Maxwell's Inspection

Peter Maxwell Mystery #9

by M.J. Trow

Every teacher must face the Olsted Inspection. When the team arrives at Leighford High and proceeds to stick its collective nose into classrooms, they cast aspersions on Peter Maxwell as a teacher. The atmosphere is already decidedly fraught, and then one of the inspectors is found stabbed to death.

Genres: Mystery, Crime

368 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2003

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 4 out of 5]

Rosado mp3

Description: There comes a time in every teacher's life when he must face his Nemesis - the four-yearly Ofsted Inspection. The team arrives at Leighford High one glorious summer and proceeds to stick its collective nose into various classrooms. The immediate problem of Head of Sixth Form, Peter Maxwell, is the attractive and vivacious Sally Meninger, a Humanities expert who proceeds to cast aspersions on Maxwell's metier as a teacher. Out on the town one night to relieve the tension, the Head of Sixth Form finds her in an intimate situation with her fellow Inspector, Alan Whiting. On the third day, with the atmosphere at the High School decidedly fraught, Whiting is found stabbed to death in the office set aside for the Inspection team. The police are called in and Maxwell cannot help but notice that Sally is not as distraught at Whiting's death as might be expected. It emerges that her private life is somewhat irregular - a view reinforced when Maxwell catches her in flagrante with his Headmaster, James Diamond. Events move quickly and Diamond is arrested on suspicion of the murder of Whiting But is it that simple? Aided by his inside informant, lover DS Jacquie Carpenter, Maxwell sets out to prove that his colleague is innocent. And the only way to do it is to take on the Inspectors one by one...

The one with red pants, a pack of players, and Breakfast Club.

4* Maxwell's House
3.5* Maxwell's Flame
4* Maxwell's Movie
3.5* Maxwell's War
3* Maxwell's Curse
3* Maxwell's Ride
4* Maxwell's Reunion
3* Maxwell's Match
CR Maxwell's Inspection
4* Maxwell's Grave
3* Maxwell's Mask

[Plum-crazy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Mad Max series & can't believe how few people have come across him.
As always, a good murder mystery with some cracking lines from Mad Max, his dry wit & sarcasm are a joy-if you enjoy the Frost novels than you're sure to love this!

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Maxwell, Head of Sixth Form approached Leighford High with a less than jaunty stride, in fact like many of the pupils he was dragging his feet - for today was the Ofsted Inspection, every teacher’s nightmare. But worse is to come for on the third day of the inspection, one of the Inspectors is found fatally stabbed.

Although not one of Peter’s favourite people when the headmaster, James Diamond is found in a compromising position with another of the Ofsted Inspectors, Sally Meninger, and is arrested on suspicion of murder, Peter decides to look a little more closely at Sally Meninger. His investigations are somewhat hampered by his lover DS Jacquie Carpenter who feels that Peter would do better to leave it to the experts i.e. the police, but Peter is fired with a sense of justice.

This is the first book I have read in this series, a serious omission on my part which I plan to rectify. The style of writing and the tongue in cheek humour is utterly splendid. Peter Maxwell is the true individual or maybe eccentric, and I am all for eccentricity. An excellent book, and one which I heartily recommend.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter (“Mad Max”) Maxwell’s school is preparing to undergo a government inspection, with some four inspectors coming to the school and evaluating its work. This is an unavoidable requirement, so the school in general is resigned to the upcoming disruption. But when the lead inspector is killed on the school’s campus, the idea of disruption takes on a whole new urgency, and of course Max is determined to nail the killer as soon as possible. Then a second death occurs, and the case becomes infinitely more complicated….This is the ninth book in the “Schoolmaster Murder Mystery” series (as it’s described on the book cover) set in southern England in the mid-2000s. Max continues to be an interesting character, and the story is fairly clued. This continues to be an enjoyable series, if rather minor; mildly recommended.

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slowly working my way through the Peter Maxwell books and enjoying them all. If you read through a nice long series the character become well-kent friends.
In this story Ofsted has arrived at Leighford High and with them murder!
I can understand why many people including past pupils and the odd few colleagues love Mad Max. When he isn’t quoting from films, he’s cutting people down to size with his ready wit, but he is also a shoulder to cry on. However, the love of his life, woman policeman Jacqui Carpenter, gets more than cross at him here, mainly due to him not telling her all he knows about the case but expecting information from her. Despite his concern that he may have lost her he will get to the bottom of the case, even if he, once again, places himself in harms way to do it.

