Gunsmoke & Grit: 'Lone Wulff' – A Johnstone Classic

Dear Western Readers, 

Keeping track of new releases from William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone can feel overwhelming. The official release schedule for 2025 is locked in, and their publisher rolls out at least two or three new paperbacks each month, including reprints. Lone Wulff, their latest series, just debuted. It appears to be a Walmart exclusive, although this isn’t mentioned on the cover or within the book.

There’s always a bit of mystery around who’s writing under the Johnstone name these days. Is it a seasoned Western writer or someone fresh? Nobody’s telling, and I’m just as much in the dark as everyone else.

I went into Lone Wulff without reading the back cover. I opened the book on a Sunday, planning to sample a few chapters, but I quickly got hooked. Before I knew it, I had read more than half. I finished the rest the following night. Saying I enjoyed it doesn’t do it justice—I loved this book. Out of the Johnstone ghostwritten titles I’ve read, Lone Wulff stands out as one of the best.

The story follows Vance “Lone” Wulff, a Missourian in his early thirties. He’s been on his own since his grandmother woke him up one night and sent him away, warning him not to follow his father’s path into alcoholism. Even so, Vance later slipped into bad habits—drinking, gambling, and spending his money on saloon women. That’s his backstory. When readers first meet him, Vance is hungover, flat broke, and fresh out of bullets. Desperate, he decides to rob Mortimer McCartney, one of the wealthiest men in the country. The plan fails. Vance gets caught and lands in jail, not for theft, but for two murders he didn’t commit. Injured, he manages to escape and must count on the kindness of strangers to stay alive. Now, with a price on his head, Vance has no choice but to track down the real killers before the bounty hunters close in.

I immediately connected with Vance. His choices put him in tough spots, but his escape turns into a late coming-of-age journey. He faces many personal demons and makes a life-or-death decision by the final pages—one that buys him a little time in another man's boots. The story doesn't end here; many questions remain, setting up for the sequel, expected to be released in December. I'm excited to see what happens next.

Lone Wulff surprised me with its rich storytelling, sharp Western action, and flawed but likable antihero. The side characters add an emotional landscape as Vance searches for justice. This is a standout entry in the Johnstone catalog, and I’m looking forward to more. ╌★★★★★

⁓B.J. Burgess