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Maxwell Barnes #3
Mayan Tempest: The Crystals of Ahrum
The fate of the world hangs in the balance as Maxwell Barnes and his friends embark on a thrilling journey to uncover the final shard of the powerful Crystal of Ahrum.
From the award-winning, bestselling author of the Shelby Alexander series, now comes the epic Maxwell Barnes series, archaeological adventure thrillers with a paranormal twist.
The long quest for the Crystal of Ahrum has reached its climax, as the intrepid explorers--Max, Axel, Isabel, and Bembe--find themselves on the home stretch of a grueling adventure to reunite the Crystal's shards.
Returning to Guatemala, Max and the gang race against a looming catastrophe, even as some prior assumptions about the mission are proven to be false.
As unfamiliar players emerge, old questions are answered and new ones arise, leaving Max with the distinct feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong.
Perfect escapist adventure for the armchair explorer, and for fans of James Rollins, Clive Cussler, Nick Thacker, and Ernest Dempsey.
Order your copy now and join Maxwell Barnes and his friends on their journey to uncover the final shard of the crystal.
From the award-winning, bestselling author of the Shelby Alexander series, now comes the epic Maxwell Barnes series, archaeological adventure thrillers with a paranormal twist.
The long quest for the Crystal of Ahrum has reached its climax, as the intrepid explorers--Max, Axel, Isabel, and Bembe--find themselves on the home stretch of a grueling adventure to reunite the Crystal's shards.
Returning to Guatemala, Max and the gang race against a looming catastrophe, even as some prior assumptions about the mission are proven to be false.
As unfamiliar players emerge, old questions are answered and new ones arise, leaving Max with the distinct feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong.
Perfect escapist adventure for the armchair explorer, and for fans of James Rollins, Clive Cussler, Nick Thacker, and Ernest Dempsey.
Order your copy now and join Maxwell Barnes and his friends on their journey to uncover the final shard of the crystal.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2023
73 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Craig A. Hart
129 books333 followersCraig A. Hart is a writer of thrillers. In a past life, he was also director for Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, a broadcast outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired.
In 2015, Kindle Press published his literary novel BECOMING MOON. NPR affiliate Northern Public Radio featured BECOMING MOON in their Winter Book Series, and it won Best Novel of Summer 2015 from Pinnacle Awards. He is also the author of the historical mystery NIGHT AT KEY WEST, which is based on true events.
In 2016, he publishing SERENITY, the first book in the popular Shelby Alexander Thriller Series. Serenity alone has been downloaded over 400,000 times by eager readers.
In 2022, he launched the Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series, co-written with S.J. Varengo. The award-winning first book in that series, MAYAN SHADOWS, was published on May 11, 2022. Two more books follow in that series: MAYAN THUNDER and MAYAN TEMPEST.
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Craig lives in Iowa City, Iowa with his wife, sons, insane dog, and anti-social cat.
In 2015, Kindle Press published his literary novel BECOMING MOON. NPR affiliate Northern Public Radio featured BECOMING MOON in their Winter Book Series, and it won Best Novel of Summer 2015 from Pinnacle Awards. He is also the author of the historical mystery NIGHT AT KEY WEST, which is based on true events.
In 2016, he publishing SERENITY, the first book in the popular Shelby Alexander Thriller Series. Serenity alone has been downloaded over 400,000 times by eager readers.
In 2022, he launched the Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series, co-written with S.J. Varengo. The award-winning first book in that series, MAYAN SHADOWS, was published on May 11, 2022. Two more books follow in that series: MAYAN THUNDER and MAYAN TEMPEST.
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Craig lives in Iowa City, Iowa with his wife, sons, insane dog, and anti-social cat.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 23, 2023
I loved this blockbuster finale of The Crystals of Ahrum trilogy. In this final stretch of their quest for the crystal, Max and his crew face perilous jungle trecks, life threatening close calls, a centuries old villain and the quest for an ancient treasure that could change the world.
Mayan Tempest is an edge of your seat, can't put it down thriller that delighted me, made me laugh and makes me glad there's yet another adventure coming for Max Barnes and his merry band.
Definitely a five star read.
Mayan Tempest is an edge of your seat, can't put it down thriller that delighted me, made me laugh and makes me glad there's yet another adventure coming for Max Barnes and his merry band.
Definitely a five star read.
