MAXWELL'S CROSSING

English schoolteacher Peter (Max) Maxwell and his long-suffering wife, Jacquie, a detective inspector, guarantee a fun and compelling mystery. Narrator Peter Wickham adds all the right verbal flourishes to keep listeners entertained. As American exchange teacher Hector Gold and his dysfunctional family descend on Leighford High School, Max is charged with mentoring Gold and keeping Gold's father-in-law out of trouble. Wickham uses several convincing accents to portray the characters; his best creations are delightful, elderly neighbor Mrs. Trubridge and Max's adorable 5-year-old son, Nolan. He's particularly skillful at re-creating Nolan's speech at his school's Christmas pageant. In addition to an unusual mystery, listeners are treated to a fun comparison of American and English practices in holiday celebrations, policing, and teaching. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2014]