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Maxwell's Enigma: a gripping British cozy mystery with plenty of twists
Paperback
Series: Schoolmaster Murder Mysteries, Book 23
ISBN13: 9781805735298
Publisher: Joffe Books Ltd
Published: May 5 2026
Pages: 274
Weight: 0.60
Height: 0.62 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
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.
When Peter Maxwell's history club meeting sparks a deadly explosion, leaving a charred body behind, the police suspect Maxwell was the intended target.
Then a hit-and-run attempt leaves Maxwell in no doubt. Someone wants him dead - but why?
Now his neighbour, Mrs. B, is abducted - and Maxwell uncovers a chilling truth - someone is using his history lessons as a call to violence.
As the arsonist closes in on his next target, can Maxwell stop a deadly campaign of vengeance? Or will history repeat itself once more . . .
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 the Maxwell's Enigma
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'If you love cozy crime with eccentric detectives . . . and mysteries that feel both playful and dangerous, this is engaging, witty, and very readable.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A must read for thriller/mystery readers who enjoy the thrills but love a sharp, funny and lovely family at the heart of it.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another brilliant episode in this excellent series.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A wonderfully entertaining mystery novel that blends suspense with a refreshing sense of charm and wit.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A cozy, clever mystery with just enough bite, and a lead character who feels like an old friend you're always happy to see again.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This was a fantastic 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 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.
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