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Eye for an Eye
Lower Missouri River, late summer 1835.
Two brothers, fur trappers Zebadiah
and Jonathan Creed, are bushwhacked.
Jonathan is murdered and Zebadiah left
for dead. Zeb is found by a Quaker doctor
and his daughter, who nurse him back to
health and insist he stay with them. But
the appeal of a peaceful life cannot quell
Zeb’s burning desire for revenge and he
sets out to find the two men who killed
his brother.
In recounting his search, Zebadiah
Creed spins an exciting tale that leads
readers by steamboat down the Great
Mississippi to St. Louis and on to New
Orleans, where Zeb finds revenge is
never as simple as killing a man, and
retribution and redemption are not the
same.
Two brothers, fur trappers Zebadiah
and Jonathan Creed, are bushwhacked.
Jonathan is murdered and Zebadiah left
for dead. Zeb is found by a Quaker doctor
and his daughter, who nurse him back to
health and insist he stay with them. But
the appeal of a peaceful life cannot quell
Zeb’s burning desire for revenge and he
sets out to find the two men who killed
his brother.
In recounting his search, Zebadiah
Creed spins an exciting tale that leads
readers by steamboat down the Great
Mississippi to St. Louis and on to New
Orleans, where Zeb finds revenge is
never as simple as killing a man, and
retribution and redemption are not the
same.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2017
1 person is currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Mark C. Jackson
4 books13 followersOriginally from Oklahoma, Mark C. Jackson is the author of the American Historical Fiction Series The Tales of Zebadiah Creed that includes An Eye for an Eye, (his first book and winner of the American Fiction Award for best Historical/Adventure, 2018), his second novel, The Great Texas Dance, and the third book of the trilogy, Blue Rivers of Heaven, to be released on September 21st, 2022. He wrote the four-part series Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid for the acclaimed podcast Legends of the Old West. Mark is also an award-winning songwriter and composer who resides in Chula Vista, California with his wife Judy, their cat Mr. Kitty, and their dog Hazel Nut.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 24, 2018
Not my type of reading.
October 25, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: AN EYE FOR AN EYE
By Mark C. Jackson
Five Star Publishing, a part of Cengage Learning
ISBN 9781432832971
210 Pages
AN EYE FOR AN EYE has a subtitle on the cover of the book: “The Tales of Zebediah Creed, Book One. Here’s to book two, three and four . . . and five and six and as many as Mr. Jackson wishes to spin out for us.
What a unique ride! I was expecting a western filled with cowboys and bad guys and gunfights, just like other books I’ve read from Five Star. Instead, I was led into a world of black market in fur trade. In AN EYE FOR AN EYE, we have a tale about our strong-willed hero Zebediah Creed as he pursues the small-time thieves that work for what amounted to crime bosses of syndicate – you know the sort; we grew to know them in the 1920s, during the bootlegging days of Prohibition. Except, maybe, these fur trading bosses were much nastier as to their sense of justice and morality. This is nothing like that Daniel Boone or Davy Crocket we grew up with in the sanitized 1950s TV shows, oh, my, no!
Our main man, Zebediah, is out to avenge his brother’s death, which is a standard plot device in your typical western. But no, here we meet so much more. A gang of marauders kill his brother, and Zebediah is left for dead. A preacher and his daughter see that his health is restored, and our Zebediah heads out on his vengeful crusade. Zeb travels from the backwaters of the Missouri, down into the Mississippi, gaining some experience among the fur trading business (legitimate and otherwise0 in both St. Louis and New Orleans. The further down the river he goes, the bar scenes increasingly lack in civility. But, in a clever and smug way, and in quite a paradox for the reader to experience, the author Jackson has those very same bars show a degree of sophistication in societal preferences as Zeb travels south on the waters.
There’s the sidekick – one British wag, who gives us reason to wonder where his loyalties reside. There are women – some tainted more than others – who hold influences of all kinds on the crime bosses. There are those who become allies of Zeb in ways that are unpredictable.
And lest I forget, there are the bosses. These gentlemen – and I mean that term in every way – may show culture and fine breeding, but they also are well-schooled in ways bring about suffering to those who oppose them without hesitation or second thought – and sometimes, those ways affect even those who just happen to be in the wrong place and the right time. Nefarious indeed!
The setting carries the reader down the rivers on rafts and riverboats, complete with the sound of steam and the slosh of the paddlewheels, and even a visit to a cult-like village. The city life of St. Louis, as classy as it first seems, is at best fourth-rate when compared to the company we meet in New Orleans, right on down to the fine living in the brothels, and even into the opera house. Vibrant descriptions of action, scenery and dialogue flow from Mr. Jackson’s mind with effective and emotive style.
In the books to follow, I am sure our author Mark Jackson will treat us to more wondrously evil villains, more suspenseful adventures for our hero, and more story and plot that will thrill us. His first book here is certainly an indication of all of that, and more.
By Mark C. Jackson
Five Star Publishing, a part of Cengage Learning
ISBN 9781432832971
210 Pages
AN EYE FOR AN EYE has a subtitle on the cover of the book: “The Tales of Zebediah Creed, Book One. Here’s to book two, three and four . . . and five and six and as many as Mr. Jackson wishes to spin out for us.
What a unique ride! I was expecting a western filled with cowboys and bad guys and gunfights, just like other books I’ve read from Five Star. Instead, I was led into a world of black market in fur trade. In AN EYE FOR AN EYE, we have a tale about our strong-willed hero Zebediah Creed as he pursues the small-time thieves that work for what amounted to crime bosses of syndicate – you know the sort; we grew to know them in the 1920s, during the bootlegging days of Prohibition. Except, maybe, these fur trading bosses were much nastier as to their sense of justice and morality. This is nothing like that Daniel Boone or Davy Crocket we grew up with in the sanitized 1950s TV shows, oh, my, no!
