Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare edition by Scott Southard Literature Fiction eBooks
Download As PDF : Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare edition by Scott Southard Literature Fiction eBooks 
"For now, let me warn you of the morbid and sad tale ahead of you. This is a tale filled with horror, dark passages, ghostly appariations, and deaths I would give my last shilling to forget."
The cursed and foreboding McGregor Castle is the most terrifying and haunted location in all of the British Empire. Only a brave (or foolish) soul would consider visiting it, let alone staying within its walls for five days. In other words, a perfect dare for a man like Maximilian Standforth!
Maximilian Standforth, famed playboy aristocrat and private detective, is a genius with dangerous tastes. With Bob (his trusty carriage driver, biographer, and bodyguard) and Maggie Collins (actress, spy, and maid) by his side, Maximilian will experience horrors and madness unlike any seen before. For it is at McGregor Castle that the team will discover more than they ever could imagine in this very experimental and genre-breaking thriller.
Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare edition by Scott Southard Literature Fiction eBooks
* Please note: I purchased this book. The author did not solicit this review.*As always, I will not rehash the plot of this book and summarize the story. I'll leave that up to the book's cover and other venues.
First off, this is an absolutely fantastic cover design. However, I was deceived by this cover. The story isn't the tale the cover caused me to assign to it. But it's nice, nonetheless, and deserves applause.
The characters are well-rounded and none are alike. Maximilian is a character to be reckoned with and I found myself wanting to punch him in the face a few times. Bob, the narrator of the story, is actually my favorite character. I mean, who can't love someone named Bob?
The copy could use another look from an editing perspective, but there's nothing too awful or that impeded my reading the story. I was into this book from page one. The amusement is solid and the scenes and different storylines merge nearly flawlessly from one to the other. Even though this book is narrated in the First Person, we can still seem to see the other character's points of view, personalities, even facial expressions and feelings. The First Person narration takes nothing away from this story at all. It's still well rounded and entertaining. I believe that stems from good story telling. The story is paced well until the end. I felt the ending came way too quickly.
When I started reading this book, I thought I was reading one tale, and then by the last few chapters of the book - the last 3 or so - a plot twist was revealed that left me shaking my head. I wanted Maximilian and Bob and the crew solving a great mystery...do or die. I was very confused at the end and had to sit and think about it for a while. In truth, the end plot twist caused this story to come crashing down for me personally. In fact, I am still not sure what in the world happened. On another note, I believe this would've been a good plot twist...in another story.
By the end, I wanted to give this book fewer stars, because I was disappointed. However, at the center of the book, I had already assigned it 4 stars. So, I am still giving this book 4 stars because I was hugely engaged until those last few chapters...where that end twist made me livid. If a book can do that to me, it's worth the stars! Therefore, I cannot base my rating on the fact that I did not care for the ending. I was fully entertained up to that point. I did not like the changes in reality, back and forth - are we real or not, that started happening in the last quarter of the book. It was confusing. I really wanted a haunted castle, or someone smart enough to create a haunting for the likes of Maximilian Standforth. I, personally, was let down at the end. The story left me going, huh?... I just feel the plot twist shorted the story of something that I could rave about.
I think if you love mystery or thrillers...or anything even Sherlock Holmes like, this is a good book for you. It was for me, but in my opinion, the ending ruined my high. It's a good ending if you're a reader who likes a surprise ending that knocks your car off the rails.
I wish the author would write more stories with these two characters. I mean, the ending of this book is such that there would be no questions raised regarding more stories of this group. Download a copy of this book, and decide for yourself whether the ending is for you!
Happy reading.
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Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare edition by Scott Southard Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
I hate to confess, but I peek at endings. Whatever you do, don't peek at the ending for this book. I might have enjoyed the book more if I hadn't. Usually I peek when a book starts getting a little too wordy, the story doesn't move as quickly as I want it to, or I'm not sure I want to spend the energy reading a book I am not enjoying very much. I'm not sure which of these reasons lead me to peak at the end to this one--they all apply.
Usually, if a story is well written it doesn't hurt to know the ending--it just increases my admiration for a good story teller since I can see how plot lines come together to weave a fascinating tale.
Bob, the narrator says at the beginning there are only two people left at the end of the story and he has decided to write this story because he is penniless and needs the money. I was starting to like Bob and Maggie and was hoping they would be the ones still living at the end, and if not I wasn't sure I wanted to continue because I think Maxmillian is a jerk. I think that is why I peeked.
I am at 50% of the story now, and if I hadn't checked the ending last night I would have by now simply because the story is getting pretty confusing. Reality is changing over and over. I know why, and I don't like it.
