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Peter Maxwell Mystery #18
Maxwell's Return
Are the two things connected? Well, yes and no. Teenage girls are being picked up on the seafront, and two of them are found dead. DI Jacquie Carpenter-Maxwell has barely set foot on her old patch before she is up to her jet-lagged neck in somebody else's tragedy.
The prime suspect is Bernard Ryan, Deputy Head at Leighford High, and Mad Max is soon riding to the rescue on White Surrey. But can he pedal fast enough before another girl meets the wrong man, at the wrong time, in the wrong place?
The prime suspect is Bernard Ryan, Deputy Head at Leighford High, and Mad Max is soon riding to the rescue on White Surrey. But can he pedal fast enough before another girl meets the wrong man, at the wrong time, in the wrong place?
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First published April 22, 2014
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63 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
January 25, 2026
l fear that there is something wrong here. The book that I read is not the one described in the official precis below. That may explain several things about the poor copy that I obtained from the library. I will leave the review of whatever it was that I read.
At the end of one of these books you can usually understand to what the title refers. This time I'm not sure. It could be that he and Jacqui have just returned from their trip to America that was announced at the end of the last, (although there was only a very brief mention of that) or it could be the return to school at the end of the book. Not that it really matters.
I felt that this was very much a book of two halves , to paraphrase UK football commentators. The first half lacked many of the things that had made this series such a memorable one for me. In fact the whole section concerning Mrs Getty seemed out of place and unneeded for the main story. Even Maxwells usual references to stars of stage and screen were different. For example, "with the total recall of Carrie Wells or pistol drawing speed of Rayland Givens", who?
However, after the discovery of the body at just over 40%, the whole thing got back to normal.
When the owner of a stately home overhears Maxwells description of the house and portraits of ancestors to his family party, she offers him a Summer job as ' conversationalist ' to their fortnightly parties of mostly American tourists. As this includes access to the stables for Nolan and regular dinners to which Jacqui was invited and a handsome cheque, he accepts.
As is half expected now, he is on hand when the body of the old Colonel is found apparently savaged by the estate dogs. Maxwell is able to offer the police inside information and help that is more easily accepted this time than previously. He is also able to increase the knowledge of and correct some of the ideas of the American visitors about English history.
It was a pleasant and easy to read story with plenty of smiles - in the second part that is. At this stage in my review, I usually say that I didn't beat Maxwell to the culprit, but here I did. I even got the motive although like Maxwell, I didn't find any real clues.
I liked the two additional pieces to the story. The one at home with the cat's letter and the one at school which showed Maxwells real character.
Only 4 more to go now. Do I need to ration them?
24 January 2026
At the end of one of these books you can usually understand to what the title refers. This time I'm not sure. It could be that he and Jacqui have just returned from their trip to America that was announced at the end of the last, (although there was only a very brief mention of that) or it could be the return to school at the end of the book. Not that it really matters.
I felt that this was very much a book of two halves , to paraphrase UK football commentators. The first half lacked many of the things that had made this series such a memorable one for me. In fact the whole section concerning Mrs Getty seemed out of place and unneeded for the main story. Even Maxwells usual references to stars of stage and screen were different. For example, "with the total recall of Carrie Wells or pistol drawing speed of Rayland Givens", who?
However, after the discovery of the body at just over 40%, the whole thing got back to normal.
When the owner of a stately home overhears Maxwells description of the house and portraits of ancestors to his family party, she offers him a Summer job as ' conversationalist ' to their fortnightly parties of mostly American tourists. As this includes access to the stables for Nolan and regular dinners to which Jacqui was invited and a handsome cheque, he accepts.
As is half expected now, he is on hand when the body of the old Colonel is found apparently savaged by the estate dogs. Maxwell is able to offer the police inside information and help that is more easily accepted this time than previously. He is also able to increase the knowledge of and correct some of the ideas of the American visitors about English history.
It was a pleasant and easy to read story with plenty of smiles - in the second part that is. At this stage in my review, I usually say that I didn't beat Maxwell to the culprit, but here I did. I even got the motive although like Maxwell, I didn't find any real clues.
I liked the two additional pieces to the story. The one at home with the cat's letter and the one at school which showed Maxwells real character.
Only 4 more to go now. Do I need to ration them?
24 January 2026
April 17, 2023
As always I loved this book.
July 2, 2025
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...
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...
March 28, 2021
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.
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.
February 12, 2021
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.
Read this for the wonderful characters and the witty prose.
January 16, 2025
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.
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.
January 4, 2026
Wild! Could Not Stop Reading!!!
Admitting how very crazy much I LIKE Maxwell’s mysteries feels like my hidden self is showing-egads! Edgy, exciting, intelligent & extremely witty. Definitely dark at times-tough times & redemption!
Admitting how very crazy much I LIKE Maxwell’s mysteries feels like my hidden self is showing-egads! Edgy, exciting, intelligent & extremely witty. Definitely dark at times-tough times & redemption!
July 30, 2017
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.
A good read, plenty of twists. Well worth reading. Hopefully some one will turn this series into a TV program.
April 16, 2021
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.
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.
April 16, 2015
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!
January 5, 2017
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.
d actually rather enjoy working with Peter Maxwell. Though I think he might have a hard time in the current climate.
June 13, 2015
I didn't finish this book, it was awful. So badly written I can't find anything good to say about this book
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews