Book Review: Max Conquers the Cosmos

Reviewed By: Carol - SLC - RAM

Max Conquers the Cosmos     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Mark Bouton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Dogs
Series: Max Austin # 1
Five Star, December 2003, 206 pages, $25.95 (hc)

Mark Bouton, ex-FBI agent involved in the investigation into the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City, has written an excellent mystery novel which debuts ex-FBI-agent-turned- private-investigator-and-star-gazer Max Austin. When a socialite's wealthy contractor husband is found dead in his backyard, shot with his own gun, Max is hired by the defense attorney to look for evidence proving her innocence, a task much easier said than done and which takes Max from coast to coast, uncovering some rather unsettling information in the process and making Max a target.

After reading so many mysteries featuring protagonists with nearly super-human powers, Max Austin is like a breath of fresh air. He comes across as a real person, with real faults, needs, feelings, and limitations. He even occasionally gets his ass kicked. The part in the book where his beloved German shepherd, Binga, is poisoned is full of raw emotion and near hysteria that comes off as genuine. It makes Max Austin seem all the more like a real person and not just a character in a book. I was very impressed.

This book is a very quick read, being nearly impossible to put done once started. There is plenty of action for those who enjoy that sort of thing, and lots of red herrings to keep one guessing. I am now a genuine Max Austin fan and can hardly wait for the second installment in this excellent new series.

Carol - SLC - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carol - SLC - RAM