Maxwell's Ride

Peter Maxwell Mystery #5

by M.J. Trow, Peter Wickham (Read by)

While riding the Wild Water, a man is killed in the float ahead, and Max and the girls become witnesses to murder. The corpses multiply as Maxwell nears the end of his search for the truth - but will one of them be his own niece?

Genres: Crime

8 pages, Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 2000

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 15 mins

Description: Peter "Mad Max" Maxwell's two precocious nieces insist he takes them to a theme park. While riding the Wild Water, a passenger is killed in the float ahead, and Maxwell and the girls become eyewitnesses to murder. The dead man was an accountant working with CHARTS, a charity organisation sponsoring Leighford High School where Maxwell works. Mad Max delves into CHARTS and begins to unearth a complex web of murky secrets.

This is the one with a sniper, log flume, and Police Woman Carpenter becomes Jackie with a kiss.

Just as with teachers in real life, Maxwell's patter is becoming repetitive and identical one-liners are cropping up book-to-book. It was the school nurse handing out morning-after pills that tuned me in to these mirrored phrases.

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

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Maxwell has temporary custody of his two nieces - Tiffany, 15, and 13-year-old Lucy - while his sister and diplomat brother-in-law are abroad. As a good uncle does, he takes them to a local amusement park, but they are traumatized when they witness the murder of a man in the boat right in front of them on a watercourse. Max, naturally, feels compelled to look into the death, given that his own kin were so badly affected, and he soon recruits a former student, now a journalist, in his efforts; when that person goes missing and then Tiffany is kidnapped, Max is drawn farther and farther into a madman’s world, and his own life hangs in the balance….This is the fifth in a series; by now the reader knows Max and his friends quite well, but it was interesting to see him relate to his own blood. Being written in late 1990s England, there’s a fair amount of sexism and classism on display here, but no worse than many other books of that era, and the main character remains interesting enough for this reader to continue on, for now at least. Mildly recommended.

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxwell finds himself looking after his two nieces. He takes them to a theme park and - bad luck all round - they witness a murder.
I love the relationship between Mad Max and his nieces, he loves them and they love him. No angst-y teenagers here just rather plain speaking intelligent girls.
The younger girl Lucy, is very upset about what she saw and asks Uncle Maxie to uncover the murderer so they will all be safe and Max feels he has to comply.
The story involves some nasty types and Max and one of his nieces is placed in great danger.
The relationship with Woman Policeman Jacqui is moving forward, a little, which is nice.
Max happily gets up people’s noses or has them rooting for him to sort things out. He’s a great character.
I’m very happy to keep reading this series.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars from Me!

Peter Maxwell, or Mad Max, is looking after his two nieces for a few days. As a treat he takes them to a theme park but while on a roller coaster, the man in the car in front, is shot dead. There are so many people about, but no one can give any details of the killer. Of course. Max involves himself trying to solve the case but puts his family in danger and one of the girls is kidnapped. Max needs to solve the case fast and rescue her. Another good book in the series, although I didn't enjoy it as much as the book before. I would give it 4.5 stars.

[Nick slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author : brilliant reminds me of my school days
Book : loved it.

Format: I don't know who is responsible for typesetting but there were a number of errors. And I am dyslexic and spotted them !.
Are the publishers using AI ?
NEVER MIND. STILL LOVE THE BOOK/SERIES

Nick S

[Elizabeth Roxburgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter (Mad Max) Maxwell

Brilliant book, I am reading them all again for the second time. Great characters and plots, especially Max. Would highly recommend.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite so far

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1997. Maxwell's nieces are visiting him and on one of the days he takes them to the Magicworld funfair. Where in the ride in front a man is shot. Who would want to murder an accountant. Maxwell decides to investigate
An entertaining mystery

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5th book on the trot of this series, so yes, I do enjoy them. There is a little bit of background story so do start the series at Number 1.

I suppose the title 'Maxwell's Babysitting' that could apply as well, wouldn't quite catch the mood but here Max founds his nieces dropped on him for a short stay when his brother in law's Foreign office duties call him away.

His idea of taking the young girls to a Theme Park that they thoroughly enjoyed through Max's changing colour during some of the rides, was a good one. Unfortunately it was brought to an abrupt end when the sole occupant of the car ahead of them on the water ride was shot.

Ofcourse Max has to investigate.

I think that readers need to be of a certain age to fully appreciate the character of Max  or indeed  the author himself.
Personnally I can identify with......
"He'd never yet read a Booker (Prize winning) book he'd understood much less liked"
Being from an age group brought up of the likes of H Rider Haggard , Dennis Wheatley and of course Robert Louis Stevenson, I smiled 
when Max had the red dot of a snipers rifle on him, and......'He felt like Billy Bones in Treasure Island that rattling good yarn of his youth. Only the spot had changed colour'

Oh so close to 5 and so many.more to go yet.

Apr 1st 2025.

[Tria · Rating 3 out of 5]

1st GR read, June 2011. 2nd, July 2016. 3.5*

Max's nieces are drawn fairly well, despite the slightly irritating teen-romance-obsessive façade from Miss Tiffany, and I genuinely like 13-year-old Lucy.

I could, however, have done without the overdone (and growing repetitive throughout the series) emphasis on Sylvia Matthews' terribly obvious (to everyone but him) feelings for Max, but I'd rather have liked to see more of her first meeting with Guy.

More later.