Native Roots

Zeb Hanks Mystery #0.5

by Mark Reps

Zeb Hanks is a modern lawman, but he had to start somewhere. This two-part novella explores Zeb’s roots as a young man and his early law enforcement career as a border patrol agent and Tucson policeman. A mysterious beating, illegal immigrants crossing the border, and a brush with the jaded world of politics mesh together to teach Zeb the meaning of justice, western style. This novella is a prequel to the Zeb Hanks Mystery Series.

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2019

About the author

Mark Reps has been a writer and storyteller his whole life. Born in small town southeastern Minnesota, he trained as a mathematician and chiropractor but never lost his love of telling or writing a good story. As an avid desert wilderness hiker Mark spends a great deal of time roaming the desert and other terrains of southeastern Arizona from December to May. A chance meeting with an old time colorful sheriff led him to develop the Zeb Hanks character and the world that surrounds him. Mark returns often to SE Arizona for inspiration, information and to maintain the general feel of the area, learn its history and understand the local residents.

When Mark started writing he became pen pals with Tony Hillerman who offered up tips, criticism and ideas on some of his early novels. His books are often compared with the Longmire television series and books by Craig Johnson.

Mark’s most recent project is the eighth installment of the ZEB HANKS series, NATIVE DESTINY which launched in the spring of 2018. He is working on a Zeb Hanks Novella which will be distributed free to subscribers. Books nine and ten (and likely beyond) are planned at a pace of one per year through 2020. Welcome to the series!

Signup for new releases and free content: http://eepurl.com/b6_7m-/

Find out more at:
facebook.com/ZebHanks
www.markreps.com
@markreps1

Many thanks to the many wonderful, loyal readers out there! Feedback is always welcome and Mark tries to respond to every request and question. If you read and enjoy the books, please review them on Amazon and Goodreads.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Native Roots details Zeb Hanks early years, his mentoring by Song Bird and Sheriff Jake, his home life, and his start in law enforcement before he became Sheriff in his home town.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of a three-story combined kindle book Western Justice: Three Western Writers - Three Mystery Novellas. It tells the story of Mark Reps' sheriff character Zeb Hanks and how he developed into the man he is in those stories.

The story is mostly about an episode in the young Zeb Hanks' life when his brother an he go out pranking on Halloween in a Arizona town and the consequences of how that takes place. Then it follows his career in law enforcement through the Border patrol, Tuscon PD, and into how he becomes sheriff.

The story moves along a bit jerkily, jumping in time then taking extended periods to look at specific events. Because this is a novella significant details and events are summarized rather than shown, which was unfortunate because there's a novel in his early law enforcement that isn't given sufficient time or attention.

Overall its pretty well written, with more Native American spiritualism than I care for, but a bit frustrating.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having already read Native Bones Zeb Hanks #5, I thoroughly enjoyed going back and seeing where Zeb came from and some of the early events that helped shape his life. The story is well-written, flows easily, and has great characters. There were a few typos, as another reviewer mentioned, that would have been caught by even a casual proofreader, but they weren't so numerous that it interfered with my enjoyment of the story. I look forward to reading more of the Zeb Hanks stories and also checking out the remaining two books in this boxset.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the story interesting. A novel about a young boy whose father is murdered in Jail. The sheriff and the medicine man take him under their wing and teach him about Indian Ways and helps him to become a man. Mark Reps introduces Zeb Hanks be fore he became sheriff of his hometown and what got him started on that path. I am looking forward to reading more about Zeb.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent look at Indian lore and traditions. This is about the Sheriff’s life as a child growing up and as an adult solving cases. The author has done his research well. This is an author I will follow in the future.

[Bruce D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early life of Zebulan aHanks

This 2-part story about Zeb Banks starts with his early life, and some.of the.trials he went through, and later outlines his time as a border patrol.agent, and later as a me!her of the Tucson Police Department. Pretty good story.

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning more about Zeb , good book.

[Norman Hirschman · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very interesting and emotional read about a young man growing up to become a Sheriff. Well worth reading.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Reps books are interesting, keeping you wanting to come back to read.

[Laurie DelSignore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading about Zeb's background. What is nice, is this book can be read at any time. It's not dependent on the others, but helps clarify some things I've read in the first few books.

[Judith Mosconi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Zeb Hanks - how he was mentored in the Indian ways.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited
Native Roots, Zeb Hanks Mystery #.05, is a fairly short introduction into the life and career of Zeb Hanks in and around his home state of Arizona, in two parts. We are with him in his small southwestern town in Arizona as a youngster 30 years ago, making his way among good and bad guys, whites, Mexican and Indian kids, and his friend and Mentor Sheriff Diablo. and again as a grown man, working first in a mine to get a little experience and a new truck, and then a couple of years in the Border Patrol - USCBP for training and experience, working a time with the Tucson Arizona PD, again for the experience, before joining his hometown Safford, AZ PD, his ultimate career goal, working under his lifetime friend and supporter Sheriff Diablo. A good tale, with personable characters, a well-hidden, intense mystery, well-defined environment, and realistic, professional police action. This is a series I am pleased to recommend to friends and family.
REVIEWED on February 12, 2025, at Goodreads. On February 13 at AmazonSmile, but not available for sale or review at BookBub, B&N, or Kobo.