Texarkana

Perley Gates Western #6

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

From the Greatest Western Writers of the 21st Century, William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, the 6th blazing adventure featuring Perley Gates, a new hero in the Old West who's carving out his own legacy in the violent American frontier. He's as honest and good as his heavenly name, so when an unholy trio of cutthroat rustlers turn a routine horse drive into an epic showdown between good and evil--with a little divine justice from gunfighting legend Perley Gates...


JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. RUSTLERS' PARADISE.


At first, the job sounds easy: lead a small herd of horses across the Arkansas-Texas border to the Double-D ranch near Texarkana. No problem--at least not for a man like Perley Gates. In fact, he's looking forward to the 150-mile journey with his old sidekick Possum Smith and young Sonny Rice, and doesn't expect any trouble along the way. Unfortunately, trouble has a way of finding Perley Gates. This time, it's a trigger-happy trio of horse thieves who take one look at old Possum, young Sonny, and the low-key Perley, and decide they're three very easy targets. But in the Old West, nothing comes easy. Except death...

So begins one hell of a showdown. On one side are the forces of evil itself, with notorious gunslinger Spade Devlin gunning for blood. On the other side are a few good men, a town under siege--and a merciless angel of vengeance named Perley Gates...

Genres: Westerns

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published November 30, 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

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perley Gates is one of the best antiheroes when it comes to westerns. Texarkana by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is the latest adventure, where the task is simple. Just deliver some horses and the job is done? Oh no, there will be rustling, gunfights and a range war. Perley steps in another cow pie. The story is wonderful, the action is great and I laughed my way through this book. I must thank @kensingtonbooks @netgalley #Pinnacle for giving me this advance copy and @williamw.j.a.johnstone for writing it. #NetGalley #Kensington #Texarkana #WilliamWJohnstone #JAJohnstone #Western #WhatIamReading #LibraryOfAbibliofob #eARC #PerleyGates

[Rosie Rizk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing is ever simple for Perley Gates. On their way to deliver a herd of horses to the Donoven ranch with friends Possum & Sonny, they are interrupted by Dan Short, Tiny Wilson, and Ned Bates, who are returning to join their boss, Duke Thatcher's gang. The latter trio decide to embark on a business venture, liberating Pereley's horses for a good profit. After dealing with the prospecting thieves, Perley and his friends deliver their horses to the Donoven ranch, only to find that their troubles aren't over yet; they've only just begun. The town of Texarkana, with its useless and degenerate town marshal, is under the thumb of Duke Thatcher and his gang, who are interested in going into the ranching business at the Donavan ranch's expense, and it's up to Perley Gates to help the town rid itself of his presence once and for all. Along the way, Perley is forced to use his gun, and soon the whole town is buzzing about his skill and quickness with the weapon. This doesn't sit well with a drifting gunfighter by the name of Kane. He must confront Perley to satisfy his ego and desire to be the best. His reputation wouldn't stand for less. Amidst all these situations, Perley has to survive if he ever wants to make it back home in one piece.

All together, its a very nice continuation to the series. Perley Gates is an original character who is skilled with a gun, yet doesn't want to use it, which tends to anger and infuriate those who want to call him out. He's  a sensible character who never has a dull moment.

[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. I made the mistake of picking up a Johnstone western my uncle was reading. Ive been hooked ever since. Now I share them with my reading family and will continue as long as new Johnstones are released.

[RICHARD STENTON · Rating 4 out of 5]

L love the wild west stories by Willian Johnstone and especially his series on different hero's. The Perley Gates novel is very good but I did not think it rose to the rest of the series. It was a little stuck in a single plot which became a little obsessive with one person. It did not have the intrigue of the other stories in the series but the end and the love relationship with one of the riders with Perley was kind of fun but sort of contrived to give you some indication that their may be another story which hooks Sonny back with the rest of the Perley brothers and of course Possum.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ in the Old West, nothing comes easy. Except death…” Great commentary on the genre and it definitely applies to this excellent entry in the series. Bad guys are really bad, and the good guys all come with some baggage, but the protagonist has a pure heart as the hero should. Great read for fans of westerns: checks all the boxes. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sale of horses leads Perley to Texarkana where he meets up with outlaws, hands out justice to horse thieves and meets some unusual people. Possum and Sonny travel with him from the Paris, Texas, ranch and take on the duties of lookout, gunfighters and peacemakers to help Perley and the newfound friends at the Double-D ranch when outlaws attack. This story is fast paced, and I loved it! Great writing.

