Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West

Bloody Jack #5

by L.A. Meyer, Katherine Kellgren (narrator)

In Mississippi Jack, the fifth installment in the Bloody Jack series, the intrepid Jacky Faber, having once again eluded British authorities, heads west, hoping that no one will recognize her in the wilds of America. There she tricks the tall-tale hero Mike Fink out of his flatboat, equips it as a floating casino-showboat, and heads south to New Orleans, battling murderous bandits, British soldiers, and other scoundrels along the way.

Will Jacky's carelessness and impulsive actions ultimately cause her beloved Jaimy to be left in her wake? Bold, daring, and downright fun, Jacky Faber proves once again that with resilience and can-do spirit, she can wiggle out of any scrape...well, almost.

14 CDs / 17 Hours

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, Pirates

18 pages, Audio CD

First published August 13, 2007

About the author

Louis A. Meyer is best known as the author of the Bloody Jack novels. He was also a painter and the author of two children's picture books, and he and his wife owned an art gallery called Clair de Loon in Bar Harbor.

Louis A. Meyer passed away on July 29, 2014 from refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. His final Jacky Faber book, Wild Rover No More, was published posthumously in September that year.

Reviews

[AH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the audio book.

I usually listen to these in the car and as people drive past me, they see a crazy middle aged woman laughing her head off as she's driving. Really, if you are suffering from road rage, start listening to this series. You'll find all sorts of excuses to drive around, just to listen to the many exploits of Jacky Faber.

Well, I got sick of paying the ridiculous prices for gas in my neck of the woods so I decided to listen to Jacky's story on my MP3 player instead. I think that I listened non-stop for 2 or 3 days and this morning I couldn't help myself - there I was talking back to the audio book!

OK, crazy middle aged woman - I know you are thinking that. But here's the thing: L.A. Meyer's series is incredible and along the way you actually learn about things.

What strikes me about this series is the incredible cast of characters. The author intersperses historical characters along with his own fictional characters to make a wonderfully entertaining story. While reading this series, I have also travelled (1800's style) from England to the Caribbean, to the coast of France, Spain, and England, to Boston, and in this installment from Boston to New Orleans via the Mississippi.

Jacky Faber is one of the most endearing female characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I love how she can leave a trail of suitors behind her and amass many friends and supporters along her voyages. I also feel for Lt. Jamie Fletcher, Jacky's true love and how the two always seemed to miss each other at every port of call.

These are really long books and I highly recommend the audio version as the narrator does all sorts of voices and really brings Jacky's character to life.

This series is suitable for young adult readers and older.

Highly recommended.

[Dan Lutts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacky Faber strikes again! The book opens as Jacky and the other girls from Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls return to Boston harbor after defeating the slavers who captured them and were shipping them to North Africa to be sold into slavery (see In the Belly of the Bloodhound). But just as she is about to disembark, Jackie is captured by the British who will take her back to England to be tried and hanged as a pirate.

Of course, Jackie escapes. She steals the flatboat that belongs to American blowhard and larger-than-life figure big Mike Fink and heads for the Mississippi River and New Orleans. She turns the flatboat into a gambling casino and picks up a host of colorful and unsavory characters along the way. The trip is fraught with dangers from assorted characters, including pirates, slave hunters, and Native Americans. And, of course, Mike Fink is hot on her trail. He intends to kill her and reclaim his flatboat.

Meanwhile, her true love, Jaimy, who reenlisted in the British Navy, deserts and chases after her. While we follow Jackie directly, we learn about Jamiy's adventures through letters he writes to Jackie, knowing full well she'll never receive them since he can't mail them because he doesn't know where she is.

As always, Mississippi Jack is full of hair raising adventures for Jackie (and Jamiy). However, in this installment many of Jackie's adventures are repetitious, which detracts from what could have been a more exciting story. Just how many times can you be captured, be on the point of death, and then escape? Boooring! Perhaps L. A. Meyer could have deleted some of the incidents to make the narrative tighter and the page count shorter than its 611 pages (which go by pretty fast). But I'm quibbling.

On the whole, Mississippi Jack was a delightful adventure and I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series, My Bonny Light Horseman. And, yes, I enjoy the Bloody Jack novels so much that the rest of the books in the series are sitting on the book shelf in my reading room here at home waiting to be read.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the series and in all honestly I was hoping it was the last. Granted, the book truly has it's moments and the writing, though not great, is good, but the plot is extremely - or a better word might be excruciatingly - predictable and getting very stale as the series wears on. With every book Jacky and her "true love" Jaimy are always just a moment away from happiness and being together forever before their hopes are dashed yet again and it's getting old fast. Personally I think they should just admit that they're never going to be together and get on with it, besides that I don't even like Jaimy all that much.
There are just way to many coincidences to be allowed and I really wish that the author would take some risks. He never goes outside what is expected or surprise the reader in any way. The character development isn't all that good either and you never really get to know the other characters enough to care that much for them anyways, besides Jacky and Jaimy. At times I found myself forgetting about a few of them because they hadn't even been mentioned for a few chapters, and these are the people who Jacky is living with! Or otherwise asking why they don't seem to be around (almost the entire book takes place on a boat, so they can't have gone far)
The book can be described as suspenseful, however, with the plot being as predictable as it is, the suspense is - for lack of a better word - fake. I knew that whenever Jacky gotten into a fix she was going to get out of it relatively (and at times, annoyingly) unscathed.

I'm probably going to end up reading the next ones, but only because it would be a complete waist of time if I had gone through five of these books and didn't finish them.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wild and wonderful adventure with Miss Jacky Faber! Here Jacky is on the run from the British (again/still!) for the bounty so unfairly placed upon her spunky blond head. Her journey this time takes her "out west" to the frontier (in early 1800s sense of the word, i.e., Ohio. Ever in love with ships and the water, it is inevitable that Jacky will soon be floating along the Mississippi River and Jacky's flair for the dramatic is put to good use on a show-boat of her very own making. But, all is not smooth sailing as Jacky and her crew encounter river pirates, hostile Indians, cruel slave-hunters, and even a group of British soldiers headed by the undeniably handsome Captain Richard Allen. Will Jacky be able to navigate the muddy waters and find her way to safety in New Orleans? Can she reunite with her fiance Jamie (and will he still want her)? Will she ever be able to return to her dear Mother England, or will America charm her to stay?

This is probably my favorite Jacky book yet because there is so much variety in her adventures and also more fun and romance. It still deals with some important historical and humanitarian themes, but overall things are just more lighthearted and I enjoyed that for a change. In addition to some of our familiar cast, such as Higgins, Katie Dear and Jim Tanner, this book brings some wonderful new characters to life such as the talltale-esque Mike Fink, the sly showman Yancy Cantrell and his intelligent biracial daughter, the Native American Chiaquat and his white "brother" Lightfoot, and poor little Clementine Dukes so eager to be loved. I will refrain from gushing about how much I love Jacky's character, Katherine Kellgren's narration for the audiobook, etc. as I have already done so quite loquaciously in my previous reviews! Suffice it to say Jacky is one of the most vivid characters I've ever encountered and I am infinitely glad the series remains strong, well-written and engaging as she certainly deserves it!

[Katie Hutchison Irion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh, 200 pages in. All these thrwated meetings with Jaimy are KILLING me! I'm a bit bugged with his traveling companion and little sleepover friend Clemmy. What is he thinking?? It is bugging me but he still writes the sweetest letters to Jacky. I'm still liking him. Sorry ladies.
Jacky, how could you give up a Lord of the Realm?? As you all know, I am a big fan of that slippery Jaimy Fletcher but I sure loved Lord Richard Allen. Geez, how does Jacky get all these guys in her life? She is one cheeky lady.
So, I LOVED this book. I think this has been my favorite so far. I LOVED the adventure and the additional characters. I thought the characters were such, well, characters. Couldn't help but like Mike Fink and his constant yelling. I like Katy and Jane Crow and Lightfoot and the Indian guy whose name I can't spell. I liked Clancy and his daughter and Solomon and Jim and that trampy Clementine. Yes, I even ended up liking her. I did expect more of something when her past relationship with Jaimy was revealed. That Jacky is forgiving. Well, I guess she has to be considering how Jaimy found her. Loved the scene on the boat with Jacky and Jaimy. I don't care what you say. I still like him. LOVED the scene in New Oreleans when all of Jacky's enemies were gathered around her. Laughed and laughed about her wigs. Can't get enough of this Jacky. I guess I see why she gets all the guys. Speaking of which, I think the delicious Jared is in book 6. Hooray!

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jacky Faber joins the cast of Big River! Seriously, though, this one was kind of a letdown.

The book picks up right from the cliffhanger ending of the last book; faced with imminent capture by the British Royal Navy for piracy, Jacky is rescued at the last minute through the cunning schemes of her loyal and talented friends. Needing a safe port to ship out from, she decides to make her way down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Accompanied by her steadfast friend John Higgins and the taciturn Katy Deere, she bluffs her way down the river in typical showboating Jacky Faber style, encountering new friends and enemies... and leaving a trail in her wake for the ardent Jaimy Fletcher to follow, who has deserted his post to track down his love once and for all.

So, the story encompasses the length of her journey down the river, and reads about like any other similar story of rafting through the Deep South during the slavery days. Which works fine, really; Meyer infuses this story with the same charming ambience and historical adventure that he does with all of the other Bloody Jack books. But other than the new locale, there isn’t really anything new, here; Mississippi Jack feels intensely formulaic. It’s all been done before: Jacky visits an exotic place with unfamiliar people, who love and accept her right away! Some handsome older man immediately lusts after Jacky, and though a rake, proves honorable in the end! Jacky tries to reunite with Jaimy and humorously fails, multiple times! Bleh. Jacky’s trip down the Mississippi is punctuated by a variety of exciting and unlikely adventures, but none of them are particularly memorable, especially compared to the books that came before.

There are a couple of bright points, which are the same bright points that mark the entire series. Jacky Faber has just the right mix of charm and infuriating naivete to make her a loveable character, despite her Mary Sue-ness. The supporting characters are less developed, but are still immensely fun to read, and add a lot of flavor to the story. And it’s nice that Jaimy finally gets a little action this time around; I’m so used to seeing him as the cardboard cutout love interest that it was refreshing to read about his own adventures, even if he doesn't have the uncanny luck that Jacky does. Also, I have to say that I’m a pretty big fan of Mike Fink.

There’s a lot to like, and I’ve been pretty forgiving with this series so far, but the ending of this one more or less ruined the entire book for me. I’ve noticed a pattern of strong stories with weak endings from Meyer, and this one was particularly egregious. After a completely ridiculous plot device that recalls the flying tree business from the first book, the story wraps up with surgical precision in roughly two chapters. All of the major players in the story mysteriously meet up all at once, apparently through sheer chance. Jacky neatly overcomes two entirely separate endgame obstacles in the space of about five pages, and the story wraps up with a sterile happily-ever-after moment. This, mind you, after a meandering story with an erratic pace (though that’s fairly typical for the Bloody Jack books) and, damningly, no perceivable climactic moment. It reads like Meyer didn’t know how to end the long and complicated story he had written, and so he just tied all of the story threads into a big bow in the last chapter and left it at that. It wasn’t badly done, per se. It was just so extremely unsatisfying that I couldn’t really help but hate it.

So, yeah... not a terrible book, but definitely not my favorite, either. After finding the first four books so enjoyable, this one feels a little stuck in a rut. I like the books enough to finish the series, though, so hopefully the next one will be composed a little better.

[Nick Imrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The charm of Jacky Faber is that she is intensely loyal, making friends everywhere she goes. Jacky doesn't have a moral framework or code that she works by, which is why she has such an easy time flauting the law and the rules; as she says she weren't brought up proper. Instead, her loyal heart, generous spirit, and sense of fairness make sure that never does anything truly wrong, however much she may push the boundaries. For example, stealing the Emerald was very illegal and maybe wrong, but you could alsolutely see why she thought it was fair.

This installment 'Mississippi Jack' was disappointing because Jacky finally crossed the line from loveable lawlessness to outright being in the wrong. She decided to steal Mike Fink's boat long before she had any good reason to do so, purely out of greed (or I suppose, if you want to be generous to her, necessity), later retro-actively justifying it to herself when he was a bit mean to her (still not a good enough reason). It was a very disappointing change to Jacky's character that let the whole book down.