I love Victorian detective mysteries and this could have been a great one. But that wasn't the story the author wanted to write. I feel sad that the story I had hoped to read isn't the one that was written. Oh well, I'm sure the author is very proud of himself and is sitting at home snickering at his little joke. I think he must be a lot like Maxmillian.
I started Scott's latest with eager anticipation after having read A Jane Austen Daydream, which I absolutely loved.
Seeing the cover of Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, I came away with a preconceived notion of what the book would be about.
Look at the cover. What tone does the cover set in your mind?
Well, needless to say, I was surprised by the tone. I was expecting a light-hearted mystery novel, when in fact the story trends the opposite after a humorous, tongue-in-cheek opening about the exploits of Maximilian Standforth, aristocrat, bachelor, and genius detective. The Dangerous Dare follows Standforth's latest adventure where he is dared to investigate a haunted castle. The mystery tests Standforth's genius unlike any of his previous adventures and leaves Standforth and his cohorts changed forever.
The story is told from the point of view of Standforth's bodyman, Bob Wordsworth whose name alone gives hints as to how the story will unfold. There are numerous plot twists, especially as the story builds up to the climax. I did not see how the tale would end until it hit me in the face. The author writes a clever mystery novel, making good use of the gothic setting. The setting is haunting and the characters are endearing and likable, especially Bob Wordsworth and Maximilian Standforth.
I came away from the story feeling surprised though, because I went into it hoping for a light-hearted detective story. In the end what I got was a dark Gothic mystery that shares much with another novel I like, Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson. The mechanisms by which each novel reach their conclusions are wholly different, but the punchline, so to speak, is essentially the same.
I do recommend Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, especially if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, if I had to classify this novel I would say that it is a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Darwinia.
The author, Scott Southard, once said that the story was an experiment, and at the time I had no idea what he meant, because, again, the cover had given me a preconceived notion about the story, but now I know. Now I know.
* Please note I purchased this book. The author did not solicit this review.*
As always, I will not rehash the plot of this book and summarize the story. I'll leave that up to the book's cover and other venues.
First off, this is an absolutely fantastic cover design. However, I was deceived by this cover. The story isn't the tale the cover caused me to assign to it. But it's nice, nonetheless, and deserves applause.
The characters are well-rounded and none are alike. Maximilian is a character to be reckoned with and I found myself wanting to punch him in the face a few times. Bob, the narrator of the story, is actually my favorite character. I mean, who can't love someone named Bob?
The copy could use another look from an editing perspective, but there's nothing too awful or that impeded my reading the story. I was into this book from page one. The amusement is solid and the scenes and different storylines merge nearly flawlessly from one to the other. Even though this book is narrated in the First Person, we can still seem to see the other character's points of view, personalities, even facial expressions and feelings. The First Person narration takes nothing away from this story at all. It's still well rounded and entertaining. I believe that stems from good story telling. The story is paced well until the end. I felt the ending came way too quickly.
When I started reading this book, I thought I was reading one tale, and then by the last few chapters of the book - the last 3 or so - a plot twist was revealed that left me shaking my head. I wanted Maximilian and Bob and the crew solving a great mystery...do or die. I was very confused at the end and had to sit and think about it for a while. In truth, the end plot twist caused this story to come crashing down for me personally. In fact, I am still not sure what in the world happened. On another note, I believe this would've been a good plot twist...in another story.
By the end, I wanted to give this book fewer stars, because I was disappointed. However, at the center of the book, I had already assigned it 4 stars. So, I am still giving this book 4 stars because I was hugely engaged until those last few chapters...where that end twist made me livid. If a book can do that to me, it's worth the stars! Therefore, I cannot base my rating on the fact that I did not care for the ending. I was fully entertained up to that point. I did not like the changes in reality, back and forth - are we real or not, that started happening in the last quarter of the book. It was confusing. I really wanted a haunted castle, or someone smart enough to create a haunting for the likes of Maximilian Standforth. I, personally, was let down at the end. The story left me going, huh?... I just feel the plot twist shorted the story of something that I could rave about.
I think if you love mystery or thrillers...or anything even Sherlock Holmes like, this is a good book for you. It was for me, but in my opinion, the ending ruined my high. It's a good ending if you're a reader who likes a surprise ending that knocks your car off the rails.
I wish the author would write more stories with these two characters. I mean, the ending of this book is such that there would be no questions raised regarding more stories of this group. Download a copy of this book, and decide for yourself whether the ending is for you!
Happy reading.
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