Maxwell's Summer

Peter Maxwell Mystery #20

by M.J. Trow

An absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery with a touch of wry English humour.

Peter Maxwell’s quiet summer break at historic Haledown House takes a sinister turn when it becomes the scene of grisly murder.

Snooty aristocrat Colonel Roddy Hale-ffinch is found draped in a velvet smoking jacket, soaked in blood. His throat has been slashed, and the scene grotesquely staged to look like an animal attack.

Before Maxwell can make sense of the crime, another guest is found dead, having swallowed a lethal dose of rat poison.

As the body count rises Maxwell realises that the killer will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

Can he uncover the truth before summer’s end — or will he become the next victim?

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Cozy

261 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2020

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

[Steve Black]

An absolute joy to return to Mad Max - I read all the early books in hardback years ago, but then lost touch when I got my first Kindle, and was shocked to discover that the books had not made it onto that format. That had now been rectified so it's great to catch up.
Relieved to find that Trow has retained all Max's wit and reluctance to move with the times with which those of us of a certain age identify only too well.
The story finds Max in an ideal summer holiday job in a quasi-stately home packed with American tourists. It is no surprise to find that murders soon come along. This is a wonderful cosy mystery well up to the standard of earlier books, with the added benefit of Trow's witty writing style. It's not too difficult to guess the identity of the murderer, but that doesn't really matter.
Please don't keep us waiting for the next in the series.

[Pauladyastalktalk.Net]

Doesn't disappoint!

I got an email yesterday telling me ther was a new Maxwell! I'd given up hope of another one so was so happy I immediately bought. Finished it already and it was a classic Maxwell, like meeting up with old friends. Also nice on a miserable, rainy autumn weekend to be whisked back to hot summer days. Sadly, I am now back to waiting a new one, but I'm sure it will be worth the wait; this one was.

[Susan Smith]

As good as ever

Well written, just had to keep reading. Nolan is growing up. Can't really say too much without giving away too much of the story. It's a treat as all the Maxwell books are. Can't wait for the next book.

[Mike]

I was happily surprised to see that M.J. Trow returned to Mad Max. It was a nice mystery though I missed some of the side characters. I've read most of the books in this series and I hope it continues.

[Kabrada]

Summer holidays with the Maxwell family - what could be better than that?
I loved every minute, enjoyed every little joke and laughed out loud at times.
Peter Wickham's narration, as always, was superb. It made it well worth waiting for.

[MRS ALISON M BIRD]

Five years later

Hugely as enjoyable as it's predecessors, it's been a long wait but did not disappoint on any level. Maxwell solves the crime.

[Denise Gould]

Entertaining

Mad Max rides again, brilliant storyline and having read all the books in the series I have to say they get better with each book.

[Claire]

Absolutely loved this one .

[Alison C]

Teacher Peter “Mad Max” Maxwell is looking forward to spending his summer break relaxing and playing with young son Nolan, but his plans go awry when his wife DI Jacquie Carpenter asks him to take their elderly neighbour and her friend to visit Haledown House, a stately home open to guests, as a special favour for the friend’s birthday. The visit proves disastrous, but the silver lining is that Mrs. Ariana “Harry” Hale-ffinch, whose husband owns Haledown House, offers him a job: 1,200 pounds a week for him to stroll around the grounds telling stories about the site and its family to visitors, along with giving lectures and attending dinners with the house guests. When she sweetens the offer by including Jacquie in whatever dinners her schedule accommodates *and* offering to let Nolan spend days at a time at the stables (where he will be supervised by some of Max’s “Own,” former students whom he knows he can trust), well, what can Max say but yes? Of course, he’s only there for one day when the uncle of the owner is found dead, apparently having had his throat torn out by dogs, and then one of the American house guests is poisoned….This is the 20th in the Mad Max series; unlike most of the books, everything takes place away from Leighford High School where he works, but there are still connections to the school given that he knows most of the young people in the vicinity. I liked this one because Max gets to show off his erudition and also gently mock the (mostly) American guests he has been hired to entertain, while at the same time the dynamics of the family and staff running the stately home are well-drawn and believable. I think this could be read as a one-off, but this deep into the series it’s probably better for the reader to have started at the beginning of the series (“Maxwell’s House”) and carry on from there; recommended.

[PR]

Really love the characters in every book in the series. Worth reading just to enjoy them! Funny.

These books are full of England English phrases, people, places...that were/are Greek to me ...I spend time looking things up many many tines. These books are fu!m of movie and television references that I know (hurray) and those I don't...(sometimes I just feel stupid not knowing...but they are both England's beat...Maxwell's favorites...and America's beat...Maxwell's favorites...and I simply am flumoxed...how many English productions Jacobs You seen...hmmm???)
There are quotes famous and obscure, Latin and French phrases galore and references to historical events that you nay have never prepared to translate or are prepared to know or know of.
Stupid is bot my happy place and in the end of each novel...after much "looking up" so to speak I feel a teensy bit smarter and well satisfied with the main characters and the plot...well defined within the text and the satisfaction if reading a fine, fun, complex and colorful yarn.
Period.

[Cynthia]

One of a basket of deplorables

I usually enjoy British humor, but I don't see a need to
denigrate our current President in the process. He won
this past election because we didn't like the woke ideology
forced down our gullets from the left. It's about time you
you do the same.
I will read another MJ Throw but no more political digs
please. That's the reason for 3 stars.

[Elaine]

There is only one Mad MAX

Peter Maxwell (Max to his friends) does not disappoint. Neither do Jacquie, Nolan, Count Metternich or Mrs. Troubridge. I am ready for the next adventure.

[Mrs. Claire]

A delight

Sheer joy, as always. Lovely to see Maxwell’s family developing. Jacqueline and Nolan add their own flavour, and Henry Hall continues to stand as the yin to Max’s Yang.

[Beth]

Wait-Wait-This One’s My Favorite!

Say it every time I finish a Maxwell book!!! Maestro Max! Crosses all the t’s & dots all the i’s! Extraordinary!!!