Dead Shot

Luke Jensen: Bounty Hunter #2

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

The Greatest Western Writer Of The 21st Century

In the bestselling novels of William W. Johnstone, mountain man Smoke Jensen is a legend. Now, Johnstone presents the adventures of Smoke's long-lost brother Luke, who was reported killed during the Civil War. The war is over and Luke is very much alive, his soul forged by the violence he witnessed on the battlefields. His job is now tracking down the worst outlaws--by any means necessary.

Shoot To Kill--Or Die Trying

Luke Jensen brings a body to Rio Rojo. After all, it's his job, and he's going to get paid. But before he can collect the bounty for killing a killer, two notorious criminals hit the Rio Rojo bank. Now Luke can't get paid unless he catches professional bandit Gunner Kelly and his Apache sidekick Dog Eater. Unfortunately, a would-be man hunter is after the money-toting outlaws, too, and young Hobie McCullough is mostly a menace to himself. With a green kid to protect, renegade Mexican soldiers, and a beautiful runaway bride crossing Luke's trail, the blood hunt takes one deadly detour after another. . .until Luke ends up smack dab in a nest-of-vipers outlaw hideout. There, he discovers the true identity of Gunner Kelly, what kind of ungodly terror he has planned, and just how dangerous being a bounty hunter can be. . .

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

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

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bounty hunter Luke Jensen brings a body into town for a reward, but the bank is robbed, and in order to get paid, he has to track down the bandits. A young fellow wants to tag along as a sidekick.

On the journey, there's lots of shooting and riding, and they both learn something along the way.

A very passable western.

[Barbara Lee Wood]

ALWAYS PREPARED

Luke Jensen chasing two wanted men whose moral compass was nonexistent..Personally, I don't think they even had miniscule of humanity for their fellow man. Gunner Kelly and Dog Eater were known all over Texas for their scandalous behavior and ruthless attitude toward the law.
There was a five thousand dollar bounty on them.
They robbed a bank and murdered the owner, the widow put a another five thousand dollar bounty on the two. Big money 💰💰that Luke Jensen looked forward to earn. He might take a trip to San Francisco, his favorite city on the West coast.
Luke Jensen is like all the Jensens, they are fearless and accept what they have to do which is take care of business.
So we'll say ride easy Luke Jensen, enjoy a nice hot cup of Arbuckle grind and your favorite author and but don't sit to close to your campfire, ya never know whose watching!!!!
Paz Amigos 🍺

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Jensen delivers a bounty to the small town of Rio Rojo and is waiting on confirmation of his five thousand dollar reward when the bank is hit, cleaned out, by a pair of outlaws he recognizes as Gunner Kelly and his Apache partner, Dog Eater.

He can't collect his reward unless he goes after it and they have money on their heads as well. And the owner of the bank offers Luke an extra five thousand to bring them back dead. And the money of course.

Luke ends up being followed by a wet behind the ears kid, Hobie McCullough, who wants to be a bounty hunter. Most of his time is spent trying to keep the kid alive, though he's obligated because the kid did save his life.

The pair go through a series of adventures involving outlaw Mexican Rurales, a beautiful young redhead, with which Hobie becomes smitten, pursued by an outlaw gang, in running battles before his final confrontation.

Liked this one and have an idea who the J. A. Johnstone is this time around.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually the second book in a new Johnstone Clan series takes a step down. Not in this case. This book takes a turn from the typical Johnstone romp into a more complex story where not all goes as planned and an intriguing story unfolds.

The story starts with Jensen riding in to collect a bounty only to find the bank robbed and his bounty in the sacks. So he's got to get it back if he wants the dough. A couple of extras get wrapped into the chase and a great plot with lots of fun is presented. I really like this approach of fun and adventure.

The writing is a bit better than other Johnstone than the many dozen of Johnstone books I've read, as are the characters. The settings are written in usual fashion.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of 10 points.

[Yalonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, I thoroughly enjoyed following Luke Jensen on his bounty hunting adventures. It has been so long since I have read and enjoyed what I consider to be a classic Western! We got several nods to Smoke and Preacher so I get the feeling that I could pick up any novel in the Smoke Jensen or Mountain Man or Family Jensen series and feel right at home. I enjoyed a deeper, more personal look into Luke but was pleased that he is still the rugged bounty hunter we met in Book 1. Be still my heart! I like the ease with which I can engage in the story and just float along as Johnstone entertains me. I am already looking forward to Book 3!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding action—classic old west—page-turning storyline

The bounty Hunter starts after two killers who rob a bank and kill innocent and defenseless people inside just because they can. These two leave a faint trail and then nothing but a sense of direction and a few small clues allows the chase to continue. Excellent characters, authentic detail, plenty of surprises, ans well worth the time.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I had read them in order, but very good book.

[Weisser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Western in the vein of Zane Grey. Some redundant language and formulaic but not in a bad way.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, couldn't put the book down...

[David Burnworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luke brings a bounty to Rio Rojo and as he waits to be paid the bank is robbed. He learns that the bank cannot pay him the 5,000 dollar bounty because of the robbery. Being Luke is a bounty hunter he heads off to capture Gunner Kelly and his partner Dog Eater. What should have been an easy job for Jensen turns out to be another hard encounter. He gets a partner, not by choice. Hobie McCullough follows Luke from Rio Rojo. Luke catches him and tells him to turn around and go back home.

Lucky for Luke the youngster acts like he is headed back home only to follow Luke and save his life. From there the duo gets sidetracked on a life-saving adventure in doing so Hobie falls in love and opts to leave on his own, as Luke always is.

Luke spends a long time finding his targets but can he survive the final showdown?

You need to read the book to find out.

[Sean Furey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bounty hunter goes to bank to cash in on a reward, but the bank has just been robbed. If he wants to get paid, he needs to track down the robbers and bring them back to Rio Rojo.

In Johnstone fashion, it starts off in a straightforward fashion but diverts on a side quest type story for the remainder of the novel when they encounter a stagecoach under fire by a band of unknown miscreants.

Overall, not as good as #1, but entertaining nonetheless.

[Malinda Hoard-Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

can’t stop reading

I am hooked. So hooked that I read one book a day when possible. Preacher, Smoke Jensen. Oh, I loved Perley Gates. Now Luke Jensen.
I’ll keep on reading till there’s not any left. And I wasn’t into westerns until this author.

[John Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I prefer Westerns set in the Great Plains even though I lived in Tucson for six years. Mr. Johnstone did a good job with the Southwest descriptions, and while the story meandered about (which made it more interesting), he did tie the segments together nicely. I enjoyed this book. RECOMMENDED

[John Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent series

A great read by a skilled author. The characters are bold and fully developed so the action just keeps coming. I enjoy how 3ach book is full of nonstop action and adventure keeping g the pages turning. I'm off to read book three.

[larry brashear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book!

I really like this story as it enthralled me from start to finish. Another wonderful tale where good wins over evil.

[Vince Waechter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-1/2 stars. A very good western. Good story, plenty of action.

[Lois Beres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good western book

I really enjoyed reading a very exciting book. If you like western you will enjoy this book. I really liked it.

[papasteve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another rambunctious western in this series. Lots of action. I’m liking it!

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible Audiobooks

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been a while since I've listened to a western. I enjoy the GA rendition of this series. Looking forward to the next one as this was a good standard one.

[Harold Pridemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't go wrong with Matt Jenson. This one is like 2 books in one. Start off going after a bounty in th first part, the protect a stagecoach then finishes up after the bounty.

[James Mayfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

one bad man.

Never a dull moment with Luke Jensen. He laughed all the way to the bank, and he laughed all the way away from the bank.