Quest of the Mountain Man

The Last Mountain Man #30

by William W. Johnstone

A visionary has a dream: to drive a railroad across the North American continent and through the vast Canadian Rockies. A thousand miles of rugged land stand in the way. So do hostile Indian tribes and outlaws who the see the railroad�and the men building it�as easy prey. But the project has a guardian angel of its own�Smoke Jensen.

Smoke knows that this is one job he can't do himself, so he heads to Canada with some hard-fighting mountain men from the Colorado Rockies at his side. By the time the railroad passes through Vancouver, Smoke needs every gun he can get. An army of cross-border outlaws who call themselves The Midwesterners is wreaking havoc on the tracks. Now, with a dream turning into a nightmare of steel ribbons stained with blood, Smoke Jenson knows there's only way to run this railroad: over mountains, though clouds of choking gun smoke�and straight into one hell of a fight.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

251 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

About the author

William 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.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somebody's trying to build a railroad through the Canadian Rockies. Railroads attract outlaws, like honey attracts flies. Smoke Jensen does a lot of shooting and riding.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

SMOKE AND POSSES SURVEYS CANADIAN WILDS

Here we go again, our man Smoke and his Mountain Men friends plus Louis, Cal and Pearlie
are on there way to the Canadian Rockies to help survey a new rail line that will run through this might mountains. This wouldn't be a Smoke adventure if we didn't have some scallywags thinking they steal the train payroll for the twenty thousand men, who were mostly Chinese hired to build the line. The White workers were earning one dollar a day while they paid the Chinese workers much less, but they were doing the same work...Such fairness...right? Now you have these no counts planning to rob the train which they did because the group leader of the Pinkerton guards had one to many drinks and gave away the protection of the shipment of money..you know what they say loose lips sink ships, well the ships that snuck consisted of fourteen men plus their horses blown to bits...I say arrogance played a big role in the death and wounding of those Pinkerton men..but this man pays the ultimate price when he's murdered in his hospital bed recuperating from his wounds.
Smoke and his friends are men to ride the river with. As I have said in other reviews, they are all warriors..you don't have to be an Indian to be called a warrior. Sneaky town sheriff's and bribe taking judges rear their ugly heads in this adventure. This sheriff and judge of Noyes, Minnesota set these murderers loose to hunt down Smoke and his men and kill them to keep them from identifying the Sheriff and Judge, who are afraid of Smoke. Evidently, the Judge recognized Smoke and remembered what happened in a town when Smoke at the age of eighteen faced six men, killing four and Preacher killed two..that incident caused the Judge and Sheriff moments of regretting they had gotten involved with releasing those men for thirty pieces of silver...Everyone ENJOY and remember ride easy and have a nice cup of tea with a bowl of peach cobbler...tasty

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

* 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.*

I figure if I keep reading through the series a gem will appear. It's not a Grade A gem, but far, far superior to the last 7 books or so.

The tale is a curious one. Why would a mountain man, who is always bemoaning the onslaught of the easterners and financially set for life, wander off to Canada to help a railroad scout it's right-of-way for a rail line? A flimsy answer is given that is more of a devise to justify the reason for the book. Especially since there is very little scouting recorded in the book itself.

What sets this book apart from others in the series are a set of layers that makes the book more interesting and depth. No real surprises, but a good story nonetheless.

Bottom line: I recommend this book: 6 out of 10 points.

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Sally back, East Smoke takes a job helping the railroad with the task of laying tracks across Canada. Along with Smoke, Cal, Pearlie, and Louis, all decide to go together. Without giving anything away the action starts almost as soon as the group heads out and does not end until Smoke is forced to use his training from Preacher. If you have followed this series I will also add that this is another 5 star book.

[E. Franmklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Action in Canada

Good action. Weary story line. This series begins to stale. Seems familiar plots with minor twists. The author has been including portions from earlier books. This practice interrupts the focus of the reader who thinks, "Here it comes again". The plots are becoming redundant. Hoping for something more original. The only thing new is the location.

[Martha Peebles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoke Jensen

Thank you for another great read. I love ❤️ these books on Smoke. I like to see what he will do to some one who messes with his family or friend’s.look forward to the next book.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy the 30th book of the series.

[Ted Cartier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in this series. The Smoke Jensen series is my favorite of William Johnstone's many books series.

[Dirk Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's good read

Really, really enjoyed this book. Lots and lots of action. Couldn't stop reading this book. I would recommend this book to anyone

[Ted Torgerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story that brought Smoke Jenson into the building of Canada’s transcontinental railway. Some great history along with a fun shoot em up tail of Smoke and team. A fun read.

[Laurice R Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this series twice before over the last ten years. I have enjoyed it each time I read it. I will not read it again but I have always enjoyed it. I only wish I had lived in that time.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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