I have always been a sucker for the Western genre, whether it be in film or in literature. This was a charming read. Benjamin Shreve is living a solitary life in the town of Comfort, waiting for his long lost sister to return to town. He encounters the characters Dickie, along with Tot and Nell Banes. Nell is on the run from her terrible husband and his murderous gang of family known as the Swamp Fox gang. Benjamin is drawn into Nell’s life when he and Dickie team up to help her escape to Indianola, Texas, where she will catch a steamer to family that can help her in New Orleans.
The bulk of the story takes place on the road, as they try to outrun the Swamp Fox gang and also deal with all that Mother Nature throws at them along the way.
The novel is told in first person through the eyes of Benjamin. He is a humorous and honest young man- a good person which is hard to find. Dickie is a true character, one who never stops talking. Nell is inspiring in her bravery and determination to save her children. The book has elements of not only the Western genre, but some commentary on humans as seen through Benjamin’s eyes. It has shades of Mark Twain in the telling. I really enjoyed this novel! Thank you for NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

4.5⭐


The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook begins in Comfort, Texas in November 1868 where we meet nineteen-year-old Benjamin Shreve as he recounts his sixteen-day adventure across Texas in a letter to a child he befriended along the way.

When Benjamin agrees to help a stranded traveler catch up with the stagecoach caring for his belongings, little does he know that he will end up aiding pregnant Nell Banes and her young son Henry “Tot” to escape from the clutches of her cruel husband and his criminal family. With the help of Dickie, a treasure hunter in possession of a valuable item he hopes will change his fortunes and Horhay Elveraz a Black Seminole with a lifetime of experience and wisdom under his belt, both of whom he befriends in the course of his travels. The narrative follows the travelers as they brave hailstorms, coyotes, killers intent on exacting revenge, cursed treasures, and much more as they make their way through Texas, in an attempt to help Nell and her son safely reach their destination.

Masterful storytelling, an absorbing and consistently paced plot and a cast of well-thought-out and intriguing characters make for a riveting read full of action and adventure and not a boring moment. Benjamin is a protagonist you would root for from the very first moment you meet him. The author exercises both sensitivity and maturity in depicting Benjamin’s concerned feelings for Nell and Tot, his camaraderie with Dickie and the deep respect he feels toward Horhay. I would have loved to read more about Benjamin's life beyond the events described in this novel. The author’s meticulous research is evident in the vividly described setting, the social landscape and the historical detail transporting the reader to Reconstruction-era Texas.

I should mention that I haven’t read the author’s The Which Way Tree which tells Benjamin and his sister’s story, though I do intend to pick it up in the near future. Despite not having read the preceding novel, I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of courage, friendship, sacrifice, love and adventure.

Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Madstone, by Elizabeth Crook, is an epistolary novel that takes place in Texas after the Civil War. Although the story itself is interesting, I didn't find myself in the book the way that I have for other of Crook's books. The combination of the form and the setting didn't hold my attention the way I had hoped. Regular readers of westerns might enjoy it more than I did.

took a bit to get into this but once I did it was all smooth sailing. One of those books you think you wont like then LOVE. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

This is the story of a woman fleeing her husband's violent family with her 4 year old son. She is pregnant and crosses paths with Benjamin and Dickie who decide to help her get to her final destination. The story is fraught with danger, both from the elements of 1860's Texas and from criminals out to get revenge. The story is at times a madcap race through the wilds of Texas and at times a touching story of humanity.

I loved Benjamin, what a kind, brave man. I adored the way we were getting told the story by a much older Benjamin recounting both the events and how he felt about them. I loved every second of this story and my only criticism is that I wanted more. The ending was complete but I would have loved to see more of the characters' lives after this letter was delivered.

I agree with the comments that compare this one to The News of the World but I'd also say that it reminded me of Where the Lost Wander and strangely the caper / adventure parts reminded me a bit of The Lincoln Highway.

Thanks to Little Brown and Company for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

“But thinking what might have been is never a help to what is.” Thus, the reader knows in a short sentence the philosophy of Benjamin Shreve. Wonderfully written in the form of a letter, penned to Tot, to be opened on his nineteenth birthday. Set in post Civil War Texas, it is at once poignant and violent. An excellent depiction of the U. S. at the time.

