This is a Rapid Reads book, a relatively new format that is described as approximately 1/3 the length of a novel. The material deals with adult themes (sex and murder are common). Publishers intend Rapid Reeds books for ESL students, adults who struggle with literacy, and other readers who want a book they can finish in a single day.

A Murder for Max gets off to a slow start as Reynolds establishes Max's background and the Port Ainslie milieu (i.e., the small, rural Canadian that is the setting for the story). The introduction was mildly interesting but also mildly tedious. A more skilled writer would have been able to integrate that information into the story while moving the plot forward.

The story revolves around the murder of a universally disliked town troublemaker and the efforts of Police Chief Maxine Benson to solve the crime. Max is aided by a single constable (Henry) and Margie Burns, whose job is to answer the phone, keep the books, and lock prisoners in the jail cells. Margie is more competent than the constable. Hired by a five (all women) to four (all men) vote of the town council, Max competence is doubted and she is constantly aware of the need to prove herself.

The story is told from an omniscient point of view and Reynolds relies primarily on exposition to move the plot forward. Long passages occur with little dialogue. Stronger editing would have improved the story. Key details are repeated more than once in the space of a few pages and far too much attention is given to Max's uninteresting ruminations regarding her name.

Once the crime occurs Max quickly rounds up the small group of key suspects, interviews each, and arrives at a logical conclusion regarding the culprit.

This is the first Rapid Reads novel I have read and despite the obvious limitations of the format I think the ability to finish in a single evening is appealing. ( )

This is a quick read whodunit murder mystery that introduces a new police procedural series. It's a novella that can be read in an hour or so. Readers meet Chief of Police Maxine ("Max") Benson but learn little about her. She is a female police chief in "cottage country" and deals with the petty crimes of a small town, e.g. dogs running loose. Major Crimes need to be referred to the provincial police, but in this story she manages to solve a murder in a day. It's too early to tell whether this series will have legs; there are several other series which are similar -- small town police procedurals with female protagonists.
Other books by this author have had more grit in them while this looks more cozy.
The short excerpt from the first full length book in the series included with this novella shows some promise. ( )

This is a Rapid Read book. I guess that in the way back days this would be called a short story. Even as a quick read John Lawrence Reynolds did a good job with the plot and the characters involved. I do wish there was more time to enhance the members of the community for they sounded like they could have interesting back stories. But on to the plot a new sheriff not sure of herself caught up in a rare murder that was not hers to solve but she does in a very solid revile. I enjoyed this book and hope you do also ( )

Maxine( Max) Benson, Chief of police in the small town of Port Ainslie in Canada has a murder to solve. It's the first one this small community has experienced. She has a number of suspects to choose from. Will she be able to solve the crime before the Ontario Provincial Police are called in to do so? This was a fast read( 110) pages and the first in a series. I'd read the second one when it comes out.. ( )

A nice small town police procedural. The author gives you all the facts. You just have to figure it out. An easy afternoon read. Enjoyed it. ( )