Cunning of the Mountain Man

The Last Mountain Man #14

by William W. Johnstone

Smoke Jensen is determined to find a way out of a New Mexico jail cell--as well as to escape the hide-hungry lynch mob who's after him for a murder he didn't commit. Then he must win the trust of the beautiful widow of the rancher they say he gunned down, because Smoke is all she's got standing between her and the cunning killers out for land--and blood.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

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.

Reviews

[Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Johnstone book. However, there are parts of it that felt familiar, i.e, I could’ve sworn I’ve read this somewhere before in another Johnstone novel, but couldn’t remember which one that might’ve been. No matter…. the story was different as a WHOLE.

Anyway, I love the character of Smoke Jensen, and the quiet tenderness he displays towards his wife, young ones, and for those who are unfortunate and threatened by others. He is a man that doesn’t stand for evil and won’t tolerate injustice, merciless killers, and greed at the expense of others. He doesn’t start fights, but definitely puts an end to them. There’s something about that man that resonates with my heart.

This book was an audio version that was narrated by J. Rodney Turner, and I love his deep almost gravelly grandfather voice as he narrates the story. It’s like he is recounting the story to you from his POV.

William Johnstone/J.A Johnstone continue to be among my favorite western authors. I will look forward to continue to read many more of their works - old and new!

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Mountain Man entry is the 20th of the series I've read and one of the best of the series and most of the Johnstone Clan books. It's treading over much traveled plots by the Johnstone Clan. This one does the trek considerably better than the rest.

The characters are of typical thorough Johnstone quality. Better still is the narrative and the well illustrated settings. The narrative is cleverly written with language many notches above what is typically found in a Johnstone book.

Though the plot has been written many times in a Johnstone book, this one adds quite a number of extra elements better fleshing out everything a typical Johnstone book does not. The ending is too much typical of western novels. There are the continued consistency problems involving Smoke's family that bug me more than those should. Couldn't someone keep a flow chart of Smoke's tiny family to pass among the writers?

Bottom line I recommend this book: 8 out of ten points.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the 14th book of this smoke Jensen series.

[Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Well developed. A lot going on. A bit too many gun fights for me.

[Joshua Derden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a great serious if you are into western!

[rick incremona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Great story great characters. I always love seeing Jeff York

[Judy Tate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Mountain Man story that grabs your attention.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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