What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Mountain Man #25
Heart of the Mountain Man
USA Today bestselling It's a race against time to rescue a gunslinger's wife held hostage . . .Selling his gun to the highest bidder, sharpshooter Monte Carson rode side by side with Big Jim Slaughter, the most feared hombre in Wyoming Territory. But when Monte decided to reform his ways and give back fifty thousand dollars in stolen army payroll, he made an enemy in Slaughter and a friend in mountain man Smoke Jensen.Now, an enraged Slaughter wants his money, and if he doesn't get it, he's going to kill Monte's wife, his hostage in an outlaw paradise called Jackson Hole, Wyoming. For Smoke, there's no choice but to come down off the mountain and ride straight into the Hole, where he and Slaughter will go head to head in a fiery clash of courage, fury, and guns.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2000
157 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,049 books1,396 followersWilliam 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 25, 2012
Heart of the Mountain Man by William W. Johnstone
Monte is the new sheriff after he cleared his past. Big Jim Slaughter comes into town and wants his share of the money.
When Monte refuses him, as he no longer has it, later Jim steals his wife and takes her to hole in the wall.
With Smoke Jensens's help and other trusted friends they find a way into the canyon to rescue her. Love how the trails are sought with specialists to lead them on.
Between others getting shot and being tended to, to killings, and gunfights, and to how she is treated and all the detailed scenery makes this a really good western book.
What I really like are the references to others and what book they first appear in, kinda clues you in that they have a story of their own to tell.
Glad to know there are many other books in this series cause the characters spoke to me...
Monte is the new sheriff after he cleared his past. Big Jim Slaughter comes into town and wants his share of the money.
When Monte refuses him, as he no longer has it, later Jim steals his wife and takes her to hole in the wall.
With Smoke Jensens's help and other trusted friends they find a way into the canyon to rescue her. Love how the trails are sought with specialists to lead them on.
Between others getting shot and being tended to, to killings, and gunfights, and to how she is treated and all the detailed scenery makes this a really good western book.
What I really like are the references to others and what book they first appear in, kinda clues you in that they have a story of their own to tell.
Glad to know there are many other books in this series cause the characters spoke to me...
July 1, 2007
Over the past four months I have been reading the Mountain Man series by William W. Johnstone. They are a throwback to the old west and come complete with rugged terrain, outlaws, Indians, and heroes. I enjoyed these books for the simple reason that I feel transported back to a simpler time when right was right, wrong was wrong, and there wasn't nearly so much gray. The reader gets to learn alot about what it was like for the men and women who broke open the territory but especially we get to cheer on an old fashioned hero or two. You will enjoy this trip back to the mid 1800's and you'll willingly cheer for the good guys who are interesting and funny characters, and hate the villains. Enjoy!
June 3, 2018
* Just to note: Due to illness and a hafty workload, I’ve fallen behind my goal of 100 books in 2018. So, I’m reading through a series of Mountain Man books to catch up.*
The book that preceded this one, 'Guns of the Mountain Man, was just terrible. A bulk of the book were pages and pages of previous books framed as a flashback. Here the formula continues to a lesser extent.
I don't know what was happening in the Johnstone Clan stable at the time of the publication of this book. Was Johnstone fighting illness now and unfinished books were filled with other content to beef them up? Was Johnstone thinking such reflection necessary? But why at 25 books into the series such a dramatic change of course? There had been reflection in past books occasionally, but not at the rate of 'Guns' and then this one, 'Heart of the Mountain Man'.
Instead of Smoke's wife being kidnapped, this time it's the sheriff's with not unexpected results ensuing. One plus is references to various characters that populate the town and area usually not mentioned much after their initial appearance. The writing is fine. The characters always good. The settings lacking.
The title stinks and cover art useless. I get the tradition of the one word followed by 'of the Mountain Man', but I'm dumbfounded why better words are hardly ever used at this point. That and just any ol' tin type form hundred plus years ago is tacked on the cover. I know this changes later, but, unfortunately not much for the better.
Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 4 out of 10 points.
The book that preceded this one, 'Guns of the Mountain Man, was just terrible. A bulk of the book were pages and pages of previous books framed as a flashback. Here the formula continues to a lesser extent.
I don't know what was happening in the Johnstone Clan stable at the time of the publication of this book. Was Johnstone fighting illness now and unfinished books were filled with other content to beef them up? Was Johnstone thinking such reflection necessary? But why at 25 books into the series such a dramatic change of course? There had been reflection in past books occasionally, but not at the rate of 'Guns' and then this one, 'Heart of the Mountain Man'.
Instead of Smoke's wife being kidnapped, this time it's the sheriff's with not unexpected results ensuing. One plus is references to various characters that populate the town and area usually not mentioned much after their initial appearance. The writing is fine. The characters always good. The settings lacking.
