As Good as Dead: Smoke Jensen’s Frontier

The Last Mountain Man #40-41

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

About As Good as Dead
Now together in one omnibus for the first time, 2 unrelenting, action-packed tales about the greatest gunslinger to ever ride the Wild West.

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. DOUBLE DOWN OR GET OUT OF TOWN.

Strike of the Mountain Man

In Colorado Territory, Smoke Jensen is trying to live at peace. Then a tinhorn named Puddle enters his valley—and unleashes a hellstorm of a range war. The Mountain Man’s former neighbor, Humbolt Puddle, left his crumbling six-hundred-acre ranch to his only living heir, just as a greedy and ruthless cattle baron is circling the Humbolt ranch like a ravenous vulture. Poor, unsuspecting Puddle is walking into a death trap. But he’s got the Mountain Man on his side . . .

Butchery of the Mountain Man

In Montana Territory, one name strikes fear and hatred in the hearts of the Crow Indians—John Jackson, better known as Liver-Eating Jackson. Consumed by grief and rage, the mountain man has brutally killed ten braves so far in his one-man war of vengeance against the Crow, who murdered his beloved wife. Smoke Jensen knows Jackson by another name—“friend.” He’s not sure to what extent the stories of Jackson’s exploits are true, but he rushes to his old friend’s aid—despite terrible odds.

608 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 30, 2025

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

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Good As Dead is the 40th and 41st book in the smoke Jensen western adventure series by William and Jay Johnstone. I just want to say first this is my favorite series by these authors and there are many but smoke is my absolute favorite and these books did not disappoint. in the first book smoke and Sally are just living their lives everything is peaceful and couldn’t be better and pearly are in Denver at smokes meat packing Company so when a guy shows up claiming he is smokes neighbor in a new rancher smoke couldn’t be more friendly but when ranchers all around the neighbors Homestead start dying and then the neighbor right next to smoke Mr. huddle is in a shootout smoke comes to help but it’s too late to save Mr. Huddle. This is when his nephew comes from New York to claim his inheritance and finds hisself up against gunslingers thankfully however he has smoke on his side.
In the second book smoke gets word that his good friend Jackson is killing crow Indians something smoke finds hard to believe but decides to go and find his friend to learn the truth and offer to help if he can. I think this one was the best they had the best Shootouts and I really like when smoke is with his good buddies although him being with Sally on the ranch is my favorite when it comes to these two books I do believe the second is the best. I love the Johnstone westerns it seems they never write the same story twice in the adventure just goes on I can’t believe they’re up to 41 already I am muesli sick of reading about the same characters but for some reason that has never happened with smoke. #NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #WilliamJohnstone,#JAJohnstone, #AsGoodAsDead,

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no such thing as a bad Johnstone western. Each series is built around main characters whose belief in the law and family is absolute, even if they've had to be reformed to get there. From Preacher, the original mountain man to the Jensen family to Perly Gates, to.....well, you get the point. Many times, characters from one series will show up in another as supporting hands. The communities are true to the era, clothing, guns, food and troubles are all what you'd find if you looked them up in the history books. No two stories are the same, each character or set of characters is unique and so are their stories. The writing is skillful, readers are pulled into the story and you will laugh and cry right along with the characters. I made the mistake of picking up a Johnstone western my uncle was reading. Ive been hooked ever since. Now I share them with my reading family and will continue as long as new Johnstones are released.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnstone's As Good as Dead: Smoke Jensen's Frontier (Pinnacle 2025) is two books about the life of Smoke Jensen, the popular character in Johnstone's ongoing Smoke Jensen series. Book One, Strike of the Mountain Man, is the typical excellent adventure, taking place when Smoke is setting up his ranching empire and some would like to take it from him. Book Two, Butchery of the Mountain Man, is written as a flashback from 1912. Smoke is being interviewed about his relationship with "Liver-Eating Jackson" which invariably leads to stories of Smoke's growth from mountain man to outlaw to well-respected citizen. Be aware: There are a lot of spoilers about how his life turns out so if you don't want to know those details, skip this book. Me I was fine with that and enjoyed him retelling events that made him the legend he became.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two stories in this book, the first deals with Smoke which I have always liked that character. Here you have a man who comes in and wants to have the largest ranch and starts taking out other ranchers by any means. That is until Smoke and Sally get involved. That is an excellent story with many good characters. The second story has Smoke and Sally looking back over their life as they are older and Smoke is telling a story to a professor at a college. One of the best moments is when a young man thinks Smoke is an old man and Smoke is still Smoke, a good story as well.

[Nancy Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was two books in one. I enjoyed both stories, especially the second one is a time in the early 1900s. Smoke is being interviewed by a college professor and he has a car. I hope the interview continues in another book cause I think it’s pretty cool.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gooder. Two more excellent western adventures.