Deadville: A Novel

by Robert F. Jones

In the year 1833, two young brothers journey into the Wild West to seek their fortune; little do they know they're embarking on the adventure of their lives. Expecting to stumble upon riches as they make their way westward, sixteen-year-old Dillon Griffith and his older brother Owen instead encounter hardship after hardship in the form of Indian raids, bloodthirsty villains, robbery, and kidnapping. With the help of a Shawnee trapper and scout, a runaway slave-turnedmountain man, and a beautiful American Indian warrior, the brothers battle the unexpected setbacks and obstacles that life in the West throws their way, and endeavor to find their place on the American frontier.Packed full of riveting action, gore, and vengeance, Deadville paints a thrillingand historically pristinepicture of life in the Old West, from the physical environment to the social and economic milieus of frontier society. Jones's famously meticulous research, inviting literary style, and suspenseful plot succeed in transporting readers to a time when lawlessness prevailed and buffalo roamedwhen the belief in Manifest Destiny took America by storm and changed the country forever.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Adventure, Historical Fiction

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 1998

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Chris Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far one of my favorite books of any genre. Robert F. Jones wrote about the wilderness with an authenticity that is lacking in many writers (he was a journalist on hunting and fishing for Field and Stream and Sports Illustrated) which shows in his books. He also had a great sense of place and time that comes across as he described the southwest in transition from mountain men covertly moving through the Mexican frontier to a burgeoning American land. Deadville is bloody, funny, sensual, and most of all a great adventure.

[papasteve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different kind of western--more about mountain men and Indian wars than plains settlements with sheriff's and bad guys. An engaging read with good voicing.

[NANCY D. RIGGS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs editing

Would have been much more interesting if there had been a decent editor. Took away from the story. It kept the storyline from flowing

[Glen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remembrance of the West

This is a page Turner for all you wild west aficionados. Mr. Jones spins a powerful story that will surely satisfy. Despite a number of typos; this tale moves along nicely.

[Puna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual fare, but good, nonetheless. Packed with action and realistic western atmosphere. A very interesting read.

[Carol and Gary Curtis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoy Westerns but not this one. I quit after only 9 percent mostly because the author's style was so sparse and wooden.