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Luke Jensen: Bounty Hunter #8
Hired Guns
Johnstone Country. Where Frontier Legends Are Born.
A legend among bounty hunters, Luke Jensen has tracked some of the deadliest outlaws in the West. But sometimes, the competition can be even deadlier . . .
GHOST TOWN MASSACRE
It's the kind of job Luke Jensen hates. A millionaire mine owner is willing to pay $5,000 to the man who captures the half-breed outlaw Tom Eagle. Normally, Luke would turn down an offer like this--it smacks too much of being a hired gun. But when the millionaire tells him that Eagle is responsible for killing his son, Luke agrees to take on the job. Which means he'll have to take the road to hell itself--aka Hard Rock, Montana . . .
Hard Rock is supposed to be a ghost town. But when Luke arrives, the ghosts are alive and well--and gunning for his hide. They're a gang of actual hired guns--the kind of soulless killers Luke despises--and they're trying to collect the bounty, too. Luke barely makes it out of town alive when he runs in to the only man who can save him. The man he's been hired to hunt. The notorious Tom Eagle . . .
Live Free. Read Hard.
A legend among bounty hunters, Luke Jensen has tracked some of the deadliest outlaws in the West. But sometimes, the competition can be even deadlier . . .
GHOST TOWN MASSACRE
It's the kind of job Luke Jensen hates. A millionaire mine owner is willing to pay $5,000 to the man who captures the half-breed outlaw Tom Eagle. Normally, Luke would turn down an offer like this--it smacks too much of being a hired gun. But when the millionaire tells him that Eagle is responsible for killing his son, Luke agrees to take on the job. Which means he'll have to take the road to hell itself--aka Hard Rock, Montana . . .
Hard Rock is supposed to be a ghost town. But when Luke arrives, the ghosts are alive and well--and gunning for his hide. They're a gang of actual hired guns--the kind of soulless killers Luke despises--and they're trying to collect the bounty, too. Luke barely makes it out of town alive when he runs in to the only man who can save him. The man he's been hired to hunt. The notorious Tom Eagle . . .
Live Free. Read Hard.
- GenresWesterns
372 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 31, 2019
194 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,040 books1,390 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 16, 2023
This is a good western which takes place in my home state of Montana. The bounty hunter makes fools out of a group of hired guns. It has a lot of humor. I recommend this book highly.
May 10, 2020
Westerns are not my usual reading fare, however, I read this one as part of a contest at the local library and was pleasantly surprised. And now for something completely different....
Luke Jensen is a bounty hunter hired by Mr Dixon, a wealthy man who wants Luke to hunt down an outlaw by the name of Tom Eagle. The first hint that something is not right is that Tom Eagle has no warrant out for his arrest. Luke only works on bounties that are for men that have an official wanted poster issued for them. If there is no official papers then you don't know what reason the person is "wanted" and could be a whim of someone wealthy enough to pay for his services.
Luke decides to go to the town of Hard Rock, Montana and find out what is really going on and if it turns out to be a personal vendetta of Dixon's he will turn around, give the money back and go home.
Luke arrives in Hard Rock and finds out there is a group of outlaws gunning for him. There is a big firefight but the odds are too many men against him.
So Luke is looking for a way out of town. Tom Eagle ends up helping him get away. Then the real situation is explained. Because Luke cannot figure out why Dixon would hire him and then try to get him killed. Nothing is adding up.
Continuous action and lots of gunfights, outlaws, and good guys. Excellent story and I am glad I gave it a try. Reminds me of some of those great old western movies. If you need something different you might give it a try!
Luke Jensen is a bounty hunter hired by Mr Dixon, a wealthy man who wants Luke to hunt down an outlaw by the name of Tom Eagle. The first hint that something is not right is that Tom Eagle has no warrant out for his arrest. Luke only works on bounties that are for men that have an official wanted poster issued for them. If there is no official papers then you don't know what reason the person is "wanted" and could be a whim of someone wealthy enough to pay for his services.
Luke decides to go to the town of Hard Rock, Montana and find out what is really going on and if it turns out to be a personal vendetta of Dixon's he will turn around, give the money back and go home.
Luke arrives in Hard Rock and finds out there is a group of outlaws gunning for him. There is a big firefight but the odds are too many men against him.
So Luke is looking for a way out of town. Tom Eagle ends up helping him get away. Then the real situation is explained. Because Luke cannot figure out why Dixon would hire him and then try to get him killed. Nothing is adding up.
Continuous action and lots of gunfights, outlaws, and good guys. Excellent story and I am glad I gave it a try. Reminds me of some of those great old western movies. If you need something different you might give it a try!
November 11, 2019
In Hired Guns, next in William Johnstone's Luke Jensen series, itself part of the Jensen Family Universe, Luke Jensen takes a job for a wealthy man who wants to avenge the killer of his son. When Jensen goes to the isolated mining town where this happened, he is greeted with gunfire from a pack of owl hoots who 'don't want to kill him just capture him'. He escapes only because the Indian Sheriff (and alleged murderer of innocent people) rescues him from sure death. When he talks with him, he finds out there is a lot more to the story than he's been told, starting with that the wealthy man's son is still alive. To unravel this mystery, Jensen gets involved in a complicated plot to drive an entire town out of existence. Jensen is a lot more dangerous than one man should be and always has creative solutions to impossible problems.
