this talented writer. The story is fast-paced and exciting from beginning to end and definitely has me looking forward to book three. Fun reading.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed the storyline and read

[Richard Riordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

As c.f. C.f. F2f by in mmm !! 'll Klink by th c.f. F2f d as as qq we 're

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know Buck Trammel in Bury the Hatchet. I am hoping to read more of his stories in the future. Five stars.

[Kevin Downer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun western featuring Buck Trammel, the Jack Reacher of the old west.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Buck and Hawkeye!

This was a very good book! Romance with the town Dr, tons of action and way to many gun shot wounds make a awesome storyline!

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay story but was getting tired of it by the last 100 pages.

[Holt R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little cowboy wild west story. The good guys win and the bad guys lose what more could you ask for

[Ted Cartier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun red. really enjoying this series.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Fantastic Treat!!!

Once again the writing duo of William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone deliver the absolute best in western/action fiction. I know I'm certainly looking forward to the next and third novel in the Buck Trammel series after enjoying this the second and newest in the fresh new series.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

24-14 I am enjoying Buck's adventures. Very interesting town and friends. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Hoopla app.