Maxwell's Match

Written by Sara Hughes

Narrated by Peter Wickham

History teacher Peter (Mad Max) Maxwell, a bit of a maverick, is sent on a short-term swap with another teacher at a nearby private school, Grimonds.

Here, amongst the gowns and debating societies, Mad Max stumbles on an unnatural death. It's the start of a complicated mystery that succeeds admirably in combining laughs with edge-of-the-seat excitement. One of the housemasters falls from the roof - Maxwell believes he was pushed. Then another is found floating in a lake. And what's with all the gay porn?

As Maxwell unravels the intricate web, suspicion falls on more and more of the eccentric cast of teachers, though some of the pupils also have motives.

Trow has a deft touch, and highlights some of the idiocies and fears of boarding school life, while never letting it get in the way of the pace of the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Soundings
• Release date: Feb 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781407962566

Sara Hughes

M.J. Trow was educated as a military historian at King’s College, London and is probably best known today for his true crime and crime fiction works. He has always been fascinated by Richard III and, following on from Richard III in the North, also by Pen and Sword, has hopefully finally scotched the rumour that Richard III killed the princes in the Tower. He divides his time between homes in the Isle of Wight and the Land of the Prince Bishops.