The Intruders

Buck Trammel #3

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

Johnstone Country. Draw Quick, Aim True. Pinkerton. Sheriff. Lawman. Buck Trammel has spent his life fighting for justice. Now, he must defend a town against corrupt businessmen and scurrilous outlaws from turning it into a bloody battleground. FAMILY FEUD Blackstone, Wyoming, belongs to "King" Charles Hagen. The rancher bought land, built businesses, and employed most of the townsfolk. Unfortunately Sheriff Buck Trammel is not on His Majesty's payroll. The lawdog won't be tamed or trained to accept the king's position as master of the territory, but neither will he threaten his empire. Adam Hagen, the king's oldest son, is vying to take control of his father's violent empire in Blackstone. Sidling up with the notorious criminal Lucien Clay, Adam is adding professional hired guns who perform his dirty deeds without question. But moving against his father means crossing paths with his former friend Buck—the man who once saved Adam's life. A civil war is coming to Blackstone. And when the gunsmoke clears, Buck Trammel is determined to be the last man standing …

Genres: Westerns

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 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

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Intruders, Book 3 in the Buck Trammel Westerns (Pinnacle 2021), is a worthy addition to the series. The first two books tell us how Buck Trammel went from bouncer in a Western saloon to sheriff of Blackstone Wyoming, how an unlikely friend Hagan became one of his worst enemies, and how Buck just can't get his love life straightened out. In this installment, Buck continues to struggle with bringing law and order to the tough town of Blackstone though is usually up to the challenge. He’s considered fair and just and has the respect of the townspeople. Trouble has been brewing throughout the earlier books and now, he faces the bifecta of evil, when those who control the town's drug trade in highly-addictive laudanum also want to control its mining business. 

Johnstone is a veteran of excellent westerns and does it again in this book. He places readers solidly within this troubled town as the few who care try to stand against the forces of evil. The characters are strong and admirable. Buck Trammel is one to 'travel the trail with' but I have yet to figure out his former best friend, Hagan. Is he good or bad? He helps Buck at times but always for selfish reasons. He adds a layer of confusion and intrigue that make me wait eagerly for the next book in the series. 

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Intruders is the 3rd in the Buck Trammel series which continues the sage of the Hagan family feud in the small town of Blackstone, north of Laramie, WY. Sheriff Trammel tries to keep law and order, but that is hard to do when "friends" try to sway you and use you against family members. At the same time, gang members from nearby Laramie are into double-crossing the antagonist in his ploy to seek revenge on his "father".

It's all a play on who to trust, if any, and watching your back. Trammel's deputy, young Hawkeye, has also become a decent sidekick, and this makes the series better.

Also, there are love interests that are tugging at Trammel, as someone from the 1st book in the series shows up in Blackstone.

Johnstone's westerns rarely if ever let me down on a good story.

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buck Trammel has his work cut out for him. The Intruders by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is the third story set in Blackstone Wyoming. The fight between the Hagens escalates and there is a temperance movement in town. The problem with laudanum is increasing and Bucks old employer Lilly enters the stage, so now he has two girls that love him but don't want him to be sheriff. This is as usual a good western and what more can you want. Thanks to @kensingtonbooks @netgalley and @pinnaclepublishers for giving me this advance copy and @williamw.j.a.johnstone for writing these great westerns.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read one or two of the early Johnstone westerns and was never favorably impressed. Now that the older Johnstone is gone and a ghost writer is using his outlines, I thought I would give him a few a try. I found this to be a competent western enough western novel, but at the same time it was just a little lacking.

The basic plot is that there is a THREE WAY power struggle for the town where Buck is Sheriff. His former friend want to destroy his adoptive father/Uncle and has an evil, cunning plan to do it. Nobody is exactly what they seem.

One minor historical flaw-- The author refers to smoking laudanum, but it is actually a liquid, a tincture of opiates mixed together. There was plenty of opiate smoking going on in the old west, but nothing near those who use laudanum in liquid form as a pain reliever or cough medicine and became addicted. People did not SMOKE laudanum....

The novel has plenty of bad guys. It has some decent action. However, the hero is pretty uneven-- waffling between being a law and order person or just being a tyrant. Kind of like a lot of modern day cops.

I thought the author did a good job of tying it all together and building towards the conclusion, but then he wrapped the conclusion up by setting it up for a future novel. I don't like serial novels, but I do want to see what happens... because I think Buck is going to have a major confrontation with his former friend.

[Paul F. · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Intruders" by William W. Johnstone is one of the worst written novels, Western or otherwise, that I have ever read. There are too many villains to keep track of without a scorecard, and worst sin of all, there is no resolution at the end. One of the key villains is still on the loose, and Sheriff Buck Tramell vows to still get him (in the sequel, one hopes and presumes?). Even in novels that are part of a series featuring the same character(s), as a reader I like to see each novel in the series as a separate, stand-alone-if-necessary complete novel. Johnstone not only fails to deliver on that criterion, he deliberately chooses not to deliver. Buck Trammel still has a lot of work to do at the end. But the beginning and the middle, as well as the end, are an absolute mess that readers should avoid and save their money for better writing. First, there is "King" Charles Hagen, then his nephew Adam Hagen, then some clown named Lucien Clay, then Pete Slidell, then.....on and on, including two or three villains who simply get lost in the maddening shuffle. Save your money, buy something a lot better, that has a defined villain or two (no more than that) and a clear resolution that satisfies.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Westerns, you should be reading any title by William W Johnstone. True lovers of the western genre recognize the quality of the stories, you are in the conflict right along with heroes. There are many series to their credit, I'd recommend them all.
In Blackstone, Wyoming, Sheriff Buck Trammel works hard to keep the peace. A former Pinkerton, he's dealt with some formidable criminals but this time is different. Sheriff Trammel is caught in the middle of a power struggle between his friend, Adam Hagen and Adam's father, Charles who sets the rules in Blackstone. As always, the story takes us right along Buck as he does his best to settle some old scores and make his town a better place to live.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Buck Trammel just can’t to keep a woman. But he gets himself into a trouble as being the sheriff trying to keep the peace in his "little" town. The bad guys who want more money, more power and revenge. Let the best bad guy win. It’s an okay story. I have read better, but I have read worse.

[Dirk Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a good read

I enjoyed reading this book. Lots of action. It was hard to put this book down. Can't wait until the next book comes out. I would recommend this book to everyone.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment from the Buck Trammel series, The Intruders, was a really good read. I am giving it four stars and recommend it for readers who enjoy reading well written western fiction.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darn good fun.

[Loret Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

It was a good story except for the good guy winning at the end. I'd like to have read one more chapter.

[Holt R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoying this series a lot

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

I must have missed the book before, but it was still a awesome story! Can't wait to read the next one!

[Devonie]

Slow

[C Ronald Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who was who ? Difficulties keep up too many characters

[Ted Cartier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two books in the series

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two things:

STEVE?? His name is STEVE??

When they say laudanum, they mean opium.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

24-15. Another episode of Sheriff Buck. Boy Howdy. Does this city slicker turned cowboy get into the thick of it. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Hoopla app.