Some Die Young

The Man from Waco #2

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

Johnstone Country. Where Freedom Stings.They call him The Man from Waco. Jailed for a crime he didn’t commit. Freed by the judge who locked him up but needs his protection. Hunted by a rival who wants them both dead . . . Everyone deserves a second chance. Even someone like John Bannack. He took the fall for his bank-robbing brother. Served time in a Texas State Prison. And saved the life of Judge Wick Justice when their prison wagon was ambushed. The judge was so grateful—and so impressed by Bannack—he decided to release the hard-fighting man from Waco and employ him as his own private bodyguard. And personal avenger . . . It's an offer Bannack can’t refuse. But freedom isn’t free—and working for Justice is no picnic. Turns out the judge has an awful lot of enemies—both inside and outside the law—and most of them want him dead. The worst of the bunch is a rival judge named Raymond Grant, who hates everything Justice stands for. Especially his newly freed ex-con bodyguard. Grant wants to put Bannack behind bars again. He has the law on his side, the hatred in his heart—and the deadliest hired guns money can buy.  Even so, Bannack doesn’t scare easily. But when the shooting starts, the bullets fly—and Death comes for Justice—the Man from Waco will know the true face of fear . . .

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published August 20, 2024

About the author

William W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.

Reviews

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Die Young is the first book in a new series by William W Johnstone in JA Johnstone, in the book we meet John Bannik, Who has recently been released from prison and is now on his way to his brothers Texas farm. It is a homecoming that doesn’t last long however because John is afraid a vengeful Judge Will put a warrant out for his arrest for a reason unknown to the reader. Up on leaving his brother asked where is he headed and John cryptically says “I don’t know, but I’ll know when I get there. “
On his journey he sees a man being shot at by two outlaws and stops to help only to learn the man’s a barber and lives in glory Texas and this is how John winds up in the little town The barber who he becomes good friends with tells him about a great place to eat unfortunately when they arrive and may and name Virgil Dawson has killed a gambler and taken over the eating house he announces whoever tries to come in will be shot. Needless to say John had his heart set on eating there so he makes a citizens arrest and this is how he comes to be the Marshall. Although the people in his town know him as Marshall Cochran and not Bannick, it doesn’t take him long to settle in and start a routine. When the two marshals come to pick up Virgil so he can stand trial, he at first avoids them due to fearing The release of the bogus warrant but when in transport Papa Dawson and his other three outlaw sons rob the Marshalls in release Virgil. He has no choice but to work closely with the two men. That will not be the last Marshall Cochran here’s of the Dawson family. He really is enjoying being Marshall but soon his biggest fear comes to visit in the form of the special agent looking for him around town. John Bannick is tall and imposing and people get the total opposite impression of who he really is the kind helpful respectful gentlemen which in the end may save The life he is coming to Love. I really enjoyed this book I just only hope the future books let us see who John Bannick really is because I thought is that I really didn’t get a good grasp on him as a character. If the author could just flush him out a little bit more it would be very appreciated. We don’t know anything about his childhood where he learned to shoot so well ET see having said that I am still going to read the next book I love the Johnstone westerns and this one is no exception. #PelicanAndKensingtonPublishers, #NetGalley, #WilliamWJohnstone, #JohnAJohnstone,#SomeDieYoung,

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't gotten to the first in this, a still another, series of the Johnstone Clan of writers. I got to this one via NetGalley.com. The cover and series name is mighty misleading. Waco has next to nothing involving the book. The title is more than confusing. No young died. In fact, they thrived in the story. However, the cover image is one of the best reflecting the interior in the past decade.

The story starts in a clunky way and I was concerned I was entering bad Johnstone writing territory. The writer of this one I believe I've read before with lots of references to meals and those that cook them. That writer's work I haven't cared far. Wonder if this was written by the meals writer and then had another jump in. The reason: Though starting clunky, it straightens out and gets better and better.

This new series features a character out to do the right thing and the plotting follows that aim very well. This well contrasts those on the other side better than the more recent Johnstone books that dance around the good and bad and end up with stories that have less defined purpose and the plotting falls apart.

The writing is typical Johnstone with the typical strong characterizations of most all involved. This was trickier,as with another recent Johnstone book, that had focus in different communities adding to the cast of characters while still keeping each defined separately.

The writer does a terrific job navigating the story back and forth between areas and moving the story well to make use of the travel. I like the written concerns over characters that are more plot driven than what would otherwise be emotional goo. Very well done overall.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of ten points.

[Jeramy Schaub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story

Overall, it's a good story as a story goes. I'm glad the same ghost writer wrote this as last, so it flowed nice and consistent. However, as Western missed so many key facts, that's why I gave 3 stars. I'm not sure if the writer has ever read a western but wrote something to try to stay historical but really missed the mark. Like most modern westerns have to include firearm calibers, cartridges, and timeframes that aren't close. Texas was completely devastated after Civil war which the author had to interject just ended like all the farmers and ranchers walking around unarmed and not cautious when there were desperate men returning from war in east and Comanches were still rampaging all over Texas. It would be make modern westerns a lot better if these authors would do just a small amount of research or not have to try and get technical like saying colt 45 which wasn't invented yet or cartridge converted handguns when not everywhere had cartridges especially when it's a confederate state right after the civil war when very few people would have seen or heard of a Henry let alone have access to the cartridges for it. So as far as good written story this book has it as a book that even tries to be historical it's not.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

In William Johnstone's Book 2 of The Man From Waco, Some Die Young, (Pinnacle Books 2024), John Bannock is starting the next part of his life, now that a pardon has freed him from imprisonment for a crime his brother committed and John took the fall for. He heads out to find his future which turns out to be Sheriff of a small town named Glory. Bannock is easy going, almost impossible to scare, quick with a gun, and seems exactly the right man for this low key job. That is, until the Judge who pardoned him dies and the pardon is reversed so the new judge sends a man out to recapture Bannock and return him to prison. Bannock must not let that happen, but also wants to be sure the good people who trust him in Glory don't suffer. A lot of exciting stuff happens to make that happen.

This is a well told western with lots of unexpected twists and turns. Highly recommended.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who says you can't go home after years away? John Bannack tried. He stopped by to see the only family he had, and it wasn't home anymore. Things changed; he changed. Life had taken another turn for a young man who got a raw deal from a vengeful cruel Judge and had tried his best to forgive and move on but the cruelty and unjust kept coming into his life. This is a great storyline; many moving parts in the story; and excellent writing in a book I just couldn't put down. Thanks for a great read!

[Steve Ring · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The writing is straightforward, no-nonsense, and it tells a good story. I have read some Johnstone books that were not as well-done as this one, but I am not always sure who is actually writing these books.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Looking forward to book 3 regarding the continuing episodes of John Bannack

[Ronni Abshier · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only complaint is that I found this series too early, this is the latest book, and now I have nothing to read lol.

[s.tom jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Western!

All guys who loved Western. Movies as kids and went to the12 cent movie on Wednesday.What.a treat! Goodreads and movies!it

[Larry A. Disbrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoping for More of the Man from Waco

Another great page turner. Non stop excitement and action. Guess I will have to try some more of W. W. Johnstone novels. A great western!

[Gabriel A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super slow western comfort reading.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

page turner

Excellent read, love the back and forth banter. Johnstone never lets me down! Looking forward to more Bannock adventures soon!

[Wanda Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Too bad there are no more books in this series. Both of these authors write amazing stories. The characters are so vivid.

[Francie Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Book

I enjoyed The Man from Waco Book 2. Being a 6th generation of Texas, it’s nice to go home now and then.

[Daryl Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book couldn't put it down.

[Larry Dobberstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

⁷

[PottWab Regional Library]

A

[terry urbanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good story that I wish would have last longer than the two book series! Lots of twists and some good humour that made me smile more than a few times!

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are helluva good westerns. I miss the ol timey stories like these books. Glad I found this author.