Bannerman's Ghosts

Rating:
Summary: tongue in cheek thriller
Review: Artemus Bourne owns much of the world including most of the elite politicians around the globe. What he fails to possess, he plans to control soon. However, used to having his way always, he becomes livid when he receives a special package sent from his Angola based VaalChem company that is supposed to contain vials to profitably spread the plague. Instead he opens the container to find three severed heads from key men working for him on this venture.

Bourne knows only one maniac who would defy him by sending such a deadly message, but important to the egotist is that no one gets away with interfering with Bourne's business. He retaliates by going after Martin Kessler through the abduction, torture, and murder of Elizabeth Stride, a legendary female assassin, known as the Black Angel that Bourne knows his enemy cherishes. Bourne's revenge comes to the attention of Westport, Connecticut's Paul Bannerman, a friend and associate of Elizabeth. Backed by his aging New England based commandos, Bannerman goes macho against the invincible Bourne and his paid assassins.

John Maxim spreads plenty of fun with BANNERMAN'S GHOSTS, an amusing tale that is at its best when the testosterone flows. Flashbacks to when Bannerman's squad was younger provide insight into the hero and his sidekicks, but also take away from this tongue in cheek thriller co-starring a modernized Goldfinger. The plot is clearly absurd and insane, but still a great time for those readers who do not take their story lines as graveyard serious.

Harriet Klausner

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Summary: Bannerman Returns!
Review: Bannerman has returned to the scene to battle a new villain.He is still located in the state of Conneticutt with his band of
professional killers who have settled down to become ordinary citizens. The villain in this story is named Artemus Bourne.He
is immensely wealthy and involved in plots and schemes all over the world. Martin Kessler makes his return.He ships the heads of three of Bourne's associates who are involved in bio weapons.The
villain wants to locate Elizabeth Stride as a means of bringing
Martin Kessler out in the open.He threatewns the town of Bridge-
port Conneticutt with attack by chemical weapons.Bannerman will
prove to be a worthy enemy for Bourne.This will keep you on the edge of your seat to see who wins. An action packed book that
you will enjoy.

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Summary: How Do I Love This Book? Let Me Count The Ways'
Review: Hey, if you're going to steal, at least steal from the old masters...they're not around to complain. That opening does, however, demand a list, so here it is:

(1) The characters - John R. Maxim's characters are as real as any in popular fiction. You finish one of his books with the feeling that you really know these people, or at least would like to know them. (I personally would love to meet 'Uncle' Billy McHugh, the man formerly known as Bannerman's Monster who has now evolved into a personable, chatty bartender who just happens to be capable of incredible mayhem!) In this book Maxim brings together his popular Bannerman people, adds in the cast of his book 'Haven,' and then seasons it with the main characters from 'Whistler's Angel.' It's like going to a great reunion, meeting up with people you really liked and catching up with their lives and activities. The updates on the lives of Bannerman's people (including homes, businesses, hobbies, spouses and children) are worth the price of the book by themselves!

(2) The plot - Maxim's books in general, and his Bannermans in particular, feature enough twists and changes of direction to hold your complete attention without lapsing into 'complication for its own sake.' He also frequently has a theme for a book. In 'The Shadowbox' it was counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and the eerily prescient 'Haven' (in 1997) presented a plot where Islamic terrorists tried to mount an attack on American soil with a dirty bomb. His plot here involves bio-terrorism in a way that can make you lose sleep. As usual, Maxim presents enough realistic detail that you know he did his homework long before he started writing.

(3) The timeline - While Maxim has introduced characters from one book into another previously, here he's even dovetailing his plots. We last saw Elizabeth Stride (from 'Haven') settling into a peaceful life on Hilton Head Island. 'Whistler's Angel' came to its dramatic (and noisy and smoky) conclusion on Hilton Head Island. So how could a pro like Stride have missed such brouhaha so close to home? She couldn't. The main portion of the 'Bannerman's Ghosts' story picks up literally on the day 'Whistler's Angel' ends!

(4) The humor - For a serious book with a serious plot about very serious people, Maxim sprinkles in a healthy dose of laughs along the way. It's impossible to quote anything here, since establishing a context would take way too long. Trust me on this: you'll have a lot of fun reading this book.

This list could go on and on, but here's the bottom line: 'Bannerman's Ghosts' is great reading.

Rating:
Summary: They're Baaack!
Review: The definition of "neighborhood watch" takes on an entirely new meaning in this latest Bannerman thriller by John R. Maxim IV. Long time fans and first time readers will be pleased to see favorite characters from his early novels and those from recent endeavors gather together to wreck havoc and just a touch of personal vengeance on the villains so aptly created by Maxim.

As with other Bannerman novels, GHOSTS is impossible to lay aside until the highly emotional final chapter and epilogue leaves you wishfully hoping Bannerman's Prophecy is already on its way to the publisher.

A recommendation for Hollywood: Beat a path to John Maxim's door for the Bannerman movie rights!