Trail of the Mountain Man

The Last Mountain Man #3

by William W. Johnstone, ALL

When gold is discovered in the little town of No-Name, Colorado, its initially joyful citizens are besieged by an onslaught of fortune-hunting gunslingers, and Smoke Jensen recruits a handful of legends to help protect the town. Reissue.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Crime, Collections, Action

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

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

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the stereotypical heart and soul of western stories. A big showdown between good guys and bad guys. You know the good guys will win but it’s the journey to the finish that makes it so interesting. The motivation for the characters, their interactions and the dialogue is just spot on. One of the best in the series.

[Shirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the past four months I have been reading the Mountain Man series by William W. Johnstone. They are a throwback to the old west and come complete with rugged turrain, outlaws, Indians, and heroes. I enjoyed these books for the simple reason that I feel transported back to a simpler time when right was right, wrong was wrong, and there wasn't nearly so much gray. The reader gets to learn alot about what it was like for the men and women who broke open the territory but especially we get to cheer on an old fashioned hero or two. You will enjoy this trip back to the mid 1800's and you'll willingly cheer for the good guys who are interesting and funny characters, and hate the villains. Enjoy!

[Jolene · Rating 1 out of 5]

My dad is obsessed with this series. The main character, Smoke Jensen, is a gun-slinging good guy fighting his way through the Wild West. I don't really care for this series, however, it does have some fun moments. The vernacular of the mountain man is enough to keep me smirking from page to page but, honestly, if I never read another Smoke Jensen it would not break my heart.

[Daniel]

The book made me go out and buy the beginning of the mountain man, where preacher comes into play. I loved this book, its so heart touching and shows if a group works together, they can accomplish what they set out to do. Also the rejoining of old gunfighters gave a sense of honor and history.

[Fardin Helal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books of Johnstone sure give the raw vibe of wild west. With his third book of Smoke Jensen Series finished, I officially declare him as one of my all time favorite authors.

Whenever I want to feel the thrill of a western, I'll pick up a dime novel of Johnstone.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always something amazing!

Johnstone never just writes about one thing. These books are more than what is on the surface. I loved the old gunfighters!

[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

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I expected.

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man known as Matt and his wife Sally are on the Sugarloaf in Colorado. Tilden Franklin of the Circle TF wanted the Sugarloaf and Matt’s wife for his own. Word spread that Charlie Star had been observed in the area. Charlie hated Tilden. Seventeen years ago Tilden had killed Charlie’s woman. As Tilden became more and more aggressive, Matt, or Smoke Jensen, gathered the small ranchers together to support each other. When Smoke met Charlie Star, Charlie sent out dozens of telegraphs to many mountain men that he and Smoke knew to come help. Preacher had raised Smoke, so Smoke was one of them. The last mountain man. 20-25 old mountain men came to the party, legends of the Wild West. The rape of a young girl and the murder of her young brother started a war.

[DJMikeG · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just a straight up entertaining pulp western novel. Violent and gritty, very fast paced. This book sets out to entertain, and that's just what it did. Nothing more, nothing less. Probably my favorite in the Last Mountain Man series so far. I come to Johnstone's westerns from his horror novels, so the insanity level is noticeably cranked down, that said, there is about as much violence and mayhem that one could reasonably fit into a mass market western in the late 1980s here. Johnstone isn't doing anything innovative with this novel, for sure, but as just pure hard R rated western pulp, this one delivers the goods.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story a big bad rancher wants more of everything including Smoke's wife, Sally. This time Smoke gets old famous gunfighters to help him out. In this story Pearlie and Monte Carlson are introduced to the series. Overall, it's an okay story.

One thing I noticed. In the 2nd story of the series, Smoke and Sally took a young boy with them. His name was Ben. There wasn't any young boy named Ben in this story. So where was he and what happened to him?

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three years after the second book, Smoke is under a new name in a no-name town with Sally, the two happy with their lives. I love how she knows his entire past and has married him regardless.

The town undergoes a new name under the TF crew led by Tindel Franklin. Some absolutely awful things happen though, in a way, aren't as bad as the events in the first book. That, and Smoke gets some 20 mountain men to help him against TF.

[Lmcglynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am never not going to like a Mountain Man series book! It is a formula I enjoy, along with Jack Reacher or an Evanovich romp! I love how the violence and tension is there but the main characters never stay in danger long. Half the fun is hearing all the old timer introductions and explanations for their nicknames!

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town of No Name Colorado has just found they are in trouble when gold is discovered. The author tells a great story of greed, hardships, and more in the old west. I enjoy this author and encourage all to check out his many books.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuation of the Mountain Man series about Smoke Jensen. Not bad. As this third book continues the story it gets a little eye-rolling with the cheesy dialogue, but the premise and action is great.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Winning Formula

Trail of the Mountain Man has some similar elements to the previous book, with a few differences. Much of the storyline is predictable, but there are a few twists. As usual, it’s a good, fun and quick read with plenty of action.

[rick incremona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoke Jensen is quite the badass. loved this book just as much as the first two. Of course I started my journey into the Western world of William and JA Johnstone on the Matt Jensen books. I am excited to see when he will pop up in "The Last Mountain Man" series. Great read!

[Nita Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trail of the Mountain Man

A very action filled story of Smoke Jensen and the greed of one man, Tindel Franklin. His greed included to get rid of Smoke and take Sally (Smoke's wife) for his wife. His town of Fontana was the outcome of his greed.

[Connie Skief · Rating 5 out of 5]

One man's greed gets hundreds of men killed

He also wanted another man's wife, was cruel, a woman rapist and murderer, and more. He is taken down by the rough gunhawks of the west. Smoke continues to protect. Graphic and for adults only.

[Joe DeKock · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, this was such a boring read. Not much character development so bouncing from character to character in the story is hard to follow. I just didn’t find this one interesting like the first two in the series. I’ll give the next one a read at some point.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books are truly 5s, but as a western this is close for its genre.

Now to find him 1 & 2 of this series. Could be a favourite western series soon.

[Kevin Key · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book about Smoke Jensen.

[John Meitner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have come to really like Johnstone's work. This is fun stuff to read and it is very easy reading, not a great number of characters to keep track of. just fun reading.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy this third book of the Smoke Jensen series.

[Kevin Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evil men do not last.

This story was the best one ever. Smoke Jensen has come through with determination to clear out the evil and greedy people once again.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good escapism.

[Mark Aspland · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit juvenile

[Ishtiaque Alam Russel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving a reason to live is noble. Giving a chance to die like a proud man is all that an aging bunch of gunfighters ask for. Brilliant plot and even more brilliant plot execution. Love it.

[Michael A. Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good

Pretty good book! It could have been better! But I liked it anyway! I ran out of words so that’s it!

[M. Todd Bartel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mountain Man perfection

Another amazing story in the annals of the last mountain man. I look forward to the next chapter in the life of Smoke Jensen.