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The First Mountain Man #29
Preacher's Purge
When greed overtakes men’s souls, it falls to the righteous mountaineer known as Preacher to rain fire and brimstone upon them from the barrels of his guns . . .
JOHNSTONE COUNTRY.
THE SPIRIT OF COURAGE AND TRUE GRIT.
Preacher has agreed to escort Barnaby Cooper through Dakota Territory’s hills to establish a trading post. Accompanied by his friends Lorenzo and Tall Dog, the mountain man hopes they’ll be able to protect Cooper from Sioux warriors who don’t want any white man trespassing on their sacred grounds.
But the Sioux aren’t the only hostiles staking their claim in the region. Englishman Albion Shaw knows there’s gold in the hills. And with a band of cutthroat killers to do his bidding, Shaw has enough manpower and firepower to keep both trappers and tribes from settling on the land where he can build an empire.
But Shaw didn’t reckon on crossing a man like Preacher. A man who not only knows what it takes to survive in the wilderness, but a man who will fight for freedom and justice to his very last breath—and his very last bullet . . .
Live Free. Read Hard.
JOHNSTONE COUNTRY.
THE SPIRIT OF COURAGE AND TRUE GRIT.
Preacher has agreed to escort Barnaby Cooper through Dakota Territory’s hills to establish a trading post. Accompanied by his friends Lorenzo and Tall Dog, the mountain man hopes they’ll be able to protect Cooper from Sioux warriors who don’t want any white man trespassing on their sacred grounds.
But the Sioux aren’t the only hostiles staking their claim in the region. Englishman Albion Shaw knows there’s gold in the hills. And with a band of cutthroat killers to do his bidding, Shaw has enough manpower and firepower to keep both trappers and tribes from settling on the land where he can build an empire.
But Shaw didn’t reckon on crossing a man like Preacher. A man who not only knows what it takes to survive in the wilderness, but a man who will fight for freedom and justice to his very last breath—and his very last bullet . . .
Live Free. Read Hard.
- GenresWesterns
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2022
66 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,041 books1,393 followersWilliam 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.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 7, 2022
Preacher is one of my favorite characters from William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone and Preacher's Purge is a great western. it is set in the earlier stages of his life as a mountain man and it has all the ingredients you expect from this genre. I like the evolution with this character and the different kinds of equipment he uses through his life, it's like a evolution of things in the settling of the west. I must thank #Netgalley Kensington Books and Pinnacle for letting me read this book.
August 29, 2022
In Preacher's Purge (Pinnacle Books 2022), Book 28 of William Johnstone's Preacher/The First Mountain Man series, Preacher and his traveling companions, Tall Owl and Lorenzo, plan to spend a few days relaxing at a fort after a difficult job. As often happens, a friendly drink at the local saloon ends up in their being imprisoned for a fight they didn't start. Their get-out-of-jail-free card is that they lead a wagon train with engineers and Eastern businessmen intent on setting up a trading post in the middle of Sioux ceremonial lands. Preacher turns it down at first as a hopeless venture until he finds that a woman will be going along who will need protecting and another man has been lost and the group is hoping to find him. Preacher gathers a few hard men he knows he can count on and sets out, hoping the trip isn't as bad as he expects it to be.
It is.
Preacher stories are always interesting with big fights, impossible odds, angry Indians, and Preacher trying to balance who should die and who needs saving. His morals are unquestionable, his values commendable, but in the Wild West, what's right and moral doesn't always matter. It falls to Preacher to find fair solutions where none seem to exist. This is another great story I thoroughly enjoyed.
It is.
Preacher stories are always interesting with big fights, impossible odds, angry Indians, and Preacher trying to balance who should die and who needs saving. His morals are unquestionable, his values commendable, but in the Wild West, what's right and moral doesn't always matter. It falls to Preacher to find fair solutions where none seem to exist. This is another great story I thoroughly enjoyed.
January 4, 2023
William Johnston a prolific author who was known for his westerns. Moreover, he wrote more than western; he penned suspense novels along with men’s literature. 2004, William Johnstone passed away at the age of 65. Fortunately, the novels were continued by J.A. Johnstone. She took over the series for her uncle.
This novel was the 28th in the ‘Mountain Man’ series, and the first of the ‘The Mountain Man’ series was published in 1984.
‘Preacher’s Purge’ was the first novel of the western genre that I have read. As a reviewer, I need to reach out to genres that I would not normally read. Although, the novel was a part of a series, I never felt lost. The author’s writing was engaging and kept my attention throughout the novel. I especially enjoyed the authors’ character study, I am a character driven reader, it is important me that I can visualize the character as I am reading.
