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The Marilynn Gaines Murder

W. Robert O'Brien
PublishAmerica (2009)
ISBN 1-60563-878-1
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebeccasreads.com (07/09)

The year was 1798 and the setting was the small town of Martindale, Maine.  Marilynn Gaines sets off to town in search of her husband, John Gaines whom she suspected of infidelity.  Her suspicions were confirmed when the bartender directs her to Gaines’ hotel room unaware that the young woman that Mr. Gaines had requested had already been sent up to the room earlier.  After Marilynn pounded on the door of the room she entered to see a scantily clad woman drinking a glass of champagne in the bed. 

“Instantly, Marilynn exited the room in a storm of silent anguish, and staggered down the long, narrow hallway.  Nauseous and dizzy, she stopped at the balcony, just before the top of the staircase.  Leaning against the balustrade to take a couple of deep breaths, she heard her husband unleash a barking laugh, as he slammed the door, which did nothing to muffle the sounds of lewd merriment, now flooding the hallway.” (p.10)

When her husband returned to their home in the early morning hours he made her pay for her prying and Marilynn Gaines was never seen again.

Fast forward to modern day and we are introduced to Daniel.  Daniel lives in California but decides to buy a house and move to Martindale, Maine.  The house he ends up buying is the Gaines house without knowing of the ghostly activity that apparently takes place in the house.  He finds out soon enough though and rather than be frightened of the activity he seeks closure for the spirit.

In “The Marilynn Gaines Murder,” author W. Robert O'Brien takes great care to develop the characters and setting in the beginning of the book.  His flow of writing matches the lackadaisical pace of the fictional town of Martindale, Maine of which he writes.  I enjoyed being transported to the small coastal town, a town where everyone knows everyone else and where it seems as if no one has a care in the world.  Through O’ Brien’s detailed writing I could vividly picture the people and layout in my head.  If I had to pick one element of the novel as my favorite part, it would hands-down be character development.

The book is quite lengthy at one hundred and seventy three chapters but for me the slow pace and length proved to be very relaxing.  The premise of the story is interesting and unique and I enjoyed O’Brien’s writing. I found “The Marilynn Gaines Murder” to be a worthwhile, although predictable, read. 


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