The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook takes place in 1868 in Texas Hill Country. Benjamin Shreve is helping others get to their destination after someone is stranded by a stagecoach and then that same stagecoach is robbed, stranding more passengers. The book is written as a letter from Benjamin to a young boy that was on the stagecoach with his mother.

It took me longer than usual to read this book. It wasn't the fast paced adventure story that I thought it would be. There is plenty of adventure, but I just could not get into the story until I was about 50% through the book. The four star rating is for the character development. I really liked the main characters, especially Benjamin. I, also, like the way the story was written as a letter. It felt like someone was telling you their story! I would recommend this book to my patrons!

<b><i>The Madstone</i> begins as an against-the-odds attempt to evade evil and develops into a beautiful heartbreaker of a story about duty, family, and love in Civil War-era Texas.</b>

<blockquote><b>I will tell you, if there is a thing harder than facing danger, it's knowing it's headed your way.</blockquote></b>
It's 1868 in Texas, and a stagecoach that's off track and in trouble (with a fortune tucked away inside) turns out to also hold unexpected passengers: pregnant Nell and her four-year-old son, Tot, who are fleeing from Nell's abusive husband and his vindictive, terrifying "Swamp Fox" family.

When nineteen-year-old orphan and frontier carpenter Benjamin Shreve encounters Nell, he determines to shepherd her and Tot to safety. But their trip to the Gulf of Mexico is fraught with danger--and Nell's husband and his murderous brothers may be hot on their tail.

The book is fully epistolary, as the story is told in a book-long letter from Benjamin to Tot. It started off a little slowly for me because Benjamin shared so many details of thoughts and in setting the scene, but I ended up loving the delivery of the story as Benjamin shares understated, thoughtful reflections and begins to express burgeoning emotions and vulnerability.

I loved the Old West setting, the relationships, the unlikely allies, the high threat level, the danger and chases, the few quiet moments--all of this.

The sourcing of and use of the madstone here is something I may never get over--it was both somewhat disgusting and absolutely fascinating.

I received a prepublication edition of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company.

If you're interested in this book, you might also like the titles on my Greedy Reading List Six Great Historical Fiction Stories Set in the American West and Six More Great Historical Fiction Stories Set in the American West--you can find all links within this review on Bossy Bookworm; see below.

<b>To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-the-madstone-by-elizabeth-crook/"><i>The Madstone.</a></i></b>

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Author Elizabeth Crook was inspired to pen The Madstone by a desire to write about Benjamin Shreve again. He first appeared in The Which Way Tree at the age of seventeen. Crook says she wanted to "age him up a little bit and give him a chance to have a first love and [let readers] see the world through his eyes for a longer period of time." She finds him an "endearing character" – as will readers of The Madstone -- and "missed him" after she finished writing that prior novel.

The Reconstruction era began with the end of the Civil War in May 1865, and continued until the Compromise of 1877. Americans were rebuilding infrastructure, struggling to unify a fractured republic and reintegrate the states that seceded, and move past the destructive social, political, and economic impacts of slavery. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were passed, granting equal civil rights to all persons, but it was a turbulent time characterized by denial of rights to and ongoing violent attacks against Blacks, particularly in the South. While researching the period, Crooks learned about the Swamp Fox (depicted in The Madstone) and other gangs that preyed on Freed men and women, and government representatives from the Freedman's Bureau (part of the U.S. Army, established by President Abraham Lincoln but later disbanded due to corruption). The gangs hid in the swamps, emerging to commit atrocities.

The story opens in Comfort, Texas, in November 1868, and is presented in the form of a letter written by Benjamin to Tot, Nell’s son. Benjamin explains that he wants to tell Tot about the days they spent together but the letter will not be delivered to Tot until he is nineteen – Benjamin’s current age. Benjamin recognizes that Tot is not likely to remember all that occurred, and certainly not from the same perspective as Benjamin, who is “bound to remember these days I write about until the reaper should come fetch me.” After a brief introduction, Benjamin relates what happened earlier that year in what Crook calls a "linear" manner as her characters travel from one place to another and "many, many things happen along the way."

Benjamin describes his work as a carpenter, crafting household furniture, and renting a room in a German widow’s home. Working in the yard, he observed a stagecoach stopped across the street with Tot and his mother, Nell, inside. He also witnessed a dispute between the sheriff and a male passenger that culminated in the traveler’s arrest. Not long after, a rider recklessly charged into town from the same direction the coach had arrived on a horse that “was badly lathered and winded.” He seemed desperate to find a new horse to continue his journey, but the livery had none to offer nor did Benjamin. In frustration, he “mounted his spent roan, set spurs to it and rode off” just as the first passenger appeared and began yelling at the stable boy that one of his bags was not left behind when the coach departed without him. He, too, was looking for a horse and Benjamin decided there was something trustworthy about him. Although Benjamin had no intention of letting the man take off riding Benjamin’s only horse, an old mare, he agreed to take the man as far as Boerne, where he might find another horse, for a fair price. The man was carrying a pouch that appeared to be full of gold pesos like the one he showed Benjamin.

So the two of them set out to catch up with the coach, “at the usual pace for my mare, which is not a fast one.” Unbeknownst to Benjamin at the time, he was embarking on an adventure that would last longer than anticipated, take him further from home than planned, and forever change him. Along the way, Benjamin and his new companion, Richard Dean Bell, aka “Dickie,” a treasure hunter on his way to Indianola to board a ship to New Orleans, find themselves in a variety of unexpected and dangerous predicaments.

First, they encounter the rider, now barefoot and shirtless, walking along the road. He had been robbed and beaten, and Benjamin agreed to take him to Boerne, as well. Following an argument, the man tried to strike Dickie with a hammer he pulled from Benjamin’s toolbox, but missed and struck Benjamin’s mare instead before toppling out of the wagon and hitting his head. Hauling the injured man back into the wagon, Benjamin proceeded while Dickie talked incessantly, relating tales of his travels and treasure hunts.

Eventually, they come upon the coach being held up by the same robbers who attacked the rider. And Dickie spies his missing bag. Shots are fired, and the rider is killed. Soon, Benjamin and Dickie continue their journey with Nell, Tot, and the stagecoach driver joining them, and the rider’s body secured in the back of the wagon to be delivered to the undertaker in Boerne after questioning by the marshal. Nell insisted that her husband “had gone broke from the war and run off and left her to raise their son and the baby yet to be born” any minute. Tot told Benjamin that his father no longer lived with him and mother, and was instead living with a big swamp fox.

At last, their trip proceeds and the identity of the dead rider is revealed. Benjamin learns that Nell is running not just from her husband, but his family, as well. She is determined to reach Indianola and also board a ship to New Orleans where she and her children will be safe with one of her relatives. The matriarch of her husband’s family is a vile, conniving woman who controls and directs their violent gang activity. Nell could no longer remain silent in the face of their criminality and informed law enforcement of their activities and whereabouts. Now she and her children are in danger because her husband’s brothers are in hot pursuit, ordered by their mother to kill Nell and kidnap Tot so he can grow up to join their gang.

Crook says when she learned about the gangs, she pondered what it would be like to be in Nell’s shoes. She knew terrible crimes were being committed, but women had few rights, especially when it came to raising their children. Crook wanted to explore the point at which a woman in Nell’s situation would be able to muster the courage to turn in not just her own husband, but his whole family, with the certainty that she would be subjected to retribution. Nell provides information to the sheriff, in part, because “her own sense of guilt catches up with her" concerning one particularly heinous incident. She has no choice but to run because she cannot permit Tot or her unborn child to be raised amid or by such monstrous criminals. That, being the “most threatening thing to a mother,” provides Nell’s motivation and she will do anything to protect her children. She could not have foreseen that she would encounter and be aided by Benjamin, and their relationship deepens quickly during the few, fraught days they spend together. Crook, writing in Benjamin’s voice, describes his growing feelings for Nell in a believable and tender manner. Benjamin is hardly more than a boy himself, but he realizes he is forming a strong bond with Nell, and he is capable of being and wants be a loving father to both Tot and Nell’s yet-to-be-born child. As the fast-paced story proceeds, Benjamin matures and reveals himself to be principled, quite bright, and loyal, especially to the sister he has sworn to wait for at home and still believes might return.

