Desolation Creek

Smoke Jensen #5

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

Legendary national bestselling Western authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone return with the latest gun-blazing installment in their newest Smoke Jensen series.

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE DYING AIN’T MUCH OF A LIVING.
 
Building a ranch takes heart and grit. Smoke and Sally Jensen are more than capable of meeting the challenges of shaping the land, raising the livestock, and establishing their brand. But Smoke wasn’t always an entrepreneur. He’s more apt to settle accounts with a fast draw than a checkbook. And when he learns his old friend Preacher has been ambushed by outlaws, he wastes no time saddling up and hitting the vengeance trail with his fellow mountain men Audie and Nighthawk.
 
Preacher’s attackers have taken over the town of Desolation Creek deep in Montana Territory. Their scurrilous leader, Vernon “Venom” McFadden, has his men harrassing terrified homesteaders and townsfolk to get his hands on nearby property that’s rumored to be rich with gold. Smoke and his helpmates drift into town one by one with a plan to root out Venom’s gang of prairie rats and put the big blast on each and every one.

Genres: Westerns

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2023

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

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 stars ...

OH! That was a good'un!!! 😲

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desolation Creek by William W. Johnstone and J.a. Johnstone is a new book in the prequel series about Smoke Jensen. Sadly they have a lot of things wrong, like the age of some of the characters. I also wonder why in all the books about Smoke in the last several years he suddenly stopped wearing two guns? That was one of his trademarks in the first 25 books. Someone needs a book with facts when they write series, sadly this is to common not only with these authors. I still found this book a good western, it has all the ingedients requiered. Thanks to Kensington Books Pinnacle and Netgalley for supplying me with this advance copy.

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

This book starts with a bang when smoke Jensen and Sally go into town to visit his friend the sheriff and Sally goes to do some shopping when smoke here’s gunshots coming from the General store the first thing he thinks about is his beloved and that he’s going to have to take out some owl hoots causing trouble in the town to everyone and no one surprised Sally is the one who takes out the no good and so when they’re on their way home and see Black Hawk in his sidekick sitting on the porch at first smoke is happy to see them put the heavy heart breaking news they carry will see smoke heading to desolation Creek Montana with a vengeance on his mind. Preacher has been murdered and he was the man who raised smoke and made him into the law abiding loving family man we read about today its so his murder cannot go unpunished. Smoke, otter, and Blackhawk head to Montana and Sally knows she will not see the man she loves again until justice has been served. This is a book of high stakes great western battles and it’s all for justified vengeance a great subject in a western . William and Jay Johnstone never cease to amaze me with the great stories they’ve come up with over the years but this is one I was not expecting at all preacher has a Series of his own and I cannot believe they started this one off with him being murdered but OMG is it such a great book and a definite five star read! I love every book by the John stones this one included. I received this book from NetGalley and Kensington pinnacle books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Joseph A. Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Wow what a story and felt bad about Preacher till the truth about him came out. Well read and see

[Finn Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic Wild West story. Smoke is a lovable hero going on a quest of good old fashioned justice. The action is well written, the companions are fun, and his love for his wife is adorable.

Here comes the painful part-
The ending to this book is weak.
It felt like things lost steam by the end. By the end, you’re gearing up for another twist of trouble. You wonder if it’s going to be a cliffhanger, or something unexpected. Maybe Sally will get her time to shine in being just as much of a horse riding hero as Smoke.

Instead, you’re offered a twist that is very surprising, but doesn’t make too much sense. You’re left wondering how this could fit in, and then it’s all wrapped up and resolved within pages. I can absolutely see the vision of it all, but I feel like the author simply lost steam getting there.

The next twist after that? Maybe it’s a running joke in the other books that I haven’t caught onto, but I definitely was expecting something better. Instead, it takes away all the satisfaction of the entire book.
Seriously. The entire book is a story of heroism and vengeance.
The hell was the point of the vengeance if the guy they’re avenging is still alive at the end?

