Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Reason to Die | 2018 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 2 | The Legend of Perley Gates | 2018 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 3 | Bullets Don’t Argue | 2019 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 4 | Shot to Hell | 2020 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 5 | Red River Vengeance | 2021 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 6 | Texarkana | 2021 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
| 7 | The Lonesome Gun | 2023 | J.A. Johnstone | Buy |
The Perley Gates Western series is named after its protagonist, and yes, that really is his name. Perley Gates was named after his grandfather, and he has been hearing jokes about it his entire life. He is not the type to go looking for a fight. He is a rancher and cowboy who would rather spend his time working cattle than shooting at people. But Perley is also fast with a gun, and the frontier has a way of testing quiet men.
The series ran seven books from 2018 to 2023, starting with A Reason to Die and The Legend of Perley Gates. Each book follows a similar pattern: Perley tries to go about his business, somebody starts trouble, and Perley finishes it. The reluctant-hero angle gives the character a likable quality that sets him apart from the typical Johnstone tough guy. He is genuinely nice, which makes it all the more satisfying when he has to step up and handle business. The name is a gimmick, but the character works.