I've only been a Johnstone fan for a few years. My Uncle turned me on to these series when I was looking for something else to read. I've now read many, many Johnstone books. I could easily say they are some of my favorite books. The back stories in these books are always well developed and true to life. While fictional, the characters run into nonfictional characters often. The characters are always honest to a fault, giving the description "good guys" a new meaning. In the course of living their lives they frequently meet members of other Johnstone families. The stories mesh together to give the reader a wider look at life during these eras. And of course, there's always plenty of "shoot the bad guy" too. Pick any Johnstone western and start reading. You'll be hooked, just like I was.

This is only the second Johnstone(s) book that I've read (despite a history of enjoying western fiction) and for an action-packed western I enjoyed it.

Will Tanner is a U.S. Marshall out of the Oklahoma Territory. He is highly skilled at tracking and hunting down criminals. But this time Tanner is chasing six hardened killers across three states. He's out of his territory and without back-up - but these men killed a friend of his and he's not going to let them get away if he can help it. Back home, however, he's got a girl pining for him to come back and settle down - to take up ranching (a much safer occupation). Will Marshall Tanner survive the hunt and return home to his girl? Will he return with or without the men he's been tracking?

This is a good, old-fashioned western - meaning the good guys are good and the bad guys are really bad and you pretty much know how it's all going to end, but it's the experience of the adventure that makes it worth the read.

As a rough, tough, western hero, Will Tanner stands tall among men. Author Johnstone does as much as possible to make Tanner human (he doubts himself and manages to get caught unaware once), but he's still nearly super-human, tracking and arresting an entire gang single-handedly. Well, mostly.

Tanner is a great character and a delight to follow ... which is good since we don't really get to know anyone else in the book except superficially.

The story does get just a little repetitive, though Johnstone does try to break up the action with a few scenes with some of the minor characters, and it works to some degree, but since we don't really get to know them, we tend to be more eager to get back to the main story.

The ending was a little bit of a surprise to me ... not what I had anticipated ... but I like being surprised (as long as it fits well within the established story, and this does). Overall, and enjoyable western read.

Looking for a good book? <em>Dig Your Own Grave</em> by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is a great beach read western and well worth reading for fans of the genre.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Dig Your Own Grave is the exciting fifth installment to the Will Tanner series. I enjoyed it, giving it four and a half stars.

This one was actually the best in the series, the characters are evolving and the plot is thickening. I want to know what will happen to Will. Is there going to be a wedding? Is he going back to ranching? If you like westerns where the good guy is good and the bad guy is bad you could do so much worse than reading this one. I also have to thank #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks For letting me read #DigYourOwnGrave

In the awesome style that has always been eye catching, author William W. Johnstone's adventurous stories continue to live on through the work of J.A. Johnstone. In the 5th story of the United States Deputy Marshall Will Tanner, the escape of prisoner Ansel McCoy, a notorious bank robber, is the beginning of a deadly manhunt. With the help of five outlaws, McCoy robs a bank in Kansas and leaves death and destruction in his wake. The life of Marshall Will Tanner is put on the line when he is the only one to go after the outlaws. A story well written with lots of adventure and edge of the seat suspense, I can't wait to see what more the future has in store!

Title: Dig Your Own Grave

Series:Will Tanner #5

Author: William W.Johstone

Pages: 308

Netgalley

Genre : western

Date book comes out: Mar 26, 2019

book synopsis:

Johnstone Country. Keeping the West wild.


U.S. Marshal Will Tanner is one hell of a manhunter. But this time, he's chasing six men across three states with one gun and no backup. This isn't justice. This is a suicide mission . . .


DIG YOUR OWN GRAVE


It starts with a prison break in Missouri. When notorious bank robber Ansel McCoy busts out, he teams up with five other outlaws. Then he and his gang rob a bank in Kansas. Now they're crossing state lines into Oklahoma Indian Territory. And that's where U.S. Marshal Will Tanner steps in. Other marshals from Kansas and Missouri have already lost the trail. Which means Tanner has to go it alone. Deep in the wilderness. Outnumbered and outgunned. One good man against six blood-crazed killers. Even if he manages to survive the elements and find McCoy's hideout, it's not just the end of his search. It's his funeral . . .


My thought

rating: 5

Recommend this series: yes

Would I read more by this author: yes

For those who don't know I'm a big fan of William W.Johnstone and J.A.Johnstone. Wither its horror or their westerns .Each of their stories has characters that you either love or hate and in this case Will Tanner is one of those characters that you fell in love with. The story comes to live the more you read it, and just like their other books so does the places, and the people , it's the type of book that makes you forget how bad of a day you might have had . There are other remembereral characters that you also grew to love , and there's even one character that reminded me of a whiny brat , because of the way she acted towards Will. So if you love fun fights, bank robberies, and just plain adventure then you have to pick this series up and read it .With that said I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting read and review it exchange for my honest opinion.