THE GREATEST WESTERN WRITERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY The bestselling novels of William W. Johnstone’s Last Gunfighter series rank among the most boldly authentic portrayals of the American West and the indomitable men and women who carved out a place there. Now, relive how the legend began with this first chapter in the ground-breaking saga of warriors and outlaws, lawmen and adventurers, and … and adventurers, and innocents in need of a hero.
The Drifter
Once, Frank Morgan had a wife and a future on the land—until a rich man with a grudge drove him out of Colorado. Since then, Morgan’s taken up the one skill that always came easy—gunfighting—and drifted to a mining town in the New Mexico Territory. But there’s nothing easy about two vicious gangs descending on the town and threatening to wreak havoc. With his reputation preceding him, Morgan is elected to stand in the outlaws’ way. And with nothing left to lose, he’s the last man who will ever back down . . .
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Frank Morgan is a man with a violent past and a lonely path he’s traveling. In the first book of the Last Gunfighter series, audiences meet Frank Morgan and they get a glimpse of his past. Frank Morgan rides into a town seeking food and a drink. He just wants to be left alone. But it doesn’t turn out that way, which isn’t unusual for Frank. Readers will then continue to gain insight into the gunfighter’s character as his past is revealed and then move forward to the present.
Frank is now in Barnwell and from there things start to heat up. Though not seeking the job, Frank ends up becoming marshal and when a silver strike happens, the town faces a boom. Frank has seen towns go through this before with men coming to seek fortune but along with them come villains. What Frank doesn’t count on is seeing Vivian again, a woman he knew a long time ago. She has with her a young man named Conrad. Conrad is a young eastern dude working with his mother in the Browning Enterprises business she owns. Conrad is definitely out of his element and he’s about to learn his past isn’t what he thought it was, but that is one thing readers will discover as they enjoy the tale.
Frank and the town are about to face some men who plan on taking the town for everything they have and leaving nothing but death and ruin. Frank is no stranger to facing flying lead, but when tragedy strikes that is something that again will lead Frank down a different road. Barnwell Crossing is going to be where evil men grow in number and where the men either stand and fight or lose all they hold dear.
I loved the first book in the Last Gunfighter series. Frank Morgan is a character with the bark still on. He is no stranger to death or being challenged to a gunfight, but what most don’t know is that Frank is just seeking to live life without being harassed. Frank Morgan is a man who reads much, lives on next to nothing and drifts as the wind blows. I can’t wait to delve into the second book titled, Reprisal, where I believe the plot will pick up where Drifter left off. Why? Frank is after men, not just any men, but those who brought death to a loved one and the person behind the whole scheme to take down Browning Enterprises and the woman Frank loved.
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Good solid western. Good plot and execution.
I love this series. Really get a feel for the territory it’s happening.
This book was a great read,,,kept me wondering just was going to happen next.
A fast mover.
I’m a western book fan, big, Frank Morgan the main character and his journeys as a gunfighter are filled with thrills and excitement, read the entire series you’ll enjoy the realistic situations he gets into, a word to the wise ” don’t pet Dog” unless Frank tells you to …..
Not a Louis L’Amour book, but very interesting with a different perspective on the American West in the late 1800’s. Well written with some interesting twists and turns.
Fast moving….feel like you know the main character. I have read all books in this gunfighter series.
Sure was a lot of shooting going on!
Hackneyed, preposterous plot. Rich woman carries a torch for her exhusband. And the baddies bring a Gatling gun to town and mow down 100 or more civilians??? Utter lack of verisimilitude.
Book ended without finishing the story so they can sell another book to finish.
what is the name of the sequal?
Typical Johnston
Well written and very interesting storyline
All of Johnstone’s books are great
Love Williams books…..all of them. He always writes great westerns!
One of the best westerns I’ve read.
I wasn’t particularly a fan of westerns, but I happened to read a very entertaining book by Robert J. Thomas featuring his character, Jess Williams. Williams is a gunfighter who wanders the west as a bounty hunter in search of baddies (only the worst of the worst) and kills them. It wasn’t demanding and I found it a bit of a secret pleasure. At somewhere around book 41 or so of the long running series, I finally decided I must beg off – it had become so samey and the cracks in the veneer had become too much for me to continue.
When I discovered William W. Johnstone’s character, Frank Morgan, I was ecstatic. Better writing, better premises, just an all-round series of steps up from Mr. Thomas. Similar in that Morgan wanders the west making sure the bad guys get their just deserts, similar in that he seems to attract bar room showdowns like iron filings to a magnet, etc. and all of the great tropes that we enjoy in our westerns, but definitely to a more accomplished degree (imho) than Thomas’s Williams.
If you like a good lead-slinging saloon shootout, this is for you.
I’m turning into a western fan now. Have read 3 in this series now.
Another western winner by Johnstone! Action packed from beginning to the very end!
This book is like the other William Johnstone books read. It is filled with action but features very realistic characters. I have yet to read a Johnstone book that was not well researched and good reading.