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MAX CONQUERS THE COSMOS
by Mark Bouton
Five Star, December 2003
220 pages
$25.95
ISBN: 1594140723


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Many years ago an up-an-coming comedian by the name of Ray Romano was about to star on as-yet-untitled television situation comedy. Producers wanted to name the show EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. The actor was hesitant and reluctant about it thinking that critics will use the title to pan his show (ie I don't like Raymond). Well the gambit paid off and it is one of the most successful family shows in the United States. Now, could a book with a pretentious title be lucky as well?

Former FBI agent Mark Bouton introduces Max Austin, a private investigator living in Kansas who shares a love for his work as well as for astronomy, hence the title. MAX CONQUERS THE COSMOS, but does he conquer the reading public? Well, not this reviewer, but that should not deter you. Bouton knows his material. As a retired federal agent, he uses his experiences from his job to tell the story, but here it comes in a bit stilted and clumsy.

Max is hired by an attorney to investigate a burglary gone wrong where an entrepreneur was killed. That is the story that Vicki Jacobson gives the police, but there are some inconsistencies that need to be cleared up. The story the wife gives seems a bit too convenient, so he does his investigation and goes where it takes him. Max knows where he needs to go and he ruffles a few feathers, but it is not enough to capture one's interest.

It is hard to appreciate who the characters are, especially Max, when the only thing he does is show how smart he is using astronomy analogies in order to bring in some humor. Granted, it is the author's first novel, but he should have concentrated more on story exposition and fleshing out the characters in the plot. They seem to be cardboard. Also Max seems to have unlimited resources and very little explanation is given as to how he acquired them. The story is no big bang, but it is no black hole either. The book just needs to be grounded before trying to reach for the stars.

Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, March 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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