The Best of Enemies

William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

Pinnacle Books, Aug 26, 2025 - Fiction - 320 pages

Introducing Trace and Chaw: a pugnacious pair of Civil War veterans who nearly killed each other in battle—but lived to fight another day. Together . . . .

They met in a bloodbath. Two demons in uniform caught in the middle of one hell of a war. Private Chaw, the Rebel, liked chewing tobacco and fighting blue-bellied Yanks. Private Trace, the Yankee, hated Southerners, especially ornery cusses like Chaw. But when the smoke cleared after the Battle of Deadeye Gap, the Blue and the Gray of their uniforms didn’t matter anymore. Both were stained blood red. And both were the last men standing . . . 

This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 

Now that the war’s over, Trace and Chaw travel the West together, taking on odd jobs. They’re handy with six-guns and gut-shredders, fond of women and liquor, and always ready to raise hell. Somehow, the unlikely partnership works—until Trace and Chaw sign up with a freighting company run by a beautiful woman. Her company is caught in the crossfire of two rival mine owners who want to control the freight routes. Like it or not, Trace and Chaw are stuck in the middle of another war. And this one’s going to be every bit as bloody—and maybe their last. . . .

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.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Best of Enemies; Volume 1 of A Trace and Chaw Western
• Authors: William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone
• Publisher: Pinnacle Books, 2025
• ISBN: 0786051663, 9780786051663
• Length: 320 pages
• Subjects: Fiction / Action & Adventure; Fiction / Historical / General; Fiction / Westerns