The Devil's Crossing (A Preacher & MacCallister Western)

Another wagon train is attacked, not many survivors. Will Preacher be able to help with stopping the band of killers? The Devil's Crossing is a new book in the Preacher and MacCalllister series by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. What can be more classic western story than a wagon train with settlers bound for Oregon. In this book we get a couple of big surprises and rest assured that the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad, but not everyone? I am thankful that @kensingtonbooks @netgalley and #Pinnacle gave me this advance copy and @williamw.j.a.johnstone for writing it. #NetGalley #Kensington #TheDevilsCrossing #WilliamWJohnstone #JAJohnstone #PreacherAndMacCallister

I can’t overstate the excitement I felt when I discovered more books about Preacher, William Johnstone's original Mountain Man and my introduction years ago to that sturdy, stalwart, invincible, never-quit icon of the American Rockies. Johnstone's character, Preacher, possesses at organic knowledge of survival that has nothing to do with money, possessions, or who you know and everything to do with what is inside you. Preacher's honesty and earnestness, his love of nature makes him one to 'ride the river with'. In this Book 4 of the Preacher and MacCalister series (Pinnacle 2022), a separate series from the many other Preacher Mountain Man series,, Preacher is well-established as the knowledgeable man of the mountains, but he still lives a simples, straight-forward life based on doing what should be done. When wagon trains are being ambushed by outlaws at a particularly difficult pass along the Oregon Trail--Devil's Crossing--Preacher agrees to join a wagon train to stop the bandits who have taken so many lives and dreams. Preacher brings a few of his mountain man friends with him, most notably the impossible-to-defeat Jamie MacAllister. The story has everything you always love about Preacher novels--action, justice, a little flirting, a lot of victories, and at least one surprise Preacher never saw coming. Highly recommended to those who love lots of action and winning in their Westerns.

If you pick up this book, “The Devil's Crossing” by William W. Johnstone; J.A. Johnstone, be prepared for another of the Preacher stories. This is his nickname but not because he is or ever was a man-of-the-cloth!! In this story, he is often called Arthur, which is his real name. The story begins with a massacre of a wagon train party on the Oregon trail at a spot called Devil’s Crossing. The only known survivor is the guide, Tom, and he is haunted by what he saw and experienced. A very traumatic event including losing the young woman he is sweet on. Fast forward back to Independence, MO for another wagon train and the connection of Preacher, a worldly trapper, scout, mountain man, with the wagon master who is looking to hire this legendary man. Long story short, Preacher agrees to take on this adventure to help get this new train safely through the crossing. Preacher is able to secure some of his friends, including Jamie MacCallister and Lomax, a freight driver, along with Tom the surviving scout to help ensure this train passes safely through the crossing. While this group might normally be sufficient to ensure the safety of train and passengers, they are going to run up against a formidable and organized foe. It is a great read and a very fast one as the plot starts with the massacre and comes to a head with the new train ready to make the run through the Devil’s Crossing. Preacher and Jamie make for a pair or intrepid adventurers but their best efforts could well not be enough this time.

The best Johnstone book I have read for awhile. It was fast paced and not bogged down with "flash backs" as Johnstone books seem to be doing lately. Johnstone fans, the books are back to quality.

This is once again a very entertaining book written by an author that loves the telling of a story. Character development as well as scenery descriptions and story development are fantastic!