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A typical Smoke Jensen story and better than most. Great characters and very good plotting. The story is strong and worth reading.

Jensen has been told of something that spurs him to vengeance. A couple other mountain men join Smoke and off they go to another treed town to tame. There are a few complications and the story wraps nicely. I do find it interesting that the term used so often in earlier Johnstone Clan novels, "treed", is not used any more.

I always like the Smoke novels that include mountain men. I think the Johnstone Clan should saddle a series involving the mountain men.

A draw back is Smoke's wife's inclusion at the troubled site. It's a silly move that strains the story. The sexual patter adds to the silliness. This adds to the continued inconsistencies of the portrayal of Sally.

I am glad there is another Smoke series and look forward to the next.

Bottom line: i recommend this book. 8 out of ten points.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a Smoke Jensen book I didn't love. William Johnstone's Desolation Creek (Pinnacle 2023) was no exception. It starts right off with a twist no one who devours the Jensen universe of stories would ever expect: Preacher has been killed. Of course Smoke Jensen and two of Preacher's Mountain Man buddies are going to get justice for their long-time friend, a man they considered unkillable. It shows you how Smoke and his friends again do the impossible with all the usual Old West bits--horses, bad guys, Owlhoots, gunplay, bringing justice to the downtrodden, but for the first time in this series, the pace is a tad slow. Yes, there is lots of shooting and robbing and illegal shenanigans, but without the surprises I've become accustomed to in a Jensen story. They were there, but a bit more hidden than usual.

Overall, a good read, and still enough of the escapism I enjoy in Old West stories.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Smoke Jensen novel. Audie and Nighthawk show up telling Smoke that Preacher was killed by some outlaws in Desolation Creek, Montana. The three of them head there to kill of the outlaws in which the outlaw's leader as taken over the town and is making the town folks pay “taxes.”

In the story Johnstone writers say Nighthawk is 70 years old and that Smoke is four decades younger. Would make Smoke 30 years old. Also say Sugarloaf is just starting. Only talks about Pearlie and not Cal.

Smoke tells Sally to stay at Sugarloaf, but she doesn’t listen and shows up. Which screws up things for Smoke.

There are some twists and turns, and the ending isn’t surprising at all. Still an okay story.

One thing I wondered about is why the Johnstone clan hasn’t had a series of Audie and Nighthawk. Could start out with their back story of each one, how they met and then their adventures.

[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.
Smoke Jensen and his friends and family will join Preacher in another adventure. With Smoke's quick draw and Preacher's mountain man skills, the bad guys don't stand a chance.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment I began to read this and realized my favorite guy, Smoke Jensen, was there, I was happy. I am not a very good person to review this because I love Smoke Jensen. He’s what I wish all people could be, tough, kind, honest, and fair. Makes life pretty black and white, doesn’t it?

If you like William A. Johnstone, you’ll fall quickly into his comfortable style of writing. The reading flows. There is excitement but somehow never anything that seems like the old blood and guts stories. I always turn the last page of his books wanting another.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read these books in any type of order but I do like the Smoke Jensen character. Here though everything is just a little off. Still a good read, but for me was not the typical Smoke book. They get word that Preacher who raised him has been killed and Smoke leaves to go find out what happened. Once you get into it Sally shows up which was still okay, yet after one person who they thought was the bad guy was put down, it turns out there was another one. A little longer than I would have liked but it was okay and a twist at the end. I received this book from Netgalley.com

[Lisa C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a fan of William Johnston's for years. It's obvious this isn't has work. It had the usual good guys, lots of shooting and even more bad guys. There was too much hearing how Smoke wanted to get back to the ranch.
The period of time in the Jensen story was not made clear. It sounded like they didn't have kids yet and Pearlie was the only one working for them which would mean the early days but none of the rest matches up.

[OLLIE WOODS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not prepared for the ending villain! As always, I love Johnstone! I have laundry to fold, dishes to wash. All sitting there waiting until I finish. My daughter just ran into the kitchen and took the food off the stove before it burned and reminded me that by family consensus I am not allowed to pick up a book if I am cooking. So many dinners have burned because of Johnstone and Smoke Jensen.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing! When the bad guys take over a town, vandalize the community and demand payment for protection, everything is very wrong. People are killed, beaten and robbed. The gang spreads throughout the area covering ranches and farms. Women are beaten and raped, men are killed, and cattle are massacred. Then Smoke Jensen and his few mountain men arrive to set things right. It's a great storyline and I loved it. Thanks for the entertaining storyline.

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audie and Nighthawk show up at the Sugarloaf and when sees the look in their eyes he knows it is not a social call. They let Smoke know that Preacher has been killed by a Gang of outlaws led by a man named Venom McFadden, in a place called Desolation Creek, Montana.

The trio heads there to wipe out the gang, and from there the story has a few twists and turns that will leave you cussing and cheering, and maybe cause a tear or three.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

preacher is dead...shot down in desolation creek which has been overun by mad men

smoke is gutted his long time friend didnt deserve that happening to him so smoke being smoke needs to find out who and what was happening at desolation creek and sets out

and old style western that was an enjoyable read

[Grady Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action Packed Tyranny Western Style

Once again another western adventure featuring the fastest gun in the west, Smoke Jensen and friends. This one as always was action packed and filled with surprises. Smoke and friends came and brought peace and justice to those overwhelmed by bullies and gun fighters.

[Nita Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desolation Creek

What an exciting story. Desolation Creek was a town taken over by Venom McFadden and his outlaws. Smoke along with Audiences and Night hawk went to Desolation Creek to avenage the killing of Preacher. Lots of action and gunplay. Surprising ending but great story.

[Darlene Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Smoke Jensen able to stay out of trouble? Smoke travels to Desolation Creek in order to avenge the death of his old friend Preacher. Once there he finds a town being held calf by a mad man. Can Smoke help the town and who is helping Smoke?

[Francie Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bloody good tale

What characters: Nighthawk, Audie, Smoke and Sally and a man named Preacher. These are just a few of the characters in this book. A fast moving story of the taming of the Wild West.

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

An untypical Western novel.

I thought this was just going to be your ordinary shoot em up Western. Wow, was I wrong. There were twists and turns I just didn't see coming. Especially the end.

[John Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

Enjoyed every book In this series as the character of Smoke Jensen was larger than life. Each tale was action filled and loaded with nonstop adventure. My hope is this series will be added to in the future. Great reading.

[Christina peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning to end loved it

Action from start to finish, kept me reading and turning page after page wanting to know what happens next. Can't wait for the 6th book to come out in june!!!

[Edson L Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preacher's Demise

Another good story about Preacher and Smoke Jensen combined. Along with some gunfights, some dying, a little bit of loving, homesteaders trying to keep their claims, some strategic moves, and a terrific heartwarming ending.

Edson L Johnson

[Steve Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoke Jensen series by William Johnstone

I have red hundreds of Westerns. Wrote reviews for very few. I have truly enjoyed the characters and stories of this series. Lots of shoot outs, friends standing up for each other. Just fun!

[William Crisp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

A great continuance of the Smoke Jensen series. I missed the action/mayhem of Smoke, Sally, Preacher and all the mountain men. Thanks for this book. A solid recommendation.

[Robert W. Kuhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a dull moment

Of course, with Smoke Jensen, it is just a matter of time. Body count is up in this story but the surprises are too. Get to meet some new characters and that adds to the excitement. You have to hold on tight so you don't get thrown before the ride is over.

[Martha Peebles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoke Jensen

Another great read , about Smoke and Sally Jensen. I really enjoy reading books on Smoke and Preacher. Thank you for a awesome read.

[Nancy Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

love any books with Smoke Jensen or the other Jensens

[Jodeane D. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable!!

Boy oh boy. If this book doesn't have you on the edge of you're seat,
nothing will. This is by far the best Smoke Jensen book!! Wow!! You
cry, laugh, cry some more.