Murder Among the Pines

Maxine Benson #3

by John Lawrence Reynolds

Small-town police chief Maxine "Max" Benson is just settling into her new life when her ex appears on the scene. Apparently, he and his new young lover just happen to be visiting her area on holiday. Max left her marriage and the Toronto police to become chief in Port Ainslie, where she runs a three-person department with few problems and enjoys a different pace of life. That's all about to change when Max's ex-husband is accused of killing his young lover right in Max's own backyard. It seems that only Max's superior detection abilities can save him from an almost certain conviction.

This is the third book in the Maxine Benson mystery series.

Genres: Mystery

160 pages, Paperback

Published March 13, 2018

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me ... and one I would like to continue reading. MURDER AMONG THE PINES is a short read ... less than 200 pages, so it makes a great beach read.

Detective Maxine Benson enjoys living in this small community. It's a nice place filled with likeable residents. Until today, she has had no complaints. Today her personal life has collided with her professional one.

Her ex-husband shows up with a new "piece of fluff" ... a woman very much younger than him, a bleached blonde with a figure that just won't quit and a ton of jewelry. She's not too concerned since her ex was a habitual cheater during their marriage.

Her hoping he leaves by the end of the weekend falls by the wayside when the body of a young woman is found floating in the lake. No surprise that it's 'fluff' and her ex is the number one prime suspect. The big boys take over the case and she is to no longer be currently investigating.

As I said, this is a short read, but very entertaining. Maxine is a fun character, she knows her weaknesses, but she also knows her strengths. When the big boys do take over, it's like they pat the little lady on the head and tell her to resume her knitting. Maxine is nothing if not stubborn and she handily rebels. Her colleague is a hoot. No less dedicated than Maxine, he loves card tricks.. which plays quite a role in this story.

It's a well-written crime mystery, I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Many thanks to the author / Orca Book Publishers / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Canadian mystery set around Toronto in Port Ainslie with Maxine "Max" Benson as the police chief in this tourist center. In this installment, Max must assist her ex-husband in proving his innocence in a murder charge. The novel is very short, more like a novella, but the story unfolds nicely. Lawrence Reynolds needs to develop his characters more thoroughly, he starts with great characters, but does not give them personality and emotions. The setting falls under the truck but has the ability to fully recover with more description.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a well written adventure. It had my attention from the start and maintained a quality pace throughout. I loved the character Maxine. I think the author did a great job in sculpting the story and developing the characters in a compact format. I liked the interaction of the characters. It had a natural flow and didn't feel contrived or artificial. The relationships were real and the way the author wrote the characters shaped my empathy for Maxine and my resentment for the OPP department. I would recommend this book to my friends for sure and plan to read more of this series. I like what John Lawerence Reynolds did with this. Well done.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect story lengthy for me. Deep and quality writing from Ontario!! Woman's point of view by male author--so authentic! Last but not least, it was edited!

[Renee(Reneesramblings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I am just in the mood for a quick read that I can finish in one sitting( without giving up sleep) on a cold winter day. Murder Among the Pines was the perfect length since as the snow stopped falling, I finished reading and didn't resent having to put my book down to go get the snowblower( yet again).
Maxine Benson has left her husband and job in Toronto and is settling in a Chief of Police in the small town of Port Ainslie. There isn't a lot of crime and Maxine is getting accustomed to a life lived at a slower pace. That quickly changes when her ex-husband and his girlfriend come to town. As if their arrival isn't enough to get under her skin, the girlfriend, Lana Jewel Laverne Parker is murdered and Maxine's ex, James is the prime suspect.
I liked the characters and as I am from a small town, thought Port Ainslie was charming( well except for the murder) and had an authentic feel. This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it enough to want to read more of this series.
Thank you, John Lawrence Reynolds, Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley for the complimentary digital copy to read and review.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #3, in the Maxine Benson Mystery

This suspenseful crime fiction is a “Rapid Reads” easy on the eyes. Its 150 pages (paper version) can be read in one setting: small pages and good size font and a style meant for young adults. This story is not taxing.

Maxine Benson, police chief in a small town, sets out to solve the murder of her ex-husband’s new girlfriend.

This is an entertaining and well-written drama that unfolds nicely. Not being my first “Rapid Reads” I knew that the plot would be too short and would come to a quick resolve and that the characterization would also lack development (not enough time) to do so.

Having said this “Murder Among the Pines” has nevertheless a captivating plot within the limited pages, a simple story yet not boring and one that stayed true to the characters.

I received this ARC from Orca Book Publishers via the Early Reviewers Program.

