Smoke Jensen books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Smoke Jensen series?"

"There are five books in the Smoke Jensen series, published between 2015 and 2023."

Q: "What is the first book in the Smoke Jensen series?"

"The first book in the Smoke Jensen series is Smoke Jensen, the Beginning, published in 2015."

Q: "How does the Smoke Jensen series relate to the Mountain Man series?"

"This series covers Smoke Jensen's origin story and early adventures, separate from the long-running Mountain Man series where Smoke first appeared. While the Mountain Man series (started by William W. Johnstone) follows Smoke across dozens of books, this shorter series by J.A. Johnstone focuses specifically on how Smoke became the gunfighter readers already know."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Smoke Jensen, the Beginning	2015	J.A. Johnstone	Buy
2	This Violent Land	2015	J.A. Johnstone	Buy
3	Outlaw Country	2021	J.A. Johnstone	Buy
4	When the Shooting Starts	2022	J.A. Johnstone	Buy
5	Desolation Creek	2023	J.A. Johnstone	Buy

The Smoke Jensen series is a five-book run that fills in the backstory of one of Western fiction’s most popular characters. Smoke Jensen first appeared in William W. Johnstone’s Mountain Man series, which ran for dozens of books. This companion series, written by J.A. Johnstone, goes back to the beginning and tells the story of how a young man on the frontier became the fastest gun in the West.

Starting with Smoke Jensen, the Beginning in 2015, the books trace Smoke’s transformation from a raw kid into a feared gunfighter. This Violent Land continues the origin story, while later entries like Outlaw Country, When the Shooting Starts, and Desolation Creek move into his early career. For longtime fans of the Mountain Man books, these novels answer questions about Smoke’s past. For new readers, they work as a good entry point into the character without needing to tackle the massive original series first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Smoke Jensen series?

There are five books in the Smoke Jensen series, published between 2015 and 2023.

What is the first book in the Smoke Jensen series?

The first book in the Smoke Jensen series is Smoke Jensen, the Beginning, published in 2015.

How does the Smoke Jensen series relate to the Mountain Man series?

This series covers Smoke Jensen’s origin story and early adventures, separate from the long-running Mountain Man series where Smoke first appeared. While the Mountain Man series (started by William W. Johnstone) follows Smoke across dozens of books, this shorter series by J.A. Johnstone focuses specifically on how Smoke became the gunfighter readers already know.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order