Desolation Creek (A Smoke Jensen Novel of the West)

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.

If the readers are followers of the Johnstone syndicate, they will have read about the famous Kirby "Smoke" Jensen of Colorado and the Sugarloaf Ranch along with his wife Sally. In this installment, called "Desolation Creek," we are taken back in time when they were only recently married and before children. Sally proves she is a match for Smoke in many ways with her daring-do! Word filtered down that Smoke's friend and mentor, Preacher, had been murdered in a Montana town called Desolation Creek--also the name of this novel. As you might expect, this did not sit right with Jensen and he along with some other friends decide to make their way to this town in Montana and avenge the death of their friend, Preacher. This is where the story begins to take turns -- they come upon a person who has taken over the town along with a gang of roughnecks. Basically they hold the town hostage and take what they want with little thought to killing or wounding the townspeople. Jensen and his two partners - Nighthawk and Audie--are joined by a couple of other of Preacher's friends who are intent on getting justice fore their friend. Then as is often said all sorts of mayhem breaks loose. Just when the reader is almost satisfied there is another, unexpected twist (making for great suspense and great reading)! But Jensen and his wife along with the other of Preacher's friends are not to be denied their vengeance. But it could come at a cost. For the reader, the story is delightful; woven together with just the right amount of suspense and twists. One of the most enjoyable Smoke Jensen books I've had the pleasure to read. Readers liking westerns will likely enjoy this as much as I did. Definitely recommend it to readers.

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.