Loner Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

For the best reading experience, the Loner series should be read in publication order. Because the overarching narrative is driven by Conrad Browning’s personal evolution—beginning with the tragic loss of his wife, transitioning into his gunslinging alter ego, and later searching for his lost family—reading the books chronologically as they were published is essential. Skipping around will spoil major plot points, particularly the resolution of his initial vengeance quest and the discovery of his children.

You must start with the self-titled debut, The Loner (2009), which establishes the foundation for everything that follows. From there, follow Kid Morgan's journey sequentially through all 15 novels to watch him mature from a grieving widower into a seasoned symbol of frontier justice.

The Loner Books in Publication Order

The main series consists of 15 novels published between 2009 and 2012. Below is the complete list in order of publication:

1. The Loner (2009) – Conrad Browning's peaceful life as an Eastern businessman is shattered when his wife, Rebel, is murdered. Faking his death, he unleashes his hidden gunslinging inheritance to track her killers.
2. The Devil's Badland (2009) – Kid Morgan uncovers the mastermind behind his wife's murder while caught in a ruthless range war.
3. Dead Man's Gold (2010) – Drawn into the rugged wilderness, Conrad faces greed and gunfire in a desperate race for hidden treasure.
4. The Big Gundown (2010) – Kid Morgan must defend a town and himself when a wave of hired killers comes looking for his head.
5. Rattlesnake Valley (2010) – Confronting ruthless land grabbers who are willing to slaughter anyone standing in their way.
6. Seven Days To Die (2010) – A high-stakes race against the clock where Kid Morgan faces corrupt lawmen and a looming execution.
7. The Bounty Killers (2011) – The frontier's deadliest hunters unite to collect the massive bounty placed on Conrad's head.
8. Trail of Blood (2011) – A critical turning point in the series. Conrad follows a lead to Kansas in search of his hidden twin children.
9. Killer Poker (2011) – A high-stakes game of cards turns deadly, forcing Conrad to shoot his way out of a trap.
10. The Blood of Renegades (2011) – Conrad stands between a lawless gang and the innocent settlers they are terrorizing.
11. Crossfire (2011) – Caught in the middle of a vicious blood feud between two powerful families.
12. Inferno (2012) – Conrad leads a wagon train through hostile territory, battling Apache raiders to rescue innocent captives.
13. Brutal Vengeance (2012) – The ghosts of Conrad’s past return, forcing a final showdown with old enemies.
14. Hard Luck Money (2012) – A tale of greed and betrayal where Kid Morgan learns the true cost of frontier wealth.
15. Bullets Don't Die (2012) – The action-packed conclusion of the main series, solidifying Conrad’s legacy as the West's ultimate survivor.

Who is Conrad Browning? The Frank Morgan Connection

Conrad Browning begins his journey not as a typical Western hero, but as a wealthy, educated Eastern businessman. He is the son of Frank Morgan—the legendary, battle-weary protagonist of William W. Johnstone’s famous 16-book series, The Last Gunfighter. Raised away from the violence of the frontier, Conrad is initially unaware of the lethal legacy running through his veins.

When tragedy strikes and his wife Rebel is kidnapped and murdered, Conrad abandons his civilized life. Faking his death, he travels west and adopts the moniker "Kid Morgan." Under this new identity, he embraces his father's deadly gunslinging skills, proving that the Morgan bloodline is as lethal as it is legendary. Over the course of the series, Conrad constantly wrestles with this dual identity: the sophisticated businessman he once was versus the rugged, vengeful drifter he is forced to become.

The Broader Morgan Universe: Crossovers and Spin-offs

For readers who finish the 15-book run of The Loner and want more, the story doesn't end there. Because Conrad Browning is the son of Frank Morgan, the two series are deeply interconnected. To get the full picture of the Morgan legacy, consider exploring these related works:

• The Last Gunfighter Series: The original 16-book saga focusing on Frank Morgan, Conrad’s father. Reading this series gives rich context to the reputation and ghost of the father that Conrad constantly runs from or lives up to.
• The Morgans Series: A follow-up series starting with The Morgans (2018) and continuing with Black Hills Blood Hunt (2022). In these books, the father-and-son duo of Frank Morgan and Conrad Browning finally unite, combining their gunslinging talents in joint adventures.
• The Morgan Men Collections: Omnibus editions that package both Frank's and Conrad's stories together, showing how their narratives mirror and cross over with one another.

What to Know Before You Start

The Loner books are fast-paced, lean, action-driven Westerns. While they are published under the William W. Johnstone brand, they were penned by his niece, J.A. Johnstone, who took over the literary estate to continue the family's iconic Western legacy. The series successfully balances episodic adventure with a long-term character arc. While books 3 through 7 can occasionally feel like standalone adventures, the overarching plot points—such as Conrad's grief, his father's shadow, and his search for his children—make sequential reading highly rewarding.