The Strange Life of William Jameson
 The tumultuous second half of the 19th century brings constant change in William’s life. From the Oregon Trail, to England, to that of a Fencing Master in New Orleans with a beautiful Creole paramour, to the Civil War and finally, the Reconstruction Era.
Now available in e-book format through SynergEbooks, Amazon, and others
Also available in paperback,
LOBO Review
In "LOBO," John H. Manhold has finely honed the narrative skills demonstrated in his award-winning "EL Tigre" to create an even more compelling novel of pre- & post-Civil War America. The book is subtitled "The Strange Life of William Jameson": it is a wonderfully rich and vibrant life of a charismatic hero who faces adversity with brave adaptation instead of despair. Jameson's journeys bring the reader along from childhood pioneer days during Oregon's boom thru Cheyenne captivity, London at the start of the Industrial Revolution and into the beautifully complex mystique of New Orleans. Manhold peels back the layers of New Orleans society to reveal her hidden secrets and fascinating past. The depth and exquisite detail of historical and political background research, as well as the author's expert knowledge of the era's weaponry, meld perfectly into the story development. John H. Manhold further enhances "LOBO" by pairing the title character with a singular soulmate of equal strength and determination. Fans of "EL Tigre" will be rewarded by a tantalizing surprise prospect at the end of "LOBO"..."LOBO" will grab the imagination of men, women and young adults from beginning to end and leave you waiting for his next book! Melvin Kligman, Independent Book Reviewer in Amazo
LOBO Review
Excerpted from a lengthy review by Sweetwater Jack in The Cowboy Chronicle, vol23, No.4 April 2010 – the Monthly Journal of the Single Action Shooting Society. This is the official publication of the 80,000+ member society.
Well, I done er’ again. I mean findin’ another SASS Member and Cowboy Action Shooter that can write up a storm, and keep this old cowpoke turnin’ the pages for hours. John Manhold, better known to the Cowboy Action Shooting world as “El Tigre Viejo” is no novice to putting words to paper … Lord, no! With six textbooks, a lexicon in four languages and a bunch of historical mystery and adventure novels to his credit, he has paid his dues in the literary world. “El Tigre” is either a world-class researcher, deeply into the nineteenth century and the ways of the era, or there is something to this reincarnation stuff, and he’s managed to bring with him his memories of a past life.
As I’ve said before, I’m a READER. And LOBO is a READ! … the central character, Billy, starts out as a young boy as he and his family leave the familiarity of their Ohio farm and head west. It’s the 1850’s and Oregon beckons. Fortunately for Billy/William Jameson, one of his strongest traits is adaptability, and it stands him in good stead as he faces being captured by a Comanche raiding party, living the life of a Plains Indian slave and later warrior, being schooled in England at Eton, surviving a storm at sea, then fighting off pirates, all of the while escaping the wrath of the British Authorities after a deadly saber duel…Of course landing in New Orleans. A city of mystery, thrills and diverse culture. … El Tigre’s understanding of the social, political, and cultural aspects of the times is demonstrated very well in LOBO, but it does not overshadow the plot or detract from the rapport the reader is building with his hero. You have become, at this point very concerned about the welfare of William Jameson. As Civil War approaches, what choices should William make? And why is he called LOBO?
I know what happened. But if YOU want to find out, ya gotta’ go out and buy the book!
About LOBO from John Taffin, Columnist for Gun Magazines said:
I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED LOBO! A GRAND STORY! I LIKE THE CONTINUING HISTORICAL ASPECT OF YOUR BOOKS. IT IS ONE OF THOSE IN WHICH IT IS EASY TO IDENTIFY WITH AND CARE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS. HARD TO PUT DOWN ONCE ONE STARTS READING IT! GOOD SHOOTIN' AND GOD BLESS.
IT IS GREAT TO READ SOMETHING WITH A GOOD STORY THAT
ALSO KEEPS THE MIND ENGAGED!
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THE "INDIE" NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS
Western Category
Finalist:
El Tigre by John H. Manhold
Shoot Magazine Corporation
978-0-9726383-4-0
Historical Fiction
Finalist:
El Tigre by John H. Manhold
Shoot Magazine Corporation
978-0-9726383-4-0
Mystery/Suspense Category
Finalist
The Elymais Coin by John H. Manhold
Cereb Press 978-0-979757204
Military Fiction
Winner
LOBO by John H. Manholxd
Synergebooks
978-074431864-7
THE U. S. A. BOOK NEWS AWARDS
Literature: Western
Finalist:
El Tigre by John H. Manhold
Simon Barrett's Best Books of 2008
El Tigre by John H. Manhold
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 The Elymais Coin Presently, the book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other book stores. Ordering data: The Elymais Coin ISBN: 978-0-9797572-0-4, published in paperback, 233 pages by Cereb Press. Suggested Price: 16.99 USD. Distributed by Ingram.
