The Last Gunfighter Series in Order

About The Last Gunfighter series

Series Premise

The series centers on Frank Morgan, a battle-hardened, middle-aged gunfighter who has earned a fearsome reputation across the frontier. Once a man with a wife, a ranch, and a future, Frank's life was shattered by tragedy: outlaws murdered his wife and stole his son, forcing him into a life of wandering and gunplay. Now a solitary drifter, Frank rides from town to town, avoiding attachments while his legend precedes him—drawing both trouble and those seeking his help.

Each story follows Frank as he drifts into a new region or town, only to become embroiled in local conflicts: cattle wars, mining disputes, range feuds, bank robberies, corrupt sheriffs, outlaw gangs, or personal vendettas. His skills with a Colt and Winchester make him a target for gunslingers looking to build their own reputations, while his sense of justice compels him to defend the innocent or right wrongs. Frank rarely seeks trouble, but trouble inevitably finds him—often because of his name or past deeds. The overarching premise tracks Frank's solitary journey through the changing West: he ages, faces old enemies and new threats, occasionally reunites with his grown son Conrad (who becomes a recurring figure), and grapples with the fading era of the gunfighter. While episodic, the books build continuity through Frank's reputation, recurring allies/enemies, and the gradual shift from open range to fenced ranches and encroaching civilization.

Main Characters

Frank Morgan (aka "the Drifter," "the Last Gunfighter"): The central protagonist—a tall, lean, battle-scarred man in his 40s–50s (aging across the series). Frank is a legendary fast draw, expert tracker, and survivor of countless gunfights. Haunted by the murder of his wife and abduction of his son, he lives a solitary life on the drift, avoiding deep attachments while his reputation draws trouble. Skilled, honorable, and lethal when provoked, Frank protects the innocent and punishes the guilty, often reluctantly becoming a hero.



- Conrad Morgan (aka Conrad Browning): Frank's estranged son, raised by his mother's family after her death. Educated, refined, and initially resentful of his father's violent life, Conrad evolves into a capable ally and recurring figure. His relationship with Frank provides emotional depth and occasional family conflict.



- Supporting characters: Frank's allies vary by book—loyal ranchers, honest sheriffs, wronged women, young men seeking his guidance—but no fixed ensemble. Recurring antagonists include outlaw gangs, corrupt cattle barons, hired killers, and personal enemies who seek revenge on the gunfighter. Women (widows, ranchers' daughters, saloon girls) often provide romantic interest or motivation, though Frank remains a loner at heart.

Setting

The series is set in the American West during the late 19th and very early 20th centuries (roughly 1870s–1900s), a transitional period when the open range was giving way to railroads, fences, and civilization. Stories unfold across a vast, rugged frontier: dusty cattle towns, mining camps, boomtowns, remote valleys, mountain ranges, desert badlands, and river crossings.



Specific locales shift with each book: Colorado mining districts, Montana cattle ranges, Idaho wilderness, Arizona deserts, New Mexico territories, Wyoming plains, and the Rocky Mountain valleys. Towns are typical Western outposts—saloons, general stores, sheriff's offices, banks, and livery stables—often controlled by corrupt bosses or threatened by outlaws. Landscapes are vividly harsh: endless prairies, snow-capped peaks, scorching deserts, swollen rivers, and dense forests. The setting reflects the era's change—railroads bring settlers and law, but also greed and conflict. Frank's constant drifting emphasizes the rootless, dangerous life of a gunfighter in a land still being tamed.

Tone & Themes

The tone is gritty, action-packed, and unapologetically heroic—classic pulp Western with a hard edge. Johnstone writes in a straightforward, muscular style: short chapters, rapid pacing, vivid gunfights, and visceral descriptions of violence (shootouts, knife fights, beatings) that are graphic but purposeful. The stories are driven by high-stakes action rather than deep introspection—bullets fly, blood spills, and justice is often delivered at the point of a gun.

Moral clarity is absolute: Frank is a good man who protects the weak, punishes the wicked, and lives by a personal code of honor. Villains are ruthless, greedy, or sadistic, and their defeat feels satisfying and righteous. Humor is sparse and dry—mostly dark banter or ironic observations about the frontier's harshness. The tone romanticizes the Old West as a place of freedom, danger, and individual strength, while acknowledging its brutality and inevitable passing. The series is escapist and cathartic: readers get fast-moving adventures, larger-than-life heroism, and the reassurance that one skilled man can still make a difference in a lawless land.

The Last Gunfighter series is a quintessential modern Western epic—William W. Johnstone (and later J.A. Johnstone) delivers a long-running saga of relentless action, frontier justice, and the fading legend of the gunfighter. Through Frank Morgan's solitary drift across the changing West, the books celebrate courage, honor, and the fight against evil in a lawless land. With its vivid landscapes, brutal shootouts, and a hero who embodies the classic Western archetype, the series offers addictive, no-nonsense entertainment for fans of traditional Westerns. Frank Morgan remains an enduring figure: a man shaped by loss and violence, yet guided by an unbreakable personal code—proving that even in a changing world, a fast draw and a steady hand can still right wrongs. A classic pulp Western ride from one of the genre's most prolific masters.