Maxym: I am a male, and males are not afraid.

by Patrick C. Notchtree

In war-ravaged Chechnya in 2000, six-year-old Maxym's life is shattered when his parents are brutally murdered by Islamic militants and his sister is subjected to a horrific assault. Orphaned, he is adopted by Russian militia and embarks on a path of vengeful retribution, unleashing a deadly fury before being whisked away to Russia for a new life.
Growing up in a Russia plagued by homophobia, Maxym wrestles with his conflicting emotions towards Muslims and his own suppressed homosexuality. Alongside his innate psychopathic tendencies and an unsettling fascination with killing, his exceptional marksmanship skills make him a coveted asset. Trained to be an unrelenting assassin, he walks a precarious tightrope, embodying a paradoxical blend of tender affections and unwavering loyalty to the nation that nurtured him—an enigmatic figure in the tapestry of contemporary Russia.
Maxym's insatiable thirst for revenge propels him into perilous missions across Syria, Africa, Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, amassing immense wealth at a young age. However, the year 2022 brings with it a reckoning in Ukraine, demanding an exorbitant price for his actions.
Amidst the tangled web of Maxym's journey lies a poignant exploration of the intricate bond between Ukraine and Russia. The stifling atmosphere of Putin's Russia forces him to conceal his true sexual identity, facing mounting danger as time progresses.
Inspired by true events, this gripping tale unravels the extraordinary life of a young Russian, set against the backdrop of a 21st-century ordinary Russian family. This biographical novel delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of love, loyalty, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Available for Kindle and in Paperback.
A novel inspired by true events.

This riveting narrative is not for under 18s or the faint of heart.

769 pages, Paperback

Published February 14, 2023

About the author

Patrick now lives in the north of England with his wife and has his son and granddaughters nearby. Much of his life is reflected in the biographical trilogy "The Clouds Still Hang", so to repeat too many biographical details here would be something of a 'spoiler'!
The memoir was my first book. My fifth book is now out on Kindle and paperback, called "Maxym".

Reviews

[Duine]

MAXYM

I begin my review by offering my encouragement and best wishes to Maxym for his final assignment. Just the guy we need.

This is a rollicking good book packed with action and a real page-turner. Maxym is quite as unvbelievable as James Bond, and almost as bullet-proof, and none the worse for that; he is an equally engaging figure with a private life that rivals 007's. Fried dumplings replace the more famous Martini.

What is unusual and interesting is the character's location in Russia, and although his flawless English is spoken in Italics, we read his native speech and see his view of his Russian culture through his eyes. How authentic this is, I am not in a position to judge, but it is very convincing, and refreshing to find oneself inside the head of someone who is not a blue-blooded English Biggles (look him up), and to see recent history in Ireland, America, Afghanistan and Ukraine from a rather different point of view.

At its core, the book is a reworking of The Clouds Still Hang with a very different ending, the plot centring around bitter experiences of loss and separation, and a series of repeated separations throughout the story. So traumatic was the initial loss of his murdered family that it turned Maxym into a ruthless killer with psychopathic motivation and autistic detachment

This is where I find the character of Max to be unconvincing. The repetitions of the story of his traumatic separation as a six-year-old, do nothing (for me) to alter my reading of Maxym's typically gay kindness and generosity, and concern for and understanding of other people. The accusation of being a psychopathic killer, and insensitive to others, actually runs counter to his behaviour towartds his family and many friends, and the regard they have for him.

Three-quarters of the way through the book is the sentence, 'Putin doesn't seem to me to be the kind of person who has pals.' There is the psychopath, in that one sentence; a description shared, ironically, with Donald Trump. Trump's traumatic origins devoid of warmth and sympathy give rise to him being the man we see (the public face of, at least). Putin, I don't doubt, has much in common with Trump. Both demand worship, not pals.

Maxym is very different, and all the indications are that he was wrenched from a family he loved and who loved him, to be adopted by Leonid, whose warmth he also enjoyed. I see Maxym's issues as more to do with anger than psychopathy. Conversely, I struggle to see in my mind's eye the image of Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich, tucked up in bed with his childhood Bruno the bear supplying much-needed company.

So I don't find Max's enjoyment of killing or the supposed dark side of his personality particularly convincing, except as an expression of a deep anger that occasionally takes hold of him.

That said, it remains for me a thoroughly compelling read, the twists and turns managed skilfully enough to keep me reading into the small hours just to find out how the book ends.

[Tim Trent]

Breathtaking set of adventures with a Hitchcock cameo role

This is a lengthy read, and hard to review without spoilers. I’ll restrict myself to the pace and characterisation.

The pace varies from domestic detail to extraordinary but believable adventures. We are left guessing until the end of the end.

The eponymous hero is crafted very carefully, and we’re never quite sure whether he’s a psychopath or not. The surrounding cast of characters are well drawn, with sufficient three dimensional characters for us to find more than one friend in the story. I never quite made friends with Maxym, the author has prevented us, rather skilfully, from liking him too much, though we care about him. Instead we’re allowed to make friends with his friends while Max is somehow set apart.

Well worth the read

[Alexandra Jazz]

I don’t even know how to begin this message, because Maxym felt so personal almost like you were telling my own story. I cried through so many pages. The pain, the loss, the fight to still believe in love after everything… it hit me harder than I expected. There were moments I had to close the book and just breathe.

But I want to thank you truly for writing it. You didn’t just tell a story; you gave words to feelings so many of us carry quietly inside. Somehow, through all the darkness, you still showed the power of hope, and that changed something in me.

May God bless you for having the courage to write something so honest, and may He continue to give you strength, wisdom, and light to keep touching lives through your words

[Ptdog]

The story is powerful, in its own way, well told, and cleverly constructed. I enjoyed it very much. The characters had depth, and held my empathy. At times the story breaks continuity. That is around the secrecy of Max’s identity. But it was small enough to be overlooked. I highly recommend this book.

[Will Baxley]

Great Read

This is a new to me author and honestly wasn’t expecting this book to be so Wonderful. I absolutely loved it. I was happy, sad, I cried and at another time I was mad. Max was so much more than I thought in the beginning. This story has action, adventure, intrigue, spice and love.

[Fintan]

A wonderful read and very authentic narrative, one of the best books I've ever read

[James Olivia]

Patrick, your storytelling balance is rare you gave us thrilling momentum and deep emotional truth. Maxym isn’t just an adventure; it’s a journey of identity and survival.The Forest Book Club

[Carolina]

We just finished discussing Maxym tonight, and everyone agreed it’s a bold, cinematic, and heartfelt story that deserves a wider audience. The Forest Book Club

[Patrick Notchtree]

Got 5 star reviews on Amazon. I thought they would appear here too.

[Stephen Bush]

I am so glad to have read "Maxym" - I know nothing about Russia. There was nothing, as far as I recall, nothing, ever mentioned about it, at my school, although that was a long time ago and the school itself closed down some years later. Should other books about Russia, its customs and way of life, come my way, I will certainly read them. Especially if they come ffron Patrick's pen.
"Maxym"; an excellent yarn; have read it twice and will probably read it again before long. It will be one of my favourites. His trials, tribulations and triumphs follow seamlessly, apart from an occasional hiccup where the text could have flowed more smoothly, as though the writer was impatient to get on to the next incident!