The Last Wagon Train by William and Jay Johnstone is about Luke Tomahawk Callahan who after being impaled by a Native Americans arrow he’s convalescing when he reads an article titled the last wagon train. This interest him because his deceased father and uncle owned the Callahan brothers outfitters an outfit hopeful wagon trainers heading to Oregon and California. In the article it talks all about how his uncle Harold and a pompous railroad man named Archibald made a bet that the train could get to Oregon long before the slow poke wagon train. He asks for leave from his scouting duties with the military and heads back to Kansas to talk to his uncle. Unfortunately when he arrives he soon learns his uncle was gun down but his aunt Sheila tells him all about the bet. He at first wants to get out of the bed but after learning what a jerk the railroad man is he and his aunt announce the bed is on. Tomahawk will be responsible for hundreds of peoples lives and ask his uncles old second in command cookie, to help him navigate the trail. It isn’t long before they learned there is a Traitor in their mitts in the Railroad Man is it playing fare. This was a great book I love books about the Oregon Trail or wagon trains and this was a great one I did fine tomahawk was slightly different than most Johnstone heroes but still a hero just another great western by the John stones. #NetGalley, #Kensington Books, #WilliamAndJJohnstone, #TheLastWagonTrain,

This was a fun Western and I am glad I read it. I think the main character Tomahawk Callahan is a memorable hero and someone I would love to know. The race between wagon train and iron train was a fun premise. We visit the landscape, the perils and the different people along the trail which makes the story enjoyable. If you want to visit the old west this a great book to start. I do plan to read more by the author. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

This was everything that I was hoping for in a Western book. I've always enjoyed the way William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone write interesting Westerns and characters that I cared about. It was everything that I was looking for in a opening chapter of the Last Wagon Train series and left me wanting to read more in this world and from the Johnstone's.

Overall a great historical book. It was fast paced, and flowed easily. I did wish that there was more elaboration at times, I love the history part of historical fiction, and would have loved a bit more. But, as always, Johnstone has written a book that will not disappoint.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book had ups and downs. It would lead up to a good part then would die off, leaving you disappointed. I’ve read a few westerns and this was lacking the West

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. It is the first book I read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

Luke “Tomahawk” Callahan works with the Calvary as a scout and has come across a newspaper article that has his uncle making a bet with a railroad man about Callahans wagon train beating a train to the West Coast. By the time he gets to St. Louis and speaks to his Aunt, he finds that his uncle has passed and then he agrees to accept the challenge. It is a challenge along the way, for the railroad man is not playing fair and there is also someone on the wagon train working against him and for the train company. A very good book with many different characters and just enough action to keep the story moving along. A very good book.

I used to say that one could read just about any Johnstone book and find quality. The past five years or so has altered my stating or writing such. I don't know what's happened, but have included in my reviews a number of ideas. After reading through onward to 300 Johnstone books, there has definitely been a shift downward. Here is still another example of that.

I believe what first gets me is a third wagon train novel nearly in a row from the Johnstone Clan. I read the first two earlier this year and saw this was another writing of a haul west across the country and thought best to hold off as I had troubles with the first two. Didn't help, had trouble with this one, too.

What I marked most in this book were the endless contemporary phrases, Valley-Girl-like, throughout the entire book from ALL characters, whatever their persuasion. What makes that error glare is my simultaneously reading the Jonas Ward 'Buchanan' series of books written in the 1950s. What a contrast in language! Take into account when William was writing his series and there has been quite a change. Is it to appeal to younger readers, bad writing or the lack of knowledge of the time period? Considering the odd assortment of instances which makes this book hard to pin in time, it's hard to know. Though, an editor should have better knowledge of the railroad industry throughout the 1800s to flag errors.

Of the three latest Johnstone books of traveling west, this one is the weakest. There's supposed to be a bad guy that is mentioned and there is confrontation, but throughout the book, I never read enough to find the conflict as to why there are so many later attacks. The attacks are more tacked on. The plot structure is just all are traveling west with obstacles thrown in. The connection between those that attacked and the bad guy is not better defined than involving money.

The ending, I found, very unsatisfying and as the focus was wrapping the story of the hero character and the bad guy got a short sendoff.

There are many better Johnstone Clan tales of wagon trains, specifically in the first quarter of the Preacher series. Hopefully, this is the Last of them.

Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.
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his novel is about a race between the first railroad to run a line along the route and that is the final final Wagon Train to see who can get there first. Plenty of action and a fast read, since it's hard to put down, this was a very enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

The Last Wagon Train didn't hold my attention as much as I expected an historical novel to interest me. I didn't feel there was enough detail about a pioneer journey on the Oregon Trail. If you'd like a light read with Western flair, then you'll enjoy this book. Should you want more in depth and emotional experience then pass on this one.

I received this book free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Book was an interesting and fast read as a wagon train raced the railroad across the west. My Callahan was instrumental in the race against the company.

Lots of trials were to happen, some natural and others man orchestrated. Add a love story a conniving saboteur and you get some adventure.

A recommended story that is a bit different for typical Johnstone book.

The Last Wagon Train (Pinnacle 2024) is a new story by William Johnstown about a wagon train headed down the Oregon Trail to Salem Oregon. This one is a break from the usual theme in that it is a race between the first railroad to run a line along that route and this final Wagon Train to see who can get there first. In this case, the railroad hasn't yet laid the lines so they can only win if they cheat. What a surprise. They try everything from burning up the wagons to an Indian attack to an inside guy who is tasked with making sure the wagon train loses.

It's a good story with plenty of clever action that made it almost impossible to put down. So why 4/5?  Because the twists and their resolutions were almost unbelievable albeit exciting. Still, there's lots of authentic information about the railroad era in America and the final days of wagon trains to keep history buffs turning pages.

Almost like watching a movie…a quick read…covered wagons…traveling…a talented author…a page turner. Enjoy

I love wagon train stories and that era. I’d never thought much about how the railroad put those days to an end. Great story, great author.

I really liked this book. It is not the regular JOHNSTONE story, though it doesn’t stray far. You get to know Tom Callahan, and really get to see all the challenges facing wagon trains, the wagon master, and the perils of traveling across the country in a covered wagon. I am in awe of the willingness of our ancestors to risk everything for a chance at a better life. The character development is great and I strongly recommend this book. I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this novel.