A Quiet, Little Town

Red Ryan #4

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. ONE WILD RIDE.

Stagecoach guard Red Ryan has managed to survive every dirty, danger-filled trail in Texas. But this time, the journey is hell on four wheels. And the next stop could be his last . . .

BIG TROUBLE IN A SMALL TOWN

It starts with an unusual request: “On this trip there will be no cussing, no drinking, no gambling, and no loose women.” No problem. Or so Red Ryan thinks—until he meets the passengers. They include four holy and silent monks, one beautiful lady tutor, and a drunken, washed-up gunfighter. Even worse, they’re crossing the wild Texas hill country where bloodthirsty Apaches are on the loose and a mad-dog killer is on the prowl. But that can’t compare to what’s waiting for them at Fredericksburg. In this quiet little town, every man, woman, and monk will reveal their true colors. Green for greed. Yellow for cowardice. Black for pure unadulterated evil. Which leaves Red—gunning for his life . . .

Live Free. Read Hard.

Genres: Westerns

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2021

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

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Quiet, Little Town by William and J.A. Johnstone, is well, anything but, a quiet little town when they’re in town! In fact, no matter how hard my two favorite stagecoach characters, (Buttons Muldune and Red Ryan) try, it’s not even a quiet little ride getting to the little town! Uhhhh, that would be ever!

Buttons and Red are serious about protecting their stagecoach passengers, but they are way more than driver and shotgun messenger! Although not related, they are like brothers, and always have each other’s back. Simple yet gun smart, and just good ol’ boys! They don’t take no sass - yet always polite with ladies.

This was really a great read! It had humor, mystery, Wild West attacks from savages and outlaws, and an assortment of some very bad, yes, I would say evil men. Their passengers, and their very own lives are in danger! Wouldn’t that just be Red and Button’s luck? Oh wait, they ran over a sombrero with the stagecoach, and according to superstition, that’s bad luck for 100 yrs + 1!!
Oh what else can possibly happen?! There’s so much good storyline here; I’m being careful not give up any spoilers.

I was turning those pages briskly to find out what was going to happen next, and you will too. This is a gutsy, gritty western, and I believe the best of the “Red Ryan” series to date. Earns a SOLID 5 STARS ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and the Johnstone’s for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read A Quiet, Little Town by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, it's the latest adventure with Red Ryan stagecoach guard. This was really good and somewhat different from most westerns. Many surprising twists and some gunfighting. I have to thank #KensingtonBooks #pinnacle and #Netgalley for giving me a copy. I do like a western in between the thrillers and all books about modern times.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red and Buttons return to a town where they are not really welcome.

Add in European assassins, gunslingers and apaches.

Entertaining

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no such thing as a bad Johnstone western. Each series is built around main characters whose belief in the law and family is absolute, even if they've had to be reformed to get there. From Preacher, the original mountain man to the Jensen family to Perly Gates, to.....well, you get the point. Many times, characters from one series will show up in another as supporting hands. The communities are true to the era, clothing, guns, food and troubles are all what you'd find if you looked them up in the history books. No two stories are the same, each character or set of characters is unique and so are their stories. The writing is skillful, readers are pulled into the story and you will laugh and cry right along with the characters.

[Lydia Sadler]

I discovered this author when I realized my local library did not have as many western authors as I would like. The hero is stage messenger, Red Ryan. Not a gunfighter, but he does know his way around a hand gun. In this story we meet a beautiful woman, four mysterious strangers dressed like monks, a clueless doctor, his lady love, and her father, a man who wants to create a dynasty and would kill to do it.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth book of Button Muldune and Red Ryan. Stagecoach driver and guard. Story takes place sometime after July 1, 1884. Mainly just another big time rancher in Texas who wants more land and to have the biggest ranch ever. His daughter might marry the wrong guy and the rancher has hired men to kill the poor guy. Has Apache’s, outlaws, a Pinkerton agent and more. The ending is interesting enough to make me wonder if this is the last book in this series. Read it and see what you think.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first western and I so enjoyed it.
This is my first book for June on the Range (Steve Donoghue).
This book had a variety of everything - love comedy shootings - twists and turns - it was so good.
I will be reading more from these authors.
This was the 4th in a series and I had no trouble just jumping in.

[ANN HOLSTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had Everything adventure Love and comedy I am sad it's ended !

The author was thoughtful He told what happened to the characters after RED Hill, I appreciate that personal touch KUDOS .

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going to miss more books about Red and Buttons!

This was a great storyline, which read a lot like a history book, but was still a incredibly good book! Sorry to see the end of this series!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked A Quiet, Little Town, book four for William W Johnstone's Red Ryan series. I am giving it four stars.

[Dee Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent read with intrigue and action. I like anything by William W. Johnstone.

[Micheal Jimerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dialogue lacked authenticity in my opinion.

[Jerald Haggard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed "A Quiet, Little Town" quite a bit. Good western with plenty of danger but also very humorous at times.

[Alex Maslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Johnstone book with another long-winded ending