Inspired by true events,  The Last Woman  is the story of three young women whose lives become intertwined as they flee up the Mississippi River in 1877. Within a year, two of them take off for Dodge City, reluctantly leaving their friend behind in St. Louis. Six decades later, the most adventurous soul among them, discarding her given name of Catherine, has become the last woman in Tascosa, Texas—once the wildest cowtown in the West. We meet her when she's eighty years old, re-living and reflecting on her past, the fate of her friends, and the perils of other women for whom escape to the West was an act born of desperation. She has been living under an alias since 1878, hoping that no one else will track her down.  The journey of the novel’s protagonist follows the real life travels of Frenchy McCormick, sometimes called the last of the “golden girls” of the Old West, but the heart of The Last Woman is the struggle of the young women to sustain their friendships and forge independent lives in the face of violence, abuse, and religious condemnation. "An Odyssey of the Old West," from Lone Star Literary Life Magazine... "John Willingham's latest book, The Last Woman, is an enticing novel inspired by true events and rich imagination... The novel spotlights some of the key struggles and dangers young women faced as they came of age after the Civil War and tried to start their adult lives on their own terms."—Si Dunn, a frequent book reviewer for the Dallas Morning News and author of Erwin's Law, a novel, and the Vietnam War memoir Dark Signals. ​ From Goodreads... Five stars: "It would be very hard to read this book without saying WOW at the end. I'm a lover of GOOD westerns, and John Willingham has written a GREAT one. It was an emotional journey based on the real-life tales of Frenchy McCormick. We meet our MC when she's 80 as she shares her incredible story as the last woman in Tascosa, Texas, a town that earned its reputation the hard way. Willingham made it all too easy to "see" the events and hear the background music of life in 1870's Texas, when women lived a constrained life or were judged quickly by the "good" people. It's going to be very interesting to see where John Willingham takes readers next." Four stars: "The character development stands out, with several supporting characters playing critical roles in Frenchy's journey, especially Mamie. Mamie provided a contrasting perspective on womanhood and survival in a harsh, patriarchal world. Her spirituality and inquisitive nature offer Frenchy both guidance and occasional tension. Their dynamic showcases how women navigated solidarity amid grief, uncertainty, and other challenges, adding a layer of feminism to this story." Four stars: "I enjoyed this novel for the characters, Catherine smart, cool, and competent, Louise sensitive, shy and determined, and Mamie, a lovely spiritual creature with pluck and common sense. From NetGalley : Five Stars: "What a wonderful protagonist we have here in Frenchy McCormick! She would easily fit into the cast of Deadwood (which I must rewatch!) A bold fearless woman who tells her story as an eighty-year-old who has become the last woman in the wildest cowtown in the West, Tascosa, Texas. As one of three intrepid women who weather the harsh and dangerous life and perils of escape to the West in an act born of desperation. I'm reminded of Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All by Allan Gurganus." Four Stars: "I don't recall ever reading a book that takes place during the "old west." It reminded me of Gunsmoke and other cowboy/saloon shows. It was appealing to read something with a different premise; and the beginning of the book grabbed my attention right away. There were several dramatic events that I wasn't expecting at all and I literally gasped when reading them. There was no end to the surprising twists and turns and cadre of characters. Even though there are related topics of friendship and women's independence included, which you can find in many historical novels, this one definitely stands out as a refreshing change and keeps you guessing to the end. John Willingham is a novelist, essayist, and occasional historian. On August 15, 2025, TCU Press published his new historical novel, THE LAST WOMAN. The novel has been shortlisted by the Center for Study of the American West for its Bonney MacDonald Outstanding Book of the West. Inspired by true events, The Last Woman is the story of three young women whose lives become intertwined as they flee up the Mississippi River in 1877. Within a year, two of them take off for Dodge City, reluctantly leaving their friend behind in St. Louis. Six decades later, the most adventurous soul among them, discarding her given name of Catherine, has become the last woman in Tascosa, Texas—once the wildest cowtown in the West. We meet her when she's eighty years old, re-living and reflecting on her past, the fate of her friends, and the perils of ot