It takes one bigot to cause societal havoc. This is the premise behind Heartless Ambition by Beverly A. Massey. The town of Branfield, New Hampshire takes pride in the fact that their humble town is special. Its townspeople do their best to make it different from the rest of the world by maintaining peace and order. But the townspeople will wake up one day to realize that their town is just a dream that is not immune to societal evils as Andre Jan Gertz assumes the mayoral position and has his ambition set on becoming a senator. Much has changed in the town since he became the mayor, and the wonderful diversity in his town’s population is no longer what it used to be. Gertz is a politician who is determined to win regardless of the cause, but his plots and schemes will not go unchallenged. Reading Heartless Ambition is a thrilling and satisfying experience for its reliable narration and gossipy dialogues among the townsfolk that give you an idea of what’s going on. Beverly A. Massey infuses it with her own brand of storytelling that shows a fondness for characters that makes the storyline larger-than-life as they express their sentiments on how one man changes their town for the worse and how it affects them. It’s satisfying to think of the Branfield townsfolk as your typical neighbors that you stop and chat with once in a while. Massey creates an infectious neighborly vibe where you are compelled to get involved because your ambitious town mayor is sweeping your once-idyllic town toward deterioration. Heartless Ambition is a must-read because doesn’t stop at character studies. It is also a reflection of the great lengths that one is willing to go in the name of self-interest.