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Firestick #1

Firestick

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In this exciting new series, bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A.Johnstone pay homage to America's trail -hardened backwoodsmen who, like a fine grain whiskey, only get better with age.

REAL MEN DON'T RIDE INTO THE SUNSET
In his Mountain Man days, Elwood "Firestick" McQueen was practically a living legend. His hunting, tracking, and trapping skills were known far and wide. But it was his deadly accuracy with a rifle that earned him the Indian name "Firestick"
His two best buddies, are Malachi "Beartooth" Skinner -- whose knife was as fatal as a grizzly's chompers --and Jim "Moosejaw" Hendricks, who once wielded the jawbone of a moose to crush his enemies in the heat of battle.

Of course, things are different nowadays. The trio have finally settled down, running a horse ranch in West Texas and spending quality time with their lady friends. But if you think these old boys are ready for lives of leisure, think again.

Firestick is the town marshal. Beartooth and Moosejaw are his deputies. And when a hired gunman shows up with bullets blazing, these three hard-cases are ready to prove they aren't getting older.

They are getting deadlier...

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2018

496 people are currently reading
475 people want to read

About the author

William W. Johnstone

1,046 books1,395 followers
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.

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5 stars
507 (48%)
4 stars
347 (33%)
3 stars
141 (13%)
2 stars
27 (2%)
1 star
14 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Bill Riggs.
936 reviews14 followers
July 30, 2020
3 mountain men decide it’s time to settle down and leave the mountains to start a horse ranch and become the sheriff and deputies of the Texas town of Buffalo Peak. They thought they would be leading quieter lives but are soon faced with murders, kidnapping and an Apache raiding party. Their life of leisure is about to be turned upside down and it will take all their hunting, tracking and trapping skills learned on the frontier and backwoods to survive.
Profile Image for Abibliofob.
1,598 reviews103 followers
July 20, 2021
Firestick is the first book in a new series by William W. johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. It's all about three former mountain men who seek an easier life and has started a horse ranch. Shortly thereafter they get roped into being the law in their community. This is a great basis for a series and it's nice with a new twist on the old western. I found it to my liking and will look for the next one. In this book we have barfights, the gun for hire and trouble with indians all in one thrilling fun ride.

Live Free. Read Hard.
Profile Image for HornFan2 .
767 reviews46 followers
December 2, 2018
Firestick is a Walmart exclusive read, meaning that they are the only outlet that has the book for the first year of publishing and will be re-released available for every book outlet in January 2019.

While this was a decent read, it's about Elwood "Firstick" McQueen, Malachi "Beartooth" Skinner and
Jim "Moosejaw" Hendricks, three friends, who are former Mountain Men and have settled in Buffalo Peak a town in West Texas.

Firestick is the town's sheriff, while Beartooth and Moosejaw are his deputies, add tamed down violence, language wise it's been dehorned, add Apache Indians, added a hired killer, crazed woman whose out to seek vengeance for her dead husband and son, and add their ladies Daisy, Kate and Victoria to the mix.

You'll get Firestick, another WWJ brand book but you've read some of the themes in the Sixkiller, Will Tanner and The Range Detective series, these 3 are excellent and just makes this new series seem repetitive verse adding new ones especially to Sixkiller series.

Typical with William W. Johnstone books and with the J.A. Johnstone ones, the good guys can shoot the lights out, hit a bug in flight at 1000 yards, and the bad guys can't aim to hit anything. At least with William, he camouflaged it better than the latter does.

Oh what a tangled weave the estate of the late William W. Johnstone has weaved with unnamed ghost writers writing for the brand and pretty sure it'll be easy to tell who wrote this one. A couple of the scenes in this one, made me think about the O'Malley's brothers and a shame during the Apache fight, they don't make a cameo appearance and help fight off the Indians.
Profile Image for Martha Peebles.
902 reviews10 followers
January 18, 2018
As always a great read, the Johnstone's have done it again. This series is gonna be awesome. Three rough and tough mountain men, who try to settle down and be the sheriff and deputies of a town. Look forward to the next book in this series. Thank you Mrs. Jo for a awesome read.
Profile Image for Jackie.
893 reviews14 followers
June 30, 2020
If you love books where racism is vaunted, this is for you. And I'm not just talking about the celebration of the slaughter of "Injuns" but also a discussion of the Civil War where the main characters just couldn't decide which side to fight on, but they're at least glad they didn't fight against the prevailing side. Bad timing on this author's part.
Profile Image for Linda Donohue.
304 reviews31 followers
August 27, 2020
This is the first novel I have read by Johnstone and thanks to Goodreads I had this opportunity. In all I enjoyed the story as several su plot were taking place simultaneously. Characters ere well developed. There were unexpected twists and turns. It was a quick enjoyable read. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I plan to read more books by this author.
35 reviews
October 28, 2021
A decent read

