The Gold Rush: A Novel

The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in California in January 1848 ignited a nationwide frenzy, fueling the dreams of Americans from coast to coast. By 1849, hundreds of thousands of fortune hunters from across the globe had 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 joined 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 came when they reached the gold-rich canyon of Rio Oro. This small makeshift town was barely more than a campsite for prospectors—but the men who controlled it were as ruthless as any big-city criminals, and twice as deadly.

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 were called the Forty-Niners, and they risked their lives to make their fortunes in a boundless land of opportunity. But sometimes, all that glitters is not gold. And where there's gold, there's gunfire.

This is the story of the men and women who braved the challenges of the treacherous journey west, driven by the lure of striking it rich in the untamed wilderness of California. Armed with little more than their determination and a dream, they faced harsh weather, fierce tribal attacks, and ruthless outlaws in their quest for their share of the golden treasure.

As the tide of fortune hunters swelled, the small town of Rio Oro became the epicenter of the gold rush, a chaotic and dangerous outpost where the men who controlled the wealth were as merciless as the elements. Cord Bennett and his brothers found themselves at the heart of this clash, their own survival and quest for riches pitted against the ruthless machinations of those who would stop at nothing to maintain their grip on the gold.

Johnstone's America, the gold standard of storytelling, brings this epic tale of the Forty-Niners to life, capturing the raw energy, unbridled ambition, and unforgiving nature of the great American Gold Rush. It is a saga of the men and women who dared to chase their dreams in a land of boundless opportunity, and the consequences they faced when the glitter of gold gave way to the cold steel of those who would protect their claim at all costs.

product information: