Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves

The Bass Reeves Trilogy #1

by Sidney Thompson

"Sidney Thompson tells the story of the early career of one of the greatest deputy U.S. Marshals in American history, Bass Reeves, and his life as a slave before he became a lawman"--

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical

Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2020

About the author

The first two novels in THE BASS REEVES TRILOGY--FOLLOW THE ANGELS, FOLLOW THE DOVES (2020) & HELL ON THE BORDER (2021)--inspired the 2023 Paramount+ miniseries LAWMEN: BASS REEVES (produced by Taylor Sheridan & starring Golden-Globe nominee David Oyelowo, Dennis Quaid, and Donald Sutherland). I was a Creative Consultant with the show. Book Three, THE FORSAKEN AND THE DEAD, was published in 2023. This bestselling trilogy has received numerous honors for preserving whitewashed cultural history.

Though enslaved for the first 22 years of his life, Bass Reeves rose to epic heights as the most successful and feared lawman in the Old West. The trilogy narrates his life story.

My other books include a middle-grade novel, KUDZU'S ENORMOUS NEW LIFE, which features a cast of animal characters and an autistic boy who live on a small farm in the Mississippi Delta. Margaret McMullan, author of Where the Angels Lived and How I Found the Strong, said, "Think E.B. White and Beatrice Potter. Kudzu’s Enormous New Life will be a classic." The book was nominated for the 2022 Mississippi Institute of Arts & Letters Book Award for Youth Literature, was a finalist for the 2021 American Book Fest Award for Children's Fiction, and was a 2023 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Winner for Animals/Pets, Middle Grade Fiction, & Special Needs/Disability Awareness.

In addition: YOU/WEE: POEMS FROM A FATHER (2018) and SIDESHOW: STORIES, winner of Foreword INDIES Silver Award for Short Story Collection of the Year (2006).

I earned an MFA in creative writing at the University of Arkansas and a PhD in American literature/African-American narratives at the University of North Texas, and now teach creative writing and African-American literature at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

Reviews

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bass Reeves was a successful deputy U.S. marshal for many years. But before that he was an enslaved person, forced to accompany his master while he fought in the Confederate army. I had never heard of Reeves, but the part of his life as a marshal interested me. Unfortunately, I should have paid more attention to the blurb for this book. It is an origin story, and the first book of a trilogy, so it begins with his childhood and his life as a slave. By the end of the book Reeves had just gained his freedom. Books 2 and 3 will have to cover the part of his life that I wanted to read about.

Since there was no bibliography, my assumption is that most of this book is fiction. I would really like to know how much of this was accurate. Often in historical fiction the author will explain how far they strayed from the facts. I wish that this author had done that. The Acknowledgements did mention “Black Gun, Silver Star” by Art T. Burton and I discovered that it is available on Audible. I will probably read that book, so I am grateful that this book pointed me towards it. The writing here wasn’t bad, and the book held my interest. The narrator of the audiobook, Midnite Michael, did a very good job. Nevertheless, I am not sure that I will continue with the series. Maybe I will decide after reading a factual account. 3.5 stars

I received free copies of the ebook and audiobook from the publisher.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in an HF Trilogy covering the life of Bass Reeves. Reeves was the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. However, before that, he was a slave. This first installment focuses on Reeves as a young man, property of a Texas rancher. The Master "gifts" Bass to his son, who is off to fight with the Texas Calvary in the Western campaign of The Civil War.

The book had a slow start for me, not the author's fault. I always have difficulty adapting to books that are written with broken language. Thompson stays true to his character, and Bass' voice is that of uneducated slave through-out the story. I now believe, had it not been written this way, the story would not hold the punch that it does

From what I gathered on google searches, Sidney Thompson has done his homework. He spent a decade researching his subject.

An excellent beginning to the story of one man's life. Looking forward to reading book 2. Highly recommended.

[Sandra Scroggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bass rises above his slave life

This story just sweeps you up and carries you away on the life of Bass. Can’t wait for the next nook.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves was a song that Bass Reeves used to sing. Raised as a slave, and after picking cotton in his childhood, his master taught him how to shoot. Reeves became an expert marksman which had serious implications as the Civil War broke out.

Bass Reeves second master (the son of his first master) was sadistic who humiliated him on a daily basis. But that ensuing humiliation, the love he found in a woman, heroics, the war, and cruel games his master thrust upon him, solidified Reeves termination to gain his freedom. But at what price? A cost he never counted on.

First in a series of three, this is a beautiful historical work that place Reeves in the pantheon of American heroes. Beautifully paced, it’s a thrilling historical novel that narrates a great man’s exploits among the near mythic world of the 19th century frontier.

Narrator Midnight Michael, does a superlative job in bringing the story to excitement and life.

Well deserved 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Larry Settembrini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read covering many of the happenings during this time period.

[Mike Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

From 1875 to 1897, Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves rode the dangerous territory of Arkansas and Oklahoma, arresting over 3000 felons, and killing or wounding fourteen bad men in defense of his own life. He was never wounded though he did have his hat and belt shot off in two separate gunfights. Not only was he a brave and fierce lawman, he had such a dogged sense of duty that he even tracked down and arrested his own son for murder, then watched as his boy was convicted and sent off to prison.

Before he ever mounted a horse to chase down his first outlaw, Bass Reeves was a slave. It is Reeves’s life during this shameful period of American history that Sidney Thompson shows us in Follow the Angels; Follow the Doves, the first volume in his Bass Reeves trilogy. To own another human being, to whip him, put him in chains, and sell him and his family off like livestock, slave owners had to believe that their captives were less than human. To get the rest of society to allow them to perpetuate this disgusting practice, they also had to convince everyone else that the slaves were inferior and that slavery was best for everyone. Most importantly, because physical force alone would not keep large numbers of grown men and women in captivity, they had to convince the slaves that their lot in life was the way things should be.

Of course we know that Bass eventually gained his freedom. But to become free he had to break the psychological bonds of slavery that held him tighter than any physical chain ever could. One of the saddest scenes in Thompson’s novel is Bass’s first day as a young field hand. As he takes to the field with the other slaves, Bass’s mother, Pearlee, tearfully tells him—“You a slave, and this is slavery. And what that means is Master Reeves have the right to tell us what to do because he own this whole plantation and everything on it, including me and you and everyone. That be why he’s so busy, why we respect him so much. He take care a us, make sure we eat and get by. Now it’s your turn to do your part, you hear? We here to be thankful.”

With the seed of inferiority planted in his head, Bass begins his life as a servant. He rises from field work to take charge of the plantation’s livestock. Later, he becomes a favorite of the master, William Reeves, when he demonstrates a special talent with firearms. His life changes when he is given to the master’s son, George Reeves, who puts him in chains and has him whipped to let him know his place. Then the younger Reeves takes Bass into the Civil War as his body servant. The young master knows of Bass’s expertise with a firearm and orders Bass to kill Union soldiers. Through his struggle Bass grows physically and emotionally, learning about those who hold him in captivity as he learns about himself. He discovers that his captors depend on him much more than he depends on them. He reminisces that in his life as a slave, he’s had a kind master and a cruel one. Of the two, he concludes that the kind one was the worst.

Though Follow the Angels; Follow the Doves is the first volume of a trilogy, it is a stand-alone story with tension building to a dramatic climax. It is a beautifully written, exciting, and deeply felt story of a man’s struggle to free his soul. I can’t wait for the next installment.

[Prashant Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves by Sidney Thompson

More than anything else... We believe according to what we think. I am truly glad that Sidney Thompson wrote this great piece of work. The story lines revolves around historical aspects defining the characters present situation.

Before Bass Reeves could have a special interest as the best nineteenth-century American lawman, capturing a larger number of bandits than some other delegate during his long term profession as an agent U.S. marshal in the absolute most risky locales of the Wild West, he was a slave.
Reeves became an expert marksman under the tutelage of his master, winning shooting competitions in the area after a childhood picking cotton. His talent had severe repercussions, however, when the Civil War broke out.

Reeves' resolve to obtain his freedom was solidified by the subsequent humiliation, passion, heroics, fighting, mind games, and fear and drew him one step further on his fated journey to an illustrious career.
This taught us two things-
1. Firstly it motivates us to keep working in the direction of our desired goal with honesty to our soul.
2. Secondly it clearly shows that everything is in our mind... As we are not the slaves of individuals but we are more as a slave to our own thinking process.

Whosoever is confused between obeying and changing the current path of struggle must read this Follow angeles and follow doves.

*Available on Amazon*

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book were beautiful and other parts felt forced and choppy.

[Sally Kilpatrick]

Here's the thing: I want to read about Bass Reeves, but IDK.

This novel starts on a plantation, and I've got some feelings about lots of things going on. First, there's the "Note on Language" where Thompson wanted to use a certain hateful word but the University of Nebraska Press had him write it as "n_____." Honestly, at this point, I've read a great deal of historical fiction by Black authors who can convey such things without ever having to use the word.

Then there was the scene where the enslaved workers "laughed with the overseer and remarked on their good fortune that the sun was absent that day."

Eh, I don't think I can do this one. Thompson teaches African-American lit and creative writing and may very well know much more on the subject than I do. Lord knows I'm not wanting any kind of trauma p*rn, either.

Methinks it's not for me.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves (Bass Reeves Trilogy #1)
by Sidney Thompson
The struggle of an individual slave at the beginning of the Civil war. As a young boy growing up with his remaining family on the plantation of his master. He had found peace and love with his youth. In the years that followed his master used him to gain esteem and financial gain from his remarkable marksmanship. Just before the beginning of the war he was taken from his home Bass, is dragged and humiliated by his master's son. His new master had a different view of slavery, violent and carnal abuse of the slaves under his protection. The Master's son uses Bass's ability to shoot to gain esteem during the Texas militia attempts to overcome the Federal troops. Bass's struggle fighting with the Southern Texas troops, Arkansas infantry and Indian brigade against the Federal troops in the south. The book remarkably describes the carnage of war, and the many losses, and gains in these violent battles. The struggle of intelligence and the projection of the white ideology for slavery is brought into question in the lulls of the battles.
The book uses language for the time, although a great resource for the classroom, the language will be a hard discussion. The author places an importance on using this vulgar term to show the times.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

But the more he picked, the more he had to pick, as if he wasn't getting anywhere. There were branches behind branches, bolls behind bolls, and husks and sticks stuck him from every direction. Cotton wasn't all soft, like how a rose wasn't all rose.

This is compassion realized through words. A decades-late poetic apology. What I loved about this book was the very uncovering of Bass Reeves' heart. The story and characters feel emotionally real. A novel for civil war enthusiasts, historians, equestrians & poets, what it is most - for me - is an exploration of the human heart.

He stepped away from the stall to throw light into the next stall before passing on to the next, until he'd found Strawberry's flank and touched him with his palm. "Strawberry," he said, stroking him until Strawberry nickered. "Strawberry," he said again, and that soothed Bass too. "Strawberry." Close to a whisper now. He hugged the sorrel's neck, and a run of wax gathered in the crook of his thumb.

[Tripp · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 50% was good, after that the plot started to bore me. But I don’t usually love war novels so I shouldn’t be too surprised.

Other than that, the n word was used so much when it didn’t really feel necessary. There was an author’s note in the beginning about him saying he used it to truly showcase how cruel and violent enslavement was, but then when you read the book it’s not really violent or cruel at all. In fact it felt like the author was attempting to make the slave masters nice and kind to their slaves which is so far removed from what slavery was truly like. This also caused the excessive use of the n word to feel very unnecessary and out of place.

But I guess this is what tends to happen when those who were/are oppressors attempt to write a story from the POV those who were/are oppressed.

[johnny dangerously · Rating 2 out of 5]

A promising and engaging start, the novel sadly devolves as the author clearly wants to write about, but isn't interested in, the Civil War. I've read plenty of war novels, and this book feels that disclosing the details of the war is necessary, but not very interesting. Those middle chapters drag and drag and drag.

[Betty Pickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am fortunate to live close to Texas Christian University where this author is a professor.
This novel is a fiction based on fact. Having lived in Texas my entire life; having ancestors who fought on the side of the confederacy at Pea Ridge, Arkansas & having ancestors who settled in Indian Territory in the 19th century, these are familiar stories. However, I had never heard of Bass Reeves until the series aired on television. Comments from members of a Bass Reeves group on FB led me to the books.
While I admire much of Taylor Sheridan’s work, I am disappointed in his production of Bass Reeves in his series. The story of Bass Reeves is so much bigger than Sheridan portrays.
Reeves was born a slave in Arkansas owned by a ‘kind’ master. Kind because he didn’t beat his slaves, he allowed Bass’s father, who is part of another plantation, to visit his son once a year, the master gives a woman one day off after childbirth to recoup before sending her out to the fields again. He reads the Bible to Bass, but will not teach him to read. It was illegal for one thing. Fear that It would put ideas into the minds of slaves of independence & freedom.
William Reeves gives Bass to his son George. George is not ‘kind’. Their relationship is full of mind-games. Bass learns patience & how to think.
George takes Bass into battle with him when the war arrives in Arkansas. Bass is a sharpshooter…never misses. Of course, George wants him close.
The author describes two battles. One is Pea Ridge. What I find is the author’s portrayal of this battle is correct.
Bass learns that the white man is not as smart as the white man thinks he is.
This black man has lived an adventurous life by the time he is 22. And history tells us there is more to come for him.
Because of the Bass Reeves series, I have faces to put with the characters.
I’m glad I found this book & look forward to reading the other books in this trilogy.

