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Max Revere #5
Abandoned
Investigative reporter Max Revere has cracked many cases, but the one investigation she's never attempted is the mystery from her own past. Her mother abandoned her when she was nine, sending her periodic postcards, but never returning to reclaim her daughter. Seven years after the postcards stop coming, Martha Revere is declared legally dead, with no sign of what may have happened to her. Until now.
With a single clue―that her mother’s car disappeared sixteen years ago in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay―Max drops everything to finally seek the truth. As Max investigates, and her mother's story unfolds, she realizes that Martha teamed up with a con man. They traveled the world living off Martha’s trust and money they conned from others.
Though no one claims to know anything about Martha or her disappearance, Max suspects more than one person is lying. When she learns the FBI has an active investigation into the con man, Max knows she’s on the right path. But as Max digs into the dark secrets of this idyllic community, the only thing she might find is the same violent end as her mother.
New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan weaves the intimate, unputdownable story of an investigator confronting the most important--and most dangerous--mystery of her career.
With a single clue―that her mother’s car disappeared sixteen years ago in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay―Max drops everything to finally seek the truth. As Max investigates, and her mother's story unfolds, she realizes that Martha teamed up with a con man. They traveled the world living off Martha’s trust and money they conned from others.
Though no one claims to know anything about Martha or her disappearance, Max suspects more than one person is lying. When she learns the FBI has an active investigation into the con man, Max knows she’s on the right path. But as Max digs into the dark secrets of this idyllic community, the only thing she might find is the same violent end as her mother.
New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan weaves the intimate, unputdownable story of an investigator confronting the most important--and most dangerous--mystery of her career.
338 pages, Hardcover
First published August 14, 2018
961 people are currently reading
3230 people want to read
About the author
Allison Brennan
110 books5,301 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through Goodreads or her website.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through Goodreads or her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
September 6, 2024
Investigative reporter, Max Revere, sets out to solve the most important cold case of her career in this 5th-installment of the Max Revere series.
Abandoned by her Mom at the age of 9, Max was left in the care of her very wealthy grandparents, hearing from her mother only occasionally.
Eventually, her Mother stopped sending postcards on Max's birthday, her main source of correspondence, always belated anyway, and withdrawing from her trust fund; she disappeared without a trace.
Now aged 32, a successful television personality and author, Max is finally ready to uncover the truth behind her Mother's disappearance.
This is actually the first book I have read in the Max Revere series and I don’t think that diminished my enjoyment for this book at all.
You could definitely pick this up as a stand-alone novel if you wanted.
After reading this, I am absolutely interested in reading the other books in the series.
I loved Max as a character. She was smart, strong, independent and not afraid to make it through life on her own.
No matter how dangerous her investigation became she never backed down. She was willing to do whatever it took to get to the truth and I respect that.
Overall, this is a very solid mystery with strong investigatory elements.
There were a lot of leads to follow: family drama, small town secrets, art theft and forgery, con-men and more!
I usually do enjoy Mystery novels where the protagonist is a journalist, but this one is especially well done in my opinion.
The story leaves off with a lot of changes going on for Max, so I definitely think this series will be continuing and this won't be the last time I read about Max Revere. That's for darn sure.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. Max is just the kind of protagonist I love so I had a really great time reading this!
Abandoned by her Mom at the age of 9, Max was left in the care of her very wealthy grandparents, hearing from her mother only occasionally.
Eventually, her Mother stopped sending postcards on Max's birthday, her main source of correspondence, always belated anyway, and withdrawing from her trust fund; she disappeared without a trace.
Now aged 32, a successful television personality and author, Max is finally ready to uncover the truth behind her Mother's disappearance.
This is actually the first book I have read in the Max Revere series and I don’t think that diminished my enjoyment for this book at all.
You could definitely pick this up as a stand-alone novel if you wanted.
After reading this, I am absolutely interested in reading the other books in the series.
I loved Max as a character. She was smart, strong, independent and not afraid to make it through life on her own.
No matter how dangerous her investigation became she never backed down. She was willing to do whatever it took to get to the truth and I respect that.
Overall, this is a very solid mystery with strong investigatory elements.
There were a lot of leads to follow: family drama, small town secrets, art theft and forgery, con-men and more!
I usually do enjoy Mystery novels where the protagonist is a journalist, but this one is especially well done in my opinion.
The story leaves off with a lot of changes going on for Max, so I definitely think this series will be continuing and this won't be the last time I read about Max Revere. That's for darn sure.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. Max is just the kind of protagonist I love so I had a really great time reading this!
February 23, 2022
Investigative reporter Maxine (Max) Revere was abandoned by her mother when she was nine years old, left with her wealthy grandparents and only hearing from Martha each year by postcard on her birthday. The cards inexplicably stopped sixteen years ago and no one has heard from her since. However, Max recently learned that her car was found in Northampton County, Virginia, registered under an alias that ties back to the Revere family. Even though the car was discovered sixteen years ago and Max has long been certain her mother is dead, she believes answers lie in the town so she heads to Cape Haven to do what she does best…find the truth.
Max’s missing mother has been in the background of every story in this series so my expectations were high for this one and were far surpassed. Martha Revere was with Jimmy Truman when she abandoned Max with her family so it came as a surprise to learn his family was from Cape Haven. His brother Gabriel was co-owner of the resort where Max was staying and Jimmy’s been missing for almost as long as Martha. The investigation not only answered the question of what happened to Martha but also revealed many other secrets that were shocking and life changing.
While many questions were resolved in this story, the revelations just created more so I’m saddened that this is the final book in the series. There was a lot going on and the introduction of a new man in Max’s life made it even more compelling as I really liked him. I listened to the story and the narrator delivered another outstanding performance, her storytelling befitting great writing. It ended on a bittersweet note but one that bodes nicely for Max. I’m hoping to see her appear in future stories in the Lucy Kincaid connected series, at least to get updates. Even if she doesn’t, I’m left in a good place despite lingering questions.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Max’s missing mother has been in the background of every story in this series so my expectations were high for this one and were far surpassed. Martha Revere was with Jimmy Truman when she abandoned Max with her family so it came as a surprise to learn his family was from Cape Haven. His brother Gabriel was co-owner of the resort where Max was staying and Jimmy’s been missing for almost as long as Martha. The investigation not only answered the question of what happened to Martha but also revealed many other secrets that were shocking and life changing.
While many questions were resolved in this story, the revelations just created more so I’m saddened that this is the final book in the series. There was a lot going on and the introduction of a new man in Max’s life made it even more compelling as I really liked him. I listened to the story and the narrator delivered another outstanding performance, her storytelling befitting great writing. It ended on a bittersweet note but one that bodes nicely for Max. I’m hoping to see her appear in future stories in the Lucy Kincaid connected series, at least to get updates. Even if she doesn’t, I’m left in a good place despite lingering questions.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
August 14, 2018
Investigative reporter Max Revere takes on a very personal case. Her own mother's abandoned her when she was nine. Only sending postcards over the next seven years before they stop coming. The only clue Max has is her mother's abandoned car in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay. There she starts to dig for the truth, but not everyone is glad that she is in town digging for clues.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
February 24, 2022
I devoured this book. It is truly one of the best Allison Brennan has written and she has written some awesome books. As this is the last Max Revere book, at least for the foreseeable future, it was a tall order for Brennan to tie up the loose ends of Max's life and she did it masterfully. Sometimes I have expectations about how I want a story to go, especially with a series. My expectations were not only met, but they were also exceeded.
Maxine Revere is an investigative journalist with several true crime bestselling books to her credit and a cable true crime TV show. Her specialty is Cold Cases, those cases police have been unable to solve and have gone cold from lack of leads. New evidence has come to Max about the disappearance of her mother over 16 years ago. Max has already come to terms that, in all likelihood, she is dead, she just wants to know the why.
Max's whole life has been spent uncovering the truth for others, now it's time to uncover the truth for herself. As Max peels back the layers of the life of Martha Revere, she finds a complex woman with her own demons and an insatiable need for fun in all areas of her life. When Martha hooks up with a con man, Jimmy Truman, she abandons Max with her wealthy parents in the pursuit of that elusive fun.
Martha's car was discovered sixteen years ago in the small Chesapeake Bay town of Haven, but it was registered under another name. When Sean Rogan uncovers this piece of evidence, it breaks the investigation wide open and finally gives Max the answer to that elusive question, why.
Maxine Revere is an investigative journalist with several true crime bestselling books to her credit and a cable true crime TV show. Her specialty is Cold Cases, those cases police have been unable to solve and have gone cold from lack of leads. New evidence has come to Max about the disappearance of her mother over 16 years ago. Max has already come to terms that, in all likelihood, she is dead, she just wants to know the why.
Max's whole life has been spent uncovering the truth for others, now it's time to uncover the truth for herself. As Max peels back the layers of the life of Martha Revere, she finds a complex woman with her own demons and an insatiable need for fun in all areas of her life. When Martha hooks up with a con man, Jimmy Truman, she abandons Max with her wealthy parents in the pursuit of that elusive fun.
Martha's car was discovered sixteen years ago in the small Chesapeake Bay town of Haven, but it was registered under another name. When Sean Rogan uncovers this piece of evidence, it breaks the investigation wide open and finally gives Max the answer to that elusive question, why.
August 14, 2018
4.5 Stars
As an investigative reporter for Maximum Exposure it’s Maxine’s job and passion to investigate cold cases and get answers. Not only for justice, but for the family left behind without closure. But this case is personal. Maxine’s mother, Martha, disappeared sixteen years ago and was finally declared dead, but they never found out what happened to her.
After getting to know Max through the previous books it’s apparent her mother’s abandonment and then disappearance has cast a shadow over her life. We get glimpses of Martha Revere in the past and let me tell you she was a piece of work! Self-absorbed without a care for anyone else, least of all her daughter. She dumped Max off with her mother (Max’s grandmother) when Max was just nine and never looked back. My heart hurt for Max.
After so many years of not knowing what exactly happened she gets a break in the case when Sean Rogan finds a clue leading back to the seaside town of Cape Haven. Could Martha Revere have spent her last days there? And if so what was she doing there that led to her death? Max is determined to find out exactly what happened. Not surprisingly, Max’s digging around and asking questions ruffles a few feathers, but even more than that, it puts her in danger. Abandoned had me on a knife edge with all the tension swirling, and things got very desperate by the end!
I’ve become very fond of Maxine through this series. Yes, she can be hyper-focused on her mission to the point of stepping on toes or just bulldozing right over whoever gets in her way, but she does it out of the sincere belief that she’s doing what’s right. She’s honest and doesn’t play games, and I was glad that after Nick’s behavior in the last few books it seems Max might’ve finally found someone worthy of her. I really love how far she’s has come as a person, and I’m interested to see how some of the new developments in Abandoned will affect Max’s life in the future.
Each book of the Max Revere series tackles and solves a mystery, but I can’t really recommend this as a standalone. Max’s personal life and history are built upon with each new installment and that’s a huge part of what makes the series so addictive. It is a series that I love and whole-heartedly recommend!
A copy was kindly provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
As an investigative reporter for Maximum Exposure it’s Maxine’s job and passion to investigate cold cases and get answers. Not only for justice, but for the family left behind without closure. But this case is personal. Maxine’s mother, Martha, disappeared sixteen years ago and was finally declared dead, but they never found out what happened to her.
After getting to know Max through the previous books it’s apparent her mother’s abandonment and then disappearance has cast a shadow over her life. We get glimpses of Martha Revere in the past and let me tell you she was a piece of work! Self-absorbed without a care for anyone else, least of all her daughter. She dumped Max off with her mother (Max’s grandmother) when Max was just nine and never looked back. My heart hurt for Max.
After so many years of not knowing what exactly happened she gets a break in the case when Sean Rogan finds a clue leading back to the seaside town of Cape Haven. Could Martha Revere have spent her last days there? And if so what was she doing there that led to her death? Max is determined to find out exactly what happened. Not surprisingly, Max’s digging around and asking questions ruffles a few feathers, but even more than that, it puts her in danger. Abandoned had me on a knife edge with all the tension swirling, and things got very desperate by the end!
I’ve become very fond of Maxine through this series. Yes, she can be hyper-focused on her mission to the point of stepping on toes or just bulldozing right over whoever gets in her way, but she does it out of the sincere belief that she’s doing what’s right. She’s honest and doesn’t play games, and I was glad that after Nick’s behavior in the last few books it seems Max might’ve finally found someone worthy of her. I really love how far she’s has come as a person, and I’m interested to see how some of the new developments in Abandoned will affect Max’s life in the future.
Each book of the Max Revere series tackles and solves a mystery, but I can’t really recommend this as a standalone. Max’s personal life and history are built upon with each new installment and that’s a huge part of what makes the series so addictive. It is a series that I love and whole-heartedly recommend!
A copy was kindly provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
September 27, 2019
Max Revere is a well-known investigative reporter, an author of several books, and also hosts a TV Crime Series, featuring her solving cold case crimes.
The one investigation that she's never tried is the mystery of what happened to her own mother. When Max was nine, her mother, boyfriend in tow, left her with her grandmother.. and never returned. She did receive postcards from time to time, but even those stopped after a few years. Her mother was eventually declared legally dead.
With a single clue―that her mother’s car disappeared sixteen years ago in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay―Max drops everything to finally seek the truth. As Max investigates, and her mother's story unfolds, she realizes that Martha teamed up with a con man. They traveled the world living off Martha’s trust and money they conned from others.
When she learns that there is still an on-going FBI investigation with the con man being their target, Max teams up with an FBI Agent.
The more she investigates, the more she comes to understand that no one wants to admit knowing her mother, or the con man boyfriend. The more she uncovers, the more she is having to change her view of her mother, of her childhood.
Discovering what happened to her mother just may cost Max not only her career .. but her life, as well.
This best-selling author has written a poignant story featuring a woman who has felt abandoned her own life. There is nothing more she wants than to discover what happened to her mother and why she never came back for her.
The story is told in two time lines ... the present .. and things that happened when Max was a child. The characters are finely crafted and indelibly living in my head. This is a real page turner .... hard to put down for any length of time.
Although 5th in the series, this one can easily be read as a stand alone. I highly recommend starting at the very beginning of this most interesting series.
Many thanks to the author / St Martin's Press - Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this suspenseful thriller.
September 5, 2018
Allison Brennan's Abandoned sits firmly as a 2.5 star read for me. Abandoned is the fifth installment to the Max Revere series. Max is a celebrity investigative reported who's focus is primarily on cold cases. Up until this point she's never used her vast resources to investigate the cold case of her mother leaving her until now.
Abandoned offers insight from the past as well as follows Max's present journey through her mother's sordid past as she gathers clue after clue of her mother's disappearance sixteen years earlier. And I won't deny it, I was definitely sucked into the story. Brennan offers an easy read that is littered with moments to escape into, there was just something I couldn't get past when reading this title and that is the reason for my 2.5 star rating.
This novel is fun. Everything is fun about it. The mother's disappearance and how it ties into present day events was fun unlocking. Being introduced to the quirky FBI agent who helps Max's investigation was fun well. Even the parts that were a tad predictable were fun to read and held my attention like a bad accident. What became not so fun about this bad accident I couldn't tear away from is the overuse of the word fun. It's as if Brennan had no thesaurus in site and decided to lazily keep saying that Max's mother, Martha, simply couldn't be bogged down with a child so she abandoned her only child, with her (rich) grandparents, so she could have fun.
Don't believe me? Read the book. There's "fun" here, "fun" there, "fun" is just about everywhere.
I digress... as usual.
Guess I was having some fun with the word fun.
Anyway...
Abandoned was a... fun read. I don't mean that insincerely. I did have quite the time with this read and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking how all the dots would connect. Some dots connected sooner than others, but I'm pretty good at this mystery thriller thing. Fans of this series won't be disappointed. I just wish the use of the word fun wasn't so distracting that it almost caused me to abandon this title... almost.
Copy provided St. Martin's Press via Netgalley
Abandoned offers insight from the past as well as follows Max's present journey through her mother's sordid past as she gathers clue after clue of her mother's disappearance sixteen years earlier. And I won't deny it, I was definitely sucked into the story. Brennan offers an easy read that is littered with moments to escape into, there was just something I couldn't get past when reading this title and that is the reason for my 2.5 star rating.
This novel is fun. Everything is fun about it. The mother's disappearance and how it ties into present day events was fun unlocking. Being introduced to the quirky FBI agent who helps Max's investigation was fun well. Even the parts that were a tad predictable were fun to read and held my attention like a bad accident. What became not so fun about this bad accident I couldn't tear away from is the overuse of the word fun. It's as if Brennan had no thesaurus in site and decided to lazily keep saying that Max's mother, Martha, simply couldn't be bogged down with a child so she abandoned her only child, with her (rich) grandparents, so she could have fun.
Don't believe me? Read the book. There's "fun" here, "fun" there, "fun" is just about everywhere.
I digress... as usual.
Guess I was having some fun with the word fun.
Anyway...
Abandoned was a... fun read. I don't mean that insincerely. I did have quite the time with this read and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking how all the dots would connect. Some dots connected sooner than others, but I'm pretty good at this mystery thriller thing. Fans of this series won't be disappointed. I just wish the use of the word fun wasn't so distracting that it almost caused me to abandon this title... almost.
Copy provided St. Martin's Press via Netgalley
February 26, 2022
Investigative Journalist Maxine Revere is taking a on a case that is personal to her. Martha Revere, Max's mother, left Max with her grandparents when she was nine years old and never returned for her. A postcard from her mother would arrive every year near Max's birthday; but stopped suddenly sixteen years ago. A new clue leads Max to coastal Virginia, where a car tied to Martha was once found. Now Max is determined to discover what happened to her mother.
This is the fifth book in the Max Revere series. We've known the story of Max's abandonment since the series started. I was happy that this book was going to tell us what actually happened. I had my own theories after reading the previous books in the series, but I was not even close. This story had some big surprises that I never saw coming. I had a hard time putting this book down. My rating: 5 Stars.
This is the fifth book in the Max Revere series. We've known the story of Max's abandonment since the series started. I was happy that this book was going to tell us what actually happened. I had my own theories after reading the previous books in the series, but I was not even close. This story had some big surprises that I never saw coming. I had a hard time putting this book down. My rating: 5 Stars.
February 16, 2022
Maxine Revere finally has a clue that may lead her to the trust about what happened to her mom. The clue sends her to a small coastal town where there are many secrets and dangerous people who may not want Max investigating.
This is an action packed informative story. The reader learns so much about Martha Revere and her life after leaving Max with her grandmother. I really liked that the author went back and forth between Max in the present day and Martha in the past. It helped break up the story and gave the reader more insight into Martha.
There are some awesome surprises in this story as well. The mystery comes together nicely and there is a bit of romance. Max may have found her “forever”.
Sean Rogan and Dillon Kincaid show up to help Max as to be expected. I would have been disappointed if they hadn’t. Dillon really helps Max out with her feelings about her mother and all the new information coming to light. He’s so good at what he does.
This book closed out the series nicely, but I would have liked to see more of Max.
This is an action packed informative story. The reader learns so much about Martha Revere and her life after leaving Max with her grandmother. I really liked that the author went back and forth between Max in the present day and Martha in the past. It helped break up the story and gave the reader more insight into Martha.
There are some awesome surprises in this story as well. The mystery comes together nicely and there is a bit of romance. Max may have found her “forever”.
Sean Rogan and Dillon Kincaid show up to help Max as to be expected. I would have been disappointed if they hadn’t. Dillon really helps Max out with her feelings about her mother and all the new information coming to light. He’s so good at what he does.
This book closed out the series nicely, but I would have liked to see more of Max.
September 28, 2018
Wow. This was an awesome read; I had a hard time putting it down.
Review to come.
Review to come.
July 9, 2021
An woman who grew up with a deadbeat mom tries to learn the truth. Her mom abandoned her as a young child. And this effects her throughout the novel.
October 25, 2020
I did not read the first 4 books in this series (Max Revere). I was not lost, I think this was a good stand alone. I really did enjoy Brennan's writing, I love the little mysteries and the characters were really well rounded. I am on the look out for more books from Brennan now.
November 26, 2018
Review can be found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...
Thank you to Minotaur Books for gifting me with a beautiful hardcover copy of this book to read and share my review with my followers.
......
Riveting, suspenseful, addicting! This book grabs your attention and keeps you hooked from the very beginning. This was the first book I have read by Allison Brennan and I was very impressed. She has a fabulous style of writing that keeps the reader engaged and hooked in the storyline.
Although this is book #5 in the Max Revere series it can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the previous 4 books and it was no problem to follow the storyline. However, after reading this novel I definitely am interested in reading the previous 4 books following Max Revere’s characrter. She is one bad ass woman and I loved that! We need more books with a dominant female character as the main character in the book and this book was definitely one of those!
It was interesting to read about Max’s past with her mother Martha and get an understanding of what life with her mother Martha was like. At a very young age she was left with her grandparents, whom she never knew or met before, with her mother promising to be back at a later time.
Fast forward to the present and Max is determined to uncover the truth of what truly happened to her mother all those years ago. Why did she disappear. Did something happen to her? Did she purposely go into hiding so no one could find her? Had she done something awful that she was afraid someone would find her?