[Viragored · Rating 4 out of 5]

That book was a delight, the only reason I'm not suggesting five stars is because the ending - "the reveal" - seemed to me rather out of step with the tone and pace of the rest of the book.
I very much enjoy writers who have a way of making plays on words, and weave in literary or cultural references, as they tell a story. This author does that really well.
The story is entertaining although highly improbable - but Maxwell inhabits a delightful personal world within the real world where almost anything must be possible. In a way, it's rather like the world that Inspector Jack Frost inhabits. It also reminded me of some of Tom Sharpe's books.
Overall I enjoyed this story so much that I'll soon be seeking out more of M J Trow's books.

[Anthony Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

For a one who has been in teaching or even cursed by being part of Inspection process then this is an enjoyable read, with lots of amusing observations about a range targets including Heads, Deputies, OFSTED Inspectors teachers, students, dinner ladies and caretakers. With his wide range of cultural, literary, musical, cinematic and artistic allusions and references the author kept this reader interested throughout.
The plot has a few clunks where a bit of suspension of disbelief is needed, but the clever amateur detective who out guesses the proper police detectives is a given in crime writing.

[Keith Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly delightful murder/mystery

How can one describe or even begin to evaluate such a book. Maxwell (or Mad Max), the super sleuth of the school, carefully sorts through a tangled web of lies and subterfuges to discover who is despatching staff members and members of a visiting educational inspection team within the school. His main difficulty is the number of different liaisons which come from previous encounters, which are not what they seem. 'Mad' he maybe but shrewd he definitely is. Well worth reading for all lovers of murder/mysteries

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A freebie on Amazon kindle this was a pleasant surprise. In the genre of amateur detective stories set against a backdrop of an OFSTED inspection, Max the Head of VIth form sets about solving a series of murders. With lots of cultural historical and literary references and a somewhat sardonic protagonist this was an enjoyable read. 3 stars in my rating only because this is not my favourite genre but worth a read especially anyone who has undergone one of the early school inspections!

[JP Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

light hearted enjoyable read.

I enjoyed reading this book about the history teacher cum amateur detective. The plot is fast paced, concerning the murder of an OFSTED inspector, with the main character dropping cultural references galore. There’s even a spot of romance involved, and the story kept me wondering who the culprit was until the very end.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read

Mad Max strikes again. Imagine Max's feelings when there is a murder in his school! The School inspectors are in, doing their inspections, when one of them is killed. I enjoyed following Max in his search for the culprit, along with his own brand of repartee .
I enjoyed the literary and historical references, which added another layer to the story.

[Mr Peter W Treasaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the suspence

A well crafted story however it needed a strong will and a large whisky to soldier on but it was well worth everything to finally enjoy a good weekend read. Thank you

[Wayne Snowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mad Mad does it once again. ?

A very well thought out murder mystery. Never a clue to the outcome until right at the end. Mad Max solved the case again. His love life takes a knock.

[Fr. Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typically an excellent read, however the formatting was very poor. Often there would be a change of scene from one paragraph to another. A double space at this point would have facilitated a smoother reading.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Addictive! Superb!

Fantastic dialogue - including the profanity - so much more than that! The plots are twisty, characters so alive - mostly (smirk smirk) - great mysteries!

[Pete Ffrench · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly enjoyably humourous writing with fun characters and a happy ending for most but most importantly Maxwell gets his woman poiceman back.

[Katedurie50 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fun as ever - eccentricity, jokes, some learning worn lightly, a puzzle and an excellent cat. Always cheering.

[dennis williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxwell’s Inspection

Great tale you have to keep up with the pace of the story line. Mad Max is a real character who thinks on his feet.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this.
Another great book in this series, though I was gutted when I thought Max and his woman policeman were no more!
A series that I'm really enjoying

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a short break it was back to Leighford Hall school just in time for their Ofsted Inspection.

This is #9 in the series and I won't repeat my praise of it from the reviews of the first 8. However, as my wife says who has read them all, twice, they just get better and better.

I couldn't see me rereading the series but as I nearly missed one of the subtle humorous pieces today, I may have to rethink. It was when talking about the academic level of his class........' a third of them couldn't spell and the other three quarters couldn't do maths'

This story starts with the death of the head inspector in the school but soon escalates to much more. An unusual solution that I didn't see coming but as I have probably said before, with these books, it isn't that important. Just enjoy.

It would be so easy to go straight on to #10, then 11 and so on but I am now rationing myself.

27th May 2025.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in this entertaining series. Characters are interesting and the plot keeps me engaged. Definitely an easy chilly winter curl up with a good read book for me.