The title stinks and cover art useless. I get the tradition of the one word followed by 'of the Mountain Man', but I'm dumbfounded why better words are hardly ever used at this point. That and just any ol' tin type form hundred plus years ago is tacked on the cover. I know this changes later, but, unfortunately not much for the better.
Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 4 out of 10 points.
March 25, 2022
Monte's horse shows up at Smoke's place with blood on it. Being this is the old west Smoke knowsMonte is hurt, after finding him, Smoke and his friends learn that Monte's wife has been kidnapped by Big Jim Slaughter. Smoke and friends go and get Mary and teach the Big Jim SLaughter and his gang a deadly lesson. The story that developers in this one will keep you reading page after page until the book is completed.
June 29, 2024
Heart of a Mountain man
Story tells how friends of Monte Carson helps him and his wife who was kidnapped by Big Jim Slaughter. The whole town prepares for the marquees and defense their sheriff. With the help of an old mountain man, Masqurate Calhoun, Smoke with Pearlie, Cal, and Longmont goes to Home on the wall, Wyoming to rescue Mary Carson. Lots of action with guns and knives.
Story tells how friends of Monte Carson helps him and his wife who was kidnapped by Big Jim Slaughter. The whole town prepares for the marquees and defense their sheriff. With the help of an old mountain man, Masqurate Calhoun, Smoke with Pearlie, Cal, and Longmont goes to Home on the wall, Wyoming to rescue Mary Carson. Lots of action with guns and knives.
December 2, 2017
There's way too much literally copied word for word from the other books under the guise of telling how someone was met or came into the Jensen fold. I loved the older Jensen books where there was lots of action and some realism without all the redundancy from other books.
November 25, 2019
A great series
I started reading this series 10 years ago and it just keeps getting better and better. It has lots of action and the main character (smoke) has a good moral compass for as many men he kills
I started reading this series 10 years ago and it just keeps getting better and better. It has lots of action and the main character (smoke) has a good moral compass for as many men he kills
January 1, 2019
Their luck ran out.
Another great story with Smoke Jensen and his good friends. Be prepared at all times. And exactly what smoke managed to with Jim slaughter.
Another great story with Smoke Jensen and his good friends. Be prepared at all times. And exactly what smoke managed to with Jim slaughter.
July 28, 2019
Enjoy the 25th book of the smoke Jensen Siri’s. Again this is 2019 and I read these a few years ago. Just updating this app.
November 8, 2019
Another great read from Johnstone !!
February 8, 2021
Wonderful fast read
Great story line fast enjoyable read great characters loads of laughter and it is has lower of action and suspense.
Great story line fast enjoyable read great characters loads of laughter and it is has lower of action and suspense.
July 28, 2021
I really liked the Muskrat Calhoun character except the stench he is famous for. Mountain men are entirely a very different breed. Great read.
May 3, 2022
Another great story!
Smoke and his friends get into more mischief. Lots of scoundrels an action. Interesting characters and humor abounds due to Cal and his partner.
Smoke and his friends get into more mischief. Lots of scoundrels an action. Interesting characters and humor abounds due to Cal and his partner.
September 22, 2023
Lots of dialogue, good characters..lots of historical tones..Wyoming and Colorado set as background sets for the plot. Good times/
June 27, 2016
This was a good, quick read. This is the first book of his that I have read. This is not a classic by any means, but it is a good crisp western with all the drama and action common in this genre. It was a nice break before the next Jane Austen novel. Like a potato chip, it leaves you wanting mor.
July 20, 2014
An older Johnstone book, written before he died. Excellent, as almost everything he has done is.
February 11, 2016
Very good western series. The story of Smoke Jensen, trained by the last of the mountain men as a boy. If you like men's adventure and westerns then you will enjoy the series. Recommended
October 12, 2016
Always great.
I have never read a book bay William W. and Jo Johnstone that I didn't like. I have read this book before and it is as good this time as the first time I read it.
I have never read a book bay William W. and Jo Johnstone that I didn't like. I have read this book before and it is as good this time as the first time I read it.
December 11, 2016
Great Story
Very good book. I had trouble putting it down. Looking forward to more Johnstone titles in the future. A must read.
Very good book. I had trouble putting it down. Looking forward to more Johnstone titles in the future. A must read.
November 7, 2012
Good novel
May 18, 2013
My favorite of the Mountain Man series.
March 26, 2017
Excellent!
Good writing as usual with a great plot and good winning over evil. I have never read a book by this author that I did not enjoy!
Good writing as usual with a great plot and good winning over evil. I have never read a book by this author that I did not enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews