First Mountain Man

 Brutal Night of the Mountain Man

First Mountain Man #44

by

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

Kate Coldane has sweated blood for this saloon, and she won't let it go down without a fight. Silas Atwood may be the richest rancher in Hudspeth County, but that doesn't give him the right to push her around. When Atwood sends one of his goons to cause trouble at her watering hole, Kate's son, Rusty, guns him down. It may have been self-defense, but Atwood is the law, and that means Rusty has to run.

The law's got nothing on justice

Rusty flees to the home of his uncle, Pearlie, who straps on his six-gun, intending to return to Hudspeth County and clear his nephew's name. But Smoke Jensen, the mountain man, won't let his friend ride into certain death. With a handful of brave souls, Smoke storms the town, ready to wage war against more than two dozen of Atwood's blood-hungry killers. Drunk with power and afraid of no man, Silas Atwood believes Smoke Jensen can be stopped with brute force alone.

Problem is, Silas Atwood doesn't know Smoke Jensen.

Smoke Jensen returns in fine form, delivering another fast‑paced, bullet‑riddled adventure.

When Pearlie’s nephew is framed for murder and sentenced to hang, he breaks free—only for his mother to be jailed in his place. If he doesn’t turn himself in, she’ll face the noose.

Word of the injustice reaches the Sugarloaf, and it isn’t just Pearlie who rides out. Smoke, Sally, and Cal saddle up as well, ready to take on Silas Atwood and the hardcases backing him.

The story follows the classic Smoke Jensen rhythm: one showdown leads to another, and when the villain runs out of hired guns, he simply brings in more. It’s familiar territory, but it’s exactly what fans come for and it makes for an entertaining, satisfying read.

The writing keeps the pace tight and the tension steady. As the plot unfolded, I found myself wondering when the townsfolk would finally find their backbone. All they needed was someone to show them the way and eventually, they do.

An enjoyable entry in the series, even if not the strongest I’ve read. Solid entertainment. 4/5