Highly recommended to those who love atmospheric westerns that put you right there in the Old West.
Highly recommended to those who love atmospheric westerns that put you right there in the Old West.
November 11, 2019
In Hired Guns, next in William Johnstone's Luke Jensen series, itself part of the Jensen Family Universe, Luke Jensen takes a job for a wealthy man who wants to avenge the killer of his son. When Jensen goes to the isolated mining town where this happened, he is greeted with gunfire from a pack of owl hoots who 'don't want to kill him just capture him'. He escapes only because the Indian Sheriff (and alleged murderer of innocent people) rescues him from sure death. When he talks with him, he finds out there is a lot more to the story than he's been told, starting with that the wealthy man's son is still alive. To unravel this mystery, Jensen gets involved in a complicated plot to drive an entire town out of existence. Jensen is a lot more dangerous than one man should be and always has creative solutions to impossible problems.
Highly recommended to those who love atmospheric westerns that put you right there in the Old West.
Highly recommended to those who love atmospheric westerns that put you right there in the Old West.
December 6, 2019
First of all, thank you #Netgalley thank you #Kensingtonbooks and #Pinnacle for letting me read this western. This was one of the better Luke Jensen stories I have read and William W. Johnstone and J. A. Johnstone has made it another couple of enjoyable hours for me. I don't really know how but I seem to have missed books 6 and 7. But you don't have to read these in order of publication. If you like simple good and bad guys with some gunslinging then this is for you.
March 16, 2022
Another good Luke Jensen story with honest folk between a rock and a hard place (literally), a bunch of really bad guys, and a pretty woman. There you go!
January 13, 2020
The name Johnstone on a western means you are in for a great read with some old friends...and a few new ones too. Hired Guns centers around one of my favorite characters, Luke Jensen. Known for his fast gun and high morals, when trouble shows up it usually finds Luke in the way. This series of books is very well developed with characters that are real to the history of the time. You can read this book as a stand alone and enjoy the action but you will definitely want to check out the other Johnstone titles.
January 21, 2021
A wealthy land and gold driven man sets hardcases on local residents and the killing begins
Page-turning action as the Bounty Hunter sets out to find a man and soon learns someone has lied and is actually after him. Excellent characters, classic old west twists and turns, fascinating tale, and well worth the time.
Page-turning action as the Bounty Hunter sets out to find a man and soon learns someone has lied and is actually after him. Excellent characters, classic old west twists and turns, fascinating tale, and well worth the time.
November 2, 2022
The Battle For Hard Rock Valley
This was an excellent and exciting Western that was hard to put down. Plenty of action, gun fights and intrigue as Luke and Eagle struggle to retake the town of Hard Rock from a gang of ruthless criminals. It well written and well worth reading! I would highly recommend it!
This was an excellent and exciting Western that was hard to put down. Plenty of action, gun fights and intrigue as Luke and Eagle struggle to retake the town of Hard Rock from a gang of ruthless criminals. It well written and well worth reading! I would highly recommend it!
June 13, 2025
Luke teaches a person who hires him to track down a bounty what happens when you play him as a fool? The Bounty is Tom Eagle, who Luke learns is not what he has been told he is. Eagle helps Luke escape the setup he found himself in, and a friendship soon develops, and the hell they deliver is well worth the read.
February 19, 2020
The story was very interesting with some good twists and turns.
It felt like it had two different writers. One who plodded slowly, and another who was crisp and moved things along well.
Overall it was a decent book.
It felt like it had two different writers. One who plodded slowly, and another who was crisp and moved things along well.
Overall it was a decent book.
April 25, 2020
Excellent book
I love all of the Johnstone books. I knew when I downloaded this book, I was in for a treat. I was not disappointed. This was an easy, interesting, page turning read. I enjoyed reading every page.
I love all of the Johnstone books. I knew when I downloaded this book, I was in for a treat. I was not disappointed. This was an easy, interesting, page turning read. I enjoyed reading every page.
March 15, 2020
Hired Guns once again is another great read by William W Johnstone. I am loving the Luke Jensen: Bounty Hunter series. I am giving this book five stars.
April 15, 2020
Classic
Another Johnstone classic. I so enjoy reading the western books by the Johnstones and this one did not disappoint me.
Another Johnstone classic. I so enjoy reading the western books by the Johnstones and this one did not disappoint me.
July 29, 2020
Lots of talking in this book. On and on and on. Interesting story, but a little slow due to all the unnecessary talking.
March 11, 2021
Quite Nice
March 22, 2021
Good
AA as d FC by in NJ km. All I'm BB na km !! v card GB GB BB na
AA as d FC by in NJ km. All I'm BB na km !! v card GB GB BB na
May 24, 2021
A bit different from other Luke Jensen books but still worth reading
April 9, 2022
Audible Audiobooks
July 8, 2022
A bit slow at times, but the action is pretty good
November 26, 2022
Really 3 and a half stars,all the Luke Jensen yarns are enjoyable,
February 26, 2025
A Good Western to read.
June 29, 2022
Great
A great story, however I wish the story went on telling about what Luke did with his life after that.
A great story, however I wish the story went on telling about what Luke did with his life after that.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews