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The Last Mountain Man #23
Creed of the Mountain Man
Live By The West. . .Die By The West. . .
Smoke Jensen has tried to make peace with the land-and the past. But trying to outrun a reputation as a fearless gunslinger in the wilds of Colorado can be life's toughest game. Especially when you're playing against fate. This time it's calling Smoke to the restless Wyoming range, to fight the bloodiest private war in American history.
In Johnson County, vigilantes have become the law. Cattle rustlers have turned the great Powder River red with the blood of the innocent. And nothing's going to stop the renegades from going barrel to barrel to pilfer the best grazing land in the Territory. But they've finally met their match in the likes of the kill-or-be-killed legend Smoke Jensen. As the body count rises as high as the Rockies, the trail-hardened pioneer is set to strap on his brand of .44 caliber justice-and teach these outlaws the real meaning of the word hell.
Smoke Jensen has tried to make peace with the land-and the past. But trying to outrun a reputation as a fearless gunslinger in the wilds of Colorado can be life's toughest game. Especially when you're playing against fate. This time it's calling Smoke to the restless Wyoming range, to fight the bloodiest private war in American history.
In Johnson County, vigilantes have become the law. Cattle rustlers have turned the great Powder River red with the blood of the innocent. And nothing's going to stop the renegades from going barrel to barrel to pilfer the best grazing land in the Territory. But they've finally met their match in the likes of the kill-or-be-killed legend Smoke Jensen. As the body count rises as high as the Rockies, the trail-hardened pioneer is set to strap on his brand of .44 caliber justice-and teach these outlaws the real meaning of the word hell.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
112 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,046 books1,396 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 22, 2025
Smoke Jensen finds himself in Wyoming just in time for the Johnson County War.
Lots of shooting.
Lots of shooting.
March 2, 2018
What a disaster. How did this one get past Johnstone, who was still alive when this one was published? This racks up all the worst a book can conjure: Very poor writing, poor plotting, vast inconsistency, poor history, bad characters, scant settings and that's enough.
I have no idea who wrote this book, but can maybe, possibly forgive if there were a dozen people involved, in different countries writing in different languages. How on earth did Johnstone let his foundation character get this mangled? Smoke Jensen goes from confident farmer, to child sounding lost soul to bloody killer to lion of the law. Worse there are flashbacks where parts of other books are lifted making this all even more apparent.
As I've been mostly reading the Mountain Man series in order I've found the last few to have flashbacks with parts of other books included. I put up with it once. then twice and now after more lazy acts like this, I strike this book down. This is the worse of the others in that much larger chunks of other books are used. This is a lousy way to cheat the reader.
The plot is a mess. There is a good idea at the hear t of it all, but it's all old territory traveled more than Preacher has traveled the mountains. There are all kinds of problems to point out, including all of the lifted material. Let me focus on one obvious detail. Jensen is a witness to a crime. He knows he and another mountain man are the only witnesses. Jensen then chases down those who did the crime and goes WAY out of his way to bring them to trial and threatens everyone if the verdict isn't against the bad guys.
So, what does, always written as smart & clever, Smoke Jensen do. He leaves. Thus undermining the very trial he fought for. Thus, the bad guys have to be freed with no evidence and that places Jensen tracking them down to just threaten them again. So what next happens? The book is ended with zero resolution to the threats. The book ends with some sappy silliness with Jensen's wife, who, in this book, is a nymphomaniac.
Of the 75+ Johnstone books I've read, this is one of about three I've panned so hard. The others are just written poorly and not of the western genre.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 1 out of 10 points.
I have no idea who wrote this book, but can maybe, possibly forgive if there were a dozen people involved, in different countries writing in different languages. How on earth did Johnstone let his foundation character get this mangled? Smoke Jensen goes from confident farmer, to child sounding lost soul to bloody killer to lion of the law. Worse there are flashbacks where parts of other books are lifted making this all even more apparent.
As I've been mostly reading the Mountain Man series in order I've found the last few to have flashbacks with parts of other books included. I put up with it once. then twice and now after more lazy acts like this, I strike this book down. This is the worse of the others in that much larger chunks of other books are used. This is a lousy way to cheat the reader.
The plot is a mess. There is a good idea at the hear t of it all, but it's all old territory traveled more than Preacher has traveled the mountains. There are all kinds of problems to point out, including all of the lifted material. Let me focus on one obvious detail. Jensen is a witness to a crime. He knows he and another mountain man are the only witnesses. Jensen then chases down those who did the crime and goes WAY out of his way to bring them to trial and threatens everyone if the verdict isn't against the bad guys.
