Κρυμμένα μυστικά

Peter Maxwell Mystery #2

by M.J. Trow

Forced to attend a GNVQ course in Kent, schoolteacher Peter Maxwell finds himself embroiled in murder when one of the teachers is battered to death. When the second victim is one of Maxwell's old flames, it becomes more personal, and when Max takes something personally, he gets results.

Genres: Crime, Mystery

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

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

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read by................. Peter Wickham
Total Runtime.......... 8 hours 17 mins

Description: Peter Maxwell didn't want to attend the GNVQ (a certificate of vocational education in the UK) course. He didn't want to get mixed up in murder either - but perhaps it was all part of death's rich tapestry. And while a disparate gathering of teachers was breaking ice upstairs at the Carnforth Centre, someone else was in the basement - breaking skulls. But what the killer couldn't have foreseen was that one of the victims was an old flame of Maxwell's. So now it was personal. And when "Mad Max" takes something personally, he doesn't get madder, he gets results.

This was so wall-to-wall smart-mouth that I had a troubling thought:

What if all the real life teachers use this impenetrable wall of smart-mouthed wordplays so that kids have no-one they can honestly trust or talk to.

Anyway, I enjoyed this second book in the series.

4* Maxwell's House
3.5* Maxwell's Flame

[Jennie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Διαβάζοντας το «Κρυμμένα Μυστικά» του M.J. Trow, ένιωσα ότι είχα στα χέρια μου ένα βιβλίο με δυνατό concept, αλλά όχι την ανάλογη εκτέλεση. Ο πρωταγωνιστής, ο Πίτερ Μάξγουελ, είναι ένας καθηγητής που μπλέκεται σε μια υπόθεση φόνου. Εντάξει, το στήσιμο ακούγεται υποσχόμενο, και ο συγγραφέας προσπαθεί να συνδυάσει το στοιχείο του ντετέκτιβ με χιούμορ βρετανικού τύπου. Όμως η αλήθεια είναι ότι δεν με κράτησε.

Η γραφή ήταν μέτρια – χωρίς ρυθμό, χωρίς ιδιαίτερη λογοτεχνικότητα. Ο Μάξγουελ θυμίζει κάπως τον ντετέκτιβ Μονκ, αλλά χωρίς την τρυφερότητα ή το βάθος. Περισσότερο σαν μια καρικατούρα παρά σαν ολοκληρωμένος χαρακτήρας. Το χιούμορ προσπάθησε να είναι ειρωνικό, αλλά πολλές φορές κατέληγε άκομψο.

Αυτό που με ξένισε περισσότερο όμως ήταν τα στερεότυπα που κυκλοφορούν σχεδόν άνετα μέσα στο κείμενο. Ξέρω ότι το βιβλίο γράφτηκε το 1995, αλλά παρ' όλα αυτά κάποια πράγματα με ενόχλησαν πολύ. Για παράδειγμα, η αντίληψη ότι ένας 53χρονος είναι «γέρος» – σοβαρά τώρα; Επίσης, υπήρχαν διάσπαρτα σεξιστικά και ομοφοβικά σχόλια, χωρίς να είναι ξεκάθαρο αν ο συγγραφέας τα χρησιμοποιεί ειρωνικά ή απλώς τα αναπαράγει. Το αποκορύφωμα ήταν μια απαράδεκτη φράση για τα παιδιά με ειδικές ανάγκες, όπου γίνεται υπαινιγμός ότι έχουν ευφυία «αντίστοιχη της θερμοκρασίας δωματίου». Δεν είναι αστείο, δεν είναι edgy, είναι απλά προσβλητικό – και ακόμα πιο σοκαριστικό όταν γνωρίζεις ότι ο συγγραφέας υπήρξε δάσκαλος.

Η Σάλι, η βασική γυναίκα χαρακτήρας, επίσης δεν βοήθησε. Αν και είναι γύρω στα 30, ντύνεται και φέρεται σαν έφηβη, χωρίς καμία πειστική αίσθηση ωριμότητας. Ένας χαρακτήρας που μοιάζει να υπάρχει περισσότερο για να εξυπηρετήσει τον ήρωα παρά να λειτουργεί αυτόνομα.

Συνολικά, το «Κρυμμένα Μυστικά» με απογοήτευσε. Δεν ήταν τόσο η πλοκή ή το μυστήριο που με χάλασε, αλλά ο τρόπος που γράφτηκε και το τι επιλέγει να παρουσιάσει ως "χιουμοριστικό" ή "χαρακτηριστικό της εποχής". Όταν τελείωσα το βιβλίο, δεν είχα την αίσθηση ότι διάβασα κάτι που άξιζε πραγματικά τον χρόνο μου.

[Karalee Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 2 in the series. Again, I liked the mystery, and didn’t predict whodunnit even though there was a big clue part way through. I still have problems with the author’s writing style: snarky dialogue, obscure allusions, Cockney rhyming slang and malapropisms. It’s as if he’s trying to emulate Jilly Cooper, but not quite making it.

He did mention using Maxwell House coffee, though, which answers my question from the first volume.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Maxwell is required to attend a training course in “GNVQ” (General National Vocational Qualification) with colleague Sally Greenhow in Kent; although he is initially unhappy about this assignment, his attitude changes when his old flame Rachel, a lost love from his college days, appears on the same course. Things are barely underway, however, when a body is discovered hidden away, that of a young woman also attending the course. Max’s curiosity is aroused, and he enlists Sally to help him investigate, to the displeasure of the local police. But Max’s methods of investigation tend to lead to more confusion, not less….The second of this series featuring a history teacher in 1990s England is a bit removed from the first, both geographically and in terms of the relationships of various individuals. I’m still not sure I like the character, or the series; there’s a fair amount of sexism and other prejudices here, and there are a lot of references to people or events of 1990s Britain that are rather opaque to a modern reader. Still, the mystery is well-drawn and the parallel investigations of Max and the police are interestingly interwoven; mildly recommended.

