The Maze Investigators have reached the final message from the medium Claire Lewis – about a young Scot who travelled to Spain in 1938 and disappeared without trace, leaving behind only a strange, enigmatic message. Maggie returns to Catalonia, to a story heard on her first trip three years before which now has a significance she didn’t understand or appreciate at the time and further revelations lead back to Glasgow and a long hidden crime. Back in Wales, the final confrontation with the Quinn and McCarthy Miller families is looming. There has to be a winner. Can anyone emerge unscathed?
Originally from South Wales, I now live in North Wales, close to Conwy and the sea. My passion for genealogy began when I helped out my mother with internet researching on her family and I became engrossed ( my family would say fanatical!). The Maze Investigations series has allowed me to combine my passion with my long held ambition to be a creative writer. I have recently added the first book in a new series. The series is called The Curiosity Club of St Foy and the book is 'All Gone'. My plan is to publish 2 books a year at least, one in each series. Update! I have recently published the fourth book in the Curiosity Club of St Foy series. It's called "The Cult of Flowers". And I have formed a collaboration with South Wales write, John F. Wales. Together we have produced a new series called "The Cardiff Newshound Investigates". Book one, "Death on a Gravestone" is now available in all media, and book two will be available shortly. It's been ten years since the publication of "Three Times Removed", the first book in the Maze series. I'll soon be starting on book no. 10. What a journey!
I have kept up with this series of books and its author, M.K. Jones and this addition does not disappoint. There is a new addition to the cast if characters but the main characters remain constant, following clues discovered during their genealogical investigations business. There is more of an emphasis on crime and criminals than in past books which is less interesting to me than the genealogical research, but that's my personal preference. Overall, this book exhibits the fine craftsmanship of the others in the series. Enjoyable!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I’ve followed the Maze team doggedly since book 1 and as usual, Mary has hit the mark. I think this one kept me guessing and thinking more than any of her previous books and I didn’t want the wonderful ride the story had taken me on to end. You really need to read the previous books in this series to be able to keep up with all of the intertwined storylines and references to previous “cases”. It was wonderful to finally have some loose ends tied up by the end of the book. Now I just have to wait patiently as MK creates her next offering - I will definitely be pre-ordering it just as I did with the last 4 books in this series.
This is a great story with lots of twist and turns. This whole series is suberb. Looking forward to reading more of the Maze cases. And the characters are excellent.
I started reading M.K. Jones' books at the suggestion of a fellow family genealogist, curious to wonder how "true" the research in this story would be. I was pleasantly surprised. M.K. Jones deftly weaves her tale of family histories, genealogy, and prevailing societal norms of the stories era. In "The Soldier," you learns of the travails of soldiers in Spain's war with Franco, a war most Americans are uninformed about, unless you were alive when it occurred. I especially enjoyed the way the author also highlights how our protagonist copes with the awkward transition of child to adult of her children, something I have experienced five times. Overall, the series and the book are richly endowed with several thematic literature elements, i.e. coming of age, friendships, point of view, corruption, conflict; just to name a few. Well written, delightful reading, and I look forward to reading more!
I cannot believe how many editing mistakes are in this book. I tried to flag each error, but needless to say, it was distracting.
You definitely need to read the previous books for context. It had been a while since I finished the ones before, so coming into this continuation of the story threw me. I couldn't remember minor characters and their importance. In the end I got the gist of things enough to not have to worry about it too much.
I appreciate the history lessons I get from these stories.
Maze takes on a new case but still a lot of loose ends that threaten the genealogists. While it was unclear why a new person became involved, I am assuming - and hopeful - it will be a part of a new Maze case. While this was mostly 'case closed' the very nature of why these soldiers became involved in a war that was not theirs both concerns and yes, confuses, reaches out to us to try and understand. Or as in the end, "some things are best not known."
Each Maze Investigation book gets better and better!
This one started slow for me, but once I got into it, it was a great read. The twists are amazing. Yes there are poor edits but the story supersedes them. I try to read M.K. Jones books slowly so I won't run out of them. But I end up reading like I'm running out of time. This is a wonderful author!
The longer this series goes on, the more convoluted and silly the story becomes. What started as an interesting genealogical mystery with a twist of supernatural has now become a convoluted mess. The first three books had a flow and an interesting story. The last three just went off the rails. This is probably my last read in this series.
The Maze Investigation books by M. K. Jones are fantastic and number 6 was no exception. I cannot wait for the next one. I absolutely love the different characters and the continuity that runs through the books. Looking forward to the next one.
Some books show you just how hard some peoples lives are weather from the present or the past. Good read and finishes up the previous stories inter wining the Mazes’ cases, and the lives of all the team.
Started and couldn’t put it down. Brought the horror of the Spanish civil war. Loved the mystery of Brodie and how it was solved, laid another ghost to rest. Awaiting the next book in the series, hopefully.
Many twists and turns that keep you focused on the next outcome. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. However, I recommend the editors read this version again, as there are missing words and misspelled words throughout!
Jones is getting better with each new novel. Her knowledge of genealogy has kept her "exploits" with Maze Investigations exciting. She made Spain real for me. I could see Jude standing there waving her hands through the tall grass...sensing what was there.
While researching what happened to a Scottish soldier during the Spanish Civil War, Maze Investigations also faces retribution from enemies. The various plot strands are well handled all the way to the final denouement. Highly recommended.
Again a tremendous book, characters are real I say 😊 I'm an enjoyee, Soaker if u will of the unknown! not a decififerer of anyone's work let alone Ms Jones KEEP GOING 💖
I love this series of books and liked this one more because it steered away from the supernatural which tends to put me off. Can’t wait for the next one
I loved this book in this set of genealogy books! Each story fits in just right. Anyone that loves genealogy books will love reading this book. I highly recommend it!
Really enjoying this series of books now for book seven. I love getting to know the characters which is why I love reading a series of books. Well worth reading.
Read during a couple of weeks of binging genealogy mysteries, this is the final (so far) of the Maze Investigations books. I've shelved as Fantasy because there is a small amount of the supernatural in the book, though not as much as in some of the others in the series. It is especially effective in evoking the history of the Spanish Civil War and the International Brigade who fought there. Recommended.