Last Mountain man #53

 Thunder of the Mountain Man

By

William W Johnstone

and 

J.A. Johnstone

Thaddeus Bolton sees himself as a cattle king. His ambitions are as big as the land and stock he just purchased near Smoke Jensen’s Sugarloaf ranch. Bolton and his family are friendly enough, although in the case of his wife Emmaline, perhaps too friendly. While her husband stakes his claim with plans to spread throughout the territory, she’s set her sights on Smoke. But fending her off is the least of Smoke’s worries when outlaws sweep across the valley on daring rustling raids—hitting every ranch except Bolton’s.

Fearing it’s only a matter of time before his cattle falls prey to the rustlers, Bolton takes the law into his own hands. Forming a band of vigilantes, he tracks down the men he believes are the thieves and hangs them, despite no evidence linking them to the crimes. Then when Bolton’s ranch is actually rustled, his vigilantes go on an even deadlier, merciless rampage.

To stop the escalating violence, Smoke forms his own posse to bring the outlaws to justice—only to discover that Bolton’s plans are sinister and downright evil.

Now Smoke will have to prove Bolton’s corruption…before the entire valley erupts in a blood-soaked range war . . .

Just when it seems the Smoke Jensen saga has ridden off into the sunset, a new chapter thunders in. Smoke’s got fresh neighbors—Thaddeus Bolton and his kin—and with them comes a storm of trouble.

Rustlers hit Bolton’s spread hard, but that’s just the beginning. His wife sets her sights on Smoke, stirring up tension that cuts deeper than any cattle raid. And then there’s Bolton’s daughter, sweet on Cal—or maybe Cal’s the one doing the sweet-talking.

To clean up the mess, Bolton brings in regulators with orders to string up the rustlers. But the truth’s got more twists than a mountain trail, and when the dust settles, it all explodes in a smoke-choked showdown.

Another gripping tale from the Johnstone camp, packed with action, suspense, and plenty of twists. The writing is sharp, the pacing tight, and the story keeps you guessing right up to the final pages when the truth comes crashing down and the schemers are unmasked.

This time, Cal steps into the spotlight, offering a fresh angle that adds depth and variety to the narrative. His expanded role brings a welcome shift in perspective and keeps the story feeling fresh.

Western fans will find plenty to love here—it's a wild ride from start to finish.

This book will be published in Nov. 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the Arc of this story.