The second disappointment was the treatment of different races in this book. It's no secret that America was built on slavery and genocide and, of course, our valiant heroine would be on the side of blacks and Indians. The problem is that theses books are just too fluffy and lighthearted to do justice to these painful issues. For example, Jacky's Indian friends never develop the depth or complexity that her white friends, like Amy or Clarissa, have done. Partly due to the language barrier that prevents intimate conversation. Instead they are fairly generic 'noble savages' who exist only to help move along Jacky's plot. When Jacky arrives at the Indian camp, within a day she is given an Indian name and weclomed into the tribe. It happens so fast that it seems more like the author just wants to hustle Jacky through a rite-of-passge for all 'good' white people in the Wild West, rather than actually tell a story.

Jacky is an awkward character to drop into a story about race, because she's such an idealised heroine. She picks up a new skill in every book, effortlessly transitioning from street rat to sailor in one book, from urchin to lady in another, she is an brilliant painter, singer, dancer, horserider, and cardsharp. All after about a month of practise. She always saves the day, outwitting enemies, outshining allies and rescuing friends. However, when you tell a 'Jacky saves the day' story and the people she saves are black or Indian then the story unfortunately echoes some of those old 'Mighty Whitey' tropes, where people are depicted as helpless victims so that the white characters can be heroes.

Its not actually racist (using the definition of holding people of other races in contempt or hating them). It's just unfortunate that the book didn't do more to explore the Indian characters and allow them to develop into complex personalities with a bigger influence on Jacky.

[Corrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I wondered how Jacky was going to fare for an entire novel away from open water. However, I needn't have worried. Given a large body of water, (in this case the Mississippi River) Jacky soon has herself set up as the captain of a nice little river boat with a crew of mostly trustworthy characters.

This book, like all of the others, moves. Jacky is in and out of trouble so fast it's dizzying, and she's very lucky that she has quite a few people who love her. I really do love her loyal friends, who risk life and limb time and time again to get her out of trouble because she's been good to them in situations when not many people would have. (Which means that I love Higgins doubly, because he's stuck his neck out for her more times than all the rest of them put together...)

Though I was happy with the amount of time James Emerson Fletcher got in this novel, not nearly enough of it was with Jakcy. I do like the contrast between his journey down the river and hers, though.

All in all, a most worthy entry into one of my favorite series. And this one doesn't end with a heart-stopping cliffhanger like many of the others do, so while I would dearly like the writer to hurry, I'm not climbing the walls wanting to know what's going to happen. Yet.

[Miss Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacky Faber is the light of my life. :D This has been an excellent month so far for heroines. I've got my brave book lover Hazel venturing into the woods, my angry brilliant accused-of-sociopathy-because-people-appear-to-misunderstand-intense-drive-and-ambition-in-teenage-girls Frankie and now the amazing charming so-suited-to-the-American-West-I-think-it-some-strange-twist-of-fate-she-was-actually-born-in-London Jacky. Keep it up July, I am definitely digging this trend.

ANYDOODLES. Basically this is Jacky Faber does Mark Twain! Naturally she thrives. :D We also get the occasional foray into Jamie's headspace which mostly consists of his repeated declarations of how much he hates America. Oh Jamie. If only you were a multi-talented versatile actress/musician/lady/maid/midshipman/company owner/showboat captain like Jacky. America is the land of adaptability! You can't go in when you've only ever had the one Navy career!

What I am saying here is this book and the series it is part of is wholly enjoyable. I am looking forward to Jacky charming her way through the world in book six and can only hope it will include extra encounters between the Lawson Peabody girls (team Jacky-Clarissa all the way! It's not every odd couple whose significant relationship markers include the declaration that one of them would have really enjoyed eating the other's liver. :D) 4 stars

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read over a quarter and I decided to skip this one and move on to number 6. Why? Getting way too predictable. Jacky is once again running from the Royal Navy and once again singing songs at taverns and once again stealing boats.. And once again, Jaimy is writing her these awful letters and he has a new girlfriend of sorts in tow. And Higgins.. I loved him at first but now he is getting old. A grown man giving a teenage girl a bath in the 1700s? I don't care if he is homosexual. It's getting weird. And this Fink guy, they couldn't get rid of him fast enough for me.

Well, number six has Jackie being a spy so I will move on.. I'm tired of the boat stealing and tavern singing and most of all, I'm sick of Jaimy. Move on, chica.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing better than listening to a Jacky Faber adventure in the car!

