Customer Reviews

Max Conquers the Cosmos

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In this debut novel, Mark Bouton has established himself as a writer with a future. In this first person, present tense novel (no mean feat of writing, in itself), Bouton manages to create an interesting and comfortable protagonist named Max Austin. As a P.I., Max is no slouch. As a cosmologist, he's an informed and well-read amateur, who explains the workings of his case using analogies from the universe. Of course, Max lives in Kansas, so what is there to do at night EXCEPT watch the stars and planets as they whirl around us? Other than solve a bit of murder, mayhem, and skulduggery, maybe? The plot, in many ways, is standard detective fare. Max is hired to save the beautiful, blonde trophy widow from the relentless wheels of justice. Did she actually shoot her rich, aging, mob-connected husband, or does it just look that way? Will Max survive as he continues to uncover layers of the mystery while at the same time, earning the undying enmity of the mob? Will Max earn enough Frequent Flyer miles as he tries to make the connections between Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami to vacation in Hawaii after the novel is over? The novel is complex, suffiently dark to mirror the ugliness of today's world, and a damned good read. Recommended.

Max Conquers the Cosmos, Mark Bouton's first novel, was a disappointment for me. The former FBI agent, turned author, has an interesting story line; one I am sure that mirrors his many experiences at the Bureau. However, I found the novel lacked the character development and suspense that I have come to expect the Grisham, Patterson, Martini or Cornwell.

This debut novel, Max Conquers the Cosmos, by Mark Bouton, is a reader's delight. Bouton's writing style has been compared to Raymond Chandler's, very high praise that's completely deserved. This is a taut, fast-paced crime story with a winning protagonist, Max Austin. I hope Bouton will give us many more opportunities to spend time with this character. I enjoyed this book tremendously. It's a page-turner that is enhanced by several things: First, Bouton is a former FBI agent who brings his experience to the novel, making it both believable and interesting. The novel also benefits from Bouton's thoughtful treatment of the protagonist, giving him depth and charm. Finally, the extended metaphor of the cosmos provides a nice counterpoint to Max Austin's ponderings about the crime he's investigating. There are plenty of twists and turns to the plot, and Bouton wraps it all up with a satisfying, exciting conclusion that leaves the reader wanting nothing more, except another Max Austin novel to dive into.

I really liked this debut novel by Mark Bouton introducing us to PI Max Austin a former FBI agent. I love detective stories and was pleasantly surprised by the style of his writing. I am partial to his "just give me the facts" or "Sam Spade" type of story giving us sufficient information to understand the environment and characterizations, thus making it very easy and interesting to follow the case. Using previous FBI experience, his interest in the physics of the stars and common sense to put together what appear to be unrelated actions and events to piece together the puzzle of the crime. Although his initial description of Max may give the impression of he is a somewhat quiet, unassuming type of person, Max is certainly more than able to take care of himself against anyone wanting to push him around and take him out of the picture. His engaging sense of humor, the interaction with his dog, Binga, and the subtle hint of perhaps something happening in his personal life adds more interest to the story and makes this book more enjoyable for everyone who enjoys a good detective story. I am looking forward to Mr. Bouton's next book, as this could be the next series everyone can't wait to read.

Both my husband (Max) and I have read Bouton's new novel.
Max (the reader) says: I found it a delightful book. It's a good mystery, done with a light touch--which I appreciate. Nothing in it I couldn't believe.

Carol says: I appreciated Max's sense of humor and his tendency to be a gentleman at all times, even those times which called for toughness. I particularly like Max's devotion to his pet dog and--being a film fan--enjoyed reading dialogues between Max and Spots, porn movie lighting director. I appreciated how Spots took pride in doing quality lighting work within the confines of his sleazy job. Bouton's story kept me interested, and kept me guessing until the end.

I'm mostly a reader of thrillers, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I sat down with mystery Max. Unlike thrillers, where the story is hurrying along so fast that you can't really get to know anyone, least of all the main character, Mark Bouton lets us cozy up to Max and really get to know him as he dashes around Kansas and the country trying to solve what seems at first to be an open-shut murder case.

Okay, okay, so we suspect from the first that rich trophy wife Vicky Jacobsen didn't off her developer husband Morrie. Why else would we need Max, right? A former FBI veteran (like Bouton himself, incidentally), Max seems at first like a dotty old uncle past his prime. But there's a method to his meandering cosmological madness. A lifetime of studying the stars and human nature enables Max to see the parallels between the two. Just when we think Max is stuck and out of luck, he turns his thoughts to the universe and that's when the solution hits him like the Big Bang.

And don't let Max fool you: he's nobody's fool. Anyone he meets who makes the mistake of treating him like that doddering old uncle is bound to wind up with a politely broken arm, a kindly meant concussion or worse.

Bouton has crafted Max's stream-of-consciousness with skill. In fact, Max's thoughts began to grow on me so much that I became annoyed when we'd get interrupted by some annoying thug. Max is funny and clever and it's reflected in Bouton's smart and at times cheeky dialogue. The ending wasn't much of surprise, but it is sad; sad because I had to say goodbye to my new friend. Since Max is to be a series, I hope it won't be for long.

I enjoyed the book very much. Max is a very appealing character and Mark Bouton has a nice style. His tongue-in-cheek sense of humor helps the story along. He clearly writes from a masculine point of view but the book is interesting to women as well as men. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

I just finished Mark Bouton's first book. "Max Conquers the Cosmos", begining the adventures of ex-FBI agent turned PI, Max Austin. Mr. Bouton is also an ex-FBI agent so he can draw on his experiences as a Fed. I believe Max will become a staple in the mystery book genre, and am looking forward to the next book. Bouton writes a book that reminds me of the old hardboiled guys like Sam Spade and Mike Hammer. He also is able to make Max human, with a sense of humour and personal conflicts which add much to his personality and makes him very believable. His plot holds together all the way through and the ending will surprise you. Keep it up, Mark. You've got a good thing going.

In Hillsboro, attorney Amy Harrington hires former FBI agent Max Austin to investigate a murder. Her client Vickie Jacobson is accused of killing her much older husband Morrie. Vickie insists a prowler killed her spouse, but the case looks solved as she fired the murder weapon, had her spouse's blood all over her, and just took out a $2 million insurance policy on Morrie. Vickie can explain all blaming a prowler, but she remains guilty looking.

Max sees little to persuade him that the woman is a widow maker except the odd angle of the victim's wrist hints at how the gun he held was taken from him. He digs into Morrie's business records and uses his former police connections to share information with Detective Bagley, head of the official investigation. As he uncovers more data on the deceased, other people die and Max is one of the prime targets.

Title aside as it is not a science fiction or fantasy; readers will enjoy this private investigative tale starring a protagonist who is a hero to the max. The story line is at its best when it follows his inquiries. When the plot turns to multiple murders, it takes away from Max, who is the prime reason worth the time of fans.

Harriet Klausner

I love a good series - it's like making new friends - and getting in on the ground floor (the first book) is the best.

Max Austin is a PI who retired from the FBI and jumps right in tracking down mobsters from L.A to Miami trying to prove a young woman innocent of murdering her husband.

Max is fun to follow around; you never know what's going to happen next - and it always does and it's always exciting:)
The man who wrote the book used to be in the FBI, so you know he knows what he's talking about. And the way he writes this book is completely entertaining, full of juicy details. Very clever the way Mark Bouton - the author - weaves comparisons between murder and the cosmos!

If this first book is any indication, the Max Austin series should be a best-selling one, right before they put it on HBO:)