I don't think I could love this book more. I have always been a fan of the story of Bonnie and Clyde and this book made them more than just a story it made them real people. I could not put this book down once I started it. It has gone on my permanent book shelf. I can't get rid of this one, I will return to it and read it again. Jones talks about Bonnie and Clyde like they are old friends. I know some of the details are filled in from Jones own imagination, (which he clearly states for the reader) but when reading I can picture Bonnie sitting on the edge of the sofa, or their car rambling down the road. Extremely well written, amazing detail, and this book makes you hang on every word! ( )

Bonnie and Clyde are two of the most infamous outlaws in America's history. "Love Give Us One Death" tells their story, from their first meeting to their eventual death.
The author used a variety of mediums, including anecdotes and letters, to give the reader a true understanding of their relationship, desires, and hopes. The book is well written and clearly has been researched very well; the author also adds stories that fit in with the biographical information to create a full picture of Bonnie and Clyde.
Great read! ( )

The era of Prohibition and the time of the Great Depression immediately following were desperate times that highlighted the disparity between the rich and the poor; the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ spurring the rise of gangsters and bank robbers and a huge number of lesser outlaws who robbed to eat and to feed their families.

Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were two of those outlaws. Spurred first by the challenge and the freedom of the open road, Clyde was quickly driven deeper into criminality by anger at the Texas State penal system. His main desire was to spend time with Bonnie Parker and to strike an embarrassing and telling blow at the Texas prison system. Bonnie Parker, on the other hand, was driven by her love for Clyde, the freedom of the road and her sense of fate to endure unimaginable hardships during their time on the run. The two of them, however, would polarize the populations of several states either for them or against them as they became pawns in a game of power and pride between the banks, law enforcement and the newspapers on one side, and everyday working people on the other.

Today, researchers are piecing together the dynamics of their story from scraps of documents and memorabilia to determine what really happened, for what deaths were Bonnie and Clyde really responsible, and whether the law enforcement response was responsible law enforcement or cold blooded retaliation.

Love Give Us One Death is a historic novel that does not tell the whole story. Instead it attempts to use the facts and narratives of a large number of documents, records and memorabilia to attempt to expose what Bonnie and Clyde may have been thinking and feeling in those difficult times as they tried to maintain their life on the run while staying in contact with family and friends. It brings to the forefront their mutual hatred and distrust of the law; a force they saw as created by the rich to oppress the poor. The book does a good job of getting into the minds and hearts of these two criminals/folk heroes, particularly when dealing with Bonnie’s severely injured legs and the various gunshot injuries sustained in gun fights with the law.

Love Give Us One Death is well worth reading for any fans or historians of Bonnie and Clyde, and for anyone else curious as to why two young people living in one of the most difficult times in American history would turn criminal…and whether they were really criminals at all or simply rebels against a world of desperation. ( )

Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were ambushed and killed on May 23, 1934 on a rural road in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.
Texas officer, Frank Hamer had begun tracking them in February, and led a posse of six in daylight to their automobile.

Jeff Jones brings this past era to life IN TECHNICOLOR.
Fast paced, it recounts the story of Bonnie and Clyde in vivid expression.
The book cover at first puzzled me; but, after reading Jones'
historical fiction offering, I realized it was perfect.
Letters, poems, news clippings, photographs and testimonials were included.

Once I became accustomed to the format, I enjoyed this
"hair raising" ride.
Reading the afterword is a must.

4 ★

LibraryThing Members Giveaway ( )

Jones is careful to emphasize the fiction portion of this Bonnie and Clyde tale. While many points of this lyrically-written historical fiction are taken from first-hand accounts, Jones brings the two young lovers to life in a way that is entirely his own. Considering how Bonnie and Clyde have entered into the realm of American legend, perhaps this approach is is the one to take.

The story weaves from the beginning of their fiery relationship to their deaths on a country back road in Louisiana. The format is more poetry than novel. Screenplays, transcripts, poems, songs, comic strips, police transcripts, journal entries, and letters are scattered throughout the story, most are Jones’ creations. The prose itself waxes poetic, turning the book into something of a ballad.

Jones sets Bonnie and Clyde’s tale against the real-life post apocalyptic wasteland of the Great Depression and the Dustbowl. Poverty, massive storm fronts, and the sense that the world is coming to an end (which is what it certainly must have felt like in the Midwest during the 1930s) roll into one chaotic fervor that mirrors the anarchy of Bonnie and Clyde.

I would recommend this book for historical fiction fans who don’t mind a bit of a dense read. The rhythm of the prose takes some getting used to, and it is slow to get started. Once you get into it though, you begin to appreciate the unique voice Jones has provided for his two antiheroes.

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Love Give Us One Death is currently available for purchase. ( )