Five Star First Edition Mystery - Max Conquers The Cosmos - Hardcover

Mark Bouton

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1594140723 ISBN 13: 9781594140723

Publisher: Five Star, 2003

Synopsis

Former F.B.I. agent Mark Bouton has used his years of experience chasing real-life criminals in writing Max Conquers the Cosmos. Max Austin, an ex-F.B.I. agent-turned-private investigator, is hired by an attorney whose client is accused of killing her rich husband. Vickie Jacobsen says a prowler shot her husband, Morrie, beside their pool with Morrie's own gun, but Max discovers enough clues to be suspicious. So he delves into business records, associates, and the autopsy report to determine the true story. The further Max goes, the more he finds out . . . and the more people start dying. Between crooked cops, gunplay, and stabbings, Max must move fast to prevent more sudden deaths . . . including his own.

Mark Bouton lives in Carbondale, Kansas.

About this title

From Booklist:

For his first mystery, Bouton treads on familiar territory. A former FBI agent who lives in Kansas and stargazes, Bouton has created a protagonist named Max Austin--a former FBI agent who lives in Kansas and constantly thinks about the cosmos. Austin, a private investigator, is called in by an attorney whose client is accused of murdering her husband. From the beginning, the police consider Vickie Jacobsen, the gorgeous, much younger, and obviously not grief-stricken spouse of wealthy contractor Morrie Jacobsen, a prime suspect in her husband's shooting. However, her story of a prowler begins to take on more credence as Austin investigates. He also uncovers a host of other possible motives hiding behind Morrie's questionable business dealings. Bouton's frequent use of astronomy analogies grows tiresome but not so much as to keep us from liking Austin, who has the makings of an appealing series hero. Despite a somewhat predictable showdown at the end of the story, Bouton keeps the suspense level high throughout the tale. An uneven but definitely promising debut. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review:

"I really enjoyed getting to know Max Austin and easily found myself totally engrossed in his investigation. Max Conquers The Cosmos is well worth your time. "
-- Murder and Mayhem (Murder and Mayhem )

"2004 J. Donald Coffin Memorial Award received at the Centennial Celebration Conference of the Kansas Author?s Club."
-- (November 2004)

About this edition

• Publisher: Five Star
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1594140723
• ISBN 13: 9781594140723
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 207