Shoot or Cut Bait

Mass Market Paperback
$8.99 US
| $11.99 CAN
On sale Jan 27, 2026 | 336 Pages | 9780786051564

The star of the instant New York Times bestseller, Catfish Charlie, is back! Out of retirement—and into the crossfire—the former Texas Ranger heads into outlaw territory to find a lost stagecoach, a missing deputy, and a desert full of killers . . .

When he’s not at the local pond trying to catch an uncatchable catfish named Bubba, “Catfish” Charlie Tuttle can usually be found at the Lone Star Outpost with his old pal Deputy Brazos and the post’s lovely owner Julia Claire. Catfish has a sweet spot for Julia, so he’s more than a little worried when she announces she’s taking a stagecoach to Tombstone, Arizona. The stage runs through hostile territory, including a treacherous valley crawling with outlaws. Sure enough, Julia’s stagecoach never makes it to Tombstone . . .

Even though Arizona is outside his jurisdiction, Catfish saddles up with Brazos and heads into outlaw country to find Julia. It’s not long before they run into a gang of renegade soldiers led by a lunatic, Major Boneyard. Turns out Boneyard hid an arsenal of weapons on Julia’s stagecoach, which he plans to sell to the Apache for gold. When their plan’s revealed, the soldiers take Brazos hostage—leaving Catfish alone, outnumbered, and outgunned. Of course, that won’t stop Catfish from trying to rescue his friends. Even if it leads him across the Mexican border—and into a full-blown war with the legendary El Serpiente, a poison-mean revolutionario who has a coiled serpent tattooed under his left eye . . .

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE OLD LEGENDS NEVER DIE . . . WITHOUT A FIGHT.
William W. Johnstone is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of over 300 books, including Preacher, The Last Mountain Man, Luke Jensen Bounty Hunter, Flintlock, Savage Texas, Matt Jensen, The Last Mountain Man; The Family Jensen, Sidewinders, and Shawn O'Brien Town Tamer . His thrillers include Phoenix Rising, Home Invasion, The Blood of Patriots, The Bleeding Edge, and Suicide Mission. Visit his website at www.williamjohnstone.net or by email at dogcia2006@aol.com. View titles by William W. Johnstone
Being the all-around assistant, typist, researcher, and fact checker to one of the most popular western authors of all time, J.A. Johnstone learned from the master, Uncle William W. Johnstone.  

He began tutoring J.A. at an early age. After-school hours were often spent retyping manuscripts or researching his massive American Western history library as well as the more modern wars and conflicts. J.A. worked hard—and learned.

"Every day with Bill was an adventure story in itself. Bill taught me all he could about the art of storytelling. ‘Keep the historical facts accurate,' he would say. ‘Remember the readers, and as your grandfather once told me, I am telling you now: be the best J.A. Johnstone you can be.'" View titles by J.A. Johnstone

About

The star of the instant New York Times bestseller, Catfish Charlie, is back! Out of retirement—and into the crossfire—the former Texas Ranger heads into outlaw territory to find a lost stagecoach, a missing deputy, and a desert full of killers . . .

When he’s not at the local pond trying to catch an uncatchable catfish named Bubba, “Catfish” Charlie Tuttle can usually be found at the Lone Star Outpost with his old pal Deputy Brazos and the post’s lovely owner Julia Claire. Catfish has a sweet spot for Julia, so he’s more than a little worried when she announces she’s taking a stagecoach to Tombstone, Arizona. The stage runs through hostile territory, including a treacherous valley crawling with outlaws. Sure enough, Julia’s stagecoach never makes it to Tombstone . . .

Even though Arizona is outside his jurisdiction, Catfish saddles up with Brazos and heads into outlaw country to find Julia. It’s not long before they run into a gang of renegade soldiers led by a lunatic, Major Boneyard. Turns out Boneyard hid an arsenal of weapons on Julia’s stagecoach, which he plans to sell to the Apache for gold. When their plan’s revealed, the soldiers take Brazos hostage—leaving Catfish alone, outnumbered, and outgunned. Of course, that won’t stop Catfish from trying to rescue his friends. Even if it leads him across the Mexican border—and into a full-blown war with the legendary El Serpiente, a poison-mean revolutionario who has a coiled serpent tattooed under his left eye . . .

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE OLD LEGENDS NEVER DIE . . . WITHOUT A FIGHT.

Author

William W. Johnstone is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of over 300 books, including Preacher, The Last Mountain Man, Luke Jensen Bounty Hunter, Flintlock, Savage Texas, Matt Jensen, The Last Mountain Man; The Family Jensen, Sidewinders, and Shawn O'Brien Town Tamer . His thrillers include Phoenix Rising, Home Invasion, The Blood of Patriots, The Bleeding Edge, and Suicide Mission. Visit his website at www.williamjohnstone.net or by email at dogcia2006@aol.com. View titles by William W. Johnstone
Being the all-around assistant, typist, researcher, and fact checker to one of the most popular western authors of all time, J.A. Johnstone learned from the master, Uncle William W. Johnstone.  

He began tutoring J.A. at an early age. After-school hours were often spent retyping manuscripts or researching his massive American Western history library as well as the more modern wars and conflicts. J.A. worked hard—and learned.

"Every day with Bill was an adventure story in itself. Bill taught me all he could about the art of storytelling. ‘Keep the historical facts accurate,' he would say. ‘Remember the readers, and as your grandfather once told me, I am telling you now: be the best J.A. Johnstone you can be.'" View titles by J.A. Johnstone
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