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Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Maidstone: Lust, Murder, Greed, and a Cover Up in a Small New England Town by Sven Anderson is the tale of a small town described as having the look of an Andrea Smythe painting, with the new clean snow, and is the journey of ex-marine Danny Gilcrest, who is about to rediscover his hometown after being away in the marines. Danny is determined to enroll in college and work as a police officer in the meantime. When someone tries to shoot him while on patrol, he knows something is definitely wrong. It is not long before Danny is embroiled in a murder case, and finds himself pitted against a mob for trying to get justice for the victim. Now, in a town with many dirty secrets hidden beneath the city’s quietude, he will have to fight to stay alive.
Sven Anderson’s novel is a literary work with great potential for entertainment. I enjoyed the prose above everything and how the author captures elements of the setting. I had no difficulty imagining the routes, the images of the snow and other elements that are part of the setting. The writing is atmospheric, punctuated by gorgeous descriptions. The characters are compelling and they are involved in a strong conflict. I also enjoyed the fact that the conflict is introduced from the start of the narrative, with a shot aimed at Danny, which missed. Maidstone has undertones of mystery and suspense, but the strength of this narrative, at least for me, lies in the complex nature of the protagonist. He is enthusiastic about his studies and about serving his town, but he knows very little about the place, and it's a problem that is not easy to deal with, especially where a mob is concerned.
