Brannigan's Land

Brannigan's Land #1

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE VENGEANCE MEETS JUSTICE.

Tynan “Ty” Brannigan traded his tin star for a cattle ranch. But the men he left to rot behind bars have their own hash to settle with him . . .

KEEPING HIS OWN PEACE

Once a respected lawman in Kansas and Oklahoma, Ty Brannigan ended his career as town marshal of Warknife while he was still young enough to marry, start a family, and raise cattle. Now nearly sixty, he’s a proud husband, father of four, and proprietor of the Powderhorn Ranch on the outskirts of his old stomping grounds. It’s been close to twenty years since Brannigan hung up his six-guns. Now he’s more content wrangling cows than criminals.

But for every remorseless outlaw Brannigan put in jail, noosed, or left the vultures, he made even more enemies. Thieves and killers looking to settle old scores have tracked the ex-lawdog to his ranch. They’ve made the mistake of targeting his wife and children—only to discover that Ty Brannigan enforces his own law with a lightning-fast draw and a deadshot aim . . .

Live Free. Read Hard.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2022

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 3 out of 5]

Ty Brannigan in Wyoming is a great new character in the western genre. I really liked this ageing ex lawman and his family in Brannigan's Land by William W. Johnstone anf J.A. Johnstone. Who is trying to kill Brannigan and is the bronco buster guilty of murdering the neighbouring rancher? I really liked the dialogue between Ty and his wife and the fact that some of his children actually is growing up and are the reason why he is still alive. I am as said earlier a sucker for a good western and this is one of them. Generally you can count on the Johnstones but some of the books are not so great, I think it has something to do with the rate of production. I thank @kensingtonbooks @netgalley and #Pinnacle that gave me this advance copy and @williamw.j.a.johnstone for writing it. #NetGalley #Kensington #BrannigansLand #TyBrannigan

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Johnston's Brannigan's Land (Pinnacle Books 2022), Book 1 in the series, Brannigan's Land Western, starts out as a pretty typical excellent Western story. MacKenna Brannigan, daughter of a wealthy well-established rancher, falls for a seeming cad cowboy with the singular skill of being about to talk to horses--gain their trust. The two are engaged, but he leaves her to father a child by a neighboring rancher's daughter. MacKenna wants to hate him, but her heart won't cooperate. As she is still healing, he is accused of killing the father of that girl though he swears he didn't.  MacKenna believes him and begs her father (Ty Brannigan), a former lawman with an excellent reputation for truth and justice, to prove the boy's innocence. Ty reluctantly agrees, but his efforts are complicated by two events. One, thugs are trying to kill him--why he doesn't know--and two, a former girlfriend shows up in town to warn him he is in danger.

This story has all the pieces of a great western, but something I can't quite put my finger on is missing. Drama? Charisma? Not sure. It is well written, but I found it too predictable. Nothing surprised me and I found myself hurrying through pages I should have savored. Maybe that’s my fault, because I've read too many westerns. Check out these lines:

"Way, way back . . . deep into a past he hadn’t thought about in years. A past he’d never thought he’d plumb again."

"Stalcup winced, twitching his right brown eye and lifting the same left corner of his dark-mustached mouth."

Are they ordinary or great prose? If the latter, I should have given this 5/5 instead of 4/5.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 3 out of 5]

This "new" 2022 series by William Johnstone's nephew J.A. echoes as if I have read the cast and action before, always knowing what would happen next.

Wife Beatriz, "Si, si" in case we forget her classy Spanish heritage, is always by her full name. Patriarch Tynan is mostly "Ty", almost 70 but never called old. His horse is the "dun",
cream, never by name. "Old" Marshal Southern always creaks his knees. Others are inconsistent, Brendan may be Talbot and Con, Stalcup p 336.

Many typos suggest some text dictated because words sound the same. Repetition of carnage, bush, appy, booted, booted the appy, around p 320 on. Does girl Mack, MacKenna, ever name her Appaloosa?

Preview for sequel is not for me, scary and brutal. Zadie is sold on to worse and worse owners. "Different" Al tells her not to run away because Tipsy tried and he took an axe to her foot, kinda missed.
.
Typos:
p 127 plains IS planes
p 155 main IS mane
p 179 stealing IS steeling
p 263 pale of milk IS pail ...
p 265 stride IS strode
p 266 mount IS mounted
p 302 edged... edged IS ?
p 264 shone is shown
p 325 flower IS flour
p 349 after Cass. Pa's IS after Pa. He's
p 366 she could jerk IS he ...

[Kate Insley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I just grew up on and therefore prefer westerns by Louis l’amour, but I just couldn’t help but think how much I would rather read L’amour’s version of this story more. The repetitive descriptions, the lazy writing, it just didn’t work for me.

[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.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. I just love western books and this one didn't disappoint. It was such a fantastic story line and I just loved the lengths they had to go to to get the murder and prove the main suspect innocent. I'm them days it certainly wasn't innocent until proven guilty. I really enjoyed the characters but I didn't fully connect with them for some reason. I lost a little interest at times but I think it was because the pace of the book was a bit slower than the last w.w Johnstone book I read. It was more of a whodunit western book. You could always try a sample of this book from many online retailers to see if this book is your cup of tea. I still recommend this book to lovers of mystery western book lovers.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for creating another great mystery adventure book. I will definitely be looking out for more titles by this author.