[Panda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our MC Peter Maxwell, better known as "Mad Max", is attending a GNVQ course when he comes across a murder... again.

The sequel is never as good sadly, while the writing style was a bit eccentric in book 1 here that aspect is exaggerated to where it pushes everything aside to take the spotlight.

Every line is followed by an attempted witty retort, everything needs to be commented on to where it's the funny guy in the office equivalent to flowery language.

Although not bad it made it hard for me to get invested in the tale. Ended up dropping it midway.

Don't recommend this one.

[Bryngel · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first love for Max in book one Maxwell's House is nowhere near in this number two. It's one too many witting one liners for me to find it just that, witty. It's too much, you don't have to be funny in every sentence, please. The mystery is a fairly good one and kept me reading despite the somewhat forced writing. I might give Max a new chance later on. I haven't decided just yet.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Read

Peter Maxwell is away on a training course, but before it can even begin a teacher is murdered. He meets up with an old flame from years ago, but when she too meets the same fate, and the police do not seem to be getting far, he decides to conduct his own investigation. I really enjoy his wit and humour, but still struggle slightly with his continuous references to old films, but I know it is part of his character. On with the next book.

[Bianca Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last one and this were both very similar in terms of my rating but I guess the last was a 3.4 which rounded down whereas this was a 3.6 which rounds up. The characters are slightly better known to me now too which always helps to feel stuck into a book. I do think the plot could be built up a bit better, in terms of there isn’t much to go by in terms of solving the murder mystery myself until the last couple pages where it all comes to light. Page turner though, and not too scary for me!

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthralling read

I enjoyed reading about Max's earlier life when he was at University. Meeting up with an old flame was a shock to him, but it was the start of a murder chase. It was interesting having Sally as his friend and assistant in his quest for justice. I liked how the characters interacted, throwing red herrings in his search.

[Vichy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Τα αστέρια μου πάνε στον Πήτερ Μάξουελ και στον τρόπο που εκφράζεται, και μπορώ να θυμηθώ δυο-τρία σημεία που με τις ατάκες του με έκαναν και γέλασα. Κατά τα άλλα, οφείλω να πω ότι ένα τόσο δα βιβλιαράκι με ζόρισε να το παρακολουθήσω με τη ροή του. Αλλά, μόλις εμφανιζόταν ο Πήτερ, συνέχιζα να διαβάζω χωρίς να αναρωτιέμαι για δεύτερη φορά τι ήταν αυτό που διάβασα πιο πριν..

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1994 A group of teachers are sent on a course at Carnforth Conference Centre, including Peter Maxwell. On arrival he meets an old flame, and then a body is discovered. Maxwell starts to ask questions, then another body is found.
An entertaining modern mystery

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Max very irritating.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid mystery with great characters, interesting twists and turns and Max!

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gently humorous murder mystery with a twist at the end

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preferred this slightly to book 1, though still find Maxwell not the easiest to like

[Evi Routoula · Rating 3 out of 5]

ΜιαΜια αστυνομική ιστορία που δεν προσφέρει τίποτα το αξιόλογο. Το μόνο που μου άρεσε ήταν ο χαρακτήρας του ήρωα και η περιγραφή της αγγλικής εξοχής.

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

Yet another good read from M.J.Trow, good characters and loads of little jokes.

[Richard Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Series following an unlikely detective

Another good read following this unlikely teaching detective. Funny and heartening. Quirky and makes you want more. Enjoyed it and look forward to reading more.

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After my comments on Maxwells House, the first of the series, my wife found and bought a boxed set of the first eight of the series for me (and as it happens so that she could read them all again too.)
And so it was that I moved straight onto Maxwells Flame.

A year has passed since the events in book one and the  Leighford High school has settled back into its routine.  As Head of the Sixth form, Peter Maxwell is one of the obvious candidates to represent the school on a residential course  to learn about the new GNVQ.  His reticence is almost wiped out when his friend and Second in the Special Needs Department, Sally Greenhow is also chosen.

The course suddenly improves for Max when at the 'get to know each other' session ' on the first evening he meets his girl friend  from his university days. The mood suddenly changes when the body of another attendee is discovered brutally murdered.

Peter and Sally decide to find the guilty party and once again fall foul of the police investigation.

Max wins the day with his cavalier and certainly un police-training manual methods.

I can't say much more without giving away key plot moments.

I was pleased to see that Max has managed to retain his frequent uses of older film stars' famous lines although without his old friend and sparring partner Geoffrey, it doesn't have quite the same bite.

Humour mostly aimed at his profession keeps the story light and enjoyable.

I spotted two big clues. One was a red herring but the other I should have thought through more. Unfortunately I  was enjoying the story so much I just carried on reading.

24/3/25

[Biggus · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like brit authors, I like the overall 'style' of the writing. I read the first in the series and didn't hate it. I also didn't love it. That one and this seem to concentrate more on witty repartee, than on story and substance. John Mortimer could do it, and P J Wodehouse was the master of it, but I gave this 5 sides (old cassettes) out of the 14, and pulled the pin. If a book doesn't hold my interest after than long, it is unlikely that it is going to change much.

There are too many good and great and amazing books out there to suffer through ones that I don't enjoy. Not sure exactly what one star means to you, but to me, one star is a DNF rating.

I haven't written Trow off though, I will try his other series.

Oh well... next!

[Tria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty clear the author was still getting used to his characters, here. 3.5*, will review more in-depth later.