I have noted some of the few characters.
Tom Kittle was short squat man with square shoulders. He made his money in a warehouse along Fell’s point, Baltimore.
Kent McDermid he was blonde, good looking, and was a banker
Hiram Kirkland a guide with thick gray beard
Anthony Humboldt a hunter married to Opalinep
The star of the novel Preacher Chouteau was tall and dapper,50-year-old man
I assume that Tall Dog would have been the name of Preacher’s cur, but not the case. The dog’s name was Dog and was an important character. “Preacher had told Dog to stay with Horse”
Thank you, William w John stone and j. A. Johnstone, Pinnacle Books, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book in return for an honest review.
This novel was the 28th in the ‘Mountain Man’ series, and the first of the ‘The Mountain Man’ series was published in 1984.
‘Preacher’s Purge’ was the first novel of the western genre that I have read. As a reviewer, I need to reach out to genres that I would not normally read. Although, the novel was a part of a series, I never felt lost. The author’s writing was engaging and kept my attention throughout the novel. I especially enjoyed the authors’ character study, I am a character driven reader, it is important me that I can visualize the character as I am reading.
I have noted some of the few characters.
Tom Kittle was short squat man with square shoulders. He made his money in a warehouse along Fell’s point, Baltimore.
Kent McDermid he was blonde, good looking, and was a banker
Hiram Kirkland a guide with thick gray beard
Anthony Humboldt a hunter married to Opalinep
The star of the novel Preacher Chouteau was tall and dapper,50-year-old man
I assume that Tall Dog would have been the name of Preacher’s cur, but not the case. The dog’s name was Dog and was an important character. “Preacher had told Dog to stay with Horse”
Thank you, William w John stone and j. A. Johnstone, Pinnacle Books, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book in return for an honest review.
November 29, 2022
After some lackluster to bad Johnstone Clan books in 2022, they smash out of the park with this latest Preacher entry. The story is what I've been hoping to see from the ghost writers. Ah, to only hope that regard for the 20th anniversary of William Johnstone's death, 2023, will see a flood of this quality from here on out..... I can hope, can't I? :)
The book has a ton of moving parts skillfully maneuvered to a cogent story and fine resolution. As I read of so many characters and groups of characters and so many goals and so many dreams, I figured this HAS to turn into a mess. Just saw it happen in a recent Johnstone book. Nope. It more than worked out.
A huge plus are the historical notes and the context of the settings provided. A true rarity in a Johnstone book. There is a little playing with history here, but legions better than most of the recently published non-fiction I've read this past year. Is that a frustrating thought! I can better trust the history in fiction than non-fiction!
One to note: Reading the book before this would likely help in better grasping how the main characters get to where they started. Though, I have not read that one, yet.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of 10 points.
Also, access early to this book was via NetGalley.com
The book has a ton of moving parts skillfully maneuvered to a cogent story and fine resolution. As I read of so many characters and groups of characters and so many goals and so many dreams, I figured this HAS to turn into a mess. Just saw it happen in a recent Johnstone book. Nope. It more than worked out.
A huge plus are the historical notes and the context of the settings provided. A true rarity in a Johnstone book. There is a little playing with history here, but legions better than most of the recently published non-fiction I've read this past year. Is that a frustrating thought! I can better trust the history in fiction than non-fiction!
One to note: Reading the book before this would likely help in better grasping how the main characters get to where they started. Though, I have not read that one, yet.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of 10 points.
Also, access early to this book was via NetGalley.com
December 14, 2022
Preacher horse and dog are acompaning in Man and Mr. Cooper to establish a trading post in Indian territory and of course the travel will not be easy. They run into horse thieves And a fierce outlaw gang that doesn’t want anyone settling in the area. I love William and J John Stones book they always start with a gun fight and then with the gun fight his characters always have grit in carry their self like a man who knows he’s a man. Preacher is the man who taught smokeJensen’s everything he knows and so it was a nice treat to read about preacher again. It has been a while and I’m so glad I read this book. If you love great westerns then you need to read preachers perch by the John stones you won’t be disappointed. I loved it as I always do. I received this book from NetGalley and pinnacle press but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
April 7, 2023
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.
