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 liked A Quiet, Little Town, book four for William W Johnstone's Red Ryan series. I am giving it four stars.

This is the latest adventure with Red Ryan stagecoach guard by the Johnstone's. This was a good read with a different take from most westerns.

A Quiet, Little Town by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is the latest adventure with Red Ryan stagecoach guard. I really enjoyed this one. It was a different take from most westerns. Many surprising moments and some gunfighting. Enjoyed this one!

This is my third experience with this author, William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. I am truly glad that I read one more. My first experience was very good. My second experience was a great disappointment. This third experience was another very good one. I have discovered that Mr. Johnstone does not always bring "happy" endings, but this is truly fine. The ending brought good closure, and was happy enough. The reader wasn't left completely up in the air with what happened to everyone. Once again, I loved the depth to the characters. I felt like there were many "main" characters, and the descriptions were wonderful. I loved the plot twists, and the adventures. I loved the personalities of each of the characters. I even loved that not everyone ended with a perfect ending. There was realism to the day and age represented by this story. One thing I enjoy most with these books is that I feel like I learn something historical every time I read one. Even though it is a work of fiction, true events are depicted.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read A Quiet, Little Town by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, it's the latest adventure with Red Ryan stagecoach guard. This was really good and somewhat different from most westerns. Many surprising twists and some gunfighting. I have to thank #KensingtonBooks #pinnacle and #Netgalley for giving me a copy. I do like a western in between the thrillers and all books about modern times.

Reading a “Quiet Little Town” by William and J. A. Johnstone began in a most unusual way for the best western authors that I can remember. It starts in Europe with a person setting up a murder for hire.

Thinking this might be a different type book, it was a pleasure when the scene switches to the traditional West in the late 1800s. In this case, a stagecoach driven by a Muldoon and a guard Ryan. These have been characters in other enjoyable Johnstone books.

A most unusual set of passengers a being carried on to the next stagecoach stop, not counting where horse teams are switched. Lots of adventures happen from outlaws, Indians, murders, and others get involved.

Nothing is too unexpected but be ready for adventure as one rider describes the place as Hell on Wheels. From Pinkertons, to a former drunk, to monks, to gentlemen outlaws all converge. You can count on murders, attempted murders, and adventure—lots of adventure to happen.

Texas is in for a rip-roaring adventure as these fellow passengers are off heading eastward through dangerous grounds filled with Indians but also with dangerous fellow passengers. A western reader will enjoy this book even though it is a little too farfetched and enough off the traditional western genre to be fully enjoyable. A fast read that has an occasional plot twitch adds to the fun

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Fourth in series, Red and Buttons ride again. Great continuation of their stage coach adventures. This book was so much better than the last one.

4☆

A Quiet, Little Town by William and J.A. Johnstone, is well, anything but, a quiet little town when they’re in town! In fact, no matter how hard my two favorite stagecoach characters, (Buttons Muldune and Red Ryan) try, it’s not even a quiet little ride getting to the little town! Uhhhh, that would be ever!

Buttons and Red are serious about protecting their stagecoach passengers, but they are way more than driver and shotgun messenger! Although not related, they are like brothers, and always have each other’s back. Simple yet gun smart, and just good ol’ boys! They don’t take no sass - yet always polite with ladies.

This was really a great read! It had humor, mystery, Wild West attacks from savages and outlaws, and an assortment of some very bad, yes, I would say evil men. Their passengers, and their very own lives are in danger! Wouldn’t that just be Red and Button’s luck? Oh wait, they ran over a sombrero with the stagecoach, and according to superstition, that’s bad luck for 100 yrs + 1!!
Oh what else can possibly happen?! There’s so much good storyline here; I’m being careful not give up any spoilers.

I was turning those pages briskly to find out what was going to happen next, and you will too. This is a gutsy, gritty western, and I believe the best of the “Red Ryan” series to date. Earns a SOLID 5 STARS ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and the Johnstone’s for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.