The Forty-Niners: A Novel of the Gold Rush

Experience the majesty and terror of the Gold Rush...

From the acclaimed chroniclers of the Old West comes the epic saga of the great American Gold Rush--and the boldhearted dreamers who made it all happen. . .

THEY CALLED THEM THE FORTY-NINERS.

In January of 1848, the discovery of gold at Sutters Mill in California sparked a nationwide frenzy, fueling the dreams of Americans from coast to coast. By 1849, hundreds of thousands of fortune hunters from across the globe headed west to stake their claim. Armed with pan or pickaxe, driven by greed or glory, every last one of them was determined to strike it rich--or die trying . . .

For Cord Bennett, it was more than a dream. California was his destiny--even if he didn't know it yet. Forced to leave his family farm in the Ozarks, he reluctantly joins his two older brothers on the treacherous journey west. Together, they would endure harsh weather, fierce tribal attacks, and roving outlaws. But their biggest challenge comes when they reach the gold-rich canyon of Rio Oro. This small makeshift town is barely more than a campsite for prospectors--but the men who control it are as ruthless as any big-city crime boss. And twice as deadly. . .

This is the story of the men and women who risked their lives to make their fortunes in a boundless land of opportunity. But sometimes, all that glitters is not gold. And soon, Cord Bennett will truly understand that gold can destroy men's souls . . .

Author: William W. Johnstone,J. a. Johnstone
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 08/26/2025
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Mass Market Paperbound
Weight: 0.52lbs
Size: 6.70h x 4.10w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780786049899

About the Author
William W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.

J.A. Johnstone learned to write from the master himself, Uncle William W. Johnstone, who 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, later going on to become the co-author of William W. Johnstone's many bestselling westerns and thrillers. J.A. Johnstone lives on a ranch in Tennessee and more information is at WilliamJohnstone.net.