March 12, 2023
This is the last book in this series! Maxwell and friends r after the final piece of the crystal. So is their enemy Estrada a century old conquistador! This book is like a group of Indiana Jones & friends. As they trek through the Guatemalan jungles to locate the last piece they meet cousins of
Bemba a 500 yr old Mayan! There is a lot of action, destruction, adventure, drama in this hard to put down book! I highly recommend this book if u love Indiana Jones type books!
Bemba a 500 yr old Mayan! There is a lot of action, destruction, adventure, drama in this hard to put down book! I highly recommend this book if u love Indiana Jones type books!
October 3, 2023
Excellent adventure
I truly wished I had read the 1st volume of this series. I found it quite enjoyable with lots of adventure and twists at every turn. Now I will go back and read the first episode and fill in the blanks.
I truly wished I had read the 1st volume of this series. I found it quite enjoyable with lots of adventure and twists at every turn. Now I will go back and read the first episode and fill in the blanks.
January 16, 2024
Awesome Trilogy End
Rip roaring adventure from start to finish. Unforgettable quirky characters and interesting jungle and small city settings. Intriguing plot with many twists and surprising turn. Overall a great trilogy.
Rip roaring adventure from start to finish. Unforgettable quirky characters and interesting jungle and small city settings. Intriguing plot with many twists and surprising turn. Overall a great trilogy.
April 3, 2023
There’s more to this than I can tell you’ - a suspense filled archeological thriller
Iowa author Craig A. Hart is both a writer and an editor: he has served as editor-in-chief for The Rusty Nail literary magazine, as manager for Sweatshoppe Media, and director of Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, an outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired. His works have been published in The Orange Room Review, Voices, The Stray Branch, Red Poppy Review, The Mindful Word, Inclement, Right Hand Pointing, 7x20 Magazine, among others. In addition to writing fiction Craig has published self help manuals on writing and critiques of other writers’ works. Craig co-authors this series – The Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series - with New York author Scott James (S.J.) Varengo, a man who attended Fordham University and the State University of New York at Potsdam with a degree in Art History. While both men are successful while writing individually, their combined talents make this series, and this volume especially, MAYAN TEMPEST, ring with a fresh combination of unique locales and levels of evil and paranormal.
Hart and Verengo together are a tough team to beat! They opened this new series introducing two new characters - Maxwell Barnes is an archeologist and the son of an archeologist. He and his companion, friend, and brother since youth, Axel Morales, have been treasure hunting for their benefactor Myron Crabtree, in the jungles of Guatemala. In this third volume the storyline is as follows: ‘The fate of the world hangs in the balance as Maxwell Barnes and his friends embark on a thrilling journey to uncover the final shard of the powerful Crystal of Ahrum. The long quest for the Crystal of Ahrum has reached its climax, as the intrepid explorers--Max, Axel, Isabel, and Bembe--find themselves on the home stretch of a grueling adventure to reunite the Crystal's shards. Returning to Guatemala, Max and the gang race against a looming catastrophe, even as some prior assumptions about the mission are proven to be false. As unfamiliar players emerge, old questions are answered and new ones arise, leaving Max with the distinct feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong.’ The men have done it again – proved that their partnership is solid. Plug in and turn on: the book is well worth a satisfying evening’s read.
Iowa author Craig A. Hart is both a writer and an editor: he has served as editor-in-chief for The Rusty Nail literary magazine, as manager for Sweatshoppe Media, and director of Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, an outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired. His works have been published in The Orange Room Review, Voices, The Stray Branch, Red Poppy Review, The Mindful Word, Inclement, Right Hand Pointing, 7x20 Magazine, among others. In addition to writing fiction Craig has published self help manuals on writing and critiques of other writers’ works. Craig co-authors this series – The Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series - with New York author Scott James (S.J.) Varengo, a man who attended Fordham University and the State University of New York at Potsdam with a degree in Art History. While both men are successful while writing individually, their combined talents make this series, and this volume especially, MAYAN TEMPEST, ring with a fresh combination of unique locales and levels of evil and paranormal.
Hart and Verengo together are a tough team to beat! They opened this new series introducing two new characters - Maxwell Barnes is an archeologist and the son of an archeologist. He and his companion, friend, and brother since youth, Axel Morales, have been treasure hunting for their benefactor Myron Crabtree, in the jungles of Guatemala. In this third volume the storyline is as follows: ‘The fate of the world hangs in the balance as Maxwell Barnes and his friends embark on a thrilling journey to uncover the final shard of the powerful Crystal of Ahrum. The long quest for the Crystal of Ahrum has reached its climax, as the intrepid explorers--Max, Axel, Isabel, and Bembe--find themselves on the home stretch of a grueling adventure to reunite the Crystal's shards. Returning to Guatemala, Max and the gang race against a looming catastrophe, even as some prior assumptions about the mission are proven to be false. As unfamiliar players emerge, old questions are answered and new ones arise, leaving Max with the distinct feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong.’ The men have done it again – proved that their partnership is solid. Plug in and turn on: the book is well worth a satisfying evening’s read.
April 20, 2023
Mayan Tempest - a review Rosemary Kenny.
The friends' quest for the final shard of the fractured Crystal of Ahrum continues as Max, 600 year old Bembe, Axel and Isabel learn about its history and ownership from Yuri.
What's Crabtree threatening the team with?
Terror and treachery mingled with comic snippets to cleverly accentuate the danger all around, lead to unleashed evil and the ultimate subterranean denouement, with more twists than a Chubby Checker Dance-athon to grip you firmly by the imagination throughout.
Get a copy today and tell all your adventure-thriller, book-lover friends to join in the excitement of Craig A. Hart's Mayan Tempest as soon as possible - satisfaction's guaranteed!
The friends' quest for the final shard of the fractured Crystal of Ahrum continues as Max, 600 year old Bembe, Axel and Isabel learn about its history and ownership from Yuri.
What's Crabtree threatening the team with?
Terror and treachery mingled with comic snippets to cleverly accentuate the danger all around, lead to unleashed evil and the ultimate subterranean denouement, with more twists than a Chubby Checker Dance-athon to grip you firmly by the imagination throughout.
Get a copy today and tell all your adventure-thriller, book-lover friends to join in the excitement of Craig A. Hart's Mayan Tempest as soon as possible - satisfaction's guaranteed!
March 12, 2023
pdf ARC; 187 pages
This final episode in this story arc returns to here it all began - trekking through the Guatemalan jungle... Ostensibly our heroes are seeking the last shard of the crystal and are in a race against Estrada, the long-lived erstwhile conquistador who is the balance to Bembe, the equally long-lived Mayan survivor - but other forces are interested in reuniting the shards or preventing that reunion in case of a prophecy that this will bring about the end of the world is fulfilled...
New readers should seek out and read the two earlier books; established readers will need no encouragement to picj=k up this volume - and will be cheered to know that there is another book in works!
This final episode in this story arc returns to here it all began - trekking through the Guatemalan jungle... Ostensibly our heroes are seeking the last shard of the crystal and are in a race against Estrada, the long-lived erstwhile conquistador who is the balance to Bembe, the equally long-lived Mayan survivor - but other forces are interested in reuniting the shards or preventing that reunion in case of a prophecy that this will bring about the end of the world is fulfilled...
New readers should seek out and read the two earlier books; established readers will need no encouragement to picj=k up this volume - and will be cheered to know that there is another book in works!
March 9, 2023
Max and the crew are after the last piece of the crystal.
So is Estrada.
With a long trek through the jungle, and the extermination of a village.
Estrada proves to not stop at anything to achieve his goals.
If the final piece of the crystal is reunited.
It could mean the end of civilization as we know it.
This was a fun story with developed characters, a bit of action, and a bit of humor.
This one was slower paced than the other books, but is still an enjoyable read.
So is Estrada.
With a long trek through the jungle, and the extermination of a village.
Estrada proves to not stop at anything to achieve his goals.
If the final piece of the crystal is reunited.
It could mean the end of civilization as we know it.
This was a fun story with developed characters, a bit of action, and a bit of humor.
This one was slower paced than the other books, but is still an enjoyable read.
April 1, 2023
A testing time for Max and his team as they journey to find the final piece of the Crystal of Ahrum. They must find it before anyone else as the fate of the world depends on it. Contains danger, humour, death and mystery. Very entertaining. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2023
A Mayan Adventure
As the story unfolds Max and his associates are off again to recover the missing pieces of the orb that were recovered in the last book
The completed orb is felt to grant much power to its owner! The recovery is complicated buy another group that also is after it!
It appears that the fate of the world my depend on who recovers it!