Autographed copies can be purchased through this Credit Card link (most cards including Pay Pal) for $15 USD which includes Shipping & Handling ( AZ residents add 8 % tax)
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The Elymais Coin
MIDWEST BOOK Reviews (MBR:MBRBookwatch, Janurary 2009 Shelly’s Bookshelf, Shelley Glodowski, Senior Reviewer)
“Manhold is knowledgeable of not only Mideastern politics and geography, but also of world geography. His tale is not so much suspenseful as is a "chase" surrounding the coin, with lots of lovely descriptions of various locations, restaurants, and food. Bravo!
The Elymais Coin
READER REVIEWS (www.readerviews.com/, William Phenn, reviewer)
“The Elymais Coin by John H. Manhold was written well, had good character development and was a fast-paced adventure…descriptions of the foreign towns and surrounding areas were quite detailed, right down to the local fare at the restaurants. I enjoyed the read and gave it an A on my proverbial scale. I would recommend it to all that enjoy a James Bond thriller which is a little more like the real world.”
The Elymasi Coin
AMAZON 5–star review (Melvin Kligman of Sarasota, FL, USA.)
“The Elymais Coin” unfolds like a well-constructed Chinese Puzzle revealing depths of research and insight into ancient history and our 9/11 world…(and) demonstrates the amazing versatility of Manhold’s writing style but contains the same hallmark attention to authenticity & research as his earlier novel “El Tigre”. I would highly recommend “The Elymais Coin” |
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El Tigre is about the Life and Times of Johann Heinrich von Manfred, a young Prussian who became a Texan, a Californian and an American. This historical novel, published by Shoot! Magazine, has all the action, adventure and history of the Old West you could want! The author, at 89 years old, is active in Cowboy Action Shooting and Cowboy Fast Draw. Familiar with a variety of weapons, he tells it like it was in this fast paced novel that puts you in the action in post-Napoleonic war Europe, Texas in the 1830s and in California during the gold rush.
 A fast moving story, it chronicles the life of Johann Heinrich von Manfred from his youth as a student in a Prussian military academy through his many exciting and dangerous adventures. From Spain to the Americas, from Florida to Texas, and finally, the gold laden frontier of California, the action is fast and sometimes brutal, but the young Von Manfred, now known as El Tigre, maintains his dignity and principles through it all.
Some of the comments received about El Tigre
John Taffin, Columnist for Gun Magazines - .....El Tigre is a grand read and Manhold now joins L'Amour and Kelton as my favorite storytellers.
Cal Eilrich, Publisher/Editor, Gunslinger's Gazette.... It has been a long time since I have read such a thoroughly entertaining novel that kept me on the edge of my easy chair wondering what was going to happen next. It left me wanting more. I highly recommend this book.
Paul Krause, Prescott, AZ.... "Thank you for introducing me to such a rich character as El Tigre. And I thought the story telling was captivating. I couldn't help but think of all the Louis L'Amour books I read many years back.
A.C. The Peoples Media Company - Louise Harris, Review Editor..... I found El Tigre so capttivating at times that I didn't know what parts were fictional or true accounts. At times I got lost in the life of Johann Heinrich von Manfred and thought he was real.
Amazon - 5 Star review by Mel Kligman, Sarasota, FL...."...particularly imprfssed by the scope of historical research, from Indian tribal differences to gold mining, included seemlessly into the narrative.
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EL TIGRE
By John H Manhold
(El Tigre Viejo, SASS Life / Regulator # 28083)
Reviewed by Nubbins Colt, SASS Life # 7802
In the last book review I did for The Cowboy Chronicle I noted sometimes there are books that make you think, “This is the way it should have been.” Well, truth be told, this book deserves that moniker as much if not more than the last one. Remember the movie “Forest Gump” and the hero’s unlikely ability to turn up in all of the most dramatic historical events and happenings of his time? El Tigre, aka Johann von Manfred, the title character, is just such a person. The author, whose SASS alias is El Tigre Viejo (that’s “The Old Tiger” or, more specifically to the Southwestern United States of the Old West, ‘The Old Jaguar”), has used that name to invent a man who simply SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE1 This chronicle is so well written it reads like a true history.
