Review: 'The Last Ride of the Dirty Creek Gang' by William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone

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It's been a while since my last Western read. Life's little complications can often overshadow the joy of blogging, and my blog, more of a passion hobby than a primary focus, has taken a backseat amid recent events. My father's surgery in late April has been a significant distraction. As he prepares for another operation, my time and energy have dwindled. It has led to a reading slump that’s been quite the unwelcome guest. But here I am, ready to share my thoughts on The Last Ride of the Dirty Creek Gang by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: ghostwriters. The new Johnstone’s books are notorious for the mystery surrounding their authorship, and I can't help but wonder—who’s really behind the pen? If anyone has insights, I’m all ears. This particular book hails from the March 2026 release batch. With the decline of mass-market paperbacks, we’re now treated to a trilogy of titles every other month, albeit at a steeper price and larger format. My local Walmart has stopped carrying these books altogether, squeezing their book section to a mere shadow of its former self, prompting me to turn to Amazon ^[*]. 

The Last Ride of the Dirty Creek Gang follows Clay Carson, a former member of a notorious gang that once wreaked havoc across Texas, committing heists at nearly half the state’s banks. After a disastrous score left innocents injured and dead, the gang splintered, and Clay has since been living in obscurity as a hired hand and cook. His mundane existence shatters with a surprise telegram from his former leader, Lemuel Jones, who, battling consumption and on the brink of death, is rallying the gang for a final attempt to recover the treasure hidden from their last robbery.

Clay assumes the stash is long gone, spent, or squandered away. The other members of the gang seem to have turned their lives around, taking on respectable jobs ranging from store clerk to ranch hand. The only lone outlaw is rotting away behind bars, sentenced to hang. Thus begins a madcap scheme to spring him and make a break for it with the law hot on their heels. It’s a wild, reckless plan, but this ragtag group is nothing if not crazy enough to try, even if it means riding into the sunset one last time.

Unfortunately, the journey to their goal drags on longer than expected. The early chapters set a brisk pace with Clay’s introduction and his backstory spilling out swiftly. But once the gang is assembled, the narrative meanders, punctuated by numerous side quests that dilute the urgency of their mission. These excursions—the extraneous drama and a plethora of characters zigzagging through the pages—left me feeling adrift and, dare I say, a tad bored. By the time the tension picks up toward the conclusion, I was past the point of caring; I just wanted to finish the journey.

Here’s where my main criticism lies: While the plot and its various offshoots could be a compelling story, they ultimately falter in execution. It feels like a cinematic script waiting to be lifted from the page, begging for a visual medium to bring it to life. The writing itself, slick as it is, suffers under the weight of a convoluted structure. Too many characters—most of them unlikable—flood the narrative, contributing nothing of significance. It’s frustrating because with tighter editing and clearer direction, this could have been a thrilling read.

In the end, The Last Ride of the Dirty Creek Gang offers decent writing but regrettably misses the mark. I was hopeful after the promising opening, but the disjointed narrative, unengaging characters, and pointless subplots ultimately left me dissatisfied. Maybe it could resonate with other Western readers, but for me, it was a ride I wouldn't take again. ╌★★½✰✰

〜B.J. Burgess