Customer Reviews

The Refuge: A Maxine and Stretch Mystery (Maxine and Stretch Mysteries)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sue Henry, better known for her fabulous Alaskan/sled racing mysteries featuring Iditarod champion Jesse Arnold, has created another classic character (or should I say characters?) in Maxie McNabb and her wonderful dachshund Stretch.

In this third book in the series, Maxie is sans Stretch, but he's never out of her mind, or ours. Having just returned from her last New Mexico adventure to her beloved home in Homer, Alaska, Maxie reluctantly turns right back out the door to help a friend, Karen, in Hawaii.

Karen, who is really more an acquaintance than a friend, is one of those helpless females whom 64-year-old Maxie abhors. But a plea for help is something Maxie can't ignore, so she flies into Hilo, rents herself a camper truck (we know her from her Winebago) and goes to help Karen, who has a broken arm and leg from a fall, sort out her household goods to be returned to Alaska.

Short on plot and long on fabulous descriptions of Hawaii, this bit of fluff moves along quickly until it reaches its surprising conclusion. If you are looking for a good mystery, this isn't the book. If you love quirky, larger-than-life characters and descriptions that place you right into the story, grab this book.

Can't wait for the next one!

After being away from home for an extended period of time, Maxie wants nothing more than to return to her cabin in Homer, Alaska. Shortly after her return, she receives a phone call from Karen Bailey, an acquaintance of hers who has gone to live in Hawaii. Karen has decided to move back to Alaska and she needs Maxie's help to pack her household, because she has been in an accident and is now in several casts. Maxie reluctantly agrees and is chagrined with the huge task before her. She begins to help Karen, but soon some mysterious things begin to take place. Maxie hires a young man named Jerry who moves in and helps with the packing. Although she is very busy with the packing, Maxie manages to fit in some sightseeing and she takes Jerry as her traveling companion. Author Sue Henry describes the landscape in Hawaii as well as she does that of Maxie's native Alaska. Maxie is a delightful heroine and her friendly nature always serves to introduce new characters in every book. This is a very enjoyable addition to the Maxie and Stetch series.

The sixty-four year old Alaskan, Maxie McNabb, has been on the road in her RV with her dachshund Stretch for nine months. Shortly after her return home, Maxie receives a telephone call from Hawaii. A friend, Karen Bailey suffered an accident and she's out of commission for awhile. Karen is moving and needs Maxie to help pack up her house.

Maxie heads to Hawaii and into a mystery. A burglar attempts to break into Karen's home, the plumbing is sabotaged, Maxie overhears a conversation that leads her to believe Karen has her own secrets, and Jerry, the plumber's helper is kidnapped.

Some bad dudes want something and they'll stop at nothing, even murder, to get what they want. It's up to Maxie to solve the mystery.

I love Maxie. She's a bright, independent, high-energy senior who gives the reader a glimpse of the glorious world through her eyes. The plot sizzles, the cast of characters is well-developed and after reading The Refuge, I want more of Sue Henry's loveable Maxie. No, what I really want is to be Maxie.

Armchair Interviews says: The Refuge is a cozy mystery at its best.

but I was a little disappointed in this newest addition to the Maxie and Stretch mysteries. Since Maxie goes to Hawaii to help an old acquaintance, Karen, with her move back to Alaska, Stretch is not in most of the book. He's home in Alaska.

Karen is less than helpful once Maxie arrives letting her assume the complete responsibility of getting all her household goods sorted to either sell or take. Then there's the yard sale and organizing everything for the movers. Maxie is not a happy camper. She hires a young man, Jerry, to help her with pulling everything together while Karen heads home to Alaska leaving them to finish the job.

When the movers have left and the house is closed up, Maxie rents a truck camper to take advantage of the opportunity to see some of Hawaii before returning home. Jerry tags along as her tour guide with the bad guys in close pursuit seeking something Maxie doesn't know she has. There are a couple kidnappings and a ransacking of the camper but, overall, they seem to be a somewhat inept group of villains.

The Refuge is an entertaining read. I didn't enjoy it as much as The Tooth of Time but it is still a nice addition to the Maxie and Stretch series.

I love this series and really enjoyed the book, but I missed Stretch. I am a great fan of dachshunds & would like to see him throughout the book. Otherwise, could not put the book down-very exciting all the way thru.

I love to read Sue Henry and I like her new series Maxie and Stretch. It's a great NEW story, not just a new name and a new local for the same old story. I like Maxie so well, I find myself wanting to jump in a minniewinnie and go - just like she does.

I waited anticipatorily for this book - love the "older" protagonist and her trusty sidekick. I was, however, disappointed at the end of the book as I found that the denouement was weakly done. I had to re-read the final chapters several times to figure it out (and I am a real estate lawyer!). It was just not sufficiently fleshed out. I still gave it four stars because of the wonderful character developemnt throughout the plot and the well-paced story until the thud of the ending.

After being away from her Alaskan abode for the past nine months sixty four year old Maxie McNabb yearns for her home in Homer. She has spent time with her mini-dachshund in the lower forty-eight states around the Four Corners region of the Southwest. When she arrives at her home, she has less than a week to enjoy it before a friendly acquaintance calls her from Hilo, Hawaii asking for her help. In a fall she tripped, hurting an arm and a leg and is out of commission. She needs Maxie to help her sort, point, sells and more to Alaska.

Maxie reluctantly heads to the fiftieth state to help Karen out, even knowing that before Karen was injured, she was helpless and always needing someone to tell her what to do and how to do it. Needing a break from her friend, she goes sightseeing and meets the plumber's helper Jerry who has worked on Karen's house. They put Karen on a plane and get to work packing and then they plan to do some sight-seeing. However, men want something from Maxie and they will kill them if necessary to get it it. Maxie doesn't know what they want or where it is but is determined to get the best of the men that stalked her and kidnapped Jerry.

Sue Henry has written an exciting mystery focusing on a protagonist who has more energy at sixty-four than people do in their twenties. She certainly shows that life can be fulfilling as a senior while she appreciate the beauty of the things around us like Maxie does in Hawaii. There is lots of action, no blood or gore and a great cast. Readers will immediately take to the heroine and Jerry who is not quite what he seems.

Harriet Klausner

almost as much fun as watching your own hemroidectomy ! I'reacd and enjoyed several Sue Henry novels--this was definately NOT one of them.

A first time reader of this author and I picked up one that talks about Hilo, Pahoa, Puna, Volcanoes etc. Good storyline and a quick read for those who like the light side of mysteries.