Rating: 
Summary: A slow paced, zigzagging going nowhere story
Review: I've tried to pick this book up to continue my frustrated reading over 50 times, but again and again, I have to put it down since it's such a slow moving, going nowhere book. After the final try, I tore it up in half and threw it to the recycle bin for Tuesday's pick up. Sorry, folks, life is short, can't and won't waste any of it again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: I'd love to meet Elizabeth (I think...)
Review: It's been a while since I ran into any characters as fascinating as Maxim's Elizabeth Stride and Martin Kessler. Yeah, they're both people with incredibly violent pasts, but it's so refreshing to see the *other* side of a character. You know, the one that works in her garden or worries (NOT!) about how he looks in shorts. The one who tries, but just can't give up on that lost love.The plot line's a little hammy, perhaps, but Maxim shows equal disdain for the fundamentalists and manipulators in both the Islamic and Jewish camps (I wanna see how he likes Christian fundamentalists...). I like it that he can see the beautiful parts of both religions and separate them from the ugliness that religious intolerance seems to beget. He's put together a nifty little study of all the things that can go wrong in a harebrained -- or well-planned -- scheme. Nobody in _Haven_ has a tidy wrapup for a problem a la Bond or Schwartzenegger; the characters just muddle through as best they can. And their best is pretty darned good! Best of all, though, are the characters. They're real, and their motivations (especially Elizabeth's) are well-documented. The only thing that's maybe a little weak is their descriptions, but perhaps that's for the best -- that way I can never be sure if Elizabeth or Martin is sneaking up behind me! I'm headed out to pick up other Maxim books as soon as I get the chance.
Rating:
Summary: I'd love to meet Elizabeth (I think...)
Review: It's been a while since I ran into any characters as fascinating as Maxim's Elizabeth Stride and Martin Kessler. Yeah, they're both people with incredibly violent pasts, but it's so refreshing to see the *other* side of a character. You know, the one that works in her garden or worries (NOT!) about how he looks in shorts. The one who tries, but just can't give up on that lost love. The plot line's a little hammy, perhaps, but Maxim shows equal disdain for the fundamentalists and manipulators in both the Islamic and Jewish camps (I wanna see how he likes Christian fundamentalists...). I like it that he can see the beautiful parts of both religions and separate them from the ugliness that religious intolerance seems to beget. He's put together a nifty little study of all the things that can go wrong in a harebrained -- or well-planned -- scheme. Nobody in _Haven_ has a tidy wrapup for a problem a la Bond or Schwartzenegger; the characters just muddle through as best they can. And their best is pretty darned good! Best of all, though, are the characters. They're real, and their motivations (especially Elizabeth's) are well-documented. The only thing that's maybe a little weak is their descriptions, but perhaps that's for the best -- that way I can never be sure if Elizabeth or Martin is sneaking up behind me! I'm headed out to pick up other Maxim books as soon as I get the chance.
Rating: 
Summary: A unique, entertaining, and frustrating book
Review: It's hard to know what to say about John R. Maxim's novel Haven. It manages to be both tremendously entertaining and frustrating at the same time. The books defies easy classification. The central story is more a love story than a thriller but the lovers are both assassins, though with different motivations. The beginning scenes of the novel are harsh, ugly and difficult to take. The book's finale is overlong and also hard to take because, at least for this reader, what happens is not pleasing. But in between there is a complex story, featuring violence, humor, pathos, and a variety of interesting characters. There is also a lot of great dialogue, although the imagined dialogues the lead characters have with one another tend to be a bit overdone. I haven't read anything else by Maxim, but after this I plan to. Even though this was not a totally satisfying reading experience it was quite entertaining and anyone who can imagine somthing this unlikely and bring it off as well as he does, deserves an audience.
Rating:
Summary: A unique, entertaining, and frustrating book
Review: It's hard to know what to say about John R. Maxim's novel Haven. It manages to be both tremendously entertaining and frustrating at the same time. The books defies easy classification. The central story is more a love story than a thriller but the lovers are both assassins, though with different motivations. The beginning scenes of the novel are harsh, ugly and difficult to take. The book's finale is overlong and also hard to take because, at least for this reader, what happens is not pleasing. But in between there is a complex story, featuring violence, humor, pathos, and a variety of interesting characters. There is also a lot of great dialogue, although the imagined dialogues the lead characters have with one another tend to be a bit overdone. I haven't read anything else by Maxim, but after this I plan to. Even though this was not a totally satisfying reading experience it was quite entertaining and anyone who can imagine somthing this unlikely and bring it off as well as he does, deserves an audience.
Rating:
Summary: A great novel but could be more concentrated
Review: J.R.M. is a great writer who created the tasty "Bannerman Series"(although they would be outdated if you fall in love his recent works and would like to trace back. "Haven", another wonderful story that would keep you read along. The only drawback is that lots of the chapters, especially the earlier ones, are unnecessarily long, slow and overly detailed; the "gold pond syndrome", a sign that even most great writers could not avoid when time flies. But, he indeed portrayed the miserable and pathetic situation of all the modern day Muslim women have been suffering and are facing now. Anyway, this book might turn Hilton Head island into another would-be haven pested with retired agents and assassins in retreat, just like Maxim turned his formerly resided city into a vest of vipers, a mirage doomed to arise whereever he relocated.
Rating:
Summary: Adventure fest!
Review: John Maxim is the writer who will undoubtedly be hailed as the next titan of Spy/Adventure stories. After reading "Haven" I rushed out to get all his other books, - some used, because they were out of print -. Loved the "Bannerman" character series, which now could actually do with an updated continuation, or even a prequel to the adventures of Bannerman's mother. Great stories! Riveting dialog! Can't wait for his next book!
Rating:
Summary: Read in conjunction with 'Bannerman's Ghosts'
Review: John R. Maxim is excellent, as usual. This is a side story about Elizabeth Stride and Max Kessler, both infamous assassins in their heydays. The plot is excellent but the ending may not be to the liking of everyone. Thankfully, John R. Maxim's latest, 'Bannerman's Ghosts', ties everything together even further and provides the happy ending, which I felt these two extraordinary people deserved.
Rating:
Summary: Read in conjunction with 'Bannerman's Ghosts'
Review: John R. Maxim is excellent, as usual. This is a side story about Elizabeth Stride and Max Kessler, both infamous assassins in their heydays. The plot is excellent but the ending may not be to the liking of everyone. Thankfully, John R. Maxim's latest, 'Bannerman's Ghosts', ties everything together even further and provides the happy ending, which I felt these two extraordinary people deserved.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT READ
Review: This is a very well written book, grabs you from the first page. Mr. Maxim's style is intense & heavily concentrated on detail so you will have to give it your full attention. My only complaint is, I felt a little cheated by the ending. (I won't give it away) Grab it you won't be disappointed.
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