The Serpents Trail

A Maxie and Stretch Mystery Series

By: Sue Henry

Narrated by: Lee Adams

Retired Maxie McNabb isn’t sure how she’ll like living on the go in her RV. But once she’s on the Alaskan Highway with her mini-dachshund, Stretch, heading from her Alaska home to destinations in the Lower 48, she realizes that she loves the freedom of the road, and that she’ll do just fine. Unfortunately, all is not well in her first destination, Colorado Springs. Maxie’s terminally ill friend, Sarah, has a secret to tell her, but lapses into semiconscious delirium when Maxie finally gets there. At the same time, Sarah’s house has been burglarized, and the bumbling police have no idea why. Maxie is convinced that her friend's ravings have something to do with it. Death is approaching, and it may not be content with Sarah.

“Wonderfully evocative.”—Baltimore Sun

This Review Needs a title

Fun read, whodunit centered on Grand Junction Colorado. Maxi and her dog, Stretch live in a mini-winnebago and deal with the dearh of Maxis friend Sarah. Cover picture is Ansel Adams photograph site in Wyoming, not the Colorado Monument in Colorado.

Maxie definitely doesn't leap to conclusions

This is the second book in the series that I've listened to. What I like: the main character, Maxie, seems like a real person; the whole traveling by yourself life in a Winnebago is so fun to "ride along" on vicariously; and Stretch plays a pretty darn good second banana. What I don't like: at times, the narration sounds like a travelogue; at other times, a very boring monologue. The narrator can go into excruciating detail about a local landmark - I'm guessing to establish a sense of place - and what's tougher for me to take, can also go into excruciating detail about her inner thoughts on a barely relevant but not especially interesting topic just when the external action starts to pick up. And Maxie, because in some ways she is so slow and deliberate, can sometimes worry back and forth over a conclusion that seems so obvious. I find myself telling my CD player, "Duh - you think?" All in all, it's entertaining enough, but if you like your action to move along at a brisk pace, this author's style may drive you crazy.

need a different reader

Many place and street names mispronounced. Jarring for a local. Surely, it can't be that hard to learn the pronunciations for an area specific story!

Enjoyable

An easy summer read, or listen while gardening in my case. I'm just 3 years older than Maxie, and love the idea of a heroine of my generation. The series brings to mind " Murder, She Wrote" where everyone seems well off, and a bit homogenized but still I enjoyed it. There are just enough little twists to change your mind about whodunnit, although I found some things exasperating. Mainly after the 3rd or 4 th break in of Sarah's house why didn't Maxie change the damned locks? Ms. Adam's reading is easy and pleasant to listen to which for me is key for audio books.

A favorite series of mine!

I have listened to this book several times! I love both Maxie and Stretch! Wish there were more in the series!!