This story was fun to read. The main characters were well developed and the storyline held together pretty well. My only problem was that it was somewhat long- winded at times. Overall I enjoyed the book, but it was not the kind of book that continuously held my attention. Better than most but not fantastic. Four stars, not five.
10 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2025
Fun characters, fast-moving action, and realistic for that time in history. Has many interwoven plots that keep you interested, eager to see what will happen next. Good guys are good, and bad guys are bad. Would recommend most any book that Johnstone writes if you are a fan of theol west kind of stories.
50 reviews
October 21, 2021
A Really Good One!

This novel is what one expects from Johnstone! A good, solid, page turner. One could see the three main characters being produced into a film! No kidding! It would make a super one. A great read for cowboy and Indian fans like myself.
93 reviews
October 31, 2021
Old west shootem’ up, with Apaches, outlaws and action!

The mountain men, sheriff and deputies are caught off guard by the sudden arrival of chaos in their peaceful little town, though they are more than ready to deal with the issues.
Profile Image for John Strickland.
26 reviews
December 10, 2025
I really liked the book. Lots of colorful characters. Plenty of action, almost too much at one time. Never a dull moment. Easy read and had it all. Bullies, rowdies, gunslinger, Indians, and suspense.
Profile Image for Jerry Blackerby.
Author 5 books10 followers
January 22, 2018
Very interesting new series. Looks like it has the potential to become a great series.
295 reviews6 followers
July 25, 2020
Great book!!!

Love this author. He writes with realism and makes you feel like you are there right in the middle of the action.
297 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2021
Not read a western book in a long while but i really enjoyed firestick 3 so called mountain men turned sheriff's police a town
Profile Image for Ron.
970 reviews5 followers
April 14, 2021
An entertaining western novel about three mountain men who become the marshal and deputies in a western town

Interesting and likable characters, with action, humor, and gun fights.
Profile Image for Sandy.
1,005 reviews16 followers
October 21, 2021
Firestick

Easy reading for a relaxing weekend staying indoors. Shootouts with bad guys, Indian attacks and a little romance all make for a delightful story.I
Profile Image for Mike Johnston.
95 reviews
November 7, 2021
Simple, but satisfying western written in the style of the 1940's...1950's. A good way to take my mind off work!
95 reviews2 followers
November 16, 2021
adventure

One adventure and complication after another keeps one’s interest in this book. It’s truly a real western tale of men in the old west.
Profile Image for Masina Lane.
258 reviews6 followers
December 2, 2021
On The Hunt

This is a well written Western , filled with action and suspense from beginning to the end. I highly recommend this author.
3,612 reviews16 followers
January 1, 2022
Loved this story!

What a incredibly good story! It was so fun to read about this three again! Hard to think of them settling down and getting married though!
Profile Image for Ratforce.
2,646 reviews
Read
February 18, 2022
Because you’re interested in westerns, I recommend Firestick by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. This is a classic western featuring mountain men, lawmen, hired gunmen, and more.
Profile Image for Tom.
91 reviews
June 21, 2022
William W. Johnstone 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

That’s all that needs to be said when it comes to novels of the old west. For my money he’s the best there is today.
Profile Image for Toni Candelaria.
11 reviews
July 20, 2022
Hits all the Western clichés and male swagger you would expect from an old school western. I friend told that he considered Westerns “romance books for men!” He may be right.
758 reviews
February 15, 2024
I enjoyed this one. Unique characters, though a bit of the same old same old. Great acting.
423 reviews4 followers
December 9, 2025
SLOW

The book was too slow. The characters and story line were good but the book just didn’t move or have a good flow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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