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves, the first installment of the Bass Reeves Trilogy, is a riveting exploration of the origin story of Bass Reeves, a figure who would go on to become one of the most accomplished lawmen in nineteenth-century America. This novel deftly combines the true American tradition with elements of adventure and excitement, delivering a compelling narrative that transcends historical boundaries. The tale unfolds against the backdrop of the Wild West, tracing Reeves's journey from a childhood spent picking cotton as a slave to his transformation into an expert marksman, winning shooting contests that would shape his destiny. The narrative weaves together elements of love, heroics, war, and resilience, providing readers with a multifaceted portrait of a man determined to rise above the shackles of slavery. As Reeves navigates the complexities of the Civil War and confronts the challenges of the frontier, the novel becomes a thrilling historical account that places him among the pantheon of American heroes. With its exciting and adventurous spirit, Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves captures the essence of a classic Western, making it a must-read for enthusiasts of the genre and anyone seeking a gripping historical tale.

[Elizabeth Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having loved the Paramount+ series Lawmen: Bass Reeves starring David Oyelowo and realizing from the credits that it was based on novels, I was really excited to start this trilogy.

It disappointed me.

Frankly, the series is VERY loosely adapted from this first book and for the better. There's only one scene that the two clearly share.

As another 21st-century White author who's written about African-American slavery, I'm always interested to see how my colleagues do. It was a blog post by Thompson describing the years he'd poured into this trilogy that really made me eager to read it. But on whole, I find this first book problematic. Bass's awkward, ironic position as essentially a Black Confederate is barely explored. Instead, he and his fellow body servants-turned-soldiers seem to be having a great time; there's a line about them having few cares. Bass's master ordering him to impregnate not one but two enslaved women comes across as author wish fulfillment, honestly. The series wisely discarded the second woman and added the POV of Bass's wife Jenny, sparing us the unrelenting male gaze.

If I hadn't already borrowed Book 2 from my library, I don't think I'd continue the series.

[Kirk Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic start to a book series based on a historic figure. It details the early years of Bass Reeves' life and is perhaps the best historical fiction I have read in recent memory. My only issue is with the publisher replacing a difficult to read word that was used often during this period and in the book. When reading, the n_____ instead of the actual word pulled me out of the story and was unnecessary as you had to read the word in your head to understand the sentence it was used in. Are we that fragile that you can't see the word you are reading in your head?

Still, a fantastic book with a compelling view of the pre-civil war years up to the start of the war, from a slave's point of view. Must read!

[Rebecca Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a wonderful book to read. It is not one I would normally pick, so I was glad to know my Bookclub was going to read it. I enjoy history and learning what I can, especially if its not from a textbook. It was not as ‘novel’ and I would hope, so it was a bit boring. There was no real chatter development or ups and downs the way most great books have… regardless though, I enjoyed it and ended up buying the second and third book! I’m excited to hear it was become a tv show too!

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

In many ways I am torn over this novel. I love Bass Reeves as both a character and a historical person who loved and breathed and I wanted a book with a bit more narrative flourish about Bass, which this delivers. But there are some “isms” in the book that detract from it. A tendency to depict the Native American characters in a racist way, a tendency to try to cast sympathy onto the slave owners. The story also languishes sometimes and just sputters a bit from time to time.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew it was a novel going in but there are so many fascinating details that I want to know what’s story and what’s fact. More detailed about the Battle at Pea Ridge than I prefer but so close to home(2 miles away) that it kept my interest.
Will definitely read the second in the trilogy, as well as do my own research to discern what I can about fact v. fiction.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book of the Bass Reeves Trilogy (an early black lawman and marshall in the west) begins with his birth in slavery and takes him through his freedom. It is set in Arkansas and Texas and includes some of the Civil War with Bass as personal servant to his master, a general among the Texas contingent. I enjoyed the book, as I had enjoyed the tv series.

[Feebot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great western. Might be good to watch show before reading book. Characters are much more violent and ruthless in book, you may get bored of movie watching after book. If your a comic book fan, Jonah Hex has similiar villains. Gruesome time to be an American, civil war times. Makes these Trump days look like a walk in the park, even though a million Americans were x-ed on his watch.

[Kylaslittlelibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like James by Percival Everett, can I interest you in this novel about a real life black man and his escape from slavery?

This may be nonfiction but it's written with the art of storytelling and easily held my attention.

I read this for research but I would recommend it to all.

Contnet: the abuses of enslavement told in a way I would let my teen read.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it even possible this book hasn’t been picked up and only has 23 reviews? Is there another page for it somewhere? I’ll be haunted by it for awhile and was absolutely gutted by the final sentence. 😭😭😭

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written account of Bass Reeves’ formative years. Great character development.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF language bad

[Shadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last book of 2023! This was a 4.5! So good!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Started out too grim with the horror of slavery, but I couldn’t stop reading & it was great.

[Anna Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical novel about Bass Reeves, the eventual deputy US Marshall. This book covers his life as a slave to a TX land owner in the civil war. I’ll probably finish the series.

[Alan Spinrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t wait to read the next 2 in this trilogy. The picture of different aspects of slavery cruelty is disturbing, to put it mildly. Well written, tough to put down.