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.

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.

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.

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

Johnstone's fifth installment from the Smoke Jensen series, Desolation Creek, is a great addition to the series. I loved it. Five stars.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

really enjoyed getting to go back to Smoke Jensen's world and the Johnstone's world. It always has what I was looking for in a western book. I enjoyed the plot going on and thought it felt like the same world the Johnstone's created. It has a great historical element and I enjoyed it and the other four books in this series.

"Evidently, the cowboys had noticed that a confrontation was brewing, because they’d stopped their card game and were watching intently as the scene unfolded. Their hands rested near their sidearms, too, and Smoke figured they’d back Herb’s play if it came down to it. The rude man’s lips curled back to reveal jagged, tobacco-stained teeth. Smoke nearly shook his head in disbelief at how ugly the fellow was."