More about James's books: [ Civil War Series ] [ WWII Novels ] [ Draw ]

James Reasoner has been a professional writer for the past twenty-five years. He is known for the mystery novel TEXAS WIND, which has achieved legendary status as a collectible paperback. TEXAS WIND was James Reasoner's first novel. When it was published, James was becoming known for his mystery short stories. TEXAS WIND has since become a collector's find. Manor quit publishing books shortly after the book was published, so few copies made it into the market.

This mystery is set in Fort Worth, Texas, an area that Reasoner knows well. It features a private investigator known only as Cody. There are many short stories featuring this character, but TEXAS WIND is the only novel.  

Recently James has written another Texas-based crime novel, DUST DEVILS (published by Point Blank Press in 2007), which received starred reviews from PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY and BOOKLIST, as well as critical acclaim from numerous other reviewers.  This is a stand-alone, hard-edged "redneck noir" novel.   Also receiving excellent reviews has been his Western/mystery novel DEATH HEAD CROSSING, published by Pinnacle Books in 2007.

Three novels have been published so far in his TALES FROM DEADWOOD series, written under the pseudonym Mike Jameson, with at least one more to come.   These are gritty, historically accurate stories tied closely to the actual history of Deadwood, Dakota Territory, in 1876, when it was one of the wildest boomtowns in the Old West.

Reasoner is also well known for writing WAGONS WEST - THE FRONTIER TRILOGY, a trio of best-selling historical novels published by Bantam Books under the pseudonym Dana Fuller Ross. This trilogy was followed by WAGONS WEST - THE EMPIRE TRILOGY.  HONOR! was an April '98 release by Bantam Books. VENGEANCE! a February '99 release and JUSTICE! released October '99. Check out the Dana Fuller Ross page for more information.

James and Livia's COSSACK THREE PONIES, published by Berkley February '97 was nominated for a Spur Award by the Western Writers Of America -- Sent to protect a delegation of Russian aristocrats on a goodwill mission, Viktor was thrilled to journey to the bold, open land of America.  But when the arrogant nobles murdered an Blackfoot Indian for sport, Viktor knew that more blood would be shed.  His conflict with the nobles and the Blackfoot caused him to become a legend . . .

His book UNDER OUTLAW FLAGS published by Berkley May '98 was nominated for a Spur Award by the Western Writers Of America. -- Most folks thought the Wild West had faded into memory by 1917. But out where the roads ended, the Tacker Gang still managed to make a dishonest living. They knew how to ride and they knew where to hide--and they were more than handy with their Colts. They got along fine--until the day the law caught up with them and offered them a choice. Serve your country--or serve twenty years in jail. That was when Roy and Jace Tacker and their cohorts left the frontier--and headed for the front. After a lawless life in the dusty desert, the war in Europe was a whole new world. And it was wilder than anything they'd ever seen before . . .

James has written three Walker, Texas Ranger novels based on the TV series.   They were all published by Berkley Boulevard in 1999. The first, WALKER, TEXAS RANGER THE NOVEL -- Years ago, Walker broke up a drug cartel headed by two brothers Carlos and Ramon Vega Garcia.  Now the two men are free and want revenge against the Texas Ranger who once struck them down.  But Walker has other ideas . . . HELL'S HALF ACRE, -- A gang of bank robbers is plaguing Dallas,. They're highly skilled, heavily armed and--after a heist gone wrong--very deadly. They've kidnapped the family of a rich and powerful banker, and it's up to Walker and Trivette to track down this murderous gang--before they turn the whole city of Dallas into a shooting gallery . . . and SIEGE ON THE BELLE -- Trivette and C.D. go undercover on a casino paddleboat, the Belle, to prevent a crime.  With their help, Walker leads the rescue of pleasure seekers when the Dallas elite find they have more to lose than a few dollars.

He wrote a 10 volume THE CIVIL WAR BATTLE SERIES highlighting the battles. All ten, MANASSAS, SHILOH, ANTIETAM, CHANCELLORSVILLE, VICKSBURG,   GETTYSBURG, CHICKAMAUGA, SHENADOAH, SAVANNAH, and APPOMATTOX have been written and published by Cumberland House.  He hopes to continue writing about the characters in this series sometime in the future, but for now APPOMATTOX is the final volume.   Go to his Civil War series to learn more.