Member Review
Review by
Tracey B, Reviewer
Loved this book! Written as a letter, it didn’t take long for me to lose myself in protagonist Benjamin Shreve’s voice. And what an original voice! The story, set in 1868, centers on the journey Benjamin, a pregnant woman, her young son, a treasure hunter, and a Black Seminole take across the Texas hill country.
With horrible outlaws you love to hate and quirky tag-alongs you love to love, The Madstone is gentle yet compelling, quiet yet action-packed, sweet yet brutally honest. Crook skillfully develops every character with a freshness, avoiding stereotypes and creating a believable world.
It’s a western and a love story, but so much more. Kindness and sacrifice glow in the face of raw violence in both man and nature. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the outcome is always uncertain. I wanted both to turn the pages at break-neck speed and slow down to savor every word.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for an advanced reader’s copy.
With horrible outlaws you love to hate and quirky tag-alongs you love to love, The Madstone is gentle yet compelling, quiet yet action-packed, sweet yet brutally honest. Crook skillfully develops every character with a freshness, avoiding stereotypes and creating a believable world.
It’s a western and a love story, but so much more. Kindness and sacrifice glow in the face of raw violence in both man and nature. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the outcome is always uncertain. I wanted both to turn the pages at break-neck speed and slow down to savor every word.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for an advanced reader’s copy.
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