Maxwell's Return

Peter Maxwell Mystery #18

by M.J. Trow

Peter Maxwell returns from his year-long sabbatical in America expecting a nasty case of jet lag. Instead, he lands in the middle of a nasty case of murder.

The body of fourteen-year-old schoolgirl Josie Blakemore is discovered on Leighford beach. She’s been strangled.

Then another fourteen-year-old girl is found murdered on the same beach. And a third girl goes missing.

The prime suspect is Bernard Ryan, deputy head of Leighford High. He’s the strictest teacher at the school. But is he a killer?

Determined to prove his colleague’s innocence Maxwell sets out to uncover the truth.

He’s always caught the killer before. But could this be the case that breaks him?

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Audiobook

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2014

About the author

Meirion 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.

Reviews

[Esther Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always I loved this book.

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Involving. Much Name Dropping, Funny. Silly, sometimes. Characters wonderful.

Love the characters, especially the main ones...love the relationships they have with one another.
This one is tough subject wise...murders And attacks on young girls and women for a perpetrator-type we have not read about or seen in media very much this time. Sometimes these folks get away with their heinous deeds just because the people who are around them are not paying attention...and that is why they get away with it so long...or for such a Kong period of time.
T?his one is rough to read...but I think it happens more often then any of us realize for many ....we don't want to know...reasons.
We all feel so Guilty about these crimes happening we often do not see to it that the children and young people are properly protected...
Well written with caring and sensitivity.
This author does not preach or blame or criticize ...just explores and explains why abuse can happen and can go way to far.
Love the humor in the daily lives of the characters he created, love how they interact b with one another...makes a tough story we need to know about, acknowledge, came pay attention to.. When and where we can.
I love these books and hope to finish the series...have read up to book 10 and back from book 22 to book 17...We'll see...Highly recommended...

[Steve Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of the Mad Max series, and have read them all to date. I have to say this one was a bit of a disappointment.
Max's wit and wisdom are to the fore as always, as is his welcome refusal to be politically correct - would that all our children were being educated in Max's style!
However, the plot itself is pretty thin and there is never really any doubt who the villain is. The ending is particularly contrived and the murderer's motivation is weak. The suspense and the climax hinge on a string of missed messages and the day is saved by an equally unconvincing coincidence.
Trow can do much better than this, let's hope for a return to form in the next one.

[P.C. Crussell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Peter "Mad Max" Maxwell books never fail to delight and this one's no exception. I held back on reading this because MJ Trow hasn't written a Maxwell book for several years but, joy of joys, he's just released another which is already on my shelf and waiting to be read.

Read this for the wonderful characters and the witty prose.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast moving

Excellent story with all the usual characters. The Maxwell family is back from the USA. And Jackie is thrown into a case involving murdered 14 year old girls. The book is fast paced. Worth reading.

[Mr TM Pine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Trow

A good read, plenty of twists. Well worth reading. Hopefully some one will turn this series into a TV program.

[Mr.Michael J Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

another good read

Another Mad Max and another good mix of humour and a good plot. What more can anyone need, then please well, love as perhaps another Mad Max tale.

[Sammy Dawes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've spent all afternoon tossing up between giving this book a 3 or a 4 star rating. Crime Dramas have to be one of my favourite genres and this book slotted right into that genre. At some points the main characters habit of always having to know the latest gossip got to me but it ended up proving quite helpful! The author did well at keeping me guessing on the identity of the murderer but I did miss that "OMG" moment you have when the story takes a big turn you never expected. Overall a great book to pick up and read when you want something easy to read that isn't a soppy romance and packs a bit of a punch!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. The author actually made me wonder who the perpetrator of the crime was, almost up to the last page. I'
d actually rather enjoy working with Peter Maxwell. Though I think he might have a hard time in the current climate.

[Christie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book, it was awful. So badly written I can't find anything good to say about this book