Peter Maxwell / Schoolmaster Murder Mysteries Books

An absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery with a touch of wry English humour. ‘ Cleverly conceived and amusingly executed .’ Sunday Times DON’T MISS THE BRAND-NEW BOOK IN THE SCHOOLMASTER MURDER MYSTERY SERIES. MAXWELL’S REALITY IS OUT NOW! __________________________ Meet Peter Maxwell: widower, film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. Peter Maxwell is perfectly content with his routine; by day, inspire students and, if lucky, annoy the headmaster and governing body. By evening, return home to explain the finer points of classic films to his long-suffering cat, Count Metternich. Until Leighford High student Jennifer Hyde is murdered. The victim’s body is discovered at a derelict house in Kissing Tree Lane in the quaint seaside town. She’d been strangled. The police have very few leads. And even less motivation. But for Maxwell, students are late for class. They are not murdered . And Jennifer was one of his students. But this is not a textbook case. If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Ian Moore, Rob Rinder, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Janice Hallett, or Simon Brett, prepare to be hooked by this character-driven thrilling mystery! PRAISE FOR MAXWELL’S HOUSE: ‘A good, hard to solve mystery.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘An excellent plot full of surprising twists and turns.’ Daily Post ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘History teacher, amateur sleuth, film buff and champion of fair play is a hero for all seasons . . . you feel yourself cheering for every victory he scores .’ Kathryn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Laugh out loud one liners and a murder mystery , what’s not to like?’ Lisa ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Love these books , well written, amusing as well as exciting.’ Jean ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I love the mixture of humour and mystery. The characters are wonderfully drawn . . . [Peter Maxwell] Mad Max is a brilliant creation .’ L.E. Davies ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Maxwell is a treasure . Have found a new hero in Peter Maxwell. A first-rate book introducing a new amateur detective / teacher. It's cleverly written with a believable set of characters and a plot that works!’ L.E.S ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Beautiful prose, well-developed characters and interesting but not too convoluted plots. Love his humour and gentle classical references.’ Valerie Brogan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Simply, the best! ’ J.B. Jobe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The main character was brilliant and wonderfully drawn. This series was actually a great creation. Thoroughly recommended ’ Miran Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, and solves crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead!

An absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery with a touch of wry English humour. ‘ Cleverly conceived and amusingly executed .’ Sunday Times ‘Maxwell’s Flame manages to be funny, tragic and puzzling.’ Val McDermid __________________________ Meet Peter Maxwell: widower, film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. Peter Maxwell didn't want to get mixed up in murder. But when a teacher is battered to death on his training course he can’t help but get involved. The killer knew exactly where the victim would be and when. But everyone on the course has an alibi. No one saw a thing. Then another teacher on the course is murdered in the same brutal way. There is an agenda to these killings. But the killer couldn't know that the second victim was an old flame of Peter Maxwell . . . And Maxwell has a habit of taking things like this personally. If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Ian Moore, Rob Rinder, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Janice Hallett, or Simon Brett, prepare to be hooked by this character-driven thrilling mystery! PRAISE FOR MAXWELL’S FLAME : ‘Trow’s skill at spinning mysteries a twist further than expected keeps him at the top of the form.’ Sunday Telegraph ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Another excellent who dunnit. ' Amazon Customer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Great book full of humour, Max is a treasure to read about.’ Austin Seven Girl ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A mixture of wry humour and tense thriller. A great read. ’ Mrs L E Davis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The stories are highly entertaining and the wit and compassion of Max makes him an endearing character. ’ Jane Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, while solving crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead!

Ask any teacher what they dread most and they will say, to a man – or woman: ‘school trips’. Unusually, Peter Maxwell is looking forward to this one, and with good reason – it is to his spiritual home, the Museum of the Moving Image. Sadly, the flu virus is no respecter of persons and so he must stay behind in Leighford, laid horribly low. When the coach comes back, minus two, the hunt is on, and soon a body is found. With a missing student still to find, as well as a murderer to bring to book, Maxwell shakes off his shivers and is on the case; and it isn’t just the flu that has him hot and bothered, as his relationship with DC Jacquie Carpenter starts to simmer. With characters that leap off the page, the Maxwell series has something for everyone. Anyone who went to school, teaches in one, or has happily escaped from the chalk face will love the series, with humour and sadness intermingled with a plot packed with twists and turns. “An engaging crime tale, featuring schoolmaster-detective ‘Mad Max’ Maxwell, who is in top form as he helps the police to investigate the disappearance of a fellow teacher. A character to savour.” Northern Echo

Peter Maxwell is delighted when an old college friend asks him to be the historical adviser on a film being made on the coast near Leighford. Dreams of becoming the next Spielberg soon founder when he discovers that the world of film is pretty much the same as the world of education – full of incompetents and backstabbers. Even so, it is out in the open air with no heavy lifting, so he sets to with his usual enthusiasm. Unfortunately, shooting becomes all too literal when the director takes a musket ball to the head. With one of his students implicated, another off on a jealous rant, and almost everyone out to get everyone else, Maxwell finds telling the truth from fiction to be more difficult than even he could have imagined. With characters that leap off the page, the Maxwell series has something for everyone. Anyone who went to school, teaches in one, or has happily escaped from the chalk face will love the series, with humour and sadness intermingled with a plot packed with twists and turns. ‘A lot of witty dialogue, especially wonderful for film buffs, accompanies an all-too-plausible plot with much adventure and more physical action than usual for the genre of mysteries.’ The Baldwin Ledger

Peter Maxwell can handle kids by the tens and dozens, but two nieces give him a little more pause. Thank goodness for Sylvia Matthews, who can always be relied upon to sweep up any waif, stray or relation into her welcoming arms. On a trip to a theme park, Maxwell’s ride on the log flume is a little more white-knuckle than he was expecting when a stray bullet whips past him and his charges before killing the accountant in the car behind. Who was that gunman on the grassy knoll? Deirdre Lessing has Maxwell foisted on her for a charity meeting and is none too happy – it seems unlikely, but could she have put a hit out, enraged beyond sanity at last by his failure to conform to her wishes? Unlikely indeed, but when the first victim is followed by more, and then Maxwell’s niece Tiffany disappears, it is a case of no more Mr Nice Guy – Mad Max is on the warpath. With Jacquie Carpenter by his side, and Henry Hall an exasperated step behind, Maxwell gets to the bottom of the case and finds that evil and greed can lurk in very unexpected places. ‘The most sardonic wit in current crime fiction... one reads Trow for the brilliance of his writing.’ Birmingham Post

Maxwell’s Millennium is not quite like other people’s – for a start, it is a year later. After much quibbling with the maths department, everyone calls it an honourable draw and he celebrates as only he can: with his cat, his model soldiers, and his Southern Comfort. A knock on the door could be Jacquie Carpenter, released from night shift earlier than expected, but instead of a warm girl Maxwell opens his door to find a very cold old lady, dead, and naked to the frosty sky. As a historian, Maxwell always keeps an open mind, but it needs to be even more open than usual as he faces satanic abuse allegations, rituals, and the classic witch’s cottage in the woods. The Devil is loose in Leighford – or at least, someone is trying to make it look as though he is. The answer, though more prosaic, is still enough to chill Maxwell’s spine. ‘Trow’s teacher with a taste for history and Southern Comfort cries out for TV treatment. Trow’s touch has never been surer. Refreshing as ever, the characters simply leap off the page.’ Yorkshire Evening Post

Unbelievable as it seems to all the Old Boys, Maxwell’s school is about to be turned into a conference centre – Halliards is to be no more. Some of his schoolfellows can’t let the moment pass and so they gather together, the Year of Mind Your Own Business to say goodbye for ever. But some of the goodbyes are more permanent than others, particularly when one of their number is found hanging from the bell rope in the abandoned buildings. The years since A-Levels have gathered a lot of baggage for them all and wives, lovers, secret lives are all exposed to the bright light of the police when the investigation gets underway. Luvvie actors, cult members, barristers and teachers they all may be, but Old Hallardians never die... except that they do, one by one, until Maxwell is fighting for his life. Can even Jacquie save him this time? ‘Maxwell... is a splendidly original spin on that old English favourite, the amateur detective.’ Sunday Mercury

James ‘Legs’ Diamond has come up with another off-the-wall idea, and Peter Maxwell is in his sights. Diamond needs someone to take part in an exchange with a teacher from the private sector, and although Maxwell went to just such a school, he is not keen to take part in the experiment. For once, however, his wiles fail him, and he finds himself ensconced under the eaves in a guest room at Grimond’s school in the next county. It is only a day or so before tragedy strikes, as a teacher from the same house – Tennyson – plunges from the roof, literally above Maxwell’s head. Maxwell is plunged into an atmosphere of distrust and secrecy, where the pupils seem to hold the key. Henry Hall is full of secrets too – why are he and Jacquie on secondment, and what is it that they’re not telling? Has Maxwell met his match on the playing fields of Grimond’s? ‘It’s a good, hard to solve mystery.’ The Observer

There comes a time in every teacher’s life when he must face his Nemesis -- the four-yearly Ofsted Inspection. The immediate bête noire of Head of Sixth Form, Peter Maxwell, is the attractive and vivacious Sally Meninger. Out on the town one night to relieve the tension, Maxwell finds her in an intimate situation with her fellow Inspector, Alan Whiting. When Whiting is found stabbed to death at the school, Maxwell cannot help but notice that Sally is not as distraught as might be expected. He begins to understand why she appears unmoved when he catches Sally in flagrante with his Headteacher, 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.

Peter `Mad Max' Maxwell is an educational dinosaur. He has been teaching history since Jane Marple was a twinkle in Margaret Rutherford's eye. With his cat, Count Metternich, for company, and the love of his life DC Jacquie Carpenter, as the woman in the case, Maxwell has a habit of stumbling on murder. But whether you're a kid about to split an infinitive or a murderer trying to hide a corpse... beware of `Mad Max' Maxwell; he'll get you in the end.

Book by Trow, M. J.

With girlfriend DS Jacquie Carpenter back at work and little baby Nolan rapidly growing into a feisty toddler, Peter 'Mad Max' Maxwell, Head of Sixth Form at Leighford High, decides to hire an au pair. The exotic Juanita Reyes hails from the sun-drenched isle of Menorca, and whilst the good old British weather can't hold a candle to the Menorcan sun, Juanita doesn't appear to mind a bit. She seems perfectly happy in the sleepy little seaside town, doting on baby Nolan and working hard to improve her English. Then one afternoon Max returns home to find Nolan gurgling happily in his cot, but sees no sign of his au pair; the lovely Juanita has disappeared into thin air. Meanwhile, two ramblers are surprised and more than a little disturbed when Patches the border Collie digs up an arm, which presumably belongs to a body, on Dead Man's Point - the lonely cliff top rising high over the sea. Mad Max is no stranger to murder inquiries and, as always when violent death's in the vicinity, his nose starts a-twitching, just itching to be poked into all the places it shouldn't. And, much to DCI Henry Hall's annoyance, the past has proved more than once that Max has a talent for sniffing out killers. But with a missing au pair to search for, and a creepy gardener, troublesome teenagers and reports of a randy rambler to investigate - not to mention a young baby to look after - has Max taken on more than he can handle this time?

An absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery with a touch of wry English humour. ‘Cleverly conceived and amusingly executed.’ The Sunday Times Meet Peter Maxwell: widower, film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. Peter Maxwell is looking for any excuse to leave his tedious lesson planning. An accidental photograph of a murder is just the ticket. The school photographer has inadvertently captured the killing of homeless Lara Kent on Leighford beach. Then another body is discovered brutally stabbed in the local park. The dead man was one of Maxwell’s former students. The victims had no connection to each other. The police don’t know where to start. But when the killer’s attention turns to Leighford High it sets off a shocking chain of events leading directly to Maxwell himself. The killer has made it personal. And now Maxwell is going to get results. If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Ian Moore, Rob Rinder, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Janice Hallett, M.C. Beaton or Simon Brett, prepare to be hooked by this character-driven thrilling mystery! PRAISE FOR MAXWELL’S CHAIN : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Brilliant story . . . what an amazing and loveable character .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ I love these books .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wonderfully funny .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Best one yet .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Superb crime character with erudite comedy .’ Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, and solves crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead!

With the beginning of a new school year under way, Peter 'Mad Max' Maxwell prepares to get stuck into his curricular routine and is looking forward to his forthcoming wedding to fiancée DS Jacquie Carpenter. The immediate task in hand for senior staff members is the hiring of a new Assistant Head teacher, for which the school caterers have prepared a private buffet. But during the lunch meeting disaster strikes, as guests and staff alike become seriously ill in a matter of minutes. After being reluctantly thrust into the role of Acting Headmaster, Maxwell works in conjunction with the police, including his lovely Jacquie, to try to unravel the mystery. But with certain fingers pointing at him, and Jacquie worried that the attack has infiltrated his life in a way that could soon get out of control, is Maxwell in more danger than he thinks?

Meet Peter Maxwell: widower, film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. Peter Maxwell can’t believe his eyes when a body is discovered during a staff team-building exercise. Maxwell had already decided paintballing was far too violent for a man of his age, even in the interests of building team relations. But he hadn’t reckoned on murder. The victim’s neck has been snapped. The police soon discover the dead man was an escaped convict — serving a prison term for computer hacking. Then Maxwell’s students start receiving disturbing texts. But the only person with enough knowledge to hack into their phones was the dead man. In order to solve this puzzle, Maxwell must take on his nemesis: modern technology! But he can’t even turn on a computer. Can Maxwell catch a digitally savvy killer? Or is it time to put his sleuthing skills to rest? Maxwell's Retirement is the 15th book in M.J. Trow's hugely popular and bestselling series — page-turning cozy murder mysteries, full of humour and delightful characters. For fans of Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Ian Moore, Rob Rinder, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Janice Hallett, M.C. Beaton and Simon Brett. Praise for Maxwell’s Retirement : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Made me laugh out loud. M.J. Trow knows how to tell a good yarn and keep me guessing to the end .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Brilliant read .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ If you haven't met 'Mad Max' you have missed a treat .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ The characters are all so well drawn and true to life — each one a little caricature of the types one meets in education all the time.’ Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, and solves crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead!

Having had his retirement snatched from him by malfunctioning technology, Peter ‘Mad Max’ Maxwell finds himself facing yet another year at Leighford High School. Jacquie’s hopes of a dedicated house husband are dashed and she is annoyed further when a family holiday becomes an impromptu school trip, families welcome. Less than a week into their trip to the Isle of Wight the situation takes another turn for the worse when the wife of Tom Medlicott, the new Head of Art, goes missing, forcing Jacquie to play the role of woman policeman. Back in Hampshire, when Medlicott himself is found dead at the bottom of the stairs Henry Hall is also drawn into the investigation, but with the man’s entire family lying at the bottom of the morgue, his suspect list is non-existent. Then Maxwell stumbles by accident on the linchpin to the whole case. He knows the reason, all he has to find is the murderer. And to find him – or her – he will have to cross more than the Solent. With the answer lying in a missing piece of paper, divorces and deceit, will Maxwell survive to apply for retirement again?

An absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery with a touch of wry English humour. ‘Cleverly conceived and amusingly executed.’ The Sunday Times Meet Peter Maxwell: film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. Christmas is the time for overcooked turkey and excessive decorations. Not murder! But murder’s certainly on the Christmas cards for Peter Maxwell when a woman plummets from a car park roof. That same day a secretary enters her boss’s office and finds him disembowelled at his desk. Nothing appears to link the victims. But could there be a connection with the arrival of the new History teacher? He seems to know a suspicious amount about the residents of Leighford and their shady pasts. Can Maxwell solve the mystery before this ghost of Christmas past strikes again? Please note: This was previously published as Maxwell’s Crossing If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Richard Coles, Fiona Leitch, Mary Grand, Simon Brett, Janice Hallett, M.C. Beaton or Agatha Christie, prepare to be hooked by this character-driven thrilling mystery! Praise for Maxwell’s Christmas: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ P lenty of dark humour , couldn't put it down!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ One of the best Maxwell stories.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ F ull of little twists and turns .’ Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, and solves crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead!

“I loved the book. Funny and a very relaxing read.” Archana Aggarwal - Educator MAXWELL’S BACK, AS MURDER COMES TO SLEEPY LEIGHFORD. Are the two things connected? Well, yes and no. Teenage girls are being picked up on the seafront and two of them are found dead. DI Jacquie Carpenter-Maxwell has barely set foot on her old patch before she is up to her jet-lagged neck in somebody else’s tragedy. The prime suspect is Bernard Ryan, Deputy Head at Leighford High, and Mad Max is soon riding to the rescue on White Surrey. But can he pedal fast enough before another girl meets the wrong man, at the wrong time, in the wrong place? The eighteenth in the Peter Maxwell series, after the family sabbatical in LA, shows that the old sleuthing skills are still there with a vengeance and that the Maxwells are one of the most formidable crime-fighting duos in modern crime fiction. Praise for Lestrade and the Kiss of Horus: ‘A wildly entertaining narrative that takes in such diverse historical events as riots in Cairo and, most aptly, Bolton Wanderers’ Cup Final appearance at Wembley. M J Trow proves emphatically that crime and comedy can mix.’ Val McDermid

“What a great book… I highly recommend it.” Netgalley The end of civilization, as Peter Maxwell knows it, is just around the corner. It comes in the form of Fiona Braymarr, the new superhead of Leighford Academy. She is a new broom, sweeping away the cobwebs of educational mediocrity and she sweeps good people along the way. And the odd thing about her? She has no past. And within days of her arrival, two local women have no future; one is found dead in a car showroom, the other is stabbed at the foot of her own stairs. Two murders so closely linked in time and space must surely be connected. Maxwell’s wife, DI Jacquie Carpenter-Maxwell, thinks so. So does her boss, DCI Henry Hall. And Maxwell? Well, it’s hard to keep a good amateur sleuth down, especially when the kids of the deceased attend Leighford Academy. So he takes it all personally and puts his life on the line in the process. He’s got a murderer to catch and a school to save. Whatever will he find to do after lunch?

An absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery with a touch of wry English humour. ‘Cleverly conceived and amusingly executed.’ The Sunday Times Meet Peter Maxwell: film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. Christmas is the time for overcooked turkey and excessive decorations. Not murder! But murder’s certainly on the Christmas cards for Peter Maxwell when a woman plummets from a car park roof. That same day a secretary enters her boss’s office and finds him disembowelled at his desk. Nothing appears to link the victims. But could there be a connection with the arrival of the new History teacher? He seems to know a suspicious amount about the residents of Leighford and their shady pasts. Can Maxwell solve the mystery before this ghost of Christmas past strikes again? Please note: This was previously published as Maxwell’s Crossing If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Richard Coles, Fiona Leitch, Mary Grand, Simon Brett, Janice Hallett, M.C. Beaton or Agatha Christie, prepare to be hooked by this character-driven thrilling mystery! Praise for Maxwell’s Christmas: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ P lenty of dark humour , couldn't put it down!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ One of the best Maxwell stories.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ F ull of little twists and turns .’ Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, and solves crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead!

An absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery with a touch of wry English humour. ‘Cleverly conceived and amusingly executed.’ The Sunday Times Meet Peter Maxwell: film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. Peter Maxwell’s quiet summer break at historic Haledown House takes a sinister turn when it becomes the scene of grisly murder. Snooty aristocrat Colonel Roddy Hale-ffinch is found draped in a velvet smoking jacket, soaked in blood. His throat has been slashed, and the scene grotesquely staged to look like an animal attack. Before Maxwell can make sense of the crime, another guest is found dead, having swallowed a lethal dose of rat poison. As the body count rises Maxwell realises that the killer will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried. Can he uncover the truth before summer’s end — or will he become the next victim? If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Richard Coles, Fiona Leitch, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Simon Brett, Janice Hallett, M.C. Beaton or Agatha Christie, prepare to be hooked by this character-driven thrilling mystery! Praise for Maxwell’s Summer : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent read, great plot and a brilliantly engaging . . . Best Maxwell book yet .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ O utstanding crime fiction .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Maxwell at his best .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ O ne of the best series around .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘First class romp in every sense of the word but as always M J Trow has blended wry humour with mystery and suspense in spades .’ Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, and solves crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead!

An absolutely gripping cozy murder mystery with a touch of wry English humour. ‘Cleverly conceived and amusingly executed.’ The Sunday Times Meet Peter Maxwell: film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. Peter Maxwell hates modern technology. He prefers a textbook, a red pen and a classroom. But teaching takes a deadly turn when an online zoom lesson reveals a gruesome double murder. Student Marcus Ancaster’s parents have been bludgeoned to death in their bedroom. The only clue is the sight of a shadowy figure creeping silently away. But with everyone confined indoors, there are no suspects. How could a killer enter the Ancasters’ home unnoticed? Then another body is found in the garden shed — and the case takes a chilling twist. With the streets eerily silent and time running out, Maxwell must uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Richard Coles, Fiona Leitch, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Simon Brett, Janice Hallett, M.C. Beaton or Agatha Christie, prepare to be hooked by this character-driven thrilling mystery! Praise for Maxwell’s Zoom : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Love this book .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What can I say, another brilliant book by M J Trow. Read in one sitting.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Well written, humorous, sad in places. Brilliant read .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Consistently some of the best books I have ever read .’ Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, and solves crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead!

An unputdownable cozy mystery with a touch of wry English humour. ‘ Cleverly conceived and amusingly executed .’ The Sunday Times Meet Peter Maxwell: film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth. A reality TV crew descends on Leighford High . . . and Head of Sixth Form Peter Maxwell braces for disaster — but not murder. The cameras pry into every corner of the school, exposing secrets better left buried. But when a member of the TV crew is found stabbed to death in the headteacher’s office, it’s clear the real drama has only just begun. Then a second crew member is found sprawled in Maxwell’s office. Murdered with the same knife. As Maxwell unravels the truth he finds himself facing a chilling reality: the murderer is still watching, still waiting, and ready to kill again. If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, the Reverend Richard Coles, Fiona Leitch, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Simon Brett, Janice Hallett, M.C. Beaton or Agatha Christie, prepare to be hooked by this delightful character-driven mystery! Praise for Maxwell’s Reality : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Multiple twists and a cleverly woven plot , the story keeps you engaged and guessing throughout.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An absolute delight. The characters are simply brilliant , I didn’t guess the killer and I loved every second .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a fun cozy mystery .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ A cast of eccentric and eclectic characters and a frothy plot bursting with dry wit and outright humour .’ Meet Peter Maxwell Peter Maxwell is a history teacher at Leighford High School. He’s loved by his students and known as ‘Mad Max’ to his friends because of his love of quoting movies. His eccentricities make him a well-known figure in the small seaside town, cycling everywhere on his bike called White Surrey — after Richard III’s horse. When not teaching history, he is building a diorama of the Charge of the Light Brigade in his attic and talking to his cat, Count Metternich, his sounding board and boss, and solving crimes the police are unable to crack. The Setting Leighford is a small seaside town on the South Coast. Its population trebles in the summer as tourists flock to holiday there. Unfortunately for Peter Maxwell some of these characters will end up dead.