‘The Mainwarings’ by Digger Cartwright

Published by Xlibris Corporation, 2012.
ISBN: 978-1-4771-5037-5

The cover describes the book as a Western but it has a wide canvas with politics and mystery as major parts. The era is that of the US Reconstruction after the Civil War and the assassination of Lincoln. The Maynwarings of the title are very important family in the developing Carson City with a very large ranch and other businesses. The head of the family is United States Senator Barron Maynwaring who, as the book opens, has just returned home from Washington DC where he has been dealing with all the complications of reconstructing the USA after a highly destructive war and with the seething animosities of that war not resolved. He is musing on his new hat called a Stetson purchased in Philadelphia from Mr. Stetson's shop as the story begins but such frivolities are quickly forced from his mind as events develop. His family and other dependants are described in a rather breathless first chapter revealing that all assist in the enterprises and are respected citizens. The women of the family are as intelligent and tough as the males.

However, strange things are happening in Carson City with a mysterious man called Giddeon van Thorn in town with unlimited supplies of money to buy properties. Trouble comes through an argument over a gambling game leading to a death and to a posse to capture the possible killer.

Gradually the Maywarings become aware that they are being targeted in various ways that could destroy the ranch and the family. There is a lot of action here in traditional Western fashion and the story moves fast and furiously. Will the Maynwarings overcome their mysterious enemies and with what peripheral damage? Will the mysteries be unlocked? It is a page turner. Moreover there is an open ended final chapter which suggests more may follow.
------

Reviewer: Jennifer Palmer
Digger Cartwright has written other books - thrillers like The Versailles Conspiracy and The a House of Dark Shadows. His nom de plume hides an industrialist and investor in the USA.

Robert ‘Digger’ Cartwright is the author of several mystery stories, teleplays, and novels including The Maynwarings: A Game of Chance, a mystery set in the Old West, The Versailles Conspiracy, a modern day political thriller, Murder at the Ocean Forest, a traditional mystery novel set in the 1940s, The House of Dark Shadows, a psychological thriller, and Conversations on the Bench, an inspirational and motivational compilation of life lessons. In the business realm, he has contributed to a number of articles on a wide range of financial, strategic planning, and policy topics and is a contributor to several finance/economic books. He frequently contributes articles, commentaries, and editorials focusing on current economic and political topics for the private think tank. Mr. Cartwright’s philanthropic efforts include interests in a wide range of causes, predominantly at the local level. He enjoys golf, participating in charity golf tournaments, falconry, and attending WWE events. He divides his time between Washington, D.C., South Carolina, and Florida.

Jennifer Palmer Throughout my reading life crime fiction has been a constant interest; I really enjoyed my 15 years as an expatriate in the Far East, the Netherlands & the USA but occasionally the solace of closing my door to the outside world and sitting reading was highly therapeutic. I now lecture to adults on historical topics including Famous Historical Mysteries.