Review - Preacher's Inferno - 5 stars

 One on the characters in the Johnstone syndicate’s (William & J.A.) group of characters that I like best is Preacher. The recent novel called “Preacher’s Inferno” was great and is in keeping with Preacher who is not a man of the cloth but a mountain man; to be released in late 2021.

In this story set in the Yellowstone area, we find Preacher looking forward to a peaceful rendezvous with fellow trappers and mountain men in a peaceful Crow Indian village. As is likely to happen with Preacher, on his way to the rendezvous he has to rescue another trapper from some less than friendly Blackfeet Indians who are in a war party.  This leads to all the Indians being killed as they are not interested in giving up their captive who might be looking forward to a slow and tortured death at the hands of the Indians.

Preacher and his rescued new friend move on to the rendezvous along the riverbank. Since many of the men in the gathering are rough and tough there are fights and some turn pretty violent.  Some are asked to leave, although told to leave would be more descriptive!

There are a couple of side stories that take place all of which have Preacher front and center. These include stolen Army rifles, attack on the Crow camp by Blackfeet, taking of captives, and the Blackfeet taking the captives into Coulter’s Hell; what the Yellowstone area is called due to the thermal features and the smell of sulfur.

Since the Crow are Preacher’s friends, he and other mountain men and some Crow warriors set out after the attackers.  There is a US Army patrol, which has been seeking the stolen rifles, that has been close by and agrees to accompany the group into Coulter’s Hell.

All is not as it seems and there is a major battle with the Blackfeet in a very strong position for killing all the rescue party. Lots of action and blood – so if one is squeamish about reading about that maybe try another book.  But if this type action is exciting, then this book is a great read for you.