Customer Reviews

Bannerman's Ghosts

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bannerman has returned to the scene to battle a new villain.He is still located in the state of Conneticutt with his band of
professional killers who have settled down to become ordinary citizens. The villain in this story is named Artemus Bourne.He
is immensely wealthy and involved in plots and schemes all over the world. Martin Kessler makes his return.He ships the heads of three of Bourne's associates who are involved in bio weapons.The
villain wants to locate Elizabeth Stride as a means of bringing
Martin Kessler out in the open.He threatewns the town of Bridge-
port Conneticutt with attack by chemical weapons.Bannerman will
prove to be a worthy enemy for Bourne.This will keep you on the edge of your seat to see who wins. An action packed book that
you will enjoy.

I've read most of Maxim's books. I find myself more delighted with each read. He not only writes believable characters that are easy to identify with, but he has a talent for bringing them to life male, female, and child alike. He obviously educated himself and in turn the reader on material crucial to the plot be it bio-weapons or matters of state. The most enjoyable part of Bannerman's Ghosts for me was revisiting characters that I knew I'd miss when I finished Haven and Whistler's Angel. You can Bet that after revisiting Paul Bannerman in this one, I'll be looking through Maxim's other work hoping to find one I havn't read.

Maxim holds nothing back in his latest thriller. The story is fast-paced, the subject is timely, and it makes for one heck of an exciting day of reading. Pure adrenaline.
I look forward to the next Bannerman novel.

Highly recommended.

Not a review. Just a question. You list 14 reviews as of
today, May 10, but you only show 9. You've deleted 3 that I'd already seen. What gives? And for Pete's sake, don't print this.
I only gave my own book 5 stars because you required me to fill that box.

The definition of "neighborhood watch" takes on an entirely new meaning in this latest Bannerman thriller by John R. Maxim IV. Long time fans and first time readers will be pleased to see favorite characters from his early novels and those from recent endeavors gather together to wreck havoc and just a touch of personal vengeance on the villains so aptly created by Maxim.

As with other Bannerman novels, GHOSTS is impossible to lay aside until the highly emotional final chapter and epilogue leaves you wishfully hoping Bannerman's Prophecy is already on its way to the publisher.

A recommendation for Hollywood: Beat a path to John Maxim's door for the Bannerman movie rights!

What a great read. If you are a fan of John R. Maxim's work you will love this book. Great Character development, Great Dialouge and written in a style that keeps you glued to the pages. The best Bannerman book yet. This book brings out many characters and storylines from past books. This story has the Whistler's Angel story running in the background and makes for some interesting reading. I have read all his books and this 1 rates in the top 3. (Haven and Shadowbox recommended reads) I can't wait for the next Maxim book.

Hey, if you're going to steal, at least steal from the old masters...they're not around to complain. That opening does, however, demand a list, so here it is:

(1) The characters - John R. Maxim's characters are as real as any in popular fiction. You finish one of his books with the feeling that you really know these people, or at least would like to know them. (I personally would love to meet 'Uncle' Billy McHugh, the man formerly known as Bannerman's Monster who has now evolved into a personable, chatty bartender who just happens to be capable of incredible mayhem!) In this book Maxim brings together his popular Bannerman people, adds in the cast of his book 'Haven,' and then seasons it with the main characters from 'Whistler's Angel.' It's like going to a great reunion, meeting up with people you really liked and catching up with their lives and activities. The updates on the lives of Bannerman's people (including homes, businesses, hobbies, spouses and children) are worth the price of the book by themselves!

(2) The plot - Maxim's books in general, and his Bannermans in particular, feature enough twists and changes of direction to hold your complete attention without lapsing into 'complication for its own sake.' He also frequently has a theme for a book. In 'The Shadowbox' it was counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and the eerily prescient 'Haven' (in 1997) presented a plot where Islamic terrorists tried to mount an attack on American soil with a dirty bomb. His plot here involves bio-terrorism in a way that can make you lose sleep. As usual, Maxim presents enough realistic detail that you know he did his homework long before he started writing.

(3) The timeline - While Maxim has introduced characters from one book into another previously, here he's even dovetailing his plots. We last saw Elizabeth Stride (from 'Haven') settling into a peaceful life on Hilton Head Island. 'Whistler's Angel' came to its dramatic (and noisy and smoky) conclusion on Hilton Head Island. So how could a pro like Stride have missed such brouhaha so close to home? She couldn't. The main portion of the 'Bannerman's Ghosts' story picks up literally on the day 'Whistler's Angel' ends!

(4) The humor - For a serious book with a serious plot about very serious people, Maxim sprinkles in a healthy dose of laughs along the way. It's impossible to quote anything here, since establishing a context would take way too long. Trust me on this: you'll have a lot of fun reading this book.

This list could go on and on, but here's the bottom line: 'Bannerman's Ghosts' is great reading.

I am a great admirer of John Maxim as a writer. He knows language and uses it beautifully. I have never read a more fascinating tour-de-force than the last third of "Trainman," which actually left me breathless! Now comes all the Bannerman books, about a good/bad guy you have to like and all the delicious people who surround him. The bad/bad guy starts out as someone powerful. wealthy and clever in this lastest Bannerman tale, but by book's end he has had his surface pealed away bit by bit.

So, this is a thoughtprovoking book that delves into the frightening realm of bioterrorism. You know it's fiction, but there is enough realism here to make you want to climb into bed and pull the covers over your head. You know it's fiction, but there's this sneaky feeling you're left with -- what if?
This is a great read!

When you can't live with 'em and you sure can't kill 'em, you just gotta love 'em - especially when it comes to Bannerman's dysfunctional little family.

When it comes to John Maxim and Bannerman's Ghosts, his latest in the epic Bannerman saga, (1) work interfered with my reading and the boss began to notice how much time I was spending in the bathroom, and (2) sadly, inevitably, I read the last page despite myself and must now begin the wait for the next installment (small price to pay for a bloody good time, though).

When it comes to the Bannerman lore, in sum, superlatives line all else.

Awesome - I am so glad to have Bannerman back. I can't wait for the next one. If you are a Bannerman fan, they are all here - Carla, Molly, the twins, Susan, it's great.