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The Last Mountain Man #7
War of the Mountain Man
Rocky Mountain Showdown
Big Max Higgins ran the outlaw town of Hell's Creek up in the north Montana Rockies. . .and he decided to include the nearby town of Barlow in his cutthroat operation. What he didn't know was that Smoke Jensen was there with his wife, visiting relatives.
It didn't take Smoke long to rout out the lot of them with angry fists and blazing guns. . .but Smoke didn't count on Big Max doing something as daring, desperate, and stupid as kidnapping his wife--and demanding the town of Barlow itself as ransom.
Soon Big Max Higgins would look up and see the last mountain man riding down the middle of the street with reins in his teeth and both hands filled with .44s. Big Max had always wanted to make a name for himself, and he was going to get it, too--carved on his gravestone.
Big Max Higgins ran the outlaw town of Hell's Creek up in the north Montana Rockies. . .and he decided to include the nearby town of Barlow in his cutthroat operation. What he didn't know was that Smoke Jensen was there with his wife, visiting relatives.
It didn't take Smoke long to rout out the lot of them with angry fists and blazing guns. . .but Smoke didn't count on Big Max doing something as daring, desperate, and stupid as kidnapping his wife--and demanding the town of Barlow itself as ransom.
Soon Big Max Higgins would look up and see the last mountain man riding down the middle of the street with reins in his teeth and both hands filled with .44s. Big Max had always wanted to make a name for himself, and he was going to get it, too--carved on his gravestone.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1990
About the author
William W. Johnstone
926 books1,217 followersWilliam 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 20, 2023
A visit to his wife’s friends leads to Smoke becoming sheriff of a small town besieged by outlaws. In typical Smoke Jensen style he brings western justice and order to the area. Plenty of shootouts, violence and Jensen shenanigans to keep the story moving.
October 18, 2013
This was my first Johnstone read. The book's main character, Smoke Jensen, is like a Louis L'Amour Sackett on meth. I don't know if this is typical, but Smoke kills a LOT of guys—a LOT! The first kill is 10 pages into the novel, and the shooting and the brawling never stop, all the way to the end when Smoke and his wealthy schoolteacher wife Sally ride off into the sunset. Except for brief stops to nap or bathe, Smoke is busy out thinking and out shooting and out everythinging two bad guys and a their large bands of gunslinging cowboys. While the characters are not well developed and the plot(s) felt like television western reruns, I confess I kept reading, and may try another, somewhere down the road.
March 1, 2022
Title: War of the Mountain Man (Last Mountain Man #7)
Author: William W Johnstone
Pages: 260
Year: 2013
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Smoke and Sally Jensen set out to go to the aid of friends in Montana. What they don’t count on is the town of Barlow being bullied by two men who think they own everything. One of the men is called Big Max Huggins, who has a would-be gunfighter for a son and a daughter who has lost her moral compass along with many men drawing fighting wages. Big Max runs one end of the county while the other is run by Red Malone, who has just as many hired guns to rule his empire as Big Max. Together they run roughshod over anyone who dares enter their territory or tell them they can’t do something. When Smoke and Sally ride into Barlow, they know they can’t let the town stay oppressed.
Sally is no wilting flower. She can ride a horse, wear a gun if need be, and other times dress as a lady of class. Sally is devoted to Smoke as he is to her. Their love will keep them fighting against all odds to bring freedom to the town and help their friends. But not all is as it appears. The town next door has the only doctor within miles and when he is brought to Barlow with his wife, Smoke fears he has brought a snake to dwell in Barlow.
This exciting tale has Smoke using his speed and his smarts to uplift the town’s residents from the fear they’ve been living with and bring down two men who use their power to take what isn’t theirs. From the moment I started reading the book until the very end, I was caught up in the action of Smoke as he fought to right the wrongs as well as reading about the heart of Sally helping others. The husband/wife team work together to bring aid and comfort to whomever they meet, but God help those who cross their paths to bring pain to folks! I smiled when I read where Sally straps on a gun to teach other frontier women how to defend themselves and their families. The next book in the series is titled, Code of the Mountain Man. I will let you know what I think of that story soon!
Until then visit the author’s website at https://williamjohnstonebooks.com
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
Author: William W Johnstone
Pages: 260
Year: 2013
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Smoke and Sally Jensen set out to go to the aid of friends in Montana. What they don’t count on is the town of Barlow being bullied by two men who think they own everything. One of the men is called Big Max Huggins, who has a would-be gunfighter for a son and a daughter who has lost her moral compass along with many men drawing fighting wages. Big Max runs one end of the county while the other is run by Red Malone, who has just as many hired guns to rule his empire as Big Max. Together they run roughshod over anyone who dares enter their territory or tell them they can’t do something. When Smoke and Sally ride into Barlow, they know they can’t let the town stay oppressed.
Sally is no wilting flower. She can ride a horse, wear a gun if need be, and other times dress as a lady of class. Sally is devoted to Smoke as he is to her. Their love will keep them fighting against all odds to bring freedom to the town and help their friends. But not all is as it appears. The town next door has the only doctor within miles and when he is brought to Barlow with his wife, Smoke fears he has brought a snake to dwell in Barlow.
This exciting tale has Smoke using his speed and his smarts to uplift the town’s residents from the fear they’ve been living with and bring down two men who use their power to take what isn’t theirs. From the moment I started reading the book until the very end, I was caught up in the action of Smoke as he fought to right the wrongs as well as reading about the heart of Sally helping others. The husband/wife team work together to bring aid and comfort to whomever they meet, but God help those who cross their paths to bring pain to folks! I smiled when I read where Sally straps on a gun to teach other frontier women how to defend themselves and their families. The next book in the series is titled, Code of the Mountain Man. I will let you know what I think of that story soon!
Until then visit the author’s website at https://williamjohnstonebooks.com
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
December 16, 2022
War of the mountain man. Series #7. Smoke and his wife, Sally go off to help out a woman friend of Sally’s, whose husband is a doctor. First Smoke stops a train robbery. How many times has this been done in Smoke Jensen books now? Then once he and Sally get to a town, he helps open it up from being treed. He has the chance to cut off the head of the snake. The top guy. The leader of a gang of outlaws, but he doesn’t do anything about it. A young girl is ganged raped and killed. Smoke goes off to the town where the outlaws live and kills a few. Does this off and on throughout the story several times. Smoke sure preaches to people a lot. A regular blabber mouth. It’s like I have read that same speech before, don’t need to read it the third time. Story started to get tiresome around 80% through.
June 8, 2019
Another great story by this prolific writer. Smoke Jensen's wife, Sally, talks him into going for a visit with her college friend in Montana. Smoke takes it upon himself to clean up the town of Barlow and wage war against the outlaws running their nearest neighboring town of Hell's Creek. An entertaining read, as usual.
August 9, 2022
Smoke Jensen and his wife Sally have come upon the town of Barlow on their way to visit Sally's best friend Vicky in Hell's Creek. Smoke becomes sheriff of the town, and works toward making the town a safe place for citizens to raise their children. Standing in his way at Hell's Creek is Big Max Higgins and to the South Red Malone. Read the book for the outcome.
April 25, 2021
The Smoke Jensen books will keep your interest. There is too much violence for me. They have become violence in different settings. I lost the women characters and couldn’t remember who was who! I love to read about the scenery. Something needs to change as I’m tired of just a book full of violence.
July 1, 2021
Excellent book
I’ve read dozens of these books. Of all the Johnstone books, the books about Smoke and Preacher are my favorites. This book about Smoke and Sally was a fantastic read and will always be one of my absolute favorites.
I’ve read dozens of these books. Of all the Johnstone books, the books about Smoke and Preacher are my favorites. This book about Smoke and Sally was a fantastic read and will always be one of my absolute favorites.
December 18, 2023
what did you expect
This is another story of western justice doled out to those deserving it. I love the descriptions of western life and locations in all of these books. You can’t get any better.
This is another story of western justice doled out to those deserving it. I love the descriptions of western life and locations in all of these books. You can’t get any better.
May 13, 2017
Right over wrong
Smoke rides in to town and decides enough is enough. Fast paced and full of action. Can't get enough of this mountain man!!
Smoke rides in to town and decides enough is enough. Fast paced and full of action. Can't get enough of this mountain man!!
July 25, 2019
nothing to say really. The book is as good as the others. The characters are great as always.
July 28, 2019
Enjoyed the seventh book of this Smoke Jensen series.
October 23, 2019
Evil is gone.
