reviews

In the second installment of a historical fiction series, a man finds himself perilously embroiled in the Texas Revolution.

In 1836, Texas settlers are in open revolt against the Mexican government, attempting to establish independence. Zebadiah Creed joins the cause, enlisting in the New Orleans Greys, still reeling from the murder of his parents by the Lakota and his brother, Jonathan, by “bushwhackin’ thieves.” Zebadiah and his pal Grainger make their way to San Antonio, but their fort at the Alamo is in grave danger, soon to be overtaken by a sea of Mexican soldiers. Both men are tasked with a dangerous mission: delivering a letter to Gen. Sam Houston urgently requesting support. But the Alamo seems increasingly doomed, and Zebadiah and Granger are sent to solicit help from the impossibly arrogant Col. James Fannin, who refuses to comply with the request or to wisely retreat when an overwhelming army of Mexican soldados arrives. Jackson’s sequel to An Eye for an Eye (2017) combines a riveting, briskly paced tale of adventure with a historically nuanced peek at the conflict—the Texans see themselves as freedom fighters while the Mexican government considers the group invaders. The plot can become overly convoluted as well as implausible—at one juncture, Zebadiah seems to believe he can negotiate a peaceful cease-fire with a Mexican general by making him a gift of his Bowie knife, a proposition even he seems embarrassed by later. Still, Zebadiah is a captivatingly nuanced character, murderously angry but morally principled. And as another soldier, Deaf Smith, observes, it’s not at all obvious why he’s there at all: “Are ya here ’cause God wants you to be here? Son, in a fight like this, ya gotta serve somebody or some higher purpose, else your just killin’ for no good reason at all.”

A gripping blend of dramatic fiction and historical portraiture.

~ Kirkus Reviews

“Mark C. Jackson’s character, Zebadiah Creed, in The Great Texas Dance, ‘Tales of Zebadiah Creed, Book 2’ (Five Star, $25.95), lives by his own moral code. At the Alamo in 1836, Creed and best friend, Grainger, are sent off with a plea for reinforcements from Gen. Sam Houston. Within two days, the Alamo falls to the Mexicans. Safe for now, Creed gives the message to Houston, who counters with another errand. Along the way, Creed befriends a young boy, and they both learn about friendship, deceit, loyalty, slavery and war. While much has been written about the actual Alamo siege, this novel from the point of view of a messenger, fills in holes which help round out the story. Filled with tantalizing descriptions and wild action, The Great Texas Dance is, in this reviewer’s opinion, one of the best Western novels ever written.”

—Melody Groves, author of When Outlaws Where Badges

True West Magazine

I have been given the honor of receiving an “Editors’ Choice” along with a great review for the book.

“Fur trappers Zebadiah Creed and his brother Jonathan are traveling the lower Missouri River in the late summer of 1835. One evening while camping, they are bushwhacked, their pelts stolen; Jonathan is killed and Zebadiah is left for dead. Nursed back to health by a local Quaker doctor and his daughter, Zebadiah seeks revenge. On his trip down the Mississippi by riverboat, his destination St. Louis and eventually New Orleans, he meets a new friend, Billy Frieze, who provides help. Zebadiah faces almost insurmountable odds, meeting unusual characters along the way: Frenchy, a sadistic saloon owner in St. Louis; Madam Sophie and the patrons of her bordello in New Orleans; and Olgens Pierre, a free black man who helps Zebadiah accomplish his mission.

I loved this book. What an exciting, fast-paced, action-packed, gripping story with a dramatic conclusion! This is the author’s first novel, and I will be anxious to read the next in the series. I had difficulty putting this book down. The dialog and drama make it one of my favorites this year.”

– Jeff Westerhoff  Historical Novel Society