Our main man, Zebediah, is out to avenge his brother’s death, which is a standard plot device in your typical western. But no, here we meet so much more. A gang of marauders kill his brother, and Zebediah is left for dead. A preacher and his daughter see that his health is restored, and our Zebediah heads out on his vengeful crusade. Zeb travels from the backwaters of the Missouri, down into the Mississippi, gaining some experience among the fur trading business (legitimate and otherwise0 in both St. Louis and New Orleans. The further down the river he goes, the bar scenes increasingly lack in civility. But, in a clever and smug way, and in quite a paradox for the reader to experience, the author Jackson has those very same bars show a degree of sophistication in societal preferences as Zeb travels south on the waters.
There’s the sidekick – one British wag, who gives us reason to wonder where his loyalties reside. There are women – some tainted more than others – who hold influences of all kinds on the crime bosses. There are those who become allies of Zeb in ways that are unpredictable.
And lest I forget, there are the bosses. These gentlemen – and I mean that term in every way – may show culture and fine breeding, but they also are well-schooled in ways bring about suffering to those who oppose them without hesitation or second thought – and sometimes, those ways affect even those who just happen to be in the wrong place and the right time. Nefarious indeed!
The setting carries the reader down the rivers on rafts and riverboats, complete with the sound of steam and the slosh of the paddlewheels, and even a visit to a cult-like village. The city life of St. Louis, as classy as it first seems, is at best fourth-rate when compared to the company we meet in New Orleans, right on down to the fine living in the brothels, and even into the opera house. Vibrant descriptions of action, scenery and dialogue flow from Mr. Jackson’s mind with effective and emotive style.
In the books to follow, I am sure our author Mark Jackson will treat us to more wondrously evil villains, more suspenseful adventures for our hero, and more story and plot that will thrill us. His first book here is certainly an indication of all of that, and more.
October 20, 2021
An Eye For An Eye by Mark C. Jackson
In the 1800s, life was not easy, and men worked hard to make a living. Brothers Jonathan and Zebadiah Creed were fur trappers. Jonathan had a family to support, and the Creed brothers worked together trapping. There was danger. Not only from their prey but also other animals and other men.
They knew trouble had met them when men came into their camp. The men stole the furs Jonathan and Zeb had worked hard to get, and then the thieves tied them to a tree. They killed Jonathan, and Zeb was left to die.
Zeb wakes up later in a small cabin. Badly hurt, a man and daughter are caring for Zeb. His injuries are painful, and he is also suffering from the grief of his brother’s murder. The daughter, Anna, and Zeb begin to feel an attraction to each other. When he is stronger, Anna takes him to Jonathan’s burial site so Zeb can say goodbye to him. Anna feels lonely and very upset when Zeb decides it is time to leave and seek revenge for his brother’s death. He knows the men that are responsible, and he will do everything he can to find them.
Zeb’s journey is filled with terrorizing and harrowing near-death events. He nearly gets killed helping another man. Then, Zeb is deserted by his friend, whom he went along with to ensure he didn’t get into trouble. Zeb witnesses deaths and does his share of fighting. All the while, he is searching for specific men. Zeb gets some help along the way from others who help him out of trouble. But then there is a cost to pay for that help.
An Eye For An Eye is a well-written 1800s action/adventure book. It recounts Zebadiah’s journey along the Mississippi River and his experiences as a fur trader who needs to handle his justice. I’m looking forward to book two, The Great Texas Dance. Readers who enjoy history, a bit of old west roughness, justice by someone’s own methods, and about someone who will do anything to make things right, will enjoy An Eye For An Eye.
I was given a copy of An Eye For an Eye to read and review. Thank you.
In the 1800s, life was not easy, and men worked hard to make a living. Brothers Jonathan and Zebadiah Creed were fur trappers. Jonathan had a family to support, and the Creed brothers worked together trapping. There was danger. Not only from their prey but also other animals and other men.
They knew trouble had met them when men came into their camp. The men stole the furs Jonathan and Zeb had worked hard to get, and then the thieves tied them to a tree. They killed Jonathan, and Zeb was left to die.
Zeb wakes up later in a small cabin. Badly hurt, a man and daughter are caring for Zeb. His injuries are painful, and he is also suffering from the grief of his brother’s murder. The daughter, Anna, and Zeb begin to feel an attraction to each other. When he is stronger, Anna takes him to Jonathan’s burial site so Zeb can say goodbye to him. Anna feels lonely and very upset when Zeb decides it is time to leave and seek revenge for his brother’s death. He knows the men that are responsible, and he will do everything he can to find them.
Zeb’s journey is filled with terrorizing and harrowing near-death events. He nearly gets killed helping another man. Then, Zeb is deserted by his friend, whom he went along with to ensure he didn’t get into trouble. Zeb witnesses deaths and does his share of fighting. All the while, he is searching for specific men. Zeb gets some help along the way from others who help him out of trouble. But then there is a cost to pay for that help.
An Eye For An Eye is a well-written 1800s action/adventure book. It recounts Zebadiah’s journey along the Mississippi River and his experiences as a fur trader who needs to handle his justice. I’m looking forward to book two, The Great Texas Dance. Readers who enjoy history, a bit of old west roughness, justice by someone’s own methods, and about someone who will do anything to make things right, will enjoy An Eye For An Eye.
I was given a copy of An Eye For an Eye to read and review. Thank you.
July 6, 2019
Mark Jackso's page turning tale about Zebediah Creed and his brother Jonathan had twists and turns until the very last page. Beautifully written and compelling, the reader will be happy to know this will be a series. I can't wait for the next one.
December 25, 2019
Mark Jackson is one of my new favorite authors. Looking forward to reading book two! Hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews