It was a slow start but then I was hooked. Did I realize when I asked for this arc that it was part of a series? No, I did not. Was I lost and confused? Not at all. That is what impressed me the most about this book. There was just enough explanation to each character that I didn’t feel like I was jumping late into a series. Our main character is eccentric and charming. Plus it has a school setting. I was hooked.

Maxwell's Reality is my introduction to M.J. Trow’s long-running Schoolmaster Murder Mysteries, and what a delightful way to discover a new series! Despite being the 22nd instalment, it stands firmly on its own, offering an entertaining and humorous mystery that doesn't require prior knowledge of the previous books.

Peter Maxwell, the eccentric and endearing teacher-turned-amateur sleuth, is a joy to follow. His sharp wit and unique perspective make him a standout character, and I warmed to him immediately. The school setting, infused with authenticity likely drawn from Trow’s own academic background, adds depth and realism to the story.

The mystery itself is well-crafted, with just the right balance of intrigue and humour. A reality TV crew descending on Leighford High sets the stage for plenty of amusing moments, but when murder strikes, the stakes quickly rise. With multiple twists and a cleverly woven plot, the story keeps you engaged and guessing throughout.

While I imagine reading the series in order would add extra layers of enjoyment, this book works perfectly well as a standalone. If you're looking for a mystery that blends clever storytelling, an authentic setting, and a dose of humour, Maxwell’s Reality is well worth a read.

Bit of a slow start for me personally but after about 25% i was hooked. I couldn't put it down. Great story. Great who done it. Would definitely recommend.

Very entertaining mystery with a likable protagonist and a high school full of colorful characters. The book was very humorous and very well writtd.

I’ve never read a book from this series before but I’m now going to read the rest.
Joyful, fun, exciting, an absolute delight.
The characters are simply brilliant, I didn’t guess the killer and I loved every second.
Fantastic.

This is apparently book 22 in a series - which explains why, when I started reading, I felt like I'd been dropped into the middle of a book... I could not shake that feeling, so went to my trusty GoodReads to look it up. It doesn't show this as a series book until you search the author's name, at which point I found out that there are nearly two dozen books preceding this one. I could not get into this one because I had no idea who these people were or anything about their universe. I kept feeling like I was missing something - and apparently that something is quite a lot since it encompasses some 5500+ pages across the preceding books... As a result I couldn't finish.

What a fun cozy mystery. A TV crew is covering a reality show when one of the crew members is stabbed to death. Then another crew member is found dead. There's enough twists and turns to keep me interested until the very end. Kudos to the writer for a great story.

Dry Wit..
The twenty second outing in the Schoolmaster Mystery series featuring the cynical Peter Maxwell, eccentric teacher and sometimes amateur, and very reluctant, sleuth. This time a television crew is about to descend upon the school, reality television no less, and Maxwell is somewhat horrified and preparing for the worst. Murder, however, was far from his mind. When the inevitable happens, Maxwell steps up. Another amusing and entertaining entry to this long running series with a cast of eccentric and eclectic characters and a frothy plot bursting with dry wit and outright humour.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
This is the 22nd book in the Peter Maxwell series and what a joy to read it was! Even though I could definitely have read others to fully understand everything, I still loved it. It's beautifully written and has a lot of sly humor, as well as causing me to snicker and smile quite a bit.

The mystery is absorbing and I didn't know who dunnit, which I also enjoyed.

I find cozy murder mysteries so much fun. The latest I read was Maxwells Reality. Pick this one up on publication day.