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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Investigative reporter Maxine (Max) Revere was abandoned by her mother when she was nine years old, left with her wealthy grandparents and only hearing from Martha each year by postcard on her birthday. The cards inexplicably stopped sixteen years ago and no one has heard from her since. However, Max recently learned that her car was found in Northampton County, Virginia, registered under an alias that ties back to the Revere family. Even though the car was discovered sixteen years ago and Max has long been certain her mother is dead, she believes answers lie in the town so she heads to Cape Haven to do what she does best…find the truth.
Max’s missing mother has been in the background of every story in this series so my expectations were high for this one and were far surpassed. Martha Revere was with Jimmy Truman when she abandoned Max with her family so it came as a surprise to learn his family was from Cape Haven. His brother Gabriel was co-owner of the resort where Max was staying and Jimmy’s been missing for almost as long as Martha. The investigation not only answered the question of what happened to Martha but also revealed many other secrets that were shocking and life changing.
While many questions were resolved in this story, the revelations just created more so I’m saddened that this is the final book in the series. There was a lot going on and the introduction of a new man in Max’s life made it even more compelling as I really liked him. I listened to the story and the narrator delivered another outstanding performance, her storytelling befitting great writing. It ended on a bittersweet note but one that bodes nicely for Max. I’m hoping to see her appear in future stories in the Lucy Kincaid connected series, at least to get updates. Even if she doesn’t, I’m left in a good place despite lingering questions.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Max’s missing mother has been in the background of every story in this series so my expectations were high for this one and were far surpassed. Martha Revere was with Jimmy Truman when she abandoned Max with her family so it came as a surprise to learn his family was from Cape Haven. His brother Gabriel was co-owner of the resort where Max was staying and Jimmy’s been missing for almost as long as Martha. The investigation not only answered the question of what happened to Martha but also revealed many other secrets that were shocking and life changing.
While many questions were resolved in this story, the revelations just created more so I’m saddened that this is the final book in the series. There was a lot going on and the introduction of a new man in Max’s life made it even more compelling as I really liked him. I listened to the story and the narrator delivered another outstanding performance, her storytelling befitting great writing. It ended on a bittersweet note but one that bodes nicely for Max. I’m hoping to see her appear in future stories in the Lucy Kincaid connected series, at least to get updates. Even if she doesn’t, I’m left in a good place despite lingering questions.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have not read the series, but I did read #4 [b:Shattered|31450644|Shattered (Max Revere, #4)|Allison Brennan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479871779s/31450644.jpg|52153528] and I remembered Max Revere from that. Maxine Revere is definitely a character that stands out and I like her straight-shooting get-out-of-my-way attitude. I liked learning about her childhood and I am sure readers of the full series absolutely loved that glimpse into little Max's life. The cut-aways to Max's mother's life at some point became repetitive and/or predictable, but I still found the whole of it enjoyable. For Max's mother to be billed as a life-long a con-artist she sure wasn't impressing me with how it all ended.
Spoiler
I felt like the two postcards sent to Max and Eve weren't enough and scrawling "Never sell this" (or whatever Martha wrote on the back of the painting) was the equivalent of "There's always money in the banana stand".
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love this series, so sad this is the last book, I need more!
Abandoned A Novel by Allison Brennan is the 5th book in this series but the first book for me. While I have been reading this author since I was about fifteen years old I like many others had a hard time connecting with it. This for me was a fail because I didn’t know enough of the story to be able to move it forward. The mystery was there the grit was there my only issue was the romance felt a bit rushed and unfinished.
Check out my full review on my Lisa Latte Booktube Channel at https://youtu.be/I9LVNQ1OKZE?t=431
Check out my full review on my Lisa Latte Booktube Channel at https://youtu.be/I9LVNQ1OKZE?t=431
I just couldn't get excited about this one. Perhaps because I didn't read the first four?
Thank you to Minotaur Books for a copy of Abandoned for an honest review. Abandoned is the 5th book in the Max Revere series though it can be read as a stand-alone. This was the first book in the series that I have read but it will not be my last! I enjoyed the character. She is strong and smart though a little unfocused on other people and their feelings. She is a cold case investigative reporter but this time she is looking into a personal issue, the disappearance of her mother 16 years ago. Some of the first quarter of the book was a bit repetitive because Max had to explain her interest in old police files, why she thinks her mother was there, her mother’s connections, etc repeatedly to many people while starting her investigations. It was necessary to establish her case to many since it was so old but for the reader, it was a bit repetitive. I got more into the book once everybody learned of the case and more and more details came into view and it got more complicated. I really like how it was done and can’t wait to get into more of Max Revere’s cases and get to know her character a little better! Abandoned will be available on August 14, 2018.
This is a really good Max Revere book that brings together bits from several of her previous books. The story is captivating, and it’s easy to become involved in the character’s lives. I don’t think it’s as tight as many other Allison Brennan thrillers, in that some foreshadowing is much more obvious than usual, and at least one element was easy to see earlier than I think it was intended to be. Overall, though, it was a great read and I’m looking forward to seeing where Max goes next.
Settings / Time Periods: Present day United States, mostly.
Point of View: 3rd person
Main character: Maxine Revere, a hard-hitting cold-case reporter whose latest case is personal.
Is there a particular issue this book deals with? There’s not an obvious single issue, but family, trust, and secrets are the repeating elements.
What genres could this book be categorized in? Mystery for the most part. There’s a bit of adventure, and a small personal attraction bit as well.
Is there violence in this book? Yes. There’s a couple of deaths, some more natural than others. There’s at least one murder on-page, but not portrayed graphically. There is at least one fight with bodily injury on-page.
Is there romance in this book? There is no significant romance on-page. There is sexual attraction described in the narrative, and a hetero relationship that has a sexual component.
How to the characters view sexuality? Sex is referred to as a normal, natural part of life. There is not much on-page sexuality, and all references are to hetero activity.
Did you enjoy reading it? Yes. I have enjoyed Max Revere books in the past, and this one was also fun, although I don’t think it’s as tight as some of the others.
How does it rate on the tests?
Bechdel? Yes.
Mako Mori? Yes.
Ellen Willis? Sort of. Mostly.
Tauriel? With flying colors.
Racial Bechdel? No.
Deggans? Uncertain, but not likely.
Vito Russo? Not applicable.
Fridge? Not applicable.
Settings / Time Periods: Present day United States, mostly.
Point of View: 3rd person
Main character: Maxine Revere, a hard-hitting cold-case reporter whose latest case is personal.
Is there a particular issue this book deals with? There’s not an obvious single issue, but family, trust, and secrets are the repeating elements.
What genres could this book be categorized in? Mystery for the most part. There’s a bit of adventure, and a small personal attraction bit as well.
Is there violence in this book? Yes. There’s a couple of deaths, some more natural than others. There’s at least one murder on-page, but not portrayed graphically. There is at least one fight with bodily injury on-page.
Is there romance in this book? There is no significant romance on-page. There is sexual attraction described in the narrative, and a hetero relationship that has a sexual component.
How to the characters view sexuality? Sex is referred to as a normal, natural part of life. There is not much on-page sexuality, and all references are to hetero activity.
Did you enjoy reading it? Yes. I have enjoyed Max Revere books in the past, and this one was also fun, although I don’t think it’s as tight as some of the others.
How does it rate on the tests?
Bechdel? Yes.
Mako Mori? Yes.
Ellen Willis? Sort of. Mostly.
Tauriel? With flying colors.
Racial Bechdel? No.
Deggans? Uncertain, but not likely.
Vito Russo? Not applicable.
Fridge? Not applicable.