The Backstabbers

Red Ryan #2

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

"Red Ryan should've known this job would be trouble. The first stop is a ghost town--in a thunder storm--and the cargo is a coffin. But things start to look a little brighter when Red and his stage guard Buttons Muldoon deliver the corpse to a ranch run by the beautiful Luna Talbot--and her gorgeous crew of former saloon girls. Luna asks the boys to help them find the Lucky Cuss Gold Mine, using a map tucked inside the dead man's pocket. Buttons can't refuse a pretty lady--or the lure of gold. But Red has a feeling they're playing with fire. Especially when the map leads them straight into crossfire of a ferocious range war, a 400-pound load of pure evil known as Papa Mace Rathmore--and his backwoods clan of sadistic, kill-crazy hillbillies . . "--

Genres: Westerns

429 pages, Library Binding

First published February 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

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Johnstone's The Backstabbers (Pinnacle 2020), Book 2 in the Red Ryan Western series, Red Ryan and Patrick "Buttons" Muldoon are on a stagecoach run for the Abe Patterson & Son Stage and Express Company to pick up a customer in a small town. They do this sort of thing occasionally to add to their company’s revenue but this time, when they show up at the assigned location, the town is deserted. Almost. After much searching, they find a man who leads them to their passenger--which turns out to be a coffin. They will be paid an exorbitant fee to take the coffin to a distant ranch. Then, they get their money and leave. Trouble is, outlaws try to steal the coffin on the way and are only prevented from doing so by a female shootist who is aggressive, a great shot, and arrives in the nick of time. She leads them to the ranch--operated entirely by women--and they are asked (for a bigger fee) to now take the ranch owner to another distant location.

From that point on, nothing is normal and Red and Buttons wonder if they'll survive long enough to spend all the money they just earned.

Why 5/5? Besides being the usual great writing from the Johnstone authors, the originality of the story, the authenticity of the characters and setting, I haven't read many Westerns about a stagecoach driver. I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has all the makings for a great historical fiction western. I absolutely loved it! One of the best, if not, the best to date, I have read. William Johnstone was a brilliant author, and I'll look forward to a great many more of his books.

[Bob Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the book the author writes a story like Louis Lemouir westerns Lots of action and interesting characters dime store novels.

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 2nd book or 2nd chapter of A Red Ryan Western stories. It is fun book and more adventures to explore of Red and Buttons. Also, meet more new characters during their stagecoach travels and adventures.

I can't wait to read the next books of the series. Also, I hope they are available on my home local public library.

👍🏽😊

[Barbara Lee Wood]

DEAD AS A ROTTEN STUMP

You'll love this western adventure which includes a clan of cannibal, incestuous killers. Two stage coach drivers who are paid to deliver a body to a ranch owner Luna Talbot. Mrs Talbot owns a cattle ranch in the middle of Texas, but what's unique is that who runs the ranch, nothing but women. These ladies can shoot, ride better than any men living in the west. Mrs. Talbot have these ladies a second chance at life, which we all no there weren't very many careers opened to women, other than the age old "PROSTITUTION" which was " DEAD END"and every time they went to a room with men, there's the chance of bodily harm or sometimes "DEATH." Mrs. Talbot helped build their self-esteem , which results in positive thoughts.
Read Read you'll enjoy these writers, always moving and grooving. Never a dull moment and it's enjoyable reading..

[donal h bell sr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another AAA+ novel from the Johnston's !

One could almost say there were enough action in this novel to really make two or more novels from this one. Not only action but thrilling twist and turns and even the finish of one good story to another. I enjoyed the ride and can't wait to read the third novel.

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Westerns are always relaxing to read, you know what you get. This had some odd characters in it but all good. Or bad? I have to give thanks to #Netgalley #Pinnacle and #KensingtonBooks for letting me read this the second book about Red Ryan by William W. Johnstone and J. A. Johnstone.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute Literary Perfection!!!

Once again the amazingly talented writing duo of William W. Johnstone and his nephew J.A. Johnstone delivers absolute perfection in the genre of western/action/adventure fiction. If you're a fan of the Johnstone writing team you're guaranteed to love this story involving the always entertaining Red Ryan!!!

[Craig Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Johnstone has I would wager written hundreds of Westerns. Johnstone has his template similar to Patterson, another prolific writer seemingly down pat. If you want a book that has plenty of guns, cowboys, and people of the West you can't go wrong with a Johnstone book.

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in series. Stagecoach guard Red Ryan and his driver Buttons Muldoon on another adventure. Gold mine this time, that many parties want to get their hands on it.

Interesting story of Archibald Monday.

Enjoyed this book.

[Martha Peebles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Backstabbers

As always a great book 📖 I always enjoy the books 📚 by the Johnstone’s. Look forward to many more of these books. Thank you for a awesome read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

William W. Johnstone's second installment from the Red Ryan series, The Backstabbers, was a good read. I really liked it and give it four stars.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gun-slinging gals

Crazy hillbillies

Villians

All girl ranch

Shoot outs

Villians

Plus Red and Buttons just trying to do their job.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline!

Once again I really enjoyed this series. Who doesn't love Red and Buttons? What a incredibly good storyline with lots of action!

[David VanHoogstrate · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

A great read by my favorite author William W Johnstone, The greatest western fiction writer I have ever read, Awesome!

[Sean Furey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It starts like an old episode of Scooby Doo, and later turned into a Bone Tomahawk type story, with a very puzzling ending that seems to dawdle on forever. Not my favorite Johnstone thus far.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the authors last name is Johnstone, you know before you even open the book that you are in for an exciting, entertaining, authentic story that will make you forget what you had to get done the rest of the day. The Johnstone's write original stories with unique characters. Each series bleeds into the others. You will find some of your favorite characters joining their fellow trail blazers to fight the bad guys. This series features a stage coach driver who specializes in unusual cargo...this time a coffin, corpse included. How this delivery eventually finds our heroes searching for gold with a group of reformed saloon girls makes for a great story. But that's what you expect and what you get from a Johnstone book.