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Number six book of Perley Gates and his buddy Possum. Have a new guy with them, called Sonny. Some areas of the story where okay but overall, I thought the story was a little on the slow side. A lot of repeats on two outlaws talking about killing another outlaw over and over again. Yes, read it the first time, don’t need to read it another eight times. 🙄

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are modern versions of the old 1940s Republic B Westerns.

For example in this series you have the young fast draw hero cowboy with his old crusty crotchety sidekick.

Think Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes.

Now they've added another character Sonny to the mix, so you have the traveling trio kind of like a three mesquiteers or the trail blazers.

They ride into town save the day ride out

[Robert Kiggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Disappointed

I have read a lot of the Johnstone's books. Enjoyed them very much. Enjoyed all 6 of this series. Good yarns. Imagine my surprise when I went to #7 of this series and found that the first 6 were included in Amazon Prime but # 7 is for sale for $6.99. Never gonna fall for that trick again. Too bad.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story is when Pearly Gates is delivering a group of horses to a ranch, and one day he guns down a man who tries to rob them of the horses. The problem is that one of them lives, and he cannot let it go, so he gets to see all that Pearly has to go up against. I found this to be a really good story.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Formulaic but entertaining

The story arc is rather predicable but entertaining. When I read this I have the impression of a somewhat more graphic version of one of The Three Mesquiteers Feature length movies from the Republic Studio.

[Dirk Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a good read

I'm always glad to read another one of Johnstone's books. They have been entertaining me for years. Can't get enough of them to read. Will always recommend his books to everyone

[Shirley J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

This is the first book I've read of this series. Attracted to it by the title. Always interesting and laughed at Perley's ways of handling problems. Will look for and read the other books in series.

[John Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful series

This series is so full of plot twists and surprises that you can't put the books down. Each tale is a continuing saga picking up where the last tale ended. I'm looking forward to book seven.

[Lucy Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Perley Gates

He is always getting into shoot outs that he didn't want. Always tries to do right, is a good friend.

[Loretta Miles Tollefson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun Western with heart, this book is bound to please those looking for a traditional Western where the good guys always win.

[kc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy a good western. And my spouse is hooked on Johnstone.

[Jack E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read because of the name my city Texarkana

[Karrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fantastic Read

Always love a Perley Gates book. Fun and fast read great characters and full of action. Cannot wait for more to come.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Johnstone western

Lots of action. If your into this genre, Johnstone stories fit the bill.
If you're a fan,there are more of these stories out there.

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just another great read. I truly enjoy the character that Perley is becoming and Possum is the best.

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perley and Possum

This is another one that I have enjoyed with Ole Possum and Perley. Yeppers Perley is always stepping in a cow pie.
Lots of my partners will enjoy this one

[Prudence Yohe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting & Different

Good read, and had some interesting twists and turns. Enjoyed reading a western that a little different from others. Enjoy!

[Jane Yarbrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Lesley story

I like reading Johnstones western because make us feel good reading this series of Perley Gates because of the way this young man tries to avoid trouble.

[Barry Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

As usual I was engrossed with the story and the plots described. It was a great trip into the old west

[JoyceCharbonneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

continue

To throughly enjoy each cow pie Perley steps in. Penny was a delightful little surprise! Perley’s way with grumpy cooks an important element in his adventures

[Charlotte Mckiever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad luck

This was one of Johnstone'S better books. It was filled with one exciting adventure after another. The bad guys faced dead ends at ever bad deed they did.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this series so much. I borrowed this e-book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Libby app.

[Mike Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one. I wish there were more

[Inky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining until about the 80% mark. Then it just went on and on, almost as though the author had to achieve a target number of pages.