Deadville: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Parts 1 and 2 GREAT! Part 3...Ehhh.
Review: I enjoyed the first two thirds of this book as much as any novel of the frontier I have ever read. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with part 3. The whole tone of the third segment was jarringly anachronistic and peppered with little in-jokes, for example, a Delaware indian is named Lenny LeNapier. The actual name of the Delaware tribe was Leni Lenape. I felt like I was suddenly reading a comic book with '90s people plunged into the 1840's. It seemed like Jones wrote the first two parts as a serious frontier story, then said "To Hell with it!" and turned the last portion into a farce. What a letdown, after the excellent beginning and middle, not to mention the author's superb The Buffalo Runners, where the authentic historical tone is maintained throughout.

Rating:
Summary: How the West was lost
Review: What a beautiful, racous, shoot-them-up, exhilarating, galloping story! The author did his research and spins a most believable tale of the old West. Characters like Pine Leaf, Spybuck and Dade are marvellous and unique. And the Indians truly come to life. Very enjoyable, indeed, plus quite a history lesson.