[Amy Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacky is taken from the British ship where she was captured in the last book - and it turns out to be Higgins and the actors Fennel and Bean. She and Higgins, along with young Jim Tanner (a young boy she took in, in the last book, to mind her small lifeboat and set fish and crab traps around Boston Harbor to make money) set out to follow rivers down to New Orleans. Along the way, Katy Deere (a serving girl from the school) joins with them, having been the leader of the rat hunters on the slaver. They pay for passage at an exorbitant rate from a flamboyant riverman, Mike Fink, and then end up buying his ship from him and leaving him behind when he is drunk.

Setting herself up as a passenger boat, Jacky gains a crew, refits the boat, and gains passengers.

Jaimy had been following from Boston, but was near-killed by highwayman. He is found naked in the woods by a farmgirl, Clementine, who decides that he must have been sent from heaven to help her escape her abusive father. She is very taken with Jaimy and they meet with the riverman Mike Fink who is determined to kill Jacky for taking his boat. They travel a bit - until Mike Fink ends up in a bar fight, and Jaimy is arrested with him. Both are sentenced to hard labour- with Jacky in town and preparing to sail. Clementine realizes who Jacky is and joins her crew as cook's assistant.

Hijinks ensue, especially when special agents of the British intelligence service catch Jacky eavesdropping on their plans to offer a confederation of First Nations tribes various amounts of money for American (white) scalps. They put her on a boat of British regulars and try to torture her for information, but she is rescued by her crew. The intelligence officers are stripped to their underwear and left on opposite river banks miles apart to fend for themselves in the middle of nowhere.

She commandeers the British riverboat as well, and the captain has a thing for her. Jaimy catches up with Jacky just in time to see her kissing the captain in order to pay off a bet. He of course takes off down river without waiting for an explanation (because if characters acted rationally or expressed themselves and communicated more than dramatic gestures the majority of the book wouldn't happen...)

A gang of slave hunters catch up to the ship, taking one of the passengers (a free girl of colour), murdering that girl's father, as well as taking a crew man (who is an escaped slave) and Jacky herself. They plan to hang Jacky until she claims to be pregnant (she most definitely is not...), so they decide to tar and feather her instead. She is rescued by her crew after being tarred.

A hurricane strikes when they are nearly at New Orleans, and then Jacky is carried off by a tornado. Bedraggled, her ship nowhere in sight, she makes her way into New Orleans and to a house of ill repute where a woman she knows from Boston is employed. Jacky takes a job as musician and card dealer, tangles with slavers whose cargo of men and women she set free in South America. She manages to fleece the slavers at cards and buys a new ship. She learns that Jaimy had signed back on with the British navy and follows him to Jamaica, where they promise to meet again in London in a year's time.

[Skylar Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

And yet another epic (and they really are epic.. 624 pages!) Bloody Jack adventure in the books. Lots of ups and downs in this one, still culminating in a wild climax! Excited for the next.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd review: ah Jacky it’s so nice to visit you again! I love the gif festival I have with my friend as we follow your crazy adventures with a new fancy boy interest and some old friends turn up (and old enemies). Such a great series - I really love this characters voice she definitely cheers me!

2nd review:
Why I read this: I love these books and they are amazing on audio!

Plot: In this book, we find Jacky trekking across the Americas and of course finding a boat to sail down the Mississippi River. Jacky may be inland, but she always finds a way to stay on water as much as possible. This book is full of new twists, a possibly reunion with Jaimy and some adventures that involve pirates, a whorehouse, and trying not to get killed.

Characters: I love Mike Fink. What a fantastic character. An over the top troll of a man whom Jacky steals a boat from. I absolutely love when the narrator did his voice. Such a loud, hilarious man and almost always in the liquor. I also loved meeting the other characters introduced in this book and hope we continue to run into many of them in the future. Jack is herself as usual, always cunning and of a positive nature even when in death's grip.

Relatability: Probably one of my favorite books in the series. It's hard to pick one, but this one is definitely up there.

Cover Commentary: I love the old covers, the new ones are awful and look nothing like the Jacky I picture.

1st review: Well.. this better not be the last book. I always want more with these books (even if they are 600 pages + of adventure, humor and even romance...).

It's good to finally see somewhat of a happy ending, but I'm still not satisfied if this is the end of the series.

If you haven't read these books yet... you should. :)

[Charity (Booktrovert Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventures of Jacky Faber takes her the wild west of America. Where she acquires a flatboat on the Mississippi River where she turns into a show boat where she performs the many show talents that she has. All the while, gaining many new friends that go along her adventure. This also goes into Jaimy Fletcher's point of view which you see him traipsing through the Mississippi River after Jacky. Which I feel drags the book a little bit but I was interested in seeing his point to view and how many times he came close to reuniting with Jacky. Jacky deals with slavery, indians and once again the British who is keen on capturing her for the prize money. Once again, it seems that through this book she has a hard time staying out of trouble and always have to find a quick way to get out of it.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I read for this book for 3 hours while I had insomnia last night. I finished it. Come to think of it, this book may well have been the reason for the insomnia. Again, another fast-paced joy ride into the life and times of Jacky Faber, privateer/showboat captain/actress/musican and all around great girl. I wouldn't want to have to live her life. Too much going on. L. A. Meyer does press his luck just a wee bit with all the miraculous coincidences that befall poor Jacky, and for that I'm only giving this book four stars. It got on my nerves just a bit. However, it sure is a page turner, the literary equivalent of a potato chip.

[Emilycwg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Least favorite one so far, but I will continue!

[Kryptomite · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a tough one, as I'm a big fan of the series and have loved the books so far. Mississippi Jack, however, did not hit very hard for me. It includes a character (Mr. Fink) who is so over the top and mercurial in his decisions that he is in no way realistic, and for me, at least, ruins nearly half the book.

There is a significant portion toward the middle, where I thoroughly enjoyed the book, where Jacky gets to shine as herself,l. However, soon after, it introduces far too much by the end chapters, and a million events are packed in one after another, to the point where they offer no impact whatsoever, and everything is resolved without having much of a climax at all. Will I continue to read the series? Absolutely. But I think this book should hold a 3.5 star rating, not over a 4.

[Della Tingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most fun series that I had never even heard of! This is book 5, and these books definitely need to be read in order. Jacky is a character unlike any other! She describes herself thusly: “I am…in many parts of the world known as Jacky Faber, Pyrate, and even as La Belle Jeune Fille sans Merci, ‘the beautiful young girl without mercy’” (317). She is a nonstop character, for sure!

“It is all just so sad…the evil that exists in men, I cannot understand it” (314).

[Alanna Dhana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this, and it brings a bit more dynamic into the romance but at the same time.. I agree with some of the more critical reviews. I’ll have to pace myself to not get annoyed. However, aside from this, I really love this series.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG The New Orleans scence at the end . . .Was. Just. Too. Much. It was so stupid I laughed and cried at the same time. Sadly I'll never be able to get Mike Fink out of my head either.

[shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.25
luv you Jacky all love and respect but you’re driving me insane

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars!

I enjoyed this one much better! She finally got to talk with Jamie! And the side characters in this was excellent. And she did meet some very painful hardships, she didn’t escape in the nick of time like she normally does. I do have some qualms. Disclaimer: I read this in audiobook. So it was enjoyable at times, hearing the different songs sung, especially in this novel. But sometimes the reader’s voice just went too loud through the speakers during the loud southern characters and it quickly grew old. But to all credit, the different voices and languages is incredible.

Im already unto the next book and thoroughly enjoying it loads!

[Gambier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response: This book kept my attention throughout the entire book. The beginning of the book seemed a bit lax. It did not seem like it had as much action in the beginning as it could have had. The continuing chasing of Jacky by Jaimy seemed a little ridiculous due to the fact that he literally chased her across the country. When Jaimy finally caught up to Jacky it was the worst timing ever. It seemed a little unfair to Jacky with how bad Jaimy and Richard's timing was. The slave hunters with how much they pursued Jacky and her crew made it seem like they needed to get a life. Tarring and feathering Jacky seemed like it was too cruel to do to a pregnant woman. It seemed especially cruel because it could actually kill a person. Leave it to Jacky’s crew to rescue her just in time after she got tarred. It figured that after Jacky got resettled on the Belle that there would be a Hurricane then a Tornado that would pick her off the Belle and fling her. It seemed just like Jacky to buy yet another ship in search of Jaimy. Overall I thought this was a great book and it kept me glued to its pages for the entirety of it.