As the story unfolds Max and his associates are off again to recover the missing pieces of the orb that were recovered in the last book
The completed orb is felt to grant much power to its owner! The recovery is complicated buy another group that also is after it!
It appears that the fate of the world my depend on who recovers it!
December 19, 2024
End of Crystal of Ahrum
Book 3 finishes the story of the crystal. Many new developments pop up in Max's life.
Story is pretty good, but addition of secret government agency is a bit much.
Storyline could have been developed better.
Maybe this is caused by 2 authors having different ideas.
Book 3 finishes the story of the crystal. Many new developments pop up in Max's life.
Story is pretty good, but addition of secret government agency is a bit much.
Storyline could have been developed better.
Maybe this is caused by 2 authors having different ideas.
March 23, 2026
The Mayans have another Legend
I love learning about the Mayans from archeology and have even seen and climbed some of their pyramids. This story was a good weave between fiction and some truth. It was entertaining and suspenseful, the characters were well developed and you felt as if you knew them. A good read all around.
I love learning about the Mayans from archeology and have even seen and climbed some of their pyramids. This story was a good weave between fiction and some truth. It was entertaining and suspenseful, the characters were well developed and you felt as if you knew them. A good read all around.
March 31, 2023
Mayan Tempest
I have really enjoyed this trilogy! The 3rd book has a very satisfying ending. I am looking forward to reading the next book about Max and Ajax and their new series.
I have really enjoyed this trilogy! The 3rd book has a very satisfying ending. I am looking forward to reading the next book about Max and Ajax and their new series.
April 24, 2023
Unbelievable Resolution
What a great story. Very funny at times. Laughed out loud. I’m going to miss these characters, unless there’s another book in the series. Wish I’d been there when Verengo and Hart were writing this one. I can imagine the high old time they were having. Terrific story. Thanks guys!
What a great story. Very funny at times. Laughed out loud. I’m going to miss these characters, unless there’s another book in the series. Wish I’d been there when Verengo and Hart were writing this one. I can imagine the high old time they were having. Terrific story. Thanks guys!
June 5, 2023
An action-packed, tension-filled continuation to the legend of the Mayan Crystal Shard. I loved it. I loved the entire story. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Max and Alex next, I also wonder if Bembe will make an appearance!
December 7, 2024
And so some intrepid archeologist party ended up in the jungles of Guatemala for a final showdown.
What a showdown!
Authors Craig A Hart and SJ Varengo certainly pulled out all stops from page 1 to the very last paragraph to unveil an explosive tour de force that rocked the world.
Enjoy.
What a showdown!
Authors Craig A Hart and SJ Varengo certainly pulled out all stops from page 1 to the very last paragraph to unveil an explosive tour de force that rocked the world.
Enjoy.
March 21, 2023
An amazing story with some humour. Everyone wants the last part of the Crystal. If it gets into the wrongs hands, it spells trouble for the world. Fast paced, well written, intriguing.
September 23, 2023
Interest but unrealistic
It was an okay read . But the science fiction of it tended to take away from the story. Character development was okay.
It was an okay read . But the science fiction of it tended to take away from the story. Character development was okay.
April 20, 2024
Indiana Jones esque
Good story over 3 books. Enjoyable characters. I would enjoy this one as a series or movie. What will be Max and Axel's next adventure?
Good story over 3 books. Enjoyable characters. I would enjoy this one as a series or movie. What will be Max and Axel's next adventure?
August 2, 2024
Involving and exciting conclusion to the series.
September 4, 2024
A really different adventure
This book is a really different adventure and I so enjoyed it.The story rounded off and ended ?the tale of five friends.Recommended
This book is a really different adventure and I so enjoyed it.The story rounded off and ended ?the tale of five friends.Recommended
July 17, 2023
and just like that…
Twist and Turns and Switchbacks, who is on who’s side? Some things are too dangerous for one person to possess and The Crystals of Ahrum are one of those. The characters, the locations, the adventures, a well told story.
Twist and Turns and Switchbacks, who is on who’s side? Some things are too dangerous for one person to possess and The Crystals of Ahrum are one of those. The characters, the locations, the adventures, a well told story.
September 5, 2024
Still ok but didn’t think it was good as the first 2. Lots of “unexplained” or unresolved plot lines that left me feeling a little let down. Not enough to stop me starting the next book though 😁
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews