Notorious

January 6, 2014
New York City journalist Maxine “Max” Revere, famed for her interest in cold cases and the star of this competent series debut from Brennan (Love Me to Death), is driven by the one case she never solved years before: the one that left Lindy Ames dead and Kevin O’Neal destroyed by the shadow of unproven suspicion. When Kevin commits suicide, Max returns home to Atherton, Calif., where she finds an insular community whose wealthy families—including hers—will close ranks rather than betray their own to the law. The recent shooting death of a construction worker at Atherton Prep, Max’s old high school, soon engages her. Despite the opposition of the local police, Maxine forges ahead in her quest for justice for the dead, but will her resolve hold when the trail leads back to her own family? While this first entry, reminiscent in many ways of TV’s Veronica Mars, lacks nuance, Brennan has set up a sound foundation for more complex future installments. Agent: Dan Conaway, Writers House.

February 1, 2014
New York Times best-selling author Brennan (Maximum Exposure, 2014, etc.) explores murder among the rich and arrogant in an exclusive California enclave. Maxine Revere is the illegitimate daughter of one of the heirs to a great California fortune. Beloved by her great-grandmother, who left her a fortune even though her own mother abandoned her, Max doesn't have to work, but she does anyway. And, since Max is also tall, willowy and drop-dead gorgeous, it only follows that she would be an investigative journalist with her own nationally televised show and four true-crime books under her belt. When Max returns to her hometown to attend the funeral of a good friend, she stirs up a hornet's nest by digging into two apparently unrelated murders, one of which took place more than a decade prior to her friend's death; she takes it upon herself to reopen the investigation and stumbles across the second murder. Throw in a hot male detective who rings all of her bells, a gay former Special Forces assistant bodyguard, a dysfunctional but extremely good-looking and rich family and more cast members than the phone book, and the constantly smug Maxine spends the majority of the time justifying putting her own life and those of others in danger while she plays amateur sleuth--that is, when she's not flaunting her wealth, good looks or power. The first few chapters of this book will either draw readers in or send them packing: Brennan introduces more than 15 characters by name in the prologue and first two chapters alone. Brennan's infodump style and tendency to linger over the perks of being Max Revere will do little for readers who demand substance over window dressing. A story that probably won't attract any new Brennan converts but will likely find favor with her hard-core fan base.

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from February 15, 2014
Investigative reporter Maxine Revere takes on cold cases both in print and on her cable TV show. In this introduction to the series, Max goes home to Atherton, California, a wealthy enclave outside of San Francisco. Kevin, Lindy, and Max were best friends all through school until their senior year when Lindy was murdered, and Kevin was accused but not convicted by the hung jury. Max stood by Kevin but later found out he had lied to her. Upon her return home, a new murder is committed, and Max finds herself looking into a couple of old mysteries and a new one. She also has to deal with her large, wealthy family; her former friends; and all their egos and infighting. Working with exspecial forces turned detective Nick Santini, in charge of the homicide, Max finds that she shares a work ethic and a strong mutual attraction with the young, good-looking, and smart Nick. But Max is able to go outside the law on occasion, and Nick finds her reckless streak both maddening and endearing. Fireworks erupt on more than one occasion, and it seems like the beginning of an interesting relationshipa terrific new series. Sandra Brown and Hank Phillippi Ryan fans will feel right at home.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)