Die by the Gun

A Chuckwagon Trail Western, Book 2

By: William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone - with

Narrated by: Danny Campbell

With one successful cattle drive under his belt, Dewey "Mac" McKenzie is on a first-name basis with danger. Marked for death for a crime he didn't commit and eager to get far away from the territory, he signed on as cattle drive chuck-wagon cook to save his own skin - and learned how to serve up a tasty hot stew. Turns out Mac has a talent for fixing good vittles. He's also pretty handy with a gun. But Mac's enemies are hungry for more - and he's hired a gang of ruthless killers to turn up the heat....

Mac knows he's a dead man. His only hope is to join another cattle drive on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, deep in New Mexico Territory. The journey ahead is even deadlier than the hired guns behind him. His trail boss is an ornery cuss. His crewmate is the owner's spoiled son. And the route is overrun with kill-crazy rustlers and bloodthirsty Comanche. To make matters worse, Mac's would-be killers are closing in fast.

But when the cattle owner's son is kidnapped, the courageous young cook has no choice but to jump out of the frying pan - and into the fire....

©2018 J. A. Johnstone (P)2018 Tantor

Engaging

I read book one in the Chuckwagon Series and enjoyed it so gave book two a try.

The book is well written; the plot is straight forward and the characters are interesting. It is fun to have the hero of a trail drive the cook. In this story our hero, Dewey “Mac” McKenzie, is with a different Texas Ranch and on a different trail. It is the Goodnight Loving Trail to New Mexico Territory and ending in Denver, Co if the price was not adequate in New Mexico. The author provides some information about the Goodnight-Loving Trail, but I was eager for more. Overall, this is an easy to read historical fiction story.

The book is nine hours and twenty-eight minutes. Danny Campbell does a good job narrating the book. Campbell is a classically trained actor. He has won multiple Audiofile Earphone Awards and was the Audiofile’s Best of The Year 2017.

A great classic western where the cook is the man.

Great old fashioned western with a slight twist that makes the book unique. I have read books one and two and both are a good read that I would suggest to all of you western lovers out there.

Another good Johnstone western

This book brings together a number of story lines, well interwoven. I like the main character Mack and want to read more of his adventures.

Awesome informational educational Audio experience

Awesome informational educational Audio experience Y'alls William Johnstone at his best I just loved this book Y'alls

A western story you don’t want to miss

This was one western story I enjoyed very much. I recommended for western story fans. Most of all the story line and the performance was outstanding.

excellent..

great series.. keep em coming these are jus5 as good as the jensen series and a great narrator!!

Hated for the story to end

I have read/listened to this authors books and enjoyed each of them .c Each one seems get better. I recommend this book and all written by this author

Held my interest.

Very good story way lots of twists and turns. Enjoyed the main character. This is the second book I’ve read in this series. Better than the first actually.

Too much running and killing

I was hoping to learn more about trail drive, cowboys, the country side, challenges and victories. Did not get it.

Rough

It's just so hard to root for a main character that is a complete idiot...
The story is fairly average, focusing on the trail cook is original, the scenes are well described, but when dumb luck is consistently the only thing keeping the protagonist alive... honestly it just gets boring.
Add to that Campbell's less then enthusiastic monotone, and it's a chore to get thru.