Despite the precarious situations in which her characters find themselves – and there are many tense moments when Benjamin and the other characters must quickly devise strategies to outwit their pursuers, as well as the elements, to survive -- Crook has deftly crafted a narrative that is filled with humor. Benjamin’s descriptions of his adventure, and reactions to the people he encounters and challenges he withstands, are frequently hilarious which, from Crook’s perspective, is because he has no idea he is being funny. He merely offers his observations (phonetic spellings included), recounting the complications and setbacks along the way, recalling his fears as the gang chases them across Texas, in a straight-forward, unembellished, and often naïve and awestruck manner. Crook aptly describes him as very "earnest, sincere, and dutiful," noting that he is just trying "in an honest way to relate the story." Crook’s understanding of her character, and skillful demonstration of his indomitable spirit and determination to keep himself and his companions safe, makes the story riveting and readers will find themselves taking Benjamin into their heart, and cheering for his mission to succeed.

The book’s title? In American folklore, a madstone was a rock or other object believed to have the power to draw poison out of a bite from an animal when pressed into the bite after being soaked in milk. Madstones were treasured because they represented and offered hope at a time when there were no medical cures for rabies, venomous snake bites, etc. The title was selected because one such magical object comes into play at a turning point in the story, according to Crook.

The Madstone is delightfully entertaining and evocative of classic, beloved Western novels, films, and television programs, replete with perilous situations, shocking revelations, an eclectic cast of fascinating and memorable supporting characters, and even secret treasure and a legendary curse.

But it is also an emotionally rich and thought-provoking story of bravery, the power of a courageous mother’s devotion to her children’s futures, and multiple literal and figurative journeys, including Benjamin’s journey to manhood and what he learns about the world beyond Comfort, Texas, and the people who inhabit it. Benjamin gains a deeper understanding of honor and the importance of keeping promises, and finds the first love Crook wanted him to experience . . . as well as so much more. It's understandable that Crook missed Benjamin and describes him as her favorite out of all the characters she has created during her career. Hopefully, Crook will reunite readers with him and, perhaps, Tot, when both are a bit older and certainly wiser, in a future novel.

This book was ok, but a little too sweet for me. Really, 4 members of a notorious group of vicious outlaws can’t take down a pregnant woman and her inexperienced escorts? The narrator of the audiobook was very good except when there were whispered conversations. Then he was unintelligible and I had to look at the ebook. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Elizabeth Crook is a queen. She has a masterful grasp on language and storytelling.

This book is all about the writing. That's what really drives this book. That being said, it's challenging. It's written in first person as a letter and there are no chapters. However, I always like a challenge and I have loved Elizabeth Crook's other novels so I felt sure that this book would pay off.

It did.

Compulsive read. Her voice and turns of phrases are amazing.

My absolute favorite quote, "However, I did not seriously count on he would, on account of why would he?" I wrote it on a sticky note and keep it at my desk becuase I loved it so much.

Thank you #netgalley for the arc and Elizabeth Crook

THE MADSTONE by Elizabeth Crook is very aptly described by the publisher as "a work that echoes Lonesome Dove and News of the World." Taking place a few years after the Civil War, it is a Western adventure featuring Ben Shreve, a young carpenter with a good heart. He gets hired to help a traveling stranger, Dickie, reconnect with the stagecoach in Texas Hill Country near Comfort, Texas, on the way to a boat for New Orleans. Along they way, these two run into robbers, murderers, and a young pregnant woman, Nell Banes, with her four-year-old son, Tot. Crook recounts the story through Ben's eyes and his homespun reflections: "it's the oddest thing in the world, Tot, the friends you make in a lifetime." Readers will be enthralled by the adventures – full of twists and turns including a rabid coyote and a poisonous snake, plus a touch of romance. THE MADSTONE received a starred review from Kirkus ("an entertaining, well-paced yarn"). Be sure to add it to your reading list.

And enjoy Ben's quoting and retelling of stories about Benjamin Franklin "[who] said a person who thinks hisself in possession of all truths, and believes those who differ are far in the wrong, compares to a man walking in foggy weather. Those at some distance ahead on the road appear to him wrapped in the fog, and those behind him, wrapped in the fog as well, and those in the fields either side, all wrapped in the fog. Yet nearby and about him, things appear clear, despite he is just as much in the fog as any of them." Enjoy!

THE MADSTONE is written as a long letter, in the voice of a 19 year old man, recounting a journey taken on the spur of the moment to reclaim some lost luggage. That the journey becomes much more seems a forgone conclusion. Unfortunately for me, this book never claimed my attention the way Larry McMurtry’s work does and whose work (LONESOME DOVE) had been mentioned as similar to this title. The characters just never captured my attention enough to care about their welfare. I am a distinct minority in my opinion; this book has received wild praise by most readers. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Elizabeth Crook’s The Madstone, takes place in 1868. Told through a series of letters, it's a tale about a young mother, her son, and the man charged with getting them across Texas while fleeing vengeful outlaws. This was my first Elizabeth Crook book.

First sentence: I hope to lay down these events in a manner helpful to you, concerning some days you will not fully remember when you get older.

Fraught with jeopardy from the outset along the vast Texas hill country, the trek becomes still more dangerous as buried secrets, including a cursed necklace, emerge. And even as Benjamin falls in love with Nell and imagines a life as Tot’s father, vengeful pursuers are never far behind. Told in Bens voice - we experience peril and humor along the road.

This quick read is for those who enjoy a good adventure and a little love along the road. It reminded me of Where the Lost Wander and News of the World, two stories I absolutely adored.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for introducing me to a tale of three individuals sharing a hazardous and defining journey.

I was drawn to this book because it is a historical fiction in Texas. The premise of the book had me expecting adventure and suspense, but was slow and somber.

This book would be a good fit for someone who enjoys the more somber and serious, but it was just not for me. I’ve heard the author’s previous book moves at a better pace and will read it!

Thank you Net Galley for an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book and was intrigued by the plot in general. I do feel that it moved a bit slow-paced at times, but the characters and setting were endearing and entertaining. I recommend it for sure.

When I saw that this book was being compared to my favorite all time book Lonesome Dove I got excited.
I should know better.

The story just was not for me. Slow and meandering and I did not want to pick it back up the whole time I was reading it.

I'll have forgotten it by this afternoon.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

The Madstone was an interesting read with a good setting. The characters and style of writing was ok. Not terrible overall.

I was drawn to this title because of previously having read and loved The Which Way Tree. I, therefore, couldn't help but compare the two titles.
This story lacked the humor of Crook's previous title. I found it to be much more somber in tone also. The writing itself was glorious, but I just simply wasn't as captivated by the story line or characters.
I anticipate that we will be hearing more about Samantha, Benjamin, and Tot. I will read on enthusiastically.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the chance to preview The Madstone.

This book was put on my radar by Cindy at @thoughtsfromapage. First off- the cover is just gorgeous and second, it’s set in Texas so… I’m sold. I live in Georgia now- but grew up in Texas- it’s where my and my husband’s parents and siblings live and it will always feel like home.

The entirety of this book is told in one voice. That voice is telling a story. I kept waiting for a shift in POV- but there wasn’t one. Once I realized that, I settled in and got absorbed in the story.

Set in the 1868, the plot involves a pregnant woman and her young son running from her husband and his outlaw brother-in-laws. I was taken back in time and was amazed at how well the author could describe the surroundings and people so well through a lone voice.

This book was like nothing I have read before- so I just loved that originality. The characters were vivid and I hated the ones I should despise, and loved the ones trying hard to do the right thing.

“…Benjamin Franklin noted thirteen moral virtues in his autobiography, one of them being resolution. He maintained how resolution requires being resolved to do what you aught, and then doing what you resolve. Resolve is what your mother done in that moment. No matter this nor that, she intended to see you was safe.”

I definitely recommend this immersive and at times tense book. Be ready to spend time in the vast Texas Hill Country.

Thank you to @netgalley and @littlebrown for the ARC to read and review.