The third installment from the Buck Trammel series, The Intruders, was a really good read. I am giving it four stars and recommend it for readers who enjoy reading well written western fiction.

If you love Westerns, you should be reading any title by William W Johnstone. True lovers of the western genre recognize the quality of the stories, you are in the conflict right along with heroes. There are many series to their credit, I'd recommend them all.
In Blackstone, Wyoming, Sheriff Buck Trammel works hard to keep the peace. A former Pinkerton, he's dealt with some formidable criminals but this time is different. Sheriff Trammel is caught in the middle of a power struggle between his friend, Adam Hagen and Adam's father, Charles who sets the rules in Blackstone. As always, the story takes us right along Buck as he does his best to settle some old scores and make his town a better place to live.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Third in series, the legend of Steve 'Buck' Trammel continues. Lots of action, the good guys are good and the bad guys are very bad. I look forward to the next in series.

3.75☆

Buck Trammel has his work cut out for him. The Intruders by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is the third story set in Blackstone Wyoming. The fight between the Hagens escalates and there is a temperance movement in town. The problem with laudanum is increasing and Bucks old employer Lilly enters the stage, so now he has two girls that love him but don't want him to be sheriff. This is as usual a good western and what more can you want. Thanks to @kensingtonbooks @netgalley and @pinnaclepublishers for giving me this advance copy and @williamw.j.a.johnstone for writing these great westerns.

“The Intruders,” a novel by William and J.A. Johnstone is a continuing story of a former Pinkerton agent become pseudo-sheriff in Blackwater, Wyoming. From earlier novels it will be remembered that Buck Trammel is a large man who is as good with his fists as he is with his guns.

A former friend named Adam Hagen has become obsessed with taking down his “father” better known as “King Charles Hagen.” Adam has been successful in many enterprises, mostly criminal in raising a lot of money to help in his attach of the castle.

The “King” is not willing to go lightly so the interplay of these along with a bounty on Trammel’s head lead to lots of interesting confrontations with lots of villains. Adam is not totally anti his old friend Trammel but there is a lot of tension.

The end game is to see who is the “last man standing.” Twists and turns allow the reader to keep guessing until the end. You’ll just have to read this book to see who survives – not everyone does and those who do are not unscathed! Warning there is lots of blood in this novel.

The Intruders, Book 3 in the Buck Trammel Westerns (Pinnacle 2021), is a worthy addition to the series. The first two books tell us how Buck Trammel went from bouncer in a Western saloon to sheriff of Blackstone Wyoming, how an unlikely friend Hagan became one of his worst enemies, and how Buck just can't get his love life straightened out. In this installment, Buck continues to struggle with bringing law and order to the tough town of Blackstone though is usually up to the challenge. He’s considered fair and just and has the respect of the townspeople. Trouble has been brewing throughout the earlier books and now, he faces the bifecta of evil, when those who control the town's drug trade in highly-addictive laudanum also want to control its mining business. 

Johnstone is a veteran of excellent westerns and does it again in this book. He places readers solidly within this troubled town as the few who care try to stand against the forces of evil. The characters are strong and admirable. Buck Trammel is one to 'travel the trail with' but I have yet to figure out his former best friend, Hagan. Is he good or bad? He helps Buck at times but always for selfish reasons. He adds a layer of confusion and intrigue that make me wait eagerly for the next book in the series.