January 6, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this fascinating book
preacher and trouble go hand in hand in this book
its action all the way when preacher agrees to escort a wagon train out into indian country, even though knowing that the men going with him would struggle against the elements and the indians, but it was a certain white man that preacher was interested in...
shaw an english man is up to something and though preacher sees signs of old camps he knows sooner or later they are all going to meet up
and when they do its explosive....
well worth a read just like the old western movies keeps you entertained
preacher and trouble go hand in hand in this book
its action all the way when preacher agrees to escort a wagon train out into indian country, even though knowing that the men going with him would struggle against the elements and the indians, but it was a certain white man that preacher was interested in...
shaw an english man is up to something and though preacher sees signs of old camps he knows sooner or later they are all going to meet up
and when they do its explosive....
well worth a read just like the old western movies keeps you entertained
November 20, 2022
Preacher’s Purge
To get close enough to a group of foreign soldiers (without raising too much suspicion) to determine what their purpose in the area is, Preacher and a couple of his mountaineering buddies take on an already doomed mission to lead a group of settlers out to set up a trading post….on grounds sacred to the Sioux. Will they have enough skill, luck, smarts, and good medicine to get out with their hair, and their lives? Another good Preacher read. I received an ARC of this through Netgalley and this is my review.
To get close enough to a group of foreign soldiers (without raising too much suspicion) to determine what their purpose in the area is, Preacher and a couple of his mountaineering buddies take on an already doomed mission to lead a group of settlers out to set up a trading post….on grounds sacred to the Sioux. Will they have enough skill, luck, smarts, and good medicine to get out with their hair, and their lives? Another good Preacher read. I received an ARC of this through Netgalley and this is my review.
April 8, 2025
Preacher agrees to take a large wagon train out West only so he can find out what Albion Shaw and his cutthroats are up to. This adventure has your normal cast of characters, outlaws, Indians, and a new face known as Basque soldiers led by their polecat of a leader who goes by the name of Yermo. Gold is the treasure the bad guys are after, but the one thing they did not understand was you never mess with Preacher, especially when the troubles are in the mountains where he is as at home as any wild animal.
January 15, 2023
I totally adore westerns and cannot get enough of the Johnstone books. I'm glad there are a ton of them1! This book is another great addition to the western genre. It's a wonder anyone made it through with all of the shootings and killings during this time period. This is another must read book if you love Westerns.
September 4, 2023
Bitter sweet
This is the last book in the first mountain man series. I will miss picking up a new book of his adventures but then there is the last mountain man series. Johnstones bring the west and the mountains to vivid life. Tight writing and accurate storytelling. I can smell the smoke and feel the dew.
This is the last book in the first mountain man series. I will miss picking up a new book of his adventures but then there is the last mountain man series. Johnstones bring the west and the mountains to vivid life. Tight writing and accurate storytelling. I can smell the smoke and feel the dew.
February 19, 2023
Fun read and thank you Jo and family. Loved Preacher like he has never lost a step in all these years. Exciting as usual with humor I have loved coming from the best of the men in the west. Again thanks Jo!
April 30, 2023
Thought it was a little on the slow side in areas. The Indians with their arrows and Preacher being able to just move a little so the arrows missed him, that got old on how many times that happened.
The Girardoni Air rife was very interesting. Looked it up and read about it.
The Girardoni Air rife was very interesting. Looked it up and read about it.
March 4, 2023
i enjoyed it. the first mountain man books are one of my favorites. love preacher
March 16, 2023
Bullets and arrows
Another excellent western story about the indestructible preacher man and his wolf dog on another
Dangerous journey through Indian country
Another excellent western story about the indestructible preacher man and his wolf dog on another
Dangerous journey through Indian country
April 19, 2023
Another good yarn
This novel had a basis in fort census play stations throughout the West interesting, and of course, preacher at his best
This novel had a basis in fort census play stations throughout the West interesting, and of course, preacher at his best
April 22, 2023
It's a good read
Really liked this book. Lots of action, very hard to put down. Good story line. I think others will enjoy reading this book. I would recommend it to everyone.
Really liked this book. Lots of action, very hard to put down. Good story line. I think others will enjoy reading this book. I would recommend it to everyone.
May 10, 2023
excellent work
As usual the best part is the way you are included in the story by using your imagination and experience from previous stories. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
As usual the best part is the way you are included in the story by using your imagination and experience from previous stories. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
March 15, 2024
Fun western story. A lot of characters that aren't fully developed, but it's the typical cowboys and indians plot.
March 27, 2024
Good book and fun to read.
August 18, 2024
Another good western read in this series.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews