Preacher's Hellstorm

The First Mountain Man #23

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

THE GREATEST WESTERN WRITERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

For the sake of the son he never knew, Preacher goes on the warpath.

Long ago, the legendary trapper known as Preacher took shelter with the Absaroka, and fell in love with a girl called Bird in the Tree. Twenty years later, he rescues a woman and her son from an ambush by the hated Blackfoot. The woman is Birdie, and the valiant young warrior is Hawk That Soars—Preacher’s son. Now the greatest fighter on the frontier is about to go to war, to protect a family he never knew he had.

Led by the vicious war chief Tall Bull, the Blackfoot are trying to wipe out the Absaroka. Hopelessly outnumbered by vicious warriors, Preacher and his son launch a war that will stain the Rocky Mountain snow with Blackfoot blood.

Also Available in Audiobook

Genres: Westerns

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2016

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

[Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty years ago, Preacher took shelter with the Absaroka Tribe while being hunted by the Blackfoot.
The Absaroka were great enemies of the Blackfoot. While spending time with the Arbasoka, he fell in love with a girl called “Bird in the Tree”.

But Preacher being Preacher, a hardcore mountain man and trapper, was a wanderer, and it was getting time to leave.
But when Preacher does leave the village, he doesn’t know the Absaroka woman that he loves and that she loves him too, is pregnant with his child.

Now their paths will cross again as the Blackfoot are set on attacking and completely annihilating the Absaroka Tribe.
Preacher - a father who didn’t know he had a son.
Hawk that Soars - a son who resents being a half breed and hates his father who was absent all his life.

Can a common goal and purpose be achieved between father and son with what seems like impossible odds?

It’s a good western story - audiobook version recommended.

[Craig Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read the Western genre. After this book I probably never will again. Preacher is the Western version of Jack Reacher without the thoughtful decision making. You will love this book if you absolutely hate the Blackfeet Indian tribe. Warriors fall like flies when Preacher is around.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preacher is my favorite, I'm always ecstatic to get a new Preacher story. Preacher's Hellstorm sends us on a journey deep into the Blackfoot hunting grounds. Out looking for a place to gather plews, Preacher stumbles onto some old friends, the Absaroka. When one of these friends turns out to be Preacher's old sweetheart, the tale she tells of her tribe's treatment by a bloodthirsty band of Blackfeet lead by Tall Bull, angers the Mountain Man, and he promises to help her and her people deal with this threat. Travelling with her is her son, Hawk that Soars. Her half white son. Her half white, 20 year old son. That was around the time Preacher parted ways with her, could it be..? Hawk resents his father, resents the way his white half felt like a shortcoming and he has no problem letting Preacher know it. Now, the odds are against them, and though 20 years old, Hawk is finding even he too can learn something from the man called Preacher. The one the Blackfeet call Ghostkiller. The one Hawk may have to learn to call father.

A well written, treat of a story with great pacing and character development. An adventure from start to finish.

[Andretta Schellinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up reading westerns, especially clan of the cave bear and those thin westerns that my mom calls Spaghetti westerns. When I got this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway I was pretty excited as I have not read one in awhile. After I finished reading it I gave it to my dad to read.

I liked it, the story takes place during the wild wild west period, when Native Americans were still fighting each other, and animal furs commanded massive amounts of money for that time. When Preacher, a white man who fell in love with a Native girl. When later he has to rescue a woman and her son, it comes out that the man is actually his son, and in a race to not only save his people but to save his family, Preacher does what he has to, to protect those he loves.

From what I know of the period, the author took care to actually get elements of that world accurate. It didn't have any glaring issues that I read, but obviously that does not mean there isn't ones.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book, loved the new character of his son. I have read this book a few years ago.

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preacher goes to an area he knows he has been to in the past but can't explain the feeling he has about it. He soon finds out what the feeling is when he helps an Absaroka woman and a young brave with her. The lady turns out to be Bird In A Tree, a lady preacher was with 20 summers back, and the young brave with her turns out to be a son that Preacher never knew about because once he left the area he had never been back.
The trio is attacked by a small Blackfeet party and Bird In A Tree is KILLED. Hell has no fury like that of the Mountain Man and his son. The war that the duo brings down on the Blackfeet will keep you reading and wishing for more when all is said and done. 2 vs. 80 plus might seem unfair but to who, the 80 or the 2?

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An over long tale of Preacher learning he has a son and, instead of really exploring that subject, there's still another adventure involving indians attacking indians. This could have been a third shorter and been more interesting. Though, the length here adds to a more realistic issue of the difficulty of accomplishing the mission Preacher and those with him want to accomplish.

The characters are not up to typical Johnstone levels. All are reminiscent of many other Johnstone characters. The settings are also not as well defined.

Bottom line: I recommend the book. 6 out of 10 points.

[Joe Knapschaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than enough action

For those readers who love action with an almost superhuman hero. I will be checking out more of Johnstone's works as I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is an action story so don't expect Le Miserables. For lovers of a good Western, expect to be entertained.

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first mountain man book and it will be my last. Preacher and his son were constantly killing Blackfoot Indians and the methods used were very gory and graphic. I finished it, but was anxious for the book to end, as I got tired (and bored) reading about killing every few pages. It just wasn't to my taste.

[leah garvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting story. Highly recommended

Great characters. Tons of action.this page Turner was so exciting that I missed my bed time. Good father son bantering. I want more from this author

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preacher meets his son for the first time "Hawk That Soars" and they both go to war with the Blackfeet. With the help of Dog, Horse and Mule with no name plus an old man and two White Greenhorns they wipe out all of one the Blackfeet tribe killing many warriors.
Good Book.

[Sandra Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man

He is one of the best fighters in a book. Mountain of a man, will fight until the end. Wild and free.

[Steven Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Preacher series and this one was the best, lot of action and a good storyline

[Kevin Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take the danger away.

Another great story with preacher and hawk. In this story
Your right beside them, waiting to feel the adrenaline rush of war.

[Kevin Key · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Johnstone book! Preacher saves the day.

[diane siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great book ,
Lot of turns in story kept action going all the time
Could not put book down
I like preacher stories

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preacher finds out that he has a son. They team up to avenge the death of the boy's mother and tribe.

[janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband loves this series

[Ishtiaque Alam Russel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best not to ramble with Preacher when he has vengeance in mind.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very good novel by this author and I enjoyed reading this novel. I recommend this book to everyone.

[Robert Blackwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always outstanding stories.

Best story teller there ever was. So much better than Zane Grey. So worth the time to read, such a great mental movie.

[Carol Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best of Johnstone's best. Good plot and action packed. Good character developed. I would recommend it to any Johnstone fan

One of the best of Johnstone's I have read. Good plot and action packed. Good character development. I would recommend to any Western fan.

[Steven Bradley Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preacher, The Greatest Mountain

I always love Preacher, He Loves having a good time with his friends. But don't cross him because he'll not back down and he doesn't die . I love these books

[Richard Astle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always a good read, well plotted and chapters very action oriented.

[Kenneth Pell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story on preacher

This one is on preacher when he was younger. If you like reading William Johnston books on preacher you will like this one

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Proof I should stay away from J.A. books.

[Rob Sobieck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. i love the mountain man series, I hope they make a t.v. series or movie about this series.

[Jeff]

Lotsa killin'