♣ "Jeff, I received my book last night I didn’t get to open it up until this morning I opened it up and started reading! Let me tell you I was late to work for the first time in 14yrs. I just could not put it down I had to force it out of my hands. I just wish it would have came out about 1 yrs earlier my father would have really enjoyed reading it. I can’t wait to get home and start up again and Now I am dying to get home and pull my soapy stuff out of the attic and rummage through it"
—Jay Hartzell, Great Great Grandson of a great Bad Man

♣  "Your book about Soapy is the best documented book I have ever read. I hope sales are brisk and everyone enjoys it as much as I did.

I just couldn't put your book down so I managed to finish it before I thought I would. Your book fits me very well as I am the type of person that wants the unadulterated truth and I want it backed with documentation. The fact that you included the actual letters was icing on the cake.

Every once in awhile a writer comes along that pours his heart and soul into a book and pays the price by actually doing the leg work necessary to create something truly exceptional. You, my friend, have done just that and are to be commended for your efforts. For the many people who have not heard of soapy Smith, they no doubt cut their teeth on Hollywood's version of the Old West.  It's time they sink their teeth into the true Old West and this book is a great place to start." 
—Bob Wood, historian, Old West Antiques.com

♣  "Having never heard of Soapy Smith before and remembered reading some of your past postings on the Jesse James Delphi board about him, a good while ago, peaked my interest in learning more about this man. Your book on Soapy Smith makes one imagine they are there reliving Soapy's movements through his life. It is very detailed, well written and contains a comprehensive list of  research footnotes. If anyone wants to know more about the life and death of Soapy Smith, then this is the book to read and have in your research library."
—Gay Mathis, historian. 

♣  "Your book arrived today and I am most impressed! It is wonderfully presented and a really significant contribution to the field. You have every right to feel proud my friend. Many Thanks!"
—Jeff Morey, Tombstone historian. 

♣  "I have received the softcover copy of your book and am impressed by it. I thank you and look forward to receiving tha signed hardbound copy. The wealth of pictures, which I had not seen in the manuscript copy I first read, add a great deal to the text. Your years of study and research have paid dividends. From this point on, any writer or researcher into the history of nineteenth century gambliers or con men must use your book as a primer. Best wishes for your continued success."
—Robert DeArment, historical author.

♣  "... Just cracked your book, can't put it down - skimmed to the ending of course to see how you diagnosed the shooting (very thorough) and now am into the intros and the Georgia years. I'm impressed much the way Art [Art Petersen, the book publisher] was with how detailed and backed up your research is, and how you contrast it with the many stories told over the years. Very impressive at first sitting and can't wait to finish it." 
—Jeff Brady, The Skagway News

♣  "... I am nine chapters into "Alias Soapy Smith" and I have to say this is the most detailed biography that I have ever read. I find it fascinating to read all the details and see familiar names. I was wondering if the Billy Allen and William Allen are the same fellow who met with a bullet from Doc Holliday up in Leadville?" 
—Bill Marquardt

♣ "I predict it's going to be a really good seller for quite a while. I just finished reading it yesterday and found it to be a very interesting read, especially since it (1) filled a virtual vacuum about the real Soapy Smith, (2) provided a lot of general history about the period; and (3) served as a good primer on scams. Old Soapy surely had a very complex personality, a lot of bad mixed in with a lot of good, and I think Jeff did an excellent job of portraying both sides. In the end I felt a tinge of sadness as I read the account of his death--not for the loss of the bad part of him, but for the loss of the good part"  
—Mel Seibel.

♣ "This is a very nice account. I am very very impressed by it."  
—Darryl Beckmann, historical author.

♣  "Jeff - Just finished ALIAS SOAPY SMITH and I wanted to let you know how well done I thought the book is. The writing is crisp and the research exhaustive. It most certainly is the definitive book on the topic. The little piece I'm writing will tie a Pinkerton detective named Charlie Siringo into pursuit of a couple of members of the Soap Gang. But mine is only a small corner of the larger story you tell so well and I just wanted to share how impressed I was with you. Congratulations!"  
—Howard Blum, journalist.

♣  "A wild ride through the old west, what a character!"  
—Nathan Thomas.

♣  "It will be wonderful to have all that information in the same volume!! And so much that was not available before! It'll be terrific! I can't wait to see all the pictures."  
—CJ, author.

♣  "...This is the buy of the century." 
—Bob Wood, historian, Old West Antiques.

♣  "Anxious to read it, had no idea it was that big - no wonder it took you 20 years! Congrats on getting it done."  
—Jeff Brady, The Skagway News.

♣  "It is great to see so much new material about this very interesting personality." 
—Melanie Mayer, historical author. 

♣  "In this massive account of the life of his great-grandfather, Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, Jeff Smith has covered in scrupulous detail not only the career of his remarkable forebear but the fascinating history of conmanship and gambling in the nineteenth century American West. Drawn from unpublished family records and a wealth of primary sources, it is an engrossing tale and a noteworthy addition to the literature of the genre."
—Robert DeArment, historical author.