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The Trials of Max Q
When the law ends, the pursuit of justice begins!
The Trials of Max Q
When the law ends, the pursuit of justice begins!
Born into a legal dynasty, Jack Lawson was a natural who was making a name for himself as one of Manhattan's top young lawyers. But when his world came crashing down, Jack left the big city and his family's powerful firm, to seek solace in a small village of Cooperstown, New York. There, he re-discovered his love of the law.
But the peaceful village is shattered when a body is found on the estate of the county's most famous resident, and American hero, Drew Anderson. A man considered to be so perfect that he is nicknamed Max Q after the benchmark for systems perfection during a space launch. And it isn't just anybody who is found dead—the victim is widely considered to be one of the world's most infamous women.
When Anderson is arrested for the murder, Jack ends up with the case that everyone wants to “go away,” and some are willing to go to the deadly lengths to make sure it does. Against all odds, Jack and his partner, Jessica Shepherdson, must risk their reputations, their careers, and eventually their lives, in an explosive race for the truth.
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The Trials of Max Q is a mystery/thriller that follows Jack Lawson, a man trying to find solace, who finds that he must go through hell to find any peace. It's told from a first-person point of view. While I know many authors think first-person is too limiting, it is my favorite writing style, and really allows the ability to get within the character.
I'm asked a lot if it's similar to Painless. In some ways yes, in some ways, no. It has a similar arc that begins with a character-driven story that builds to a running thriller in the last third. They both mix a bunch of different genres - in the case of Trials of Max Q, it adds a "legal thriller" element - perhaps finding my inner-John Grisham, who I used to read obsessively back in the day. Besides the 1st-person pov, I guess biggest difference would have to be the topic - Painless follows a "unique" child who is trying to avoid kidnapping, while The Trials of Max Q centers on the murder of a adult film star, which leads to the arrest of a squeaky-clean Mr. Perfect type - the pursuit of perfection a big theme throughout the book. Max Q also contains more of a traditional "who done it" aspect that hopefully will keep you guessing to the very end.
One of the fun parts of the book is having the main setting be Cooperstown, New York - a place that was very special to me from visiting it as a kid. It was great to get to go back up with my siblings and spend time there "researching." In other words, spending a lot of time in the local saloons. As many people know, Cooperstown is the home of Baseball Hall of Fame, which plays a big role in the story, and there is even one character who is a Babe Ruth impersonator. What I think makes it a great setting, is I think murder works best in a pristine place (to write, not to commit) where such an act would be the last thing anyone would expect. And the peaceful village on Otsego Lake certainly fits that bill.
It was fun to write - hope you enjoy reading it!
Next UP: The Truant Officer
I'm asked a lot if it's similar to Painless. In some ways yes, in some ways, no. It has a similar arc that begins with a character-driven story that builds to a running thriller in the last third. They both mix a bunch of different genres - in the case of Trials of Max Q, it adds a "legal thriller" element - perhaps finding my inner-John Grisham, who I used to read obsessively back in the day. Besides the 1st-person pov, I guess biggest difference would have to be the topic - Painless follows a "unique" child who is trying to avoid kidnapping, while The Trials of Max Q centers on the murder of a adult film star, which leads to the arrest of a squeaky-clean Mr. Perfect type - the pursuit of perfection a big theme throughout the book. Max Q also contains more of a traditional "who done it" aspect that hopefully will keep you guessing to the very end.
One of the fun parts of the book is having the main setting be Cooperstown, New York - a place that was very special to me from visiting it as a kid. It was great to get to go back up with my siblings and spend time there "researching." In other words, spending a lot of time in the local saloons. As many people know, Cooperstown is the home of Baseball Hall of Fame, which plays a big role in the story, and there is even one character who is a Babe Ruth impersonator. What I think makes it a great setting, is I think murder works best in a pristine place (to write, not to commit) where such an act would be the last thing anyone would expect. And the peaceful village on Otsego Lake certainly fits that bill.
It was fun to write - hope you enjoy reading it!
Next UP: The Truant Officer
