Nathan Stark, Army Scout

Nathan Stark #1

by William W. Johnstone

In this blazing new series, William W. and J.A. Johnstone tell the tale of a man who became a myth--and a myth that became a legend. This is the epic story of Nathan Stark, Army Scout...

They slaughtered his family. Killed his young bride. And ever since that tragic day, Nathan Stark has devoted his life to fighting the hostile tribes who massacred those he loved. As a civilian scout for the Army, he's served with such famous commanders as Custer and Crook. He's battled against such notorious war chiefs as Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. Among the fiercest natives of the untamed West, Nathan Stark is a living legend--one that must be destroyed...

Against his better judgment, Nathan agrees to be teamed up with a rival Crow scout named Moses Red Buffalo. Their mission: to forge a trail deep into Indian territory under the command of a bloodthirsty army colonel. But the mission is not what it seems. If Stark and Red Buffalo want to stay alive, they'll have to work together as a team--if they don't kill each other first...

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 28, 2018

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

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard western story. US Army, Sioux Indians, Army scouts, and gun runners.

The main character Nathan Stark also known as the Indian killer, He is carrying out on one man revenge squad against all Indians because his family was murdered by a tribe years before.

During the course of the adventure he meets an Indian from the Crow tribe who is a Christian and educated. He is working as an army scout and like Nathan his family was also murdered by Indians on a warpath.

The two meet, they don't get along. And they are forced to work together, and the rest of the story becomes predictable.

It was entertaining. And I will definitely read the next book in this series.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story! A very enjoyable western to pick up and read anytime!!

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

William W. Johnston and J.A. Johnstone’s NATHAN STARK, ARMY SCOUT, is a very well written book. It’s one of those westerns you might see at a grocery store book display. I didn’t expect much, but it was very well done from start to finish. It’s an old style western and reminds me of a fifties movie western.

The book is titled Nathan Stark, Army Scout, but both soldiers and Indians know him better as “Indian Killer.” The first sentence of the book: “If there was anything Nathan Stark hated, it was an Indian. God knows, he’d killed his share of them — whenever and wherever he could.” So what better than a storyline where Stark is teamed up with an Indian scout, and they must work together to survive.

There’s probably not a scene in the book you haven’t seen in a movie, but the Johnstones’ perfect timing and balance make this novel work. I even tried to picture actors for the movie back in the Technicolor days.

Nathan Stark – Richard Widmark
Cullen Jefferson (Stark’s long-time partner) – Buddy Ebsen
Moses Red Buffalo – the Indian scout working for the Army - Michael Ansara
The arrogant Col. Ledbetter - Raymond Burr
Delia Blane – the love interest – Yvonne de Carlo
Doc Lightner – the fort physician – Laurence Harvey
Sgt Sean McCall – Big Irishman – bad guy - Brian Keith
Dietrich Bucher - Army scout and bad guy – Neville Brand
Sgt Dockery – another bad guy – Elisha Cook
Jake Farrow – owner of the off-base store and bar – Ernest Borgnine
Noah Crimmens – Farrow’s assistant in the store – Roddy McDowall or Donald Pleasance
Black Sun – Sal Mineo

[Jt Furbay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book written by William W. Johnstone that i have read. This isn't quite as good as the other one but this does have plenty of action. Nathan has a hatred for Indians who killed his young wife and most of his own family. He is a scout for the army and heads for a now post at Ft. Randall. He is surprised to find the widow of one of his friends there teaching school. Since his scouting partner has to head back to Texas for personal reasons, his new scouting partner is an Indian who was educated by missionaries and is a Christian. They have a tentative relationship. The fort commander is an arrogant and inexperienced soldier, Col. Ledbetter who wants to capture the area's dangerous Indians. Quite a surprise ending!

[MARY · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in the early hours this morning. It was a very good book. I enjoyed reading Nathan Stark, he did not like a few people and neither did I, as the author wrote those characters to be pretty bad, and a couple out to be pretty nice but it was who they were that Nathan had trouble with for the time that made him not like them. One of the characters the Colonel did not want to believe him nor his partner the Buffalo Indian Scout named Red Buffalo, they both headed back to the Fort against orders and did save the Fort against the Sioux and there at the end the Cavalry did show up to help them. Plus Nathan I think was falling for his old friend, too. To me the ending left me hanging. I really enjoyed this book.

[mike watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first William W. Johnstone novel. I found the story was standard fare for westerns, especially when it involved Sioux and Army. But you know, this book grew on me. I could picture this made up as a movie with certain actors and it could be well played out. Yeah, it's been done a bunch of times, who cares? If it entertains then it was worth it.
Congrats to William and J.A. Johnstone for a fun journey with Nathan Stark and his band of characters. I am keeping an eye out for Black Sun though...

[William Hutchcraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well thought out book. Enjoyed the use of language that was used back then. It perfectly displays some of the racism that occured amongst the native americans back then. There was a twist that I was not expecting. Had this book been around in the John Wayne era I could see Nathan Stark being played by John Wayne in a movie. This book shows that two people with an extreme dislike for each other can work together to accomplish what needs done. Overall I extremely enjoyed reading this book.

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nathan Stark, Army Scout" by William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone is a fantastic read for all westerns lovers! Action packed and ended with a surprise! I do not want to give away the plot but Nathan Stark has had his fair share of tragedy and, in a way, is out to avenge those taken from him. He ahs to team up with an unlikely person to complete a mission. You will not be sorry your read this! Two thumbs up!!

[Linda]

This was difficult. I hated the attempt at using old west language. Like listening to a bad rerun of an old 1930's western, goldurnit. Tired my dagnabit best but could not get more than 10 pages into it.

[Ronpoet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Read!!

Well I've finished brushing the mud and dirt off my jeans and I'm here to tell you about what a wonderful action packed this western was for me. Soldiers and scouts and Indian battles make up this five star read.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

The more of their western I read the more I like them. A solid mixture of fiction and history. I also like the way that characters from other stories are sometimes part of the current story.

[Darel Krieger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was all ready to give this book a four- or five-star rating but then it ended suddenly as a cliffhanger. There was nothing that I read that said the story would be a continuation. So for that unknown bit of info I'll give it a two.

[Amy Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!!!! Love a good western and this is one of them!!!! I need more!!!

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won Nathan Stark, Army Scout in a GoodReads giveaway!! Seemed like a routine western to me. My dad enjoyed it very much. Great characters.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Another great storyline!

Loved this one and the ending is awesome! The back and forth between Nathan and Moses is the best part too! Hope the series is as good!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book a d well written

Truly a book to read and enjoy. Some good knowledge on the part of the author. The care of animals and people are highlighted.

[stephen scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read,

good story ,enjoyed book,roll on the next.. I can't wait,for next book,good as any I have read for a while

[Delano R Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great after few chapters

Like the hate receid ing and standing against the col. Indian bot Billy was a key to saving along with the woman that loved scout

[Larry C. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan Stark

I liked the structure of the story! Some parts were predictable but others surprised me
. Looking forward to Book 2!

[Kenri Mugleston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Johnstone 's most unlikable character.

[Adelbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 The premise was promising, but I get the idea already why he is an army scout. Repeating every ten pages or so didn't move the story along for me.

[J. Jeffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid western read, took me awhile to get thru it at an unsteady pace. Good turns and well written story overall. 8/10

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnstone keeps them coming!

Great characters, exciting action , plot & story line combine to make the reader want more! Hopefully this is the beginning of a new series!