Maxwell's Revenge

Leighford High is looking to replace the late Dierdre Lessing, the Assistant Headmistress who had recently been murdered, but no one has great enthusiasm for the three candidates. In the meantime, Peter “Mad Max” Maxwell and Jacquie are finally planning to marry, if only they can avoid the excess enthusiasm of Jacquie’s Mum. So he is not paying much attention to the candidates - that is, until a poisoning takes place at the school’s reception for the candidates, resulting in numerous hospitalizations and even a death. And that is only the beginning of what appears to be a mad, random poisoner, who also seems to be targeting Max and his family…. This, the 14th book in the Schoolmaster Murder series, delves equally into the show more murder mystery and the personal lives of the main characters, which I very much enjoyed. I guessed the solution to the mystery fairly early on, which is unusual for me with this particular series, but the way that the characters came to the correct resolution was entertaining. I don’t know that the reader must have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one, although of course the experience is always richer for doing so; this might be a good entry point to this clever series. Recommended. show less