Plot: The majority of this book took place on Jacky’s riverboat The Belle of The Golden West. Which she “bought” from Mike Fink while he was ferrying them down to New Orleans. After she “bought” the boat she then with her crew continued to sail it down the the many rivers that she needed to ferry to reach New Orleans. Along the way she transported cargo and passengers to various spots down the rivers. She made stops at numerous spots along the rivers to perform and sell “Captain Jack’s Elixir”. Along the trip she lived among a Native American tribe during which she was captured by British Intelligence. After being rescued she brought along the British regulars who captured her in their riverboat. After releasing the British soldiers she along with two black crewmen she had were captured by slave hunters. Jacky was tarred and feathered she was rescued almost immediately after she was feathered. After the tar and feathers were washed off a hurricane and a tornado struck. The tornado picked Jacky up off her riverboat and flung her downriver where she found a raft and floated down to New Orleans. She met up with Mademoiselle Bourbon there. Jacky then worked in New Orleans for a time after which her crew found her. Jacky then earned enough money to purchase a ship which she would use to find Jaimy in Jamaica.

Characterization: Jacky’s personality only changed a bit during this book. She seemed to get a bit more humility as the book went on, especially after her time with the Native Americans. She seemed to get especially meek after she had any run in with a man who tried to harm her.

Impacts of Setting: The setting for almost the entirety of the book was on a riverboat which helped to cement the fact that Jacky was a fugitive escaping from the British empire. The novel took place in the early 1800's because the Louisiana Purchase is mentioned in the novel as having just taken place.

Thematic Connection: A theme I got from this book was that if a person lived in the frontier should not trust anyone who seems to be doing something for them out of the goodness of their heart. This was shown by the numerous run ins Jacky and Jaimy had with people who betrayed the people they were helping.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of fourteen; I say this because some of the content would not be appropriate for audiences younger than fourteen. In addition I say either gender would enjoy this book because it is not too focused on fighting or romance so either gender could like it.

[Herman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m an ardent fan of the Jacky Faber stories, I find it an exceptional series with good research, colorful characters, and lots of action and complex plots. I love the fact that it’s a woman adventurer and when all is said and done she one way or another escapes and manages to make a bad situation better by her presence. In Mississippi Jack, we start where belly of the Bloodhound left off, the arrest of Jackie on the HMS Juno. Great way to end book 4 by the way. Ever since the marines bayonets cross in front of her and she was told “Miss Faber, by order of His Majesty, King George the Third, you are under arrest on the charge of Piracy!” I’ve been imagining in my mind what would happen. I pat myself on the back that I called it right what I thought would happen did, but then I missed a couple of things including how the escaped happened then the rest of the adventure was fun and entertaining but unlike other books in the series so far some things bothered me. This story is perhaps the least effective of the five stories I’ve read so far for it diverted from the structure of the prior four stories in a number of ways. One there were an explosion of supporting characters beyond those that were carry over from earlier books; Jaimy, Higgins, Katy, and Jim now were joined by (stops and counts) at least a dozen other supporting characters and four more supporting bad guys or groups and a new roué British officer. Just too much of a good thing actually some like the ship boy’s story disappears entirely from the point he was picked up till the very end of the book I had to wonder why he as there at all. So while I enjoyed the book and love the series this will get just three stars this time. (actually upon further reflection I just can't give this three stars it's not a three star book so it get's four but it's not the best in the series but the series is so good that even not being the best still makes it a very good book) Although I thought as always some parts were very well written and historically close to the facts, and I loved the American frontier aspect and the trip down the Mississippi those parts I loved became entangled in so many other subplots like the final fight in New Orleans just too entangling and muddy to make much sense.

[Katie Kaste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time Jacky Faber is heading down the Mississippi to make it to a ship in New Orleans. She and her rag tag crew are moving through, making money, enemies, and friends as they go. Jacky is able to save herself from all the treachery. Jamie had a lot more letters in this books, they just missed each other again. I enjoyed this novel, and I will keep working through these twelve novels.

[Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the last book, which in fact traumatized me for life, I took a break from this series for about a month. This was the level...



So after an interesting couple of weeks in my personal life I finally got my external hard drive in order, and transferred this to my ereader. I have been laughing hysterically all day.



For Jaime's p.o.v. this time, just imagine Van Fanel (leading protagonist from the anime Escaflowne,) with a beard in this one the following visual might help...



And for leading lady Jacky Faber has been nothing but comedy! Seeing as that I can find this easily teaching me history. Sure some of this can be dry to some, but now it has reached this level.



