Mean and Evil

Brannigan's Land #2

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE FAMILY COMES FIRST.

Ex-lawman turned cattle rancher Ty Brannigan loves his wife and children. And may Lord have mercy on those who would harm them--because Ty Brannigan will show none.

KILLER SMILE

No one knows their way around a faro table, bank vault, or six shooter more than Smilin' Doc Ford. When he's not gambling or thieving, he's throwing lead--or, if he's feeling especially vicious, slitting throats with his Arkansas toothpick. Roaming the west with Doc is a band of wild outlaws including a pair of hate-filled ex-cons and the voluptuous Zenobia "Zee" Swallow, Doc's kill-crazy lady.

The gang have been on a killing spree, leaving a trail of bodies near Ty Brannigan's Powderhorn spread in Wyoming's Bear Paw Mountains. U.S. marshals want Ty to help them track down Smilin' Doc's bunch. But when the hunt puts the Brannigan clan in the outlaws' sights, Ty and his kin take justice into their own hands--and deliver it with a furious, final vengeance.

Genres: Westerns

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 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 4 out of 5]

I like this new series by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. Mean and Evil is the second book about Ty Brannigan and his family. In this series a lot of the story is about his children growing up in a harsh environment, but also some things about Ty and his wife. I like the fact that it gives a new view on the classical western. I also like the fact that it's not only the men that is strong and can deal out justice from the barrel of a gun. I must thank Netgalley, Pinnacle and Kensington for giving me this advance copy for review.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel to branigans land. I really enjoyed meeting some of the characters again and they deal with the new problems. I easily became hooked on this exciting story and loved all the action, fights and the hunting down the bad guys. It wasn't quite as good as the first novel but was definitely worth it's 4 star rating. In this novel ty highly dependent on his children to deal with problems. It was great reading about the next generation of law fighting to defend their land. I especially loved the bar scene where he son stood up to the fastest gun slinger. I definitely recommend this book if you love the old style western stories. This story was well developed.
It was easy to connect with the characters and love them. This book had plenty of atmosphere created by the authors great description. It was definitely an exciting and thrilling roller coaster ride.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating such an action packed novel. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this fantastic author.

[Hyann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second western I read from Mr.Johnson and I really enjoy it more than Death & Texas books.

Pro

-Brannigan family: This western isn't just killing the bad guys or gun fights. It's more about the complete family of Ty Brannigan instead of a one man show. This give more depth to the characters and many stories keeping you turning pages.

- Side stories are great complement to the main stories, maintain a good flow and balance

Con

- Feel it's missing a chapter, the grand final was a little let down. You have four killers in the book, Ty got a chapter for a fight against one of them and the other three are dismissed in a paragraph closing with family cliché... it fall really short. Smillin' Doc Ford & Zenobia are the main vilains in the book so they should have a special showdown with more spotlight with Matt & Mack.


Not having read the first book doesn't prevent me to enjoy this one but for sure, I will read other Brannigan books.
Not a western expert but I recommend this one.

[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.

[Jessica Settergren · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want a really good example of men writing women in the most ridiculously awful sexualized way (the protagonist's daughter, who is continually sexualized, is supposed to be under 18). It's so damn cringey I put it down after the first few chapters.

Do you know ONE PERSON (man or woman) who PINCHES THEIR PLUMP BOTTOM LIP between their thumb and forefinger while thinking? Me neither.


No. No thank you. This whole thing is just gross.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story although one of the females in this book was rather stupid. Out in the dark hearing noises and calling out, "Who's out there." Seriously? Anyone with half a brain would know to keep their mouth shut.

[william a ellerbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a scaredy bunch of devil killers .hooray for the brannigans

They kept the excitement going. Th demonstrated every parents worries about their kids. The story kept your interest to the very end.

[Esteban Stipnieks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder and theft along with kidnapping is all fun and games till you mess with the wrong family. Guilty pleasure yes as read but fun. In Johnstone's world...some of the damsels well are best not distressed unless a bad guy wants to be on the business of revenge served gun barrel hot.

[George Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining

Lots of action. The story of a retired lawman and his family's interaction with a lot of different, mostly bad people, some very bad. The interactions did not always have the results that I expected.

[Harvey Stunkart · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book,hope for another episode

[Wanda Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

I was hooked to the storyline immediately, such a well written plot that was thoroughly active from the very start.

[barbara w. stoddard]

Very good. Ty sure keep falling apart. He’s suppose to be indestructible.
Keep writing …..

[Connie Patch McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

rich

I Johnstone book is always a good read. This one is a great family story. Great details of growing up and family bonds.

[Terry Quiram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rip snorting read

This was one hell of a wild ride. Kept me glued to the story until it was done. Great story line with some very unsavoury characters.

[Janice Tolifson]

Ty Brannigan used to be a lawman now a rancher with his family. They get involved with some outlaws and his daughter gets kidnapped.

[Bill]

Outstanding!!!

Mr. Johnstone writes stories as they seemed to really happen. If you like adventure, family-oriented stories with a lot of killing, this is one of the best.

[John Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just great reading

The storyline keeps moving with the Brannigans. The action is fast-paced and nonstop with more adventure then you'd expect. Looking forward to book three.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close to Perfect

An adventure a minute! Impossible to put down. Full of engaging characters, really well done! Can’t wait for more Brannigan adventures!

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the first book, a pretty good western read. Like the other, it did drag on but overall intense and a good western book.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though a bit better than the first entry in this new Johnstone Clan series, it's not much better. The plotting is pretty light weight. I was concerned this might be a new trend in the Johnstone books. having read about a ten since, seems this is one of the few new series demonstrating an oddly mushy approach.

Again, I have trouble following the location of all that is happening as the writing of settings is poor.
The characters are mostly continuing, but still not of the typical Johnstone strength and rather structured from stereotypes.

This is one of the couple hundred Johnstone books I've read I find so disappointing. Especially as there are strong series emerging. Not all can be winners.

Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.