From America’s greatest storytellers comes the first in an explosive series featuring a new hero of the Old West–in an epic fight for justice that begins as so many legends do: in a hailstorm of bullets… Will Tanner: U.S. Deputy MarshalAfter spending most of his young life driving cattle from Texas to Nevada, Will Tanner is ready to wash the trail dust from his throat. Maybe it was fate that … Maybe it was fate that brought him to the Morning Glory Saloon on the border of Indian Territory–or just plain bad luck–because no sooner does he sit down than three rough-looking characters walk into the bar with vengeance in their eyes, guns at their sides…and fingers on their triggers. The trio’s target is the famous U.S. Deputy Marshal Dove who arrested one of their kin–and who’s sitting in the bar near Will Tanner. Seeing that Dove is facing losing odds, Will Tanner makes a decision that changes his life forever. He draws, takes aim, and saves the deputy’s life. Tanner has himself a new job, a badge, and enough grit to make him a legend on the American frontier.
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Whether you’re a reader familiar with Johnstone westerns or not, don’t pass up an action filled tale in the old west starring a young man named Will Tanner. The story starts with Will Tanner working at a ranch in Texas when tragedy strikes. Once things in Texas settle down, Tanner starts thinking about what he is going to do now. Even though Tanner could sit a spell at the ranch in Texas, he is thinking over his options when he is drawn into a gun fight.
From there, readers will enjoy the new trail Will sets his feet on as a U.S. Deputy Marshall, riding with Fletcher Pride to apprehend wanted men. During his first outing, once again Tanner’s plans are altered when he meets up with good men while seeking vengeance for the blatant killing of his friends. While on the hunt for the killers, Tanner comes across an old man named Perley Gates who readers of Johnstone westerns will recognize as a favorite. Perley helps young Tanner and brings knowledge of the land when Tanner needs it the most.
Will is residing, when not out after nefarious owl hoots, at a boarding house where he meets Sophie who is the daughter of the owner. What might be budding between these two is something I look forward to discovering in the following books in the series. Will Tanner is a young man, finding his way in the rugged wild west, but his strong moral compass comes shining through when faced with taking matters into his own hands.
I think you will enjoy reading the Will Tanner series when you read good triumph over evil, possible romance, and developing friendships. The next book is The Stranger in Town, and I can’t wait to see who Tanner runs up against, who he befriends, and if he and Sophie’s possible relationship blossoms. The Will Tanner, U.S. Marshall series in order starts with Will Tanner, U.S. Marshall, followed by Stranger in Town, Powder Burn, Evil Never Sleeps, Dig Your Own Grave, and the newest Pray for Death. Grab them, then settle down and be prepared to enjoy the daring action and adventure that awaits in the pages of the Johnstone books!
The sad thing with, ‘Will Tanner: U.S. Deputy Marshal’ is that it’s written by a ghost writer, and unlike with the now defunct Ralph Compton Western books. These are written under the William W. Johnstone with J.A. Johnstone banner, the actual author’s name doesn’t appear on it or given credit.
Which is a shame. Since I’m pretty sure Charles G. West wrote this one, it has his writing style and the parts in the story with Sophie. That was the dead give away for me, it’s exactly how he treated the women in his stories, always clean, respectful and he’s end a few the way Will Tanner does.
I have a shelf in my library of his books, he’s one of my favorite authors and with Signet no longer publishing Westerns, glad to see he’s found a new home.
My all-time favorite theme in the Western genres are the Ranger/U.S. Deputy Marshal/Sheriff books and tie in with a range Cowboy. Makes it all that much better of a read.
So I took a chance with ‘Will Tanner: U.S. Deputy Marshal’, usually I wait to see reviews before I’ll just buy a William W. Johnstone with J. A. Johnstone Western.
Will gets taken in by Ranch owners Jim and Jean Hightower, who treat him like their own son, make him their foreman once he shows his skills to run the ranch.
Sadly Jim gets killed trying to ride a bad horse that he should have just let Will ride. Will takes over ownership of the ranch, but ends up sharing ownership with fellow Cowboy Shorty Watts and agrees to take Jean who retired, along their cook Sally to Arkansas so they can be closer to her family.
Will stops in Fort Smith goes into the Morning Glory Saloon to wash the trail dust from his throat and ends up saving the life of U.S. Deputy Marshal Fletcher Pride.
He ends up becoming a U.S. Deputy Marshal, paired up with Fletcher to learn the ropes and to learn the rest. You’ll have to read ‘Will Tanner: U.S. Deputy Marshal to know the rest of this one.
Definitely a great read, but note that William W. Johnstone is a legendary author in the Western genre, who passed away in 2004 and highly recommend his early writing.
You’ll also wanted to checkout Charles G. West’s books as well, he’ll be a fast favorite, some of his earlier books are out of print and hard to find used. So happy hunting for them or just save yourself some time just get them in ebook.
Just a quick note. I’m merely speculating that this one is actually written by Charles G. West. In writing this review, I did see another review that mentioned he was approached to ghost write for another publisher. So it’s 50-50 whether I’m right on the money or not.