Johann von Manfred begins his unlikely, but fascinating career in Germany, actually, it is Prussia, in the first third of the 19th century. Nasty circumstances cause him to have to leave his military training (at which he excelled) to head for new territories. His adventures bring him to Spain and the revolution there in the early 1800’s, which then propels him to the New World. His Caribbean and American East Coast adventures cause him to find himself in Texas during the Revolution there. His skill as a warrior and his fame get the attention of no less a luminary than Sam Houston, whom he serves well, finding himself a Texas Ranger after the war.
You name the difficulties, rustlers, Indians, whatever, El Tigre finds himself there, fighting for the side of right (and he does understand the difference, that is for sure - a great, moral character!). Next is the Mexican War and, finally, he finds himself in Old California, where El Tigre falls in love with the daughter of a distinguished haciendero and concludes his career as a major force in the battles of California against Mexico, and so forth.
Our SASS El Tigre, okay, El Tigre Viejo, John Manhold, does a masterful job weaving this tale of intrigue, violence, heroism, and love into an incendiary tale that will inspire your imagination and truly make you want to believe it REALLY HAPPENED.
This is one of those “I cannot put it down” books. It is easy to read, and you just do not want to stop. The author’s attention to detail is superb – it is one of the qualities I look for in a truly good book. It does not have to show up every time, but it is nice to know that someone remembers to tie his shoelaces, or re-holster his pistol, at least some of the time! If you elect to read it at bedtime , as I did, be prepared to lose some sleep because not only will you not want to stop reading it, it is a sure fire way to get your heart pumping, and your adrenaline flowing, and your senses all alert, and not at all sleep!
Be careful, we do not want any coronaries because you read a book I liked!!!! But, do read it – you will not be sorry. I promise you that!
Review in the Cowboy Chronicle, vol. 21, #4, pg. 60, Apr. 2008 (monthly journal of the 80,000 member Single Action Shooting Society) by Nubbins Colt, the organization’s principle book reviewer.
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El Tigre Book Review
by Simon Barrett of Blogger News Network
There are two very different schools of thought about historical fiction. One school rationalizes that it is an easy genre to write, the plot already exists, all you have to do is put it in your own words. The second school says that this genre is very hard to work in, much of the story line is cast in stone, the author needs to weave his characters into the fabric of the historical facts.
I am a member of the latter group, I believe that good historical fiction is very difficult to write. John H. Manhold has done a magnificent job with El Tigre, combining fast action into a very well researched and historically accurate canvas.
El Tigre is set in the early and mid 1800’s and chronicles the life of Johann Heinrich von Manfred, born of Prussian aristocracy at the age of 16 he finds himself without friends, family, or country following an unfortunate event at the prestigious military academy he was attending.
We follow Johann on his odyssey of discovery. It takes almost no time before young Johann has his first adventure, assisting a band of Roma that are being blackmailed by an unscrupulous mayor. Then it is on to Spain where he is enlisted in the support of Don Carlos, The Royal Pretender To The throne. He may be young, but he has a natural instinct for the art of war, and rapidly proves his value. Alas his cause becomes a failing one, his patron is killed, and it looks like Don Carlos had a hand in it. Once more he resumes his nomadic quest.
Europe seems to offer little in the way of sanctuary and Johann opts for the potential riches of the New World.
Starting in Florida and Georgia, Johann first becomes a jailer of Indians, and soon learns the harsh reality of the culture clash between the settlers and the native bands. Unhappy to be part of this inhumanity he next moves to Texas, and once more finds himself embroiled in controversy, this time with the establishment of the Republic of Texas. Problems with Indians, problems with Mexico, Problems with Spain, and even problems with the United States all lead to frustration and bloodshed. Johan however has by now become a seasoned veteran of conflict, and quickly makes a name for himself not only for his fighting abilities, but also his selflessness, along the way earning the respect of all, and the nickname El Tigre (The Panther).It is not long before the tales of El Tigre spread across the land.
His final journey is to California, where he discovers ranching, romance, and gold. Has he found he finally found his Shangri-La?
While I am not a huge fan of books about the wild west, Manhold has written a captivating novel, and one that will keep you glued to the pages. What I particularly admire is his attention to historical detail. This book was clearly very well, and extensively researched. That combined with a story line that moves at a break neck pace this book should appeal to a very wide audience.
Grab yourself a copy of El Tigre from Amazon or from John Manhold’s web site, you will not be disappointed.
Simon Barrett
Interview with John by Simon Barrett
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Novels by John