This story was great. Smoke Jensen really impressed me with the way him and Sally helped the town of Barlow.
This story was great. Smoke Jensen really impressed me with the way him and Sally helped the town of Barlow.
January 8, 2020
Another great adventure with Smoke and Sally
July 27, 2020
Excellent.
October 29, 2021
A lot more violence in this episode. Were there really more rapists and paedophiles in the 1880s?
February 20, 2022
Western Life as seen through the eyes Smoke Jenson!
This awesome book is one in a series about Smoke Jenson, a mountain man, his grand adventures and Western life!
This awesome book is one in a series about Smoke Jenson, a mountain man, his grand adventures and Western life!
April 1, 2022
Required Reading
This should be required reading for all jr. high students who wish to understand the true meaning of integrity, justice and bravery.
This should be required reading for all jr. high students who wish to understand the true meaning of integrity, justice and bravery.
August 24, 2022
Great book! I have never read westerns until my Dad told me about William W. Johnstone. I have read the first 7 book in the Smoke Jensen series and have enjoyed everyone!
October 8, 2022
Lots of great action.
July 17, 2023
W?AR of the Mountain Man
This book was very good. Among their best. I just don't throw they keep coming up with these tales. Some stories are carryon' s from others but a very good job on this one. I wonder what the next one will be.....
This book was very good. Among their best. I just don't throw they keep coming up with these tales. Some stories are carryon' s from others but a very good job on this one. I wonder what the next one will be.....
March 6, 2024
Absolutely loved this one. It is the same recipe over and over, but i am thoroughly addicted to the American Western. Looking forward to the "Code of the Mountain Man"
November 28, 2013
Taking this as a stand alone novel that hasn't had a series of books before it with very similar plots, this is a good book. In regard to it's part in a series with repetitive storylines, this is the best of that lot. I'm baffled as to why Johnstone decided to repeat the same plot so many times of the series character, Smoke Jensen, going to save a town under the thumb of a series of bad guys.
This one has better character development involving the bad guys and others. As is mostly typical of the Johnstone Clan books, the dialogue is very good. There is a slight twist involved, but it's not at all well presented.
This is the first where there are many scenes that are repeated from the other books. Too many similar plot devices and settings.
To just regard this as a single piece gies the book a higher rating from me. In view of being part of a series, it gets low marks. As i read, i thought of better stories that could have been told involving many of the characters. I hope future parts of the series get better.
Bottom line: If you're reading the series, I don't recommend this book. If you're not reading the series and can't get to the first book to start the series. This is a good entry point.
This one has better character development involving the bad guys and others. As is mostly typical of the Johnstone Clan books, the dialogue is very good. There is a slight twist involved, but it's not at all well presented.
This is the first where there are many scenes that are repeated from the other books. Too many similar plot devices and settings.
To just regard this as a single piece gies the book a higher rating from me. In view of being part of a series, it gets low marks. As i read, i thought of better stories that could have been told involving many of the characters. I hope future parts of the series get better.
Bottom line: If you're reading the series, I don't recommend this book. If you're not reading the series and can't get to the first book to start the series. This is a good entry point.
July 2, 2011
Decent book, defiantly isn't a Louis book. He's a gun fighter who goes on vacation and gets involved in a town battle to stop a gang who is 'running' the town. Decent story, fairly quick read. The author writes a bit different the Louis's books, but was still a decent story. The book had a lot of fighting and shooting, but was still a clean book were other westerns I've read were a bit too 'descriptive' with the shooting, fighting, and people that were killed.
December 15, 2012
Excellent plot!!!
April 8, 2013
Good novel.
February 8, 2016
Very good western series. The story of Smoke Jensen, trained by the last of the mountain men as a boy. If you like men's adventure and westerns then you will enjoy the series. Recommended
December 2, 2016
Another Great Story!
All of William's books are spell binding, interesting and have the heroes doing the right thing. I have now bought 80 plus of his books.
All of William's books are spell binding, interesting and have the heroes doing the right thing. I have now bought 80 plus of his books.
December 4, 2016
Wonderful.
This book is as good as all of his books buy better. Good reading. I enjoy his ideas and writings.
This book is as good as all of his books buy better. Good reading. I enjoy his ideas and writings.
June 9, 2022
Just as good this time as it was the last. A great Johnstone western.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews