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Peter Maxwell Mystery #14
Maxwell's Revenge
For Peter Maxwell avoiding overcooked school dinners has always been a priority. Now it’s saved his life.
Candidates have arrived to be interviewed for the new position of deputy head. As they tuck into their lunch a scream rings out across the school dining room. One of the diners crashes to the floor and others start to collapse.
This isn’t the result of a dodgy prawn. This is murder.
But who would want to poison the teachers at Leighford High — and why?
When more poisonings occur throughout the town, Maxwell determines to track down the killer. But this time he may have taken on more than he can chew.
Candidates have arrived to be interviewed for the new position of deputy head. As they tuck into their lunch a scream rings out across the school dining room. One of the diners crashes to the floor and others start to collapse.
This isn’t the result of a dodgy prawn. This is murder.
But who would want to poison the teachers at Leighford High — and why?
When more poisonings occur throughout the town, Maxwell determines to track down the killer. But this time he may have taken on more than he can chew.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2009
115 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Trow
149 books119 followersMeirion James Trow is a full-time teacher of history who has been doubling as a crime writer for seventeen years. Originally from Ferndale, Rhondda in South Wales he now lives on the Isle of Wight. His interests include collecting militaria, film, the supernatural and true crime.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 26, 2025
These Maxwell books for me are like Maltesers. I can't just have one. So after finishing Maxwells Chain it was straight on to this one.
In this episode in the life of Leighford High School and Peter Maxwell and following events in the last book, three applicants for the vacant post of Deputy Headmaster are about to attend lunch at the school followed by formal interviews. What could possible go wrong?
And so starts the most dramatic and action filled story so far and (not a spoiler) an eye-opener at the possible age of pasteurised and vacuum packed sausage rolls !!
My wife and I have often discussed what makes a good murder/mystery and have come to the conclusion that the key ingredient for us is the people who investigate it. Professional or Amateur, it might be a fisherman and fell walker in the Lake District who knows every burger van in the area or a scruffy Geordie woman DI partial to a glass of scotch in her cottage on the North Yorkshire moors, a divorced ex Met DCI now in Scarborough or, as in this case a High School Head of Sixth form but whoever it is, they have to have something special about them that carries the story (or series) along.
For us, Maxwell has it all in spades. He is a pedant for the english language, a film buff and a historian, he paints miniature soldiers for his diorama and he talks to his cat. Above all he has a sense of humour which the author manages to keep nicely up to date ( I loved the reference in this to The League of Gentlemen although fear it would be lost on non-UK readers.) .He is now living with a much younger partner and their small son.
As well as the action and humour there was also a touch of pathos in this one too. Possibly the best yet.
10th Oct 2025
In this episode in the life of Leighford High School and Peter Maxwell and following events in the last book, three applicants for the vacant post of Deputy Headmaster are about to attend lunch at the school followed by formal interviews. What could possible go wrong?
And so starts the most dramatic and action filled story so far and (not a spoiler) an eye-opener at the possible age of pasteurised and vacuum packed sausage rolls !!
My wife and I have often discussed what makes a good murder/mystery and have come to the conclusion that the key ingredient for us is the people who investigate it. Professional or Amateur, it might be a fisherman and fell walker in the Lake District who knows every burger van in the area or a scruffy Geordie woman DI partial to a glass of scotch in her cottage on the North Yorkshire moors, a divorced ex Met DCI now in Scarborough or, as in this case a High School Head of Sixth form but whoever it is, they have to have something special about them that carries the story (or series) along.
For us, Maxwell has it all in spades. He is a pedant for the english language, a film buff and a historian, he paints miniature soldiers for his diorama and he talks to his cat. Above all he has a sense of humour which the author manages to keep nicely up to date ( I loved the reference in this to The League of Gentlemen although fear it would be lost on non-UK readers.) .He is now living with a much younger partner and their small son.
As well as the action and humour there was also a touch of pathos in this one too. Possibly the best yet.
10th Oct 2025
August 18, 2013
Only the second 'Maxwell' that I've read, and I can't wait to read more. Hilarious and moving by turns, you may need to keep a box of tissues handy for one reason or another. And avoid prawn cocktails...
October 14, 2019
Another entertaining romp into murder and mayhem.
July 9, 2025
Poison is not just for pens! This one is just so sad...why poison complete strangers for revenge?
The Maxwell family is fully fused. There is so much going on outside and inside the Maxwell home that it seems, as usual that the best laid plans may be postponed or, well, not happen at all?
Max is up to his eyeballs and a very temporary promotion at work. Jacquie is do busy she hasn't slept...reinforcements must be called in to see to Nolan and keep him safe...
And a targeted then random prisoner is on the loose in Leighford...
What will Max and Jacquie and Henry and Betty...ah, Betty, and others do to save their friends and family...
This one gets so very close to home..
Poor Betty after all the work in planning a stupendous wedding...she will be appalled... Wonder where she disappeared to in the end???
I, myself, was sorely disappointed after all they have been through to have a two paragraph, if that, wedding...I have invested so much time, energy and $$$ in these books and I feel like I deserved more! Just sayin'...Betty and I can weep together/ apart so to speak.
Regardless, I live these characters, the setting of this and the settings of all the other books...I have Three more to read to be up to date fully with this series and will be sad to move on and I will have enjoyed reading all of them. I feel an accomplishment coming on!
Enjoy. These are fun, suspenseful, laugh out loud, weep aloud, extremely fun and well written stories with fully rounded and fully fleshed out almost real fictional characters.
Hurrah for Mr. M. J. Trow.
Hurrah for Me!😉
The Maxwell family is fully fused. There is so much going on outside and inside the Maxwell home that it seems, as usual that the best laid plans may be postponed or, well, not happen at all?
Max is up to his eyeballs and a very temporary promotion at work. Jacquie is do busy she hasn't slept...reinforcements must be called in to see to Nolan and keep him safe...
And a targeted then random prisoner is on the loose in Leighford...
What will Max and Jacquie and Henry and Betty...ah, Betty, and others do to save their friends and family...
This one gets so very close to home..
Poor Betty after all the work in planning a stupendous wedding...she will be appalled... Wonder where she disappeared to in the end???
I, myself, was sorely disappointed after all they have been through to have a two paragraph, if that, wedding...I have invested so much time, energy and $$$ in these books and I feel like I deserved more! Just sayin'...Betty and I can weep together/ apart so to speak.
Regardless, I live these characters, the setting of this and the settings of all the other books...I have Three more to read to be up to date fully with this series and will be sad to move on and I will have enjoyed reading all of them. I feel an accomplishment coming on!
Enjoy. These are fun, suspenseful, laugh out loud, weep aloud, extremely fun and well written stories with fully rounded and fully fleshed out almost real fictional characters.
Hurrah for Mr. M. J. Trow.
Hurrah for Me!😉
December 23, 2025
Leighford High is looking to replace the late Dierdre Lessing, the Assistant Headmistress who had recently been murdered, but no one has great enthusiasm for the three candidates. In the meantime, Peter “Mad Max” Maxwell and Jacquie are finally planning to marry, if only they can avoid the excess enthusiasm of Jacquie’s Mum. So he is not paying much attention to the candidates - that is, until a poisoning takes place at the school’s reception for the candidates, resulting in numerous hospitalizations and even a death. And that is only the beginning of what appears to be a mad, random poisoner, who also seems to be targeting Max and his family…. This, the 14th book in the Schoolmaster Murder series, delves equally into the murder mystery and the personal lives of the main characters, which I very much enjoyed. I guessed the solution to the mystery fairly early on, which is unusual for me with this particular series, but the way that the characters came to the correct resolution was entertaining. I don’t know that the reader must have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one, although of course the experience is always richer for doing so; this might be a good entry point to this clever series. Recommended.
February 18, 2022
Peter Maxwell is the geriatric rebel history teacher and the supposed MC of this book. Term starts and there's a mass poisoner on the loose with the school as the main backdrop.
When I picked this up I wasn't aware of an important fact, this was the 14th installment in the series and not a stand alone! Because of that and the eccentric/quirky writing style I got VERY confused with 1001 characters walking in and out of the story.
I thought this was on me and got the very first book in the series (Maxwell's House). No, it's the writing style. The narrator switches between Maxwell's quirky voice to third person quirky voice causing the characters to all blend into each other due to lack of distinction.
BUT! And this is a big BUT, the book is entertaining with a few funny lines and the mystery is decent. I would not recommend starting the series with it though.
When I picked this up I wasn't aware of an important fact, this was the 14th installment in the series and not a stand alone! Because of that and the eccentric/quirky writing style I got VERY confused with 1001 characters walking in and out of the story.
I thought this was on me and got the very first book in the series (Maxwell's House). No, it's the writing style. The narrator switches between Maxwell's quirky voice to third person quirky voice causing the characters to all blend into each other due to lack of distinction.
BUT! And this is a big BUT, the book is entertaining with a few funny lines and the mystery is decent. I would not recommend starting the series with it though.
October 10, 2024
Terrific!
I LOVE this series and it just keeps getting better. The characters are fantastic and the way they develop through the books is real and believable even though the antics etc. are far fetched. Just a well thought out and developed saga that I hope has no end.'-
I am anxiously awaiting number 15!
I LOVE this series and it just keeps getting better. The characters are fantastic and the way they develop through the books is real and believable even though the antics etc. are far fetched. Just a well thought out and developed saga that I hope has no end.'-
I am anxiously awaiting number 15!
May 26, 2017
Enjoyed this, very eccentric and different, quite funny in parts. A good read.
May 23, 2022
the humor was really good but the story was so boring I stopped half way. I might check out the authors other books in the hopes of a story with better plot.
June 30, 2012
Really enjoyable read. Quite eager to read more from the serious now.
April 14, 2014
Another great Peter Maxwell tale!
Read
December 30, 2017I loved this, as I knew I would! Max is in fine fettle & it kept me thoroughly gripped over a weekend....with a lot of sniggering along the way. I can't understand why this series doesn't seem to be widely known, a lot of folks are missing out on a great character - their loss!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews