Vengeance in Old San Antonio: The Ruthless Killings of Ben Thompson and John King Fisher, a Novel

By the 1880s, Texas was like a snake shedding an old skin and growing a new one. Struggling to become a modern society, Texas had outgrown its Wild West heritage and now wished to forget the years of war, occupation, poverty, and lawlessness. Leaving Austin by train in March 1884, a group of friends find themselves unexpectedly caught up with others in both lethal conflict and the enchantment of the "Queen City of Texas," San Antonio. Events surrounding one of the most astounding killings of the decade form the action for a tale of blood feud, revenge, civic rivalry, and running gunfights through the plazas and streets. Together with darker events, however, San Antonio provides fertile ground for romance. Carriage rides through exotic streets, dinner at fabulous restaurants, shopping excursions at the San Antonio market, luxury hotels, the San Antonio River, and haunting buildings from the Spanish Colonial past create a spell-binding environment that encourages amorous relationships while forcing profound self-examinations.