The tale held within the cover of this book is that of a menagerie of characters making their way across the landscape of the old west, each with their own plans for the future. Told in epistolary fashion to a young child named Tot, and with consideration of the child’s mother, the author of this tale speaks with a tongue similar to that of Lonesome Dove. The reader is taken back in time to learn bits and pieces of actual history not usually told in school; this leaves the reader with much to contemplate and perhaps step away from the book to learn more and ponder what has been, what might have been, and what yet could be.
The narrator's speech and spelling smacks of the time and setting, which lends authenticity.
I looked very much forward to every time I sat to read, and was not sorry to have read to the end. I hope to hear more of the story down the road, and think much of these folk even after turning the last page.
Many thanks to the publisher for sharing this with me so that I might read it before it goes to press in its final form.

I just couldn't get into this book. I tried but finally gave up. Others may like the book, but the grammar used by the main character was too off-putting for me.

Elizabeth Crook takes the reader on a fabulous, post civil war journey. A young, pregnant woman and her son running from violence; a young man searching for himself and a fortune hunter are all part of this rich, deep tale.

The voice of the narration was unique and really shined. I wasn’t personally getting into it and stopped at 12%, but this will go over well with the target audience. Easy three stars, four to five for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC.

Good book! It’s written from Benjamin’s point of view- like he’s writing his story down. Very interesting way to write the book- I couldn’t put it down. It’s a fast read and it moves fast. Would recommend!

As a huge fan of Lonesome Dove, I was thrilled to discover that those comparisons were spot on! Now to dive into Elizabeth Crook’s backlist titles…!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Madstone. It captured my attention from the first page and I couldn't put it down. The characters were captivating and the history I learned was fascinating. The vernacular it used was very interesting. I liked the link it shared with Crook's The Which Way Tree, which I read several years ago. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an early copy of The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook

I am especially indebted to Net Galley for including an excerpt of The Madstone in the Buzz Books Fall/Winter edition. I knew I had to request the book and I was not disappointed in the reading.

Benjamin Shreve, the narrator of the amazing eleven-day journey he undertook to help a woman and child in need, is the strong voice that is profound in its depth, even though Shreve is not an "educated" man, He has a knowledge of the writings of Benjamin Franklin and recalls his adages throughout the novel, connecting his own troubles to the words of Franklin, Add to this visuals of Moby Dick and it is clear that there is much more to Benjamin Shreve than the woodworking laborer he is by trade.

When a hold-up on the stagecoach that is carrying a pregnant woman, her small son and an unknown man named Dickie causes Benjamin to intervene as rescuer, the story takes a deep and dangerous turn as the small group develops a plan to run from the criminals. Dickie is in possession of a "cursed" necklace that belongs to Empress Carlotta who is in exile in Europe after the death of her husband Maximillian. What follows is Benjamin Shreve's written account to the young son Tot as he shares the details of the extraordinary journey.

Readers will learn of the legend of the Madstone and its purported healing powers as the young boy Tot's life is in jeopardy. Like many, I investigated the phenomenon of the madstone and its place in past culture.

This story does not let up for a moment---especially appealing is Shreve's struggle to stick to the facts of the journey but his inability to refrain from philosophizing at times, making him an endearing and reliable narrator.

3.5-4 stars.

A very effective book, for the most part. The dates are a little off - the book is meant to take place in 1868, but the way the author describes events from the characters' past, for example, the age of the young boy in the book and what has happened to characters during and since the Civil War - but I'll give that a pass. I was immediately engaged by the main character, Ben, as well as all the whole cast of characters, and my experience was very cinematic, in the sense that this would translate very well into a movie. The ending was a bit bittersweet, but I think it actually added to my appreciation of the story. Very much recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.