Book review: The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook

Rating: 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.