Customer Reviews

Blood Valley

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This story, written in first person narrative, is pulled off beautifully by Johnstone. The young anti hero, Cotton Pickens will have you rolling with laughter and on the edge of your seat with plenty of mystery and excitement. A must read if you read western fiction at all. In the book, Cotton becomes a sheriff in a small cowtown, restores order, finds a girlfriend, foils a take over of the town, stops greedy landgrabbers, kills several night riding farm burners, and keeps the peace while keeping you in hysterics. William Johnstone is at the top of his game with this book.

Twenty-eight year old Cotton Pickens wasn't looking for much other than a warm meal when he came to the Wyoming town of Doubtful. But when a shootout with some gamblers shows off his skills with a gun, the residents elect him as sheriff overnight. After accepting the position, Cotton comes face-to-face with a few members of Circle L--led by Big Mike Romain--the gang who roped and dragged the last lawman of Doubtful. Cotton provokes the gang by unhitching the saddle of Rusty and making him drop to the ground, and after a short stand-off, ends up with Rusty as his new deputy. The new deputy informs Cotton of a war brewing amid "The Big Three": Rockinghorse, Circle L and Quartermoon, a trio of ranches that nearly own a million acres between them ... and how only he and Cotton stand against them.

Cotton comes face to face with the range war when nightriders from Circle L attack a farm one night. Crops are destroyed, the house burned down, the husband killed and one of the daughters is raped and murdered. Soon the news spreads that Circle L has hired Jack Crow, a Mississippian gunslinger with a nasty reputation. And this worries Cotton. He cooks up a plan to help control the coming war in Doubtful: new laws banning gunfire and horse riding in town. He also seeks help from any ranch riders who don't want blood on their hands. But will any of his efforts pay off, or will he become one of the causalities of the loudening ranch war?

Blood Valley--originally published in 1988--is full of action, drama, topped off wonderfully with sarcasm and comedy. A true Western classic!

Want a good ole fashion shoot um up western? You found it! With a name like Cotton Pickens as our hero you cant go wrong. Enjoy the Ride!

Thought the story line was great. I have read Six Ways From Sunday and Massacre Mountain and in neither story was a mention of Pepper (Mrs. Cotton). My question is what happened to her?

With this book Johnstone returns to the captivating must read style he had in his earlier works. Just enough comedy to ease the tension and enough twists to keep you wondering. His lead character comes across as "A person to ride the river with".

Dave

You and Cotton Wheeler will take a mysterious trip to find on whodunit type scene and finally find out whodidit. I am glad that Mr. Johnstone did a fine job of writing this book.