In her search to uncover the truth, Max meets a man named Gabriel. She is convinced he is hiding something and Max believes her knows more about her mother than he is letting on. But what could he possibly be hiding? Max is determined to uncover the truth. Max gets the feeling that this man Gabriel is nervous and spooked by the fact that Max is in town asking questions about her mother, but why?
This book is written in different timelines – the past and the present. Parts are written from Max’s point of view, parts are written by her mother Martha’s point of view, parts are written by Gabriel’s point of view, parts are written from a few more characters’ points of view. The various POV’s in the book give us a clearer understanding of what is going on and it wasn’t difficult to follow along at all.
Overall, without giving too much away about the book, I absolutely loved this book! It was addictive from the very beginning and I found myself unable to put it down. There were so many things going on in the book I kept wanting to read more and more to see what would happen next.
A complex set of characters in the book add to the greatness of this story. Max was a very fun character to read about, she was a badass woman with determination, drive, wit and charm.
If you love a good crime novel, then definitely read this book. I am sure you will not be disappointed!
Thank you to Minotaur Books for gifting me with a beautiful hardcover copy of this book to read and share my review with my followers.
......
Riveting, suspenseful, addicting! This book grabs your attention and keeps you hooked from the very beginning. This was the first book I have read by Allison Brennan and I was very impressed. She has a fabulous style of writing that keeps the reader engaged and hooked in the storyline.
Although this is book #5 in the Max Revere series it can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the previous 4 books and it was no problem to follow the storyline. However, after reading this novel I definitely am interested in reading the previous 4 books following Max Revere’s characrter. She is one bad ass woman and I loved that! We need more books with a dominant female character as the main character in the book and this book was definitely one of those!
It was interesting to read about Max’s past with her mother Martha and get an understanding of what life with her mother Martha was like. At a very young age she was left with her grandparents, whom she never knew or met before, with her mother promising to be back at a later time.
Fast forward to the present and Max is determined to uncover the truth of what truly happened to her mother all those years ago. Why did she disappear. Did something happen to her? Did she purposely go into hiding so no one could find her? Had she done something awful that she was afraid someone would find her?
In her search to uncover the truth, Max meets a man named Gabriel. She is convinced he is hiding something and Max believes her knows more about her mother than he is letting on. But what could he possibly be hiding? Max is determined to uncover the truth. Max gets the feeling that this man Gabriel is nervous and spooked by the fact that Max is in town asking questions about her mother, but why?
This book is written in different timelines – the past and the present. Parts are written from Max’s point of view, parts are written by her mother Martha’s point of view, parts are written by Gabriel’s point of view, parts are written from a few more characters’ points of view. The various POV’s in the book give us a clearer understanding of what is going on and it wasn’t difficult to follow along at all.
Overall, without giving too much away about the book, I absolutely loved this book! It was addictive from the very beginning and I found myself unable to put it down. There were so many things going on in the book I kept wanting to read more and more to see what would happen next.
A complex set of characters in the book add to the greatness of this story. Max was a very fun character to read about, she was a badass woman with determination, drive, wit and charm.
If you love a good crime novel, then definitely read this book. I am sure you will not be disappointed!
April 21, 2018
This is Book 5 in the Max Revere series but can be read as a stand alone. In my opinion, the best book so far. This is a fantastic book. I have been a fan of this Author for many years. Maxine Revere is an investigative reporter in New York with a cable tv show. She investigates cold cases. Her mother left her with her grandparents when she was 9 years old. Maxine received postcards from her mother usually around her birthday. They stopped coming when she was 16. In this book, Maxine travels to a small seaside town, the place where her mother's car was found abandoned. The story is excellent and the characters (most of them) leave a warm feeling in your heart. There are some sad parts. Such a good book from the beginning to the end. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.
August 30, 2018
It was good until they killed someone who didn't need to die. Unnecessary to the plot AND made the whole book even more depressing.
August 21, 2018
Absolutely fantastic!!!
January 12, 2024
3.5 stars
The last book(?) about Max Revere turned out to be the best one, which on the other hand doesn't make it exactly amazing, or anything.
I thought it was a bit unbelievable that Max's mother turned out to be a masterful art thief - sort of crammed into the story with zero fore-shadowing about her liking art before this book, but OK. It worked well enough.
I low-key hated that Max found her 3rd (or whatever) cop to fall for. It was such an insta love thing, it was ridiculous. Instead of "amazing in bed", this guy's most noticeable characteristics was a bit too long hair. *eye-roll*
The almost total lack of chapters from the murderer's point of view made a huge difference compared to the previous books. I liked this so much better!
Max had some too-good-to-be-true guesses that were too on point to be believable - almost Lucy Kincaid style - but it wasn't all that bad. It worked pretty well.
I can't believe Max didn't have at least ONE security camera in her room though. I really can't swallow how incredibly stupid it is to just fill an entire room with your entire investigation and then just leave it there without any sort of supervision.
David, the so called security expert, has been some sort of shoe-horned "joke" according to me. He's not very good at being a body guard, and clearly not very good at security solutions either.
Oh well...
The ending was a bit ... fluffy. I guess Max got her happily ever after, somewhat. I got the feeling the author had lost interest in her and wrapped things up to be able to move on to greener pastures.
I'm happy I finished the series, but I doubt Max Revere will live in my memory for very long.
I solidly prefer the Quinn & Costa books by Allison Brennan compared to this one.
The last book(?) about Max Revere turned out to be the best one, which on the other hand doesn't make it exactly amazing, or anything.
I thought it was a bit unbelievable that Max's mother turned out to be a masterful art thief - sort of crammed into the story with zero fore-shadowing about her liking art before this book, but OK. It worked well enough.
I low-key hated that Max found her 3rd (or whatever) cop to fall for. It was such an insta love thing, it was ridiculous. Instead of "amazing in bed", this guy's most noticeable characteristics was a bit too long hair. *eye-roll*
The almost total lack of chapters from the murderer's point of view made a huge difference compared to the previous books. I liked this so much better!
Max had some too-good-to-be-true guesses that were too on point to be believable - almost Lucy Kincaid style - but it wasn't all that bad. It worked pretty well.
I can't believe Max didn't have at least ONE security camera in her room though. I really can't swallow how incredibly stupid it is to just fill an entire room with your entire investigation and then just leave it there without any sort of supervision.
David, the so called security expert, has been some sort of shoe-horned "joke" according to me. He's not very good at being a body guard, and clearly not very good at security solutions either.
Oh well...
The ending was a bit ... fluffy. I guess Max got her happily ever after, somewhat. I got the feeling the author had lost interest in her and wrapped things up to be able to move on to greener pastures.
I'm happy I finished the series, but I doubt Max Revere will live in my memory for very long.
I solidly prefer the Quinn & Costa books by Allison Brennan compared to this one.
August 15, 2018
Max’s quest to answer the questions surrounding her mother’s disappearance is resolved in this emotional and richly detailed investigation. Surprises abound and emotions are rolling in this fifth story regarding Max and her job as a cold case investigator. Many sweet and funny moments, as well as many bittersweet and sad moments. Twists that kept me captivated and conversations that stole my heart. I love the new additions to her life and can’t wait to see how things work back in New York!
Max is a strong and charasmatic individual who lives life to the fullest. Her family life is full of tension and secrets, but has been mentioned in the previous four books. AB solves the question of why Max’s mother disappeared. In between putting together clues and coming to terms with her background and memories, Max meets quite a few people who make an impact on her. It was great seeing these happy moments and emotions as the last two books had her personal life facing some struggles. Some of her characters from Lucy Kincaid’s series had a role in this story and I was so happy b/c I love those three families and their friends! Dillon Kincaid keeps inching his way to being one of the best characters ever and I am not mad about it!
This could be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the series in order. Once I realized this was a series, I went and started with book one and man, I am loving this series and author!
Thank you Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this book and share my opinion!
Max is a strong and charasmatic individual who lives life to the fullest. Her family life is full of tension and secrets, but has been mentioned in the previous four books. AB solves the question of why Max’s mother disappeared. In between putting together clues and coming to terms with her background and memories, Max meets quite a few people who make an impact on her. It was great seeing these happy moments and emotions as the last two books had her personal life facing some struggles. Some of her characters from Lucy Kincaid’s series had a role in this story and I was so happy b/c I love those three families and their friends! Dillon Kincaid keeps inching his way to being one of the best characters ever and I am not mad about it!
This could be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the series in order. Once I realized this was a series, I went and started with book one and man, I am loving this series and author!
Thank you Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this book and share my opinion!
November 16, 2018
She abhorred lies - especially to herself, but when called out, she didn't realize the deep truth. She was scared. She feared learning the whole truth about her mother because it would in fact change who she was and how she viewed herself in the world. Not knowing had driven her for years, and once the truth came to light, what would she do? Who would she be? But fear was no excuse.
Max Revere brings the truth to light in cold cases. Cold cases that leave families with doubt, fear, that can be paralyzing. Max has a cold case of her own. The disappearance of her mother Martha Revere. Her mother left her with her grandparents when she was a young girl. Grandparents that gave her acceptance, dignity and purpose. Everything that her mother could not give Max. Her mother being a selfish woman, did not have desire to care for her child. Always looking for the next con and she found it with a man named Jimmy. Given new information about her mother, Max heads to Florida.
It is there that she finds Gabriel. Gabriel who has spent his whole life cleaning up the messes that his brother Jimmy has made and is not willing to speak with Max about her mother. He is afraid and Max must discover what he afraid of to find what happened to her mother.
Her pursuit of finding out what happened to her mother, she must battle fear of what she will find and reign in her emotions as she discovers who her mother really was. There are twists and turns in this mystery however, with each turn there is a resolve in the Max's character. A resolve that truth will indeed set you free.
A Special Thank You to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Max Revere brings the truth to light in cold cases. Cold cases that leave families with doubt, fear, that can be paralyzing. Max has a cold case of her own. The disappearance of her mother Martha Revere. Her mother left her with her grandparents when she was a young girl. Grandparents that gave her acceptance, dignity and purpose. Everything that her mother could not give Max. Her mother being a selfish woman, did not have desire to care for her child. Always looking for the next con and she found it with a man named Jimmy. Given new information about her mother, Max heads to Florida.
It is there that she finds Gabriel. Gabriel who has spent his whole life cleaning up the messes that his brother Jimmy has made and is not willing to speak with Max about her mother. He is afraid and Max must discover what he afraid of to find what happened to her mother.
Her pursuit of finding out what happened to her mother, she must battle fear of what she will find and reign in her emotions as she discovers who her mother really was. There are twists and turns in this mystery however, with each turn there is a resolve in the Max's character. A resolve that truth will indeed set you free.
A Special Thank You to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
November 27, 2019
It's been an interesting journey with the character of Max Revere. I'm glad that in this book we finally find out exactly what happened to Max's mother after she dumped child Max with her grandparents, never to be seen again.
I won't give any spoilers away to this book, but there were some new characters introduced in Abandoned that play a part in Max's past and future. I was a bit blindsided by the addition of FBI agent Ryan as a romantic interest. While I did like his character, that seemed a bit abrupt and fast tracked to me.
The storyline involving Max's mother in the past was interesting and the way it figured into current events was woven in quite nicely. However, I do feel that after all events considered in this story, the ending was sort of wrapped up conveniently. I can't really comment on that in detail without giving away spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.
The way this book ended could be an effective finale to this series. This is one reader that hopes that is not Allison Brennan's intention. I would like at least one more book to find out where Max and company go from here. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get at least one more Max Revere book.
I won't give any spoilers away to this book, but there were some new characters introduced in Abandoned that play a part in Max's past and future. I was a bit blindsided by the addition of FBI agent Ryan as a romantic interest. While I did like his character, that seemed a bit abrupt and fast tracked to me.
The storyline involving Max's mother in the past was interesting and the way it figured into current events was woven in quite nicely. However, I do feel that after all events considered in this story, the ending was sort of wrapped up conveniently. I can't really comment on that in detail without giving away spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.
The way this book ended could be an effective finale to this series. This is one reader that hopes that is not Allison Brennan's intention. I would like at least one more book to find out where Max and company go from here. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get at least one more Max Revere book.
August 4, 2018
Thank you to Minotaur Books for a copy of Abandoned for an honest review. Abandoned is the 5th book in the Max Revere series though it can be read as a stand-alone. This was the first book in the series that I have read but it will not be my last! I enjoyed the character. She is strong and smart though a little unfocused on other people and their feelings. She is a cold case investigative reporter but this time she is looking into a personal issue, the disappearance of her mother 16 years ago. Some of the first quarter of the book was a bit repetitive because Max had to explain her interest in old police files, why she thinks her mother was there, her mother’s connections, etc repeatedly to many people while starting her investigations. It was necessary to establish her case to many since it was so old but for the reader, it was a bit repetitive. I got more into the book once everybody learned of the case and more and more details came into view and it got more complicated. I really like how it was done and can’t wait to get into more of Max Revere’s cases and get to know her character a little better! Abandoned will be available on August 14, 2018.
September 24, 2020
I know a lot of readers have given this book 5 stars and that is why I ordered it it has a 4.24 rating and I never read an Allison Brennan book before. it reminded me of a lifetime movie. Everything came out perfect in the end.
Max Revere is a investigative reporter who is searching for answers of what happened to her Mother Martha Revere. She abandoned her daughter Max when she was 9 years old with her grandmother. Sent her a postcard every year around her birthday then after 7 years postcards stopped coming and Martha had not drawn money from her trust fund since then. Where is she and why has she disappeared? Max wants the truth.
book is a little slow and somewhat of a soap opera it wasn't much of a mystery.
Max Revere is a investigative reporter who is searching for answers of what happened to her Mother Martha Revere. She abandoned her daughter Max when she was 9 years old with her grandmother. Sent her a postcard every year around her birthday then after 7 years postcards stopped coming and Martha had not drawn money from her trust fund since then. Where is she and why has she disappeared? Max wants the truth.
book is a little slow and somewhat of a soap opera it wasn't much of a mystery.
January 1, 2019
Abandoned A Novel by Allison Brennan is the 5th book in this series but the first book for me. While I have been reading this author since I was about fifteen years old I like many others had a hard time connecting with it. This for me was a fail because I didn’t know enough of the story to be able to move it forward. The mystery was there the grit was there my only issue was the romance felt a bit rushed and unfinished.
August 12, 2018
This is the second book I have read in this series. I like Max. She can hold her own. This is a really good thing as it pretty much was Max that was the main focal character in this story. She held it all together and did a good job of putting all the clues together and solving the case of what happened to her mother.
As I stated, I have only read two books in this series. It was nice to get to know more about Max and her relationship with her grandmother and her mother. I think it did play a part in shaping her to become the woman she is today as well as help her to choose the profession she is in due to her mother leaving her as a little girl.
The only real downside I had with this book is that I felt like there was not a lot of intensity that came into play. In regards, to the storyline, it was pretty much just evenly toned. No, up or down. Yet, I do like this author's writing style. I do want to visit with Max again with reading other books in this series.
As I stated, I have only read two books in this series. It was nice to get to know more about Max and her relationship with her grandmother and her mother. I think it did play a part in shaping her to become the woman she is today as well as help her to choose the profession she is in due to her mother leaving her as a little girl.
The only real downside I had with this book is that I felt like there was not a lot of intensity that came into play. In regards, to the storyline, it was pretty much just evenly toned. No, up or down. Yet, I do like this author's writing style. I do want to visit with Max again with reading other books in this series.
April 18, 2020
Very nice compelling conclusion (I think so?) to the series. Max goes back to her roots to solve the mystery of the disappearance of her mother. Very well written, every time a little part of the plot is revealed. Dealing with the topic of the effect of upbringing on your every day life very well. The tension in the end had me gripped completely. Recommend!
August 25, 2018
Best Max book so far!
June 11, 2018
Short Take: Wake me when something happens.
(*Note: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.*)
Can we please retire the word “unputdownable?” Please? I mean, it was cute enough the first fifty or so times I heard it, but now it’s a word that gets slapped on far too many books that I’m more than happy to put down. It’s right up there with “The Next Gone Girl!” in terms of false advertising.
Take, for example, Abandoned. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this is the fifth book in a series, and I hadn’t read the first four, but other reviews said that it would be cool as a standalone, so I figured, why not? Then again, the description of this book also called it “unputdownable”, so there’s that.
Anyway.
Abandoned is the story of one woman’s quest to do research. Maxine Revere’s mother Martha walked out of her life when Max was nine, sent a few postcards, and completely disappeared when Max was sixteen. Now that Max is an adult with a hit cable show where she investigates cold cases, she’s decided to use her expertise and resources to solve the mystery in her own life - what happened to Martha Revere?
In the course of the investigation, Maxine will talk to a lot of people. She’ll ask questions, and look at old photos, newspaper articles, and tax records. It’s just about as exciting as it sounds.
Max will be fairly rude to everyone she meets, because she’s a tough independent woman who don’t need no man, but it’s cool, everyone around her will be charmed by this. It’s just as nonsensical as it sounds.
We’re also treated to bits of Martha’s life and correspondences, most of which consist of some version of “I like fun. Why don’t you like fun?” It’s just as grating as it sounds.
Eventually, of course, Deep Dark Secrets are revealed, and there’s a climactic fight scene that lasts about three sentences. One hit, one drop, and the bad guy’s accomplices all surrender peacefully, after which, we get a happily ever after ending (presumably until the next book). It’s just as cheesy as it sounds.
So if you’ve read the other books, and are a fan of the series, go for it, I guess? But if you’re looking for something exciting and FUN (you’ll be sick of that word too by the end), look elsewhere.
The Nerd’s Rating: TWO HAPPY NEURONS (and a nice big salad.)
(*Note: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.*)
Can we please retire the word “unputdownable?” Please? I mean, it was cute enough the first fifty or so times I heard it, but now it’s a word that gets slapped on far too many books that I’m more than happy to put down. It’s right up there with “The Next Gone Girl!” in terms of false advertising.
Take, for example, Abandoned. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this is the fifth book in a series, and I hadn’t read the first four, but other reviews said that it would be cool as a standalone, so I figured, why not? Then again, the description of this book also called it “unputdownable”, so there’s that.
Anyway.
Abandoned is the story of one woman’s quest to do research. Maxine Revere’s mother Martha walked out of her life when Max was nine, sent a few postcards, and completely disappeared when Max was sixteen. Now that Max is an adult with a hit cable show where she investigates cold cases, she’s decided to use her expertise and resources to solve the mystery in her own life - what happened to Martha Revere?
In the course of the investigation, Maxine will talk to a lot of people. She’ll ask questions, and look at old photos, newspaper articles, and tax records. It’s just about as exciting as it sounds.
Max will be fairly rude to everyone she meets, because she’s a tough independent woman who don’t need no man, but it’s cool, everyone around her will be charmed by this. It’s just as nonsensical as it sounds.
We’re also treated to bits of Martha’s life and correspondences, most of which consist of some version of “I like fun. Why don’t you like fun?” It’s just as grating as it sounds.
Eventually, of course, Deep Dark Secrets are revealed, and there’s a climactic fight scene that lasts about three sentences. One hit, one drop, and the bad guy’s accomplices all surrender peacefully, after which, we get a happily ever after ending (presumably until the next book). It’s just as cheesy as it sounds.
So if you’ve read the other books, and are a fan of the series, go for it, I guess? But if you’re looking for something exciting and FUN (you’ll be sick of that word too by the end), look elsewhere.
The Nerd’s Rating: TWO HAPPY NEURONS (and a nice big salad.)
July 2, 2018
When she was 9 Max Revere was left with her maternal Grandparents with a promise from her Mother that she would return. Max’s Mother, Martha, was a con artist who didn’t want to be tied down by a child. Now Max Revere is a successful book author with a true crime TV show. She has decided she needs to find out what really happened to her Mother. Sixteen years ago Martha abruptly dropped out of sight, stopped collecting her monthly allowance from a trust fund and the periodic postcards Max received stopped. Max is determined she won’t quit til she has an answer. Max is in for some unforeseen surprises.
This book caught my interest from the beginning. There was a great mystery with lots of twists. It is part of a series but could stand alone. I have one gripe. At the end it seemed to me the resolution to a dangerous situation was pretty abrupt. I think the author should have fleshed it out more. Up until this scene I was a 4* rating. Knocking it down to 3 1/2 stars. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
This book caught my interest from the beginning. There was a great mystery with lots of twists. It is part of a series but could stand alone. I have one gripe. At the end it seemed to me the resolution to a dangerous situation was pretty abrupt. I think the author should have fleshed it out more. Up until this scene I was a 4* rating. Knocking it down to 3 1/2 stars. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
September 24, 2018
This was the first book I've ever read by this author, and I enjoyed it. I dislike that I didn't realize that it was #5 in the series, but by the time I realized it, I was too invested in the story to quit. I really liked the protagonist, Max Revere, and plan to read the other books in the series. Just a good mystery/thriller type book.
April 30, 2020
Idk, maybe im alone in this, but i thought this book was just okay. it was an intruiging story but it also was a bit confusing and hard to follow with all of the characters. I also thought the ending was a little too perfect. but what do I know?!
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