The Drifter (The Last Gunfighter Book 1) by William W. Johnstone
The Drifter by William W. Johnstone is exactly what I look for in a western, which made it a perfect book to begin the 2018 Wild Wild West Reading Challenge. There was plenty of gun-fighting action, a fair share of humor, and even a bit of romance. I had picked up the Kindle edition of The Drifter at a bargain price without knowing much about the story or the author, so I had moderate expectations about how good it was going to be. After finishing it, though, I’d have to say it’s one of the best westerns I’ve ever read. It’s no Lonesome Dove, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s pure entertainment from beginning to end, and I really enjoyed this quick read.
Here’s the summary from the publisher:
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 . . .
Frank Morgan is a great character, the kind of western hero that I appreciate. He’s a good man in tough circumstances. And he’s surrounded by other interesting characters, including some vicious outlaws with devious plans.
If you like westerns then you’ll definitely like The Drifter. It’s the first in a long series, and I’ll be looking to read the second book before too long.
The Drifter (The Last Gunfighter Book 1) by William W. Johnstone
First edition New York: Kensington Books, 2000
Kindle edition Open Road Media, 2014
Printed length: 250 pages
