Maxwell's Grave

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.
Unearthing the past to unmask a killer.
A school trip to a Saxon burial ground is the highlight of Peter Maxwell’s year. But his class are less enthusiastic about watching a team of archaeologists dig up the suspected body of Alfred the Great.
Until the body turns out to be 1400 years newer, put there yesterday and belonging to the lead archaeologist on the dig, Dr David Radley.
Taking his failed history lesson personally, Maxwell starts to dig into Radley's life . . . and death.
But when another archaeologist is found swinging from a rope in her garage, it appears there’s more to this dig than studying an ancient burial ground. And Maxwell soon uncovers a sinister web of secrets and academic rivalries.
Then the investigating officer is found dead at the wheel of his car. And Maxwell’s girlfriend, DS Jacquie Carpenter, goes missing.
The killer will silence anyone who digs into their secrets.
Can Maxwell unearth the truth before it’s too late, or will the shadows of history claim another victim?
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 Grave:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another winner, Leighford is becoming one place you would least like to live along with Midsommer!’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A well-crafted story in the best M J Trow style.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Maxwell books never disappoint.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘M J Trow again delights with a whimsical. irreverent side swipe at the teaching profession . . . a comfortable, feel-good read.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fun mix of School, history and mystery.’
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!