[RICHARD STENTON · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love every story by William Johnstone but this one started a little slow and the character development was a little difficult for me to get into at first. It may have been the introduction of completely different characters from my other readings. The book picked up steam and the ending left me wanting to know more about what happens in the lives of the Brannigan clan. The daughter and father are portrayed as the book's main characters. Three bad guys are after the father Ty and the daughter gets into the action when her old boyfriend gets charged with murder. The ending is a confrontation with the three bad guys and Ty and the old boyfriend help his daughter and son eliminate these three.

[Neil Campau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that kept me interested most of the time. I like Brannigan, like to read about his years as a "town tamer".
The daughter is also a great read for the future in her own stories. A good character to work with Brannigan as she learns more about herself as a possible "law dog" of the old west.
Brannigan's wife also would be a great read some day maybe??
Matt the son well time will tell.
Over all a great start to a great book when I started this series and Jo you should be proud of this great start to this Johnstone family!!!

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taming the west, putting away outlaws and keeping the peace not only in towns but on ranches, was the duty of lawmen and Tynan Brannigan. He now had his ranch, beautiful wife and four children on his Powderhorn Ranch. Of course, there were those out to get him from his lawman days, but he could handle them even if he was nearly sixty now. It's a great book that tells the story of bringing justice to his community and keeping the peace. Hubby and I love the stories of the old west and eagerly look forward to more books by this author.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasonable body count, you know many modern Westerns have a bloodbath. In this story, the retired sheriff has settled down with the love of his life. He still can’t live down his past. An old flame shows up and a person he put away is seeking revenge. In addition, a neighbor is murdered and his daughter’s old beau is accused. So, this story is really more than one story, but Brannigan is included in every one. Good story line, daughter is a great character, and plenty of action create an enjoyable read.

[Dan Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read a good western. This, in my opinion, is a good western with all the usual cast of characters, good guys, bad guys, and lots of in between. I got this book as a Goodreads giveaway and started reading immediately upon getting it. I just couldn't put it own, always wanting to know what was going to come next. This one rates right up there with the good westerns we used to see on television when I was a kid.

[Clifton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ty Brannigans past comes to town in more than one way

Ex lawman Ty Brannigan now a rancher and a family man has to deal with his past in different ways. Teenage daughter Mackenna is in many ways the main character of this book. The story is okay with subplots but there is some good action also. I could have done without so much of the teenage romance heartache but the book was still enjoyable. Not the best Johnstone book but still good.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun western story with lots of action and drama! I really like the Brannigan family and how well they work together. Personally too many people in that small western town died for my head to even make sense of it, but it was a fun read! I found the ending pretty abrupt though, a little more resolution after the climax always makes the story feel more complete.

[Ron D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too Many (sub)Plots

There were numerous good things about this story. I enjoyed the characters, I thought some of the scene settings were amazing; but there was just too many plots/sub-plots. I counted at least 5. Granted it added action; but it was just too much. I had a hard time with bodies and guns left laying around. And there was just never the wrap up I was looking for.

[Eva Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mackenna

This book is more about his daughter. It is a good read, but is no smoke. It did hold my interest. It just doesn't hold the action as Johnstone other books had. Even the books of truck, war, and horror was action packed. It is still a good book to read. I will try to read the next book. Thank you for this book.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book but I gave it the rating of a three because it did drag on at times. What I did really like about this one in comparison to others from this author is that it was more of a serious western, it did not get “way over the top“ as it usually does. I just wish it did not drag on as much as it did on a lot of the scenes.

[John Bailey · Rating 1 out of 5]

More words than bullets in this book

Nice try J.A. Johnstone but there are too many “non western” side plots in Brannigans Land. I couldn’t shoot thru them fast enough to get to the good stuff. Sorry.

[Andy2302 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A former town taming gunslinger is now raising a family on a ranch in Wyoming territory.
A pleasant, fast & easy read a little better than most Westerns. But it's still just a retelling of old themes with new characters. Old enemies come gunning for him, his young daughter is smitten by a handsome bandit, a neighbor rancher is murdered. The first in a new series. 3.7 stars rounded up.

[Thomas Frink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who wrote this?

Syntax errors, spelling errors, not knowing upwind from downwind, unnecessarily sex and constant minute detail that had nothing to do with the story. This is not the Johnstone that I have been reading for 20 years. Don't waste your time and money on this one.

[LUAYNE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This family is tough, honest, faithful to each other, and ready to protect their community. The descriptions are very detailed.
My dislikes are the last names for minor characters and too much inner dialogue for the characters. Fills pages and leads to skipping parts.

[Nita Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brannigan's Family

What an amazing story of family, love, and justice. Try a former lawman, raised his family on their land and how to survive and take are of oneself especially his daughter MacKenna.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

25-66. Great western. Not as violently detailed or explicit. A story of a man in the west and his family. The only comment is that it ended abruptly. I borrowed this audio book from the Sacramento Public Library through the Libby app. Yee haw. Ride 'em cowboy.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful storyline and read

[Randall Nokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good new story with several twist and turns. Ends kinds quick but overall, a good story and enjoyed reading the book. A retired lawman and his family help to keep the peace.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of those Johnstone "shoot 'em ups" I like so much. But why does Ty Brannigan's voice, in my mind, sound like Sam Elliot?

[Gary Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great storyline!!

This book was action-packed with twists that keep you reading!!
This was a satisfying read.
I highly recommend this book!

[Courtney Fouquier]

I love westerns. Weak ending

[Bob Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the book easy read entertaining story.

[Jazmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth Your Time

Best western novel since I read Lonesome Dove. I really like hearing stories like I did from my Texas grandfather and this is a good one.

[Randolph Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brannigans Land

I read mostly tales of the west. I have a few favorites and I shall be adding W. Johnstone to my list.