Cruel Winter of the Mountain Man is a classic, somewhat formulaic Western with some larger-than-life characters reminiscent of Hollywood's golden era of Westerns that made so many actors household names. And that's what makes it entertaining. 

Protagonist Smoke Jensen is everyone's favorite neighborhood gunslinger, down from his ranch in Colorado, to see the ailing former sheriff of Salt Lick, Texas. Jensen's timing is almost too perfect as his visit coincides with another visitor coming to town — the venomous Snake Bishop and his gang of 20+ marauders aiming to rob the bank, kill everybody, and burn the town to the ground. 

Even with Jensen's effort to turn the townspeople into a posse capable of defending the town, things seem pretty grim. If that wasn't bad enough, a Texas nor'easter will hit the town with heavy rain, blinding snow, and blustery winds. 

Although slow to start, the story quickly takes off as soon as Jensen arrives in Salt Lick. Along with Jensen, Johnstone gives us the perspective of the outlaws — including two of Bishop's men who are looking for a bigger payday by cutting out their boss. A quick read that delivers exactly what it promises!