If you have made it this far into the series, I seriously commend you! By far this has been the most hysterical, and yet hurtful series that I have ever came across. I have found it very hard to read this series. This book highlights slavery, racism, and the prejudice against Native Americans. Though it is educational in the customs of the Shawnee Indians and other tribes.

[Jamie Dacyczyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 reread: My review stills stands that this isn't one of my favorite books in the series. The setting is very yeehaw hillbilly feeling, and it's also the start of Jacky doing things that feel a little skeevy to me. Oh sure, she stole ships and things before, but the victims before were either smugglers or the government itself (usually). Here she and her friends were doing things like selling whiskey as medical tonic and putting on "revivals" with a preacher to get poor country folk to give them money. I'm against religion already because it's all a bunch of crock, so to have Jacky and co use it to get cash off of rural townsfolks....eh, that doesn't sit right with me. Singing and dancing for tips is once thing, preaching and testifying seems like too much dishonesty, even for a renowned pirate.
I always listen to Katherine Kellgren books on normal speed, but for this one I sped it up to 1.2x just to get through it a little quicker. I even went up to 1.4x for some of the parts narrated by Jamey Fletcher, because he really irritated me in this book (which I mentioned in my earlier review). I'll put it back to normal speed for book 5, where I enjoy Jacky's adventures a bit more.

2018 reread: This is probably the fifth time I've listened to this book on audio, though Goodreads seems to have lost my original review.

Though the previous books have all been amazing, this is the book where I feel the series first begins to falter. I'm not wild about the hill billy setting, and Jamey Fletcher was pretty insufferable during this book. I know that later in the series he redeems himself somewhat, but he never wins his way back into my heart after this book. His relationship with Clementine is just a bit too hypocritical, and his desire to chase Jacky down to bed her begins to feel kind of gross.

The saving grace to this book is that it introduces us to the much more desirable Lord Richard Allen. *swoon* That, and of course Katherine Kellgren's amazing narration. There is a LOT of singing in this book, and Ms. Kellgren absolutely shines.

I initially disliked this book quite a bit the first couple of times, but now that I'm on my fifth or so listening of the series, I've come to terms with it.

[Lori Twichell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was, by far, my favorite of the Jacky Faber books thus far. Part of that could have been because the book takes place (a large part of it at least) around the Western Pennsylvania area where I grew up. Pittsburgh, Johnstown, and other locales are beautifully described in this story – even though some harm does come to our favorite characters in these places – the author nailed the era and location perfectly. (As well he should – since he grew up in PA himself.) I was absolutely delighted to listen to Jacky and Jaimy learning how to muddle through America. Yes, this audiobook shone brilliantly – as have the others in the series.

Rife with music, laughter and adventure, this story was a wonderful follow up to the previous, darker book, In the Belly of the Bloodhound. Though Jacky’s situation and story maintains it’s more mature rating, it wasn’t nearly as dire or difficult as the last one to follow. The audio adventures give us a glimpse into what it must have really been like at the time as the story is peppered with a variety of tunes that would have been popular at the time.

Once again, Jacky Faber’s brilliance, adventures and glory are completely enthralling. The audio book version shines with exceptional detail and production qualities and the storyline is fun, has some educational value and is fabulously engaging.

Highly recommended!


Review copy provided by the publisher and Listen and Live Audio. Thank you!

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[Buck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeesh. I'm afraid this is my last Bloody Jack adventure. As the series has progressed I've realized the author has the same plot mechanics repeated over and over again, ad nauseum. In the last couple books I realized this, and held the opinion that it was of no consequence, and that the story was still engaging. Oh how wrong I was.

The heroine (who really is a bit dimwitted considering how many times she is captured) is confronted with capture, followed by rescue, followed by worst-timing-ever, followed by ludicrous weather event, followed by capture again. I could go on. The plot is riddled with these opaque blunders, and loses all pretense of subtlety.

As a disclaimer: I really did like her, mostly, before reading number five in the series. But unfortunately Miss Faber seems doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. To me, this is a sign of a flat character. I think were I her friend, or suitor, I would have thrown my hands up and walked away long before then end of this book.

I imagine some people like this kind of drama, but I prefer my protagonists to have a deepening and progression of character. And not to drive me insane. A bit of plot variety is appreciated as well.

That said, books one through four are worth reading.