[Brian Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy murder mystery story set in the idyllic cottage country north of Toronto. I received an advance reading copy of the book from the publisher via LIbraryThing Early Reviewers. The views expressed below are my own.
Small town police chief Maxine Benson encounters her former husband Jim with his new trophy girlfriend in her town for a visit. This meeting does not go well as the girlfriend rudely dismisses Maxine. Not to worry though because by the next morning the bimbo is dead and the ex-husband is the chief suspect. Maxine is forced out of the police investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police but, with a belief that Jim is not the killer, she continues to look into the murder. Using her police detective skills acquired from her time as a Toronto police officer, she follows some clues ignored by the OPP.
It's a well-plotted puzzle story, not complicated by too many characters or red herrings. It's an easy entertaining read with a satisfactory ending. Maxine is of course the star of the show: an intelligent and resourceful police officer. She stands her ground against the overbearing OPP sergeant, who dismisses her efforts on the grounds they have their killer. Is he lazy or stupid, or both?
This story continues the series that has two previous books and can easily be read as a standalone. There's several recurring characters that add colour to the story and serve as support for Maxine. When will we get a full Maxine Benson novel?
This is a recommended read.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

These Rapid Reads from Orca are said to "focus first and foremost on strong writing. John Lawrence Reynolds is said to be a first-rate, multi-book author." But I am on my last nerve at the sloppiness and low-reading-level of this series! "… Max noticed that the silver chain from which the diamond ring hand hung was no longer around the woman's neck." Yup, a hand hanging from a chain. Yuk. Or = p. 117 "Zeyer watched the man walk to the shed and enter it." p. 119 "The gardener in his stupid green outfit was going into the shed." Yup, same man going into that shed in a time machine. Yes, the story is fast fun, written to 6th grade reading level, but I feel dissed as a reader to be treated in this cavalier way. Just had to say my piece cuz this was the proverbial straw.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

#3 in Maxine Benson series

Maxine Benson is the recently hired police chief of a three-person department in Port Ainslie Ontario. She left her marriage and the Toronto police to take the position.

In this instalment, Max's ex-husband and his new girlfriend 'happen' to drop into town. When the girlfriend is murdered, and the ex accused, it's up to Max to prove him innocent. it was 'okay', but nothing special.

Small pages (7.5" x 4.75") and a large font, double-spaced, mean that the 150 page story reads very quickly. I suspect it's aimed at the YA market.

I received a paperback copy of this book free through the Library Things Early Reviewers program.

[Daisy B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thoroughly hated the way women were written throughout this book and how insufferable and downright incompetent the protagonist is. We are supposed to believe she has been an officer for many years, but she behaves as if she has been nothing more than a vigilante. She has the biggest chip on her shoulder and makes it everyone's problem. She nearly compromised the investigation more times than I can count and could easily have gotten herself locked up for her antics. The only likeable character in this whole book is Henry. A disappointment and a bore, but at least it was short.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maxine Benson is the police chief of Port Ainslie. Then one weekend her ex-husband arrives with his latest girlfriend. Only for the girlfriend to be found dead and Jim Benson the prime suspect.
A reasonably simple and quickly solved mystery.
A NetGalley Book

[Sania Tasnim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written storyline compared to the small size of the book, with vivid yet precise description wherever was needed. You can finish it up at one sitting, with a warm cup of afternoon coffee. I am looking forward to reading more books from the Maxine series.

[Twana Callahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same as the other two books. Small town cop, murder in said small town, big city cops try to take over, small town cop solves murder.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the Ontario setting. fast dialogue and great characters.

[Kathy velez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly entertaining for such a short book, I enjoyed it.

[Carrie Drake · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the Maxine Benson series. I read them for the setting, Muskoka. All 3 books were actually short novellas. Quick reads, entertaining....and of course a great place for murder.

[Sushanth Patil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick thrilling read which keeps you questioning till the end.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this one from Early Reviewers for free in exchange for an honest but fair review. My opinion remains my own.

Police chief Max Benson is busy enough with the summer visitors to her sleepy Canadian town, but when her ex-husband becomes the chief suspect in a murder investigation, she might have to clear up her schedule. This was a very quick read. The ending was not really a surprise, but if you like mysteries, I think you'd like this. Perfect for beginning readers. It is the third in the series, but that didn't keep me from enjoying it.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not quite sure how to review Murder Among the Pines by John Lawrence Reynolds. I felt like once the book started and there was some mystery, it ended. It’s like the middle of the book was missing. What’s frustrating is I actually enjoyed the main character and thought that the storyline was interesting, but the suspense was removed by the quick resolve. Maybe it is just my personal opinion, but I like a little confusion and mayhem with my crime novels. When things are clear cut and solved without thinking twice it doesn’t do it for me.

Thanks to Orca Book Publishers and John Lawrence Reynolds for providing me with an advanced reading copy.

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Among the Pine is a well written murder mystery. Great plot and well developed characters. I was pulled immediately into the plot. I highly recommend this book.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good mystery. It's interesting, well written and with interesting charachters.
I hope to be able to read other instalments in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Chief Maxine Benson! The story was great, the action moved along and the good guys won again!!!!! 5 stars are not enough. The only negative is the story was not long enough. I'm definitely going to buy the first two books in the series!

[Matthew Dapena-Tretter]

Looking at it in the library, I knew this would be a quick read (it's 150 pages of large type and the back advertises "rapid reads"), but I didn't expect to finish it in less than an hour!

There are no big twists it anything but the characters are likeable and it left me wanting more. I'll probably pick up the others in the series eventually.