By the Neck

By: J.A. Johnstone, William W. Johnstone

Narrated by: Jack Garrett

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

Introducing a new Western hero in the grand Johnstone tradition: a mining town saloonkeeper who serves up justice like a shot of liquor - 150 proof.

Johnstone Country.

Boomtown Justice.

Rollie Finnegan is a man of few words. As a former Pinkerton agent with two decades of experience under his belt, he uses his stony silence to break down suspects and squeeze out confessions. Hence the nickname Stoneface. Over the years, he’s locked up plenty of killers. Now he’s ready to make a killing - for himself....

There’s gold in the mountains of Idaho Territory. And the town of Boar Gulch is a golden opportunity for a tough guy like Finnegan. But when he arrives, the local saloon owner is gunned down in cold blood - and Finnegan makes a cold calculation of his own. Instead of working in a mine, he’ll buy the saloon. Instead of gold, he’ll mine the miners. And instead of getting dirty, he’ll clean up this grimy little boomtown once and for all - with his own brand of Stoneface justice....

©2021 William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone (P)2021 Recorded Books Inc.

very fun

I loved this book. extremely excited to see where she takes this series. feels like authentic Johnstone books and I love it.

The friendship established between Finnigan ,Pops, Newsy, and the old backboard driver.

No bad language. The narration was excellent. Good clear smooth voice. Exciting at the reight times quiet at other times.

Very Enjoyable

This is a fun, enjoyable almost Western that offers lots of fighting’, gun talk and cowboy stuff. The author’s details are vivid without being gruesome. And it’s quite obvious, the author is pro animal rights and racial inclusion. I admire that and appreciate the author and publishers for how Pop who had been a slave was treated in this story. I hope the next book is them finding Pop’s family.

New character

Good read. Interesting character than his normal books. I would recommend it to someone to read

Just an average western tale

Jack Garrett did a good job with the story.
The story was just average. I have read or listened to many other Johnstone stories that were far better.

Great Dialogue

The reality of a character is demonstrated through his dialogue. Interesting details provided in types of firearms, behavior of horses, and terrain.

Loghard

Very nice and very pretty scenery in the mountains of northern Idaho USA is gorgeous

New series, new main character

Stone Face Finnegan (what a name) former Pinkerton and trying to create a new life for himself in a small mining town. Not only is the story good, but the narrator is fabulous! Jack Garrett has the right voice for these western books and I couldn't wait to get ahold of books 2 and 3 in this series. Hope there will be more.

Westerns

The story was entertaining. The narrator was FANTASTIC!
I have enjoyed William W. Johnstone for years.

A never ending story

This was a different type of story, more like eight stories. Mainly that the purpose of each was to outdo the last in violence. I think if JA Johnstone actually wrote this she’s more interested in blood and guts and how to describe it than the actual story. Each time I listen to a new book that she supposedly wrote it seems like somebody else did it.

I did like the characters, and Jack Garrett is pretty awesome with his voices. I think he was more into the story after the first couple of chapters. He was the reason I could listen to the whole book.

Most of the description of people getting shot was unnecessary, and kind of juvenile. Sort of like, let’s see if we cannot do the blood and guts of the last shooting. Knowing where the person was shot is basic enough and about all that you need to know. But the black blood oozing, the eyes bulging, the drool, pissing in the pants, any of that is pretty unnecessary. It was like the next death had to be the best death in blood & guts.

Too many unanswered questions, too many villains, and pretty implausible.