There is no such thing as a bad Johnstone western. Each series is built around main characters whose belief in the law and family is absolute, even if they've had to be reformed to get there. From Preacher, the original mountain man to the Jensen family to Perly Gates, to.....well, you get the point. Many times, characters from one series will show up in another as supporting hands. The communities are true to the era, clothing, guns, food and troubles are all what you'd find if you looked them up in the history books. No two stories are the same, each character or set of characters is unique and so are their stories. The writing is skillful, readers are pulled into the story and you will laugh and cry right along with the characters. I made the mistake of picking up a Johnstone western my uncle was reading. Ive been hooked ever since. Now I share them with my reading family and will continue as long as new Johnstones are released.

Duff MacCallister is one of my favorite characters. He may be sweet and kind but don't let that fool you, Duff MacCallister can take care of himself and those around him. Immigrating from Scotland to America after some trouble, he settles in Wyoming to start cattle ranching. Overcoming many an outlaw situation in our wild west, Duff befriends the Spencer family. On their way to a new life. the trail is closed due to an avalanche. However, the alternate trail is full of danger. Duff cannot allow them to pass through alone. Putting life and limb on the line, Duff accompanies them to their new home. Will they all make it alive? I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

The writing of the plot for this book was riding the literary edge and stumbles often and nearly falls of the cliff. This Johnstone Clan tale has been in earlier books. The Duff entry is more forced than others and contrived. Here is one of the few examples of the strong Johnstone characters getting in the way of the plot.

There are 3 worlds presented: The community Duff is coming from, the wagon train group that insists Duff lead them up a mountain and the lot in the way along the wagon path. There is a fourth set that sets further in the background. The wagon train group, the folks in the way and Duff are very well written characters. The trouble is, the characters are so strongly written that each really needed it's own book. This is mostly due to cross needs and wants in each group. This would have been fine and typical of an Ellery Queen or Christie novel. In a western being written as a western, the end result is unsatisfying. Begging for more chapters to reveal the results of how the book ends.

Still, the book is worth reading and the characters are sure interesting. Maybe the lot will return, though that is very rare throughout the hundreds of Johnstone Clan novels.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 6 out of ten points.

Duff MacCallistter is back in Riding the Nightmare by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. Even though I love westerns not all are great, this series has been good so far but this book is not up to it's usual standard. The story was good and there are some great new twists and we get the usual gunslinging and fight between good and bad. I still had a few entertaining hours and are thankful to Netgalley, Pinnacle and Kensington for letting me have this advance copy out in stores on September 27.

This had what I've come to enjoy from both the Western genre and from the Johnstone's writing. I was glad to go back to the Duff MacCallister world, it had what I enjoyed from previous books. The characters were wonderfully done and I was invested in the story and what was happening in. I know I'm in for a good time when I see a new Johnstone book.

"Both men scrambled to their feet and charged each other. They stood toe-to-toe, throwing punches and slugging it out as the roar of the crowd washed over them. Ferris was taller and had weight and reach advantages over Cole, but Cole was quicker and able to bob and weave out of the way of some of Ferris’s punches. Ferris wasn’t in as good shape, either, and would tire quicker."

Riding the Nightmare by J.A.Johnstone (William W.Johnston's literary heir) is the 12th book in the Duff MacCallister western series.
It isn't really necessary to have read the other books in the series as they are all pretty self contained and give a recap or an overview. "Duff MacCallister left Scotland to forge a new life in America, raising cattle on the western plains of the growing nation. But keeping his dream alive means facing off against the country’s most violent, bloodthirsty men…" There you're pretty much caught up. ; )
Duff MacCallister and his friends are trying to help a wagon train that is passing through Chugwater in the latest book. The Hardcastle gang gave off a little the Hills have Eyes vibe as they target the wagon train.
If you are a fan of the Johnstone's this is a good edition to the series. The Johnstone books are the equivalent of someone "spinning a yarn."
Thanks to #NetGalley, #KennsingtonBooks, and the author for the ARC copy of #RidingtheNightmare.

I thought Johnstone's Riding the Nightmare, part of A Duff MacCallister Western series, was a really good read. It's getting four stars from me.

The main character, Duff MacCallister, in the Johnstone's novel called "Riding the Nightmare" is from Scotland and always seems to be a helper to those less fortunate. There are less fortunate that need his help in this story.

A group of settlers about 30 strong carrying the Spencer family arrive looking to settle in a canyon near the MacCallister ranch but also the primary entrance has been blocked by an earthquake called landslide. One would think that Wyoming has lots of open land for farming for the family from Ohio but a side story is developing with an outlaw gang of vigilantes from the Civil War trailing the Spencer party.

There is another way into the valley but it is nearly impassable and is guarded by a reclusive family who came from the hills of Arkansas who are not welcoming to strangers and take umbrage at anyone not in their clan,

These two forces are there for Duff to try to meld and only time will tell if his efforts are successful. A different kind of Western but one that is a page-turner for sure. Highly recommend a read.