Review - Blood, Guts, and Glory -- 5 stars

Reading the William Johnstone book entitled Blood, Guts, and Glory  a reader can see how the western part of the country differs from back East in New Hampshire.  The plot of the story concerns the early days of Smoke Jensen and his second wife, his first and a baby son murdered by outlaws.  

Smoke is considered the fastest on the draw through the West.  He has never killed a person who did not deserve killing and he has no wanted posters issues for him.  He is quick to reach when an injustice is done and those involved are brought to a quick justice.

This story revolved around an old acquaintance who along with 2 outlaws comes to Smoke’s house and shoots his new wife, Sally.  For a while it seems she may not survive but survive she does.

Smoke takes off after them when he finds that are after his wife who just happens to be pregnant with Smokes twins (although at first, he does not know about the twins.  Sally is in New Hampshire with her father who is an accomplished lawyer.

As might be expected, there is a showdown with this set of criminals and in true western fashion, of course the good guys win.  Although there is a lot of adventure here, getting to this point, it still a pleasure to read about Smoke Jensen and the way he handles the troublemakers.

A short book that reads very quickly and is hard to put down as Smoke’s exploits make the adventure one of suspense.  Definitely one  that a fan of Johnstone will have trouble putting down. The shortness is its only flaw!