A ranching mogul/senator returns from D.C to his Nevada homestead unaware that a series of sinister situations are in the works to take over Carson City and ultimately destroy his ranch empire.
Barron Maynwaring owns much of Carson City. Together with his wife and adult children, the Maynwarings are recognized as a prominent and well-respected family. Yet the Maynwarings are in for a big surprise with a flurry of strange activity—cattle rustling, murder, and worse yet, the lynching of their long-time friend and helper Jeremy Foster. Barron and his sons witness the wrongful death of Jeremy. But before Barron has a chance to expose the truth, the range mogul (who is also a U.S. Senator) and his family are hit with slander when the town newspaper headliner connects the Maynwarings to the lynching. The circumstances only get worse, especially when the Maynwarings learn that Carson City is being taken over business by business.
Cartwright has created a one-of-a-kind tale of power and politics in his latest western. Set during the time of the Reconstruction, Cartwright immediately draws his audience into a realm that is somewhat reminiscent of the beloved TV western Bonanza (1959-1973), which represented a respected ranch family defending their territory while dealing with social issues. Cartwright’s third person narrative includes a highly defined cast of heroes, villains, and a flurry of minor characters, many of which function as foils. While surrounding his cast with the flavor of the Old West (i.e., saloons, cattle ranching, card gambling), Cartwright punctuates a bit of history into his plot, such as the Comstock Lode near Virginia City. Key to Cartwright’s writing style is his incorporation of engaging dialogue within alternating character scenes. Yet closing on a cliffhanger, Cartwright dangles a hint that the Maynwarings’ story will continue.
THE MAYNWARINGS: A GAME OF CHANCE is an appealing western read with a edgy political twist.
~IndieReader