So, what does, always written as smart & clever, Smoke Jensen do. He leaves. Thus undermining the very trial he fought for. Thus, the bad guys have to be freed with no evidence and that places Jensen tracking them down to just threaten them again. So what next happens? The book is ended with zero resolution to the threats. The book ends with some sappy silliness with Jensen's wife, who, in this book, is a nymphomaniac.
Of the 75+ Johnstone books I've read, this is one of about three I've panned so hard. The others are just written poorly and not of the western genre.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 1 out of 10 points.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2017
I really don't like giving two stars to what was once one of my favorite series. Still love Smoke and company but this book was not anywhere near the quality as the previous ones. There's just way too much of the same story from previous books that's repeated - yet again. I made the mistake of reading several in a row and was shaking my head after reading for the fourth time how Cal and then Pearlie came to be on the Sugarloaf. Or how Smoke met Louis and all the money Louis has.... I didn't particularly care for the story itself, either.
September 9, 2021
Two problems. One is the insertion of text from previous books by Johnstone that I'd read. Strikes me as lazy filler. Also lazy is inaccuracies. There are no mountain passes from Denver to Greeley or Greeley to Cheyenne. It's high plains. And Ned Buntline was not a pseudonym for a man named Beadle but rather for Edward Zane Carroll Judson, Sr. Errors, especially on something so easily checked, are, to me, irritating. The Johnson County War is history and characters such as Tom Horn and Nate Champion were actual participants. But, with the sloppy research I have no idea how much of the story tracks with the history or if it all has high mountain passes on the plains.
October 29, 2021
Never kill a friend of Smoke's and expect to walk away even when the corrupt law allows you to get away scot-free.
The adventure takes the main act in this one but the adventure getting there is exciting. Smoke goes on a trip to but some Palouse horses from the Nez Perc'e and ends up befriending Nate Champion before the purchase.
Champion is murdered after the corrupt system allows them to walk without any punishment Smoke handles things the way only he can.
In between all of this smoke give Cal and Paerlie a three-week education on how to live as a mountain man.
A must-read.
The adventure takes the main act in this one but the adventure getting there is exciting. Smoke goes on a trip to but some Palouse horses from the Nez Perc'e and ends up befriending Nate Champion before the purchase.
Champion is murdered after the corrupt system allows them to walk without any punishment Smoke handles things the way only he can.
In between all of this smoke give Cal and Paerlie a three-week education on how to live as a mountain man.
A must-read.
August 8, 2017
Great Read
Wow, two books in one, Creed Of The Mountain and Guns Of The Mountain Man. Two great stories about Smoke Jenson. I love reading these books. The Johnston's make it feel like you are right there watching the action. I look forward tomorrow books by these authors. Thank you for a great read.
Wow, two books in one, Creed Of The Mountain and Guns Of The Mountain Man. Two great stories about Smoke Jenson. I love reading these books. The Johnston's make it feel like you are right there watching the action. I look forward tomorrow books by these authors. Thank you for a great read.
November 2, 2017
A very disappointing way to bleed more money from the WW Johnston fans. This book simply incorporates or weaves pages and pages of stories from the hero's past episodes and pages of previous books into a new story. Cheap way to soak the buyer. I'm a fan of Johnston....but felt cheated on this one. Shame!
January 28, 2021
I enjoyed the 'son's of Smoke in this one. I wonder if they'll get their own book. This one also had some reality that is too true to things I feel could happen, which makes reading difficult for me.
November 22, 2018
Work hard.
Another great story with Smoke Jensen and his men. This kind of story about the evil that men do, you just can't stop reading the story.
Another great story with Smoke Jensen and his men. This kind of story about the evil that men do, you just can't stop reading the story.
July 28, 2019
Enjoy the 23rd book of the smoke Jensen series.
October 4, 2019
Another great read from Johnstone,
February 1, 2021
A wonderful must read
Full of action great characters and it kept me entertained with great narrative and suspense.
I couldn't put it down.
Full of action great characters and it kept me entertained with great narrative and suspense.
I couldn't put it down.
May 2, 2022
ok
too many flashbacks in these books.
Other than that the plot was similar to others. But it was still a good western.
too many flashbacks in these books.
Other than that the plot was similar to others. But it was still a good western.
February 4, 2024
Way too much copy and paste
The premise of the book was good but the author took a lazy approach and used large chunks of previous books as filler. Disappointing
The premise of the book was good but the author took a lazy approach and used large chunks of previous books as filler. Disappointing
February 16, 2011
4 sent review
So far this book is pretty good. I like it pretty good. Its not bad. Its not top on my list but its pretty good. Smoke is getting up in his years but hes still not old just past his prime. He is still strong and mean as a grizzly bear when he wants to be though. And he is just about to get himself into a big war while finding the indians for an apalouse horse.
4 sent review.
Smoke caught up to the indians. He hasnt got the horse yet Hes staying with them for a few days. He then will trade them horses and be on his way home to sally. Or so thats what the book says so far.
5 sent review
Smoke got shot in the head. He lived but forgot all of his past. He met up with one of preachers friend. Another long time mountain man. Bear claw has benn telling Smoke about his past. Smoke didnt even remember his name Smoke just Kirby. So hes been catching up with bear claw.
thur. 2/10/11 book cover
The book cover in creed of the mountain man looks action packed and intense. They are riding horses fast and kicking up dust behind them. It looks like a western book. And there could be gunfights and all sorts of action.
2/16/11
In creed of the mountian man pearlie and cal went to see if smoke was ok because he didnt wire home when he got where he was going. so they met up with smoke and went to the indians to trade horses. smoke decided to stay up in the high lonsome with cal and pearlie to teach them some things about being a mountian man. They ended up licking it alot. They came back to town all 3 of them with big beards and buckskins, bathed up and went home to sally.
So far this book is pretty good. I like it pretty good. Its not bad. Its not top on my list but its pretty good. Smoke is getting up in his years but hes still not old just past his prime. He is still strong and mean as a grizzly bear when he wants to be though. And he is just about to get himself into a big war while finding the indians for an apalouse horse.
4 sent review.
Smoke caught up to the indians. He hasnt got the horse yet Hes staying with them for a few days. He then will trade them horses and be on his way home to sally. Or so thats what the book says so far.
5 sent review
Smoke got shot in the head. He lived but forgot all of his past. He met up with one of preachers friend. Another long time mountain man. Bear claw has benn telling Smoke about his past. Smoke didnt even remember his name Smoke just Kirby. So hes been catching up with bear claw.
thur. 2/10/11 book cover
The book cover in creed of the mountain man looks action packed and intense. They are riding horses fast and kicking up dust behind them. It looks like a western book. And there could be gunfights and all sorts of action.
2/16/11
In creed of the mountian man pearlie and cal went to see if smoke was ok because he didnt wire home when he got where he was going. so they met up with smoke and went to the indians to trade horses. smoke decided to stay up in the high lonsome with cal and pearlie to teach them some things about being a mountian man. They ended up licking it alot. They came back to town all 3 of them with big beards and buckskins, bathed up and went home to sally.
April 14, 2011
so far in this book smoke tells his wife that he is going to wyhoming for breeding stock horses. cal and perlie two of smoke's ranch hands on the sugarloaf want to go with him but smoke doesn't aprove.
3/15/11
smoke has just reached a small town by train in the middle of winter and checks into a hotel then goes to take a bath but about half way through three men come in and try to rob him but he fools them and hides his gun under the suds in the bath tub then when one of the three robbers threatens to kill him smoke shoots all three men then continues on with his bath untill the sheriff come to see what all the shooting was about...
3/17/11
What do you think will by your lasting impression of the book you are reading now?
What will be your most vivid memories of it a year from now? Beyond a year?
i think my lasting impression of this book will be the sceen when smoke is taking a bath an the men try to rob him but he kills them and just overall how good this ook is with all the battles and this will probably be my memories a year from meow also.
3/15/11
smoke has just reached a small town by train in the middle of winter and checks into a hotel then goes to take a bath but about half way through three men come in and try to rob him but he fools them and hides his gun under the suds in the bath tub then when one of the three robbers threatens to kill him smoke shoots all three men then continues on with his bath untill the sheriff come to see what all the shooting was about...
3/17/11
What do you think will by your lasting impression of the book you are reading now?
What will be your most vivid memories of it a year from now? Beyond a year?
i think my lasting impression of this book will be the sceen when smoke is taking a bath an the men try to rob him but he kills them and just overall how good this ook is with all the battles and this will probably be my memories a year from meow also.
March 21, 2015
Creed of the mountain was a delightful western read with plenty of humor, mystery, and murder. I think you will enjoy the charictors and the descriptions of the landscapes they encounter.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
February 11, 2016
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
Read
December 23, 2018Yay for example Jrmsen
I've again smoke and his friends play he'll on the g f my that opened the dance by shooting CslEoods when he tried to stop them rustling some of Arnold's csttle. As usual there is a good amount of blood and band guys in this action packed wrdyern. The Johnstonrdnes have put another great western that gives one a feehours of enjoyable reading.
I've again smoke and his friends play he'll on the g f my that opened the dance by shooting CslEoods when he tried to stop them rustling some of Arnold's csttle. As usual there is a good amount of blood and band guys in this action packed wrdyern. The Johnstonrdnes have put another great western that gives one a feehours of enjoyable reading.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews