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Hide & Seek: A Murder Mystery

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I loved this fun, quirky, mystery all the way from its elegant Boston beginning to its perversely witty ending. Mr. Kaplan-Maxfield knows how to write, and even better, he knows how to tell a story! I often find character development a weakness in this genre, but not so in "Hide and Seek, and what exactly was the victim doing with those "Knots and Crosses" anyway? Enjoy this great read.

Article first published as Book Review: Hide & Seek: A Murder Mystery by Thomas Kaplan-Maxfield on Blogcritics.

I've heard it said that given the right circumstances anyone is capable of murder. If so how does the person who is basically kind and good deal with the aftermath of such a decision? In Hide & Seek by Thomas Kaplan-Maxfield, we follow a story of a murder and the life of a man and his family.

Falling in love with Melanie Carson, a young actress is not at all in David Drapers plan. The real problem was that Melanie loved men, she loved attention and she created a jealousy in him that was not at all a part of who he was. As David becomes even more concerned and jealous, and finding Melanie with another, David waits until the assignation is done and murders Melanie in a fit of rage. While covering his tracks seems to have put him in the clear, the internal makings of David keep it in constant turmoil. His family including his
Aunt Grace and his sister Dorothy (Dots) are quite concerned about him. They are worried at the changes that the murder of his girlfriend have wrought in him. His Aunt Grace has made friends with the Detective in charge of the case, and has continued to help him investigate.

In their way they look for a way to pull David out of his doldrums. When they have an invite and a fun getaway planed they invite David to go with them. It is a Murder Mystery Weekend at an old courthouse located on a small island just of the coast of the Cape. While David reluctantly agrees he becomes alarmed with the group of guests that are also invited to attend this fun sleuthing weekend. His alarm turns to suspicion as his worst fears come to fruition. Each guest appears to have some form of background relating to the murdered Melanie Carson. As each clue turns up for the fake murder more clues also unfold for the real murder.

David is now convinced that he is being played and that someone knows the real truth of what happened the night Melanie was murdered. Should he stay and maintain his innocence, or should he cut and run? Knowing if he runs he will become an immediate suspect he remains cautious. Can he win in this strange and twisted game being played out?

This is a fun and unique whodunit, one where you know the murderer from the beginning. There is humor and familial obligations, and it is difficult not to like David regardless of his memory of the murder. He is a connoisseur of women; he loves them to distraction, and yet somehow gets caught up in an unimaginable situation that is totally outside the realm of his experience. He feels guilt and is at a point where he feels the need to come clean about his part.

His sister and aunt are wonderful. While David certainly has no alibi and seems guilty, they just do not believe him capable. The same is true of the detective handling the case. It is such a disingenuous situation with the Murder Mystery Weekend thrown in it keeps you guessing what will happen next.

Kaplan-Maxfield has done a great job with red herrings, twisting and curling the truth into such a string of happenings you begin to get dizzy with the threads. The characters are fun and exciting with just a hint of mystery and fun, and the story flows like chocolate, smooth and dreamy. Even knowing much of what is happening the author delivers a stunning surprise, one I wondered at and yet did not see coming.

This would be a great book for the mystery and suspense aficionado. It is well written and begins with the mystery solved-well sort off. This would be a great read for a book club or a nice book for a reading group. It is entertaining and fun.

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

A fun mystery read that is turned up on its head. From the beginning we know who got murdered and who the murder is, but we don't know why someone is looking or the murderer. This is what keeps us glued to the book. It was fun to read this type of book for a change. The characters were well done and made you want to like some and hate the rest. This is a book I would want to read again. Reminds me of the old Clue game.

An interesting telling of this murder mystery, this book is fun, like a game of Clue except we already know who the murderer is, who was murdered, how, why, and where. We know this because it happens very near the beginning of the book. Or do we? Thomas Kaplan-Maxfield has presented an interesting concept in writing this mystery. He has a descriptive way of writing, extending this to the several characters that are introduced later in the book. The reader needs to pay a lot of attention to wording. The mystery is complex, based on jealousy, greed, and unsavory lifestyle.

