Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Chuckwagon Trail | 2017 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 2 | Die by the Gun | 2018 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 3 | A Hill of Beans | 2020 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 4 | Biscuits and Gravy | 2021 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 5 | Settling His Hash | 2022 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
The Chuckwagon Trail series puts its focus on the often-overlooked figure of the trail cook. The protagonist is the man responsible for feeding a cattle drive crew, and while that might sound like a quiet job, nothing stays quiet for long in a Johnstone novel. Rustlers, storms, river crossings, and hired guns all show up to make the trail more dangerous than any kitchen.
Five books appeared between 2017 and 2022. Titles like A Hill of Beans, Biscuits and Gravy, and Settling His Hash lean into the food theme with a sense of humor, which sets this series apart from the grittier Johnstone Westerns. The books still deliver plenty of gunfights, but the chuckwagon angle gives them a lighter tone.