The story begins with a party hosted by David's Aunt Grace, where he meets a beautiful wraith of a girl, unsubstantial as air yet bewitching and willing. The girl is an actress, and they begin a relationship as mysterious as she is. Totally mesmerized by her, David becomes overcome with jealous thoughts whenever he is not with her. When she is killed, he is overtaken with guilt, grief and loss.

Aunt Grace and Dots, his sister, come up with a brilliant idea for a fascinating weekend... the Murder Mystery game being held on a small island off Cape Cod at an old courthouse converted to a Bed and Breakfast, which adds to the atmosphere of the book. Reluctant at first, he finally agrees to join in the fun. Shortly after arrival, there seems to be something more sinister afoot. David is shocked to find that one of the participants is the actual detective who was investigating the murder of Melanie Carson. Not only that, but when the "corpse", Marilyn Carpenter, is found, she is dressed exactly like Melanie was, right down to her silver blonde hair and Melanie's particular shade of lipstick. Even her nails are done the same. Who is playing mind games with David, and why? Is this a trap? When the roles were given out at the beginning of the game, he was designated as the murderer, his aunt designated as the detective. Who is the real detective? This is what David will have to find out as soon as possible.

Great characterization, a unique variation on the usual cozy murder mystery, surprises all through, psychological suspense and well-written. My attention was held throughout, my guesses all over the place. This book was fun and I'll be watching for more from this author.
Disclaimer: This book was given me, I was not influenced by anyone in writing this review. The words are my own.

When I agreed to review "Hide & Seek," I had no idea what to expect. Mysteries is not a genre that I usually read so I thought why not branch out a bit and try one. I can tell you that I was not disappointed. "Hide & Seek" is a classy story, literary. The main characters are from the high brow section of Boston known as Beacon Hill. I could relate to the descriptions and locations being so familiar with Boston myself.

This murder mystery starts off backwards. We know who the killer is, one David Draper, but it is the way the author weaves the story through so many twists and turns that keeps you interested. You feel David's remorse and guilt over what he has done and his trepidation of being questioned by the police for Melanie Carson's murder. The police have no evidence though and David is not considered a suspect, that is, until he is invited by his sister to go on a murder mystery weekend at an historic hotel on a tiny island off Cape Cod. He is convinced that one of the guests knows his secret and is using the murder mystery weekend to flesh him out.

"Hide & Seek" is a psychologically suspenseful story at its best. It seems that every one of the guests knew Melanie Carson and David is convinced that they all know his secret, but do they? Or is there another reason why this group of 9 people have been gathered together for this particular murder mystery weekend?

Just when you think you have everything figured out, the masterful Mr. Kaplan Maxfield throws another curve ball. You won't know the truth until the story ends. If you're a mystery reader, you'll definitely want to read this one and NO peeking at the last page. Recommended.

Hide and Seek is an excellent mystery. A really fun whodunit with more than a few exciting twists and turns. The pacing is fantastic, Kaplan-Maxfield keeps you guessing right to the end. The psychology of guilt figures prominently and gives the book edge: It's Crime and Punishment meets The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I loved it!

I thoroughly enjoyed Hide & Seek and give it a glowing review.Thomas Kaplan Maxfield is
a terrific writer. Lately I have been reading thrillers which are not my usual choice for novels but
because I was editing a thriller, I thought I should become familiar with the genre.
I can say Tom's right up there with a lot of the mystery/thrillers, snappy dialog, great
fleshed-out characters, ( Wealthy, Beacon Hill heirs, an eccentric actress, a matriarch,
strange couple, priest and policeman) great location and landscape description (an island off Cape Cod,
an old mansion) and good ole story telling talent. It all comes together with a number of surprises
along the way with lots of before and after dinner drinks! I would add that Kaplan-Maxfield
has more literary intelligence than you normally find in this genre . . . (Would love to see Carl Jung
quoted in a Steven King or Grisham book!!!) Hide and Seek has a little British tinge, which puts it in the more
highbrow category. A delightful read for all mystery fans!

set against the back drop of one of those 'Murder Mystery Weekends'. The former old courthouse is on a remote island that is only accessible by crossing a raised gravel road. I've been on one of those 'Whodunit' charity events and they're really fun. This story manages to work that premise into an actual murder where the suspects try to figure out who is the good guy and the bad guy.