Bannerman's Ghosts Reviews

• something's going on in suburbia

  
  By A3QVAKVRAH657N on 2003-04-02
  The central conceit of recent films like True Lies and Spy Kids has been seeming mundane husbands, wives, and
  parents who turn out to be top secret agents. John Maxim goes them one better and imagines that much of
  Westport, Connecticut is peopled by semi-retired agents, loosely led by Paul Bannerman, who have all gotten out of
  the game (almost) and are trying to settle down to stable marriages, child-rearing, running small shops, and an
  especially adept neighborhood watch program.

  In this entry in the successful series, Bannerman has to set his travel agency business to one side just long enough to
  deal with Artemus Bourne, a megalomaniacal villain (is there any other kind) who's threatening Westport with a
  bioterror attack because he wants help finding famed assassin Elizabeth Stride, the Black Angel, a former colleague of Bannerman, whose
  supposedly-dead ex-boyfriend, an East German named Martin Kessler, has interfered in his African diamond and arms smuggling business. The
  interference in this case takes the form of sending Bourne the heads of three evil minions. Bannerman's "Ghosts", so called because they've
  disappeared from the world of black-ops, are galvanized into reasonably exciting action amidst presumably tongue-in-cheek worries about their
  domestic situations. Mr. Maxim utilizes just enough realistic background setting--like the genuine threat of Marburg virus--to give the story
  weight, but a light enough touch to keep it amusing, rather than melodramatic.

  Fans will be gratified that he brings together characters from a host of his prior books, while newcomers will have no trouble catching up. It's brisk
  entartainment with just a hint of satire, or so one assumes.

  ...Grade: (B)
  
  

• How Do I Love This Book? Let Me Count The Ways'

  
  By ANZ35FVJ6TPHG on 2003-05-07
  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.
  
  

• Bannerman's Ghosts is a Must Have for collectors and fans

  
  By A2UPR9R6YLAWSN on 2003-03-26
  It feels like forever between one Bannerman book and the next, but they're well worth the wait! Once again, John Maxim has done a superb job of bringing these characters to life in Bannerman's Ghosts. It kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next! The subject (bio terrorism) is timely -- and scarey -- but leaves the reader with a sense of hope for tomorrow. Mr. Maxim never disappoints!
  
  

• Bannerman's Ghosts

  
  By A2884Q11ZXSEUY on 2003-04-13
  My only complaint about this book is that I had to wait too long for it to come out. Now I find out that the new book, The Bannerman's Prophecy won't be out for another eight or more months.

  John R. Maxim is the world's greatest storyteller. I consider this book to be one of his best. He is an expert in weaving the background history of his characters into the new story. For the first time reader of Maxim's books they shouldn't have any difficulty to figure out who Bannerman and his "ghosts" are.

  I had a difficult time putting it down once I started reading it the first time. The story made me laugh and cry all though the book. The characters seem so real, I can almost imagine what Bannerman, Carla and of course Waldo might look like. I'm not sure I would want to know if they were one of my neighbors.

  I highly recommend this book for anyone's library. I have reread all of Maxim's books that I have several times.
  
  

• "Bannerman's Ghost"

  
  By on 2003-03-26
  I have been waiting for this new addition to the "Bannerman" series and was not disappointed. I could not put this one down till I had read it cover to cover. Being a patrol officer, I appreciate the realistic avenues this book travels and the sense of humor which matches those of us in law enforcement. I was on the edge of my seat.
  
  
• John Maxim is Superb. And Bannerman is dynamite.
  By A10BFM0TPW8L44 on 2003-03-24
  That's what the sticker says on my jacket cover, quoting Iris Johansen, who is another of my favorites. And, wow, has she nailed it with just those eight words. My only complaint with Bannerman's Ghosts is that I waited too long for it and devoured it too quickly. I can't remember when I felt so many emotions in the course of reading a single book. It had me laughing out loud and then crying real tears, sometimes within the same page. It had me horrified, scared and wanting to cheer. It made me fall in love with three different characters.

  I hesitate, in fact, to refer to them as characters because they seem so utterly real and so human. It had me in awe of the research that Maxim must have done and wondering how he got his sources to talk to him. It made me wonder how Maxim knows Bannerman and his people so well. Especially Carla and Elizabeth Stride and my personal favorite, John Waldo. So, you know what I think? I think they are real. And I think that Maxim must be one of them.
  
  

• Bannerman's Ghosts
  By ALLJEWXCS0YU0 on 2003-04-04
  Great concept to go back to include the characters that created Maxim fans over past years. They are both believable as well as vicarious participation attracters! If I had just spent a little more time in preparation for the CIA exam, I might have been one of them myself!

  A very entertaining story, just complicated enough to keep a reader interested. I await the next one!
  
  

• Bannerman's Ghosts
  By on 2003-04-14
  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.
  
  
• Missing reviews
  By ARX8HKNXBUFLY on 2003-05-11
  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.
  
  
• Anxiously waiting.....
  By A1M14SYBLVJLZP on 2005-01-11
  I enjoyed "Bannerman's Ghost" as I have enjoyed all of Maxim's books, but I gave it only 4 stars because I found it hard to reconcile Martin Kessler's death with his resurection in this book. I know that we never "saw" the body in "Haven," but Kessler was exposed for a prolonged period to deadly radiation. His prospects did not look good.
  Putting that aside, and accepting that he did survive, I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
  My only real complaint is this: at the time of this writing it has been nearly two years since "Bannerman's Ghost" was released. John Maxim, I am anxiously waiting for your next book.
  
  
• Not only a page turning thriller but a possible future scenario
  By AAY8RYZNDDBVG on 2006-03-28
  This is a highly recommended novel that I found hard to put down - definitely a page turner! As in Maxim's other novels, events of today's culture are taken and woven into a excellent believable story. If the facts of this story can be taken at all as creditable, the bad guys don't even have to spread their virus' in the U.S.: assuming the incubation period prior to showing symptoms of these virus' is 3 to 5 days, a valid sceneario could consider infecting people (even without their knowledge) in another country then using scheduled airline flights move these infected carriers into population centers such as London, Paris, Geneva, New York, San Francisco, Tokoyo, or where ever international flights land. The other side of the world is ONLY 23 hours away by air travel! Scary Huh!! All of Maxim's books are worthy of being read and enjoyed!
  
  
• tongue in cheek thriller
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2003-03-27
  Artemus Bourne owns much of the world including most of the elite politicians around the globe. What he fails to possess, he plans to control soon. However, used to having his way always, he becomes livid when he receives a special package sent from his Angola based VaalChem company that is supposed to contain vials to profitably spread the plague. Instead he opens the container to find three severed heads from key men working for him on this venture.

  Bourne knows only one maniac who would defy him by sending such a deadly message, but important to the egotist is that no one gets away with interfering with Bourne's business. He retaliates by going after Martin Kessler through the abduction, torture, and murder of Elizabeth Stride, a legendary female assassin, known as the Black Angel that Bourne knows his enemy cherishes. Bourne's revenge comes to the attention of Westport, Connecticut's Paul Bannerman, a friend and associate of Elizabeth. Backed by his aging New England based commandos, Bannerman goes macho against the invincible Bourne and his paid assassins.

  John Maxim spreads plenty of fun with BANNERMAN'S GHOSTS, an amusing tale that is at its best when the testosterone flows. Flashbacks to when Bannerman's squad was younger provide insight into the hero and his sidekicks, but also take away from this tongue in cheek thriller co-starring a modernized Goldfinger. The plot is clearly absurd and insane, but still a great time for those readers who do not take their story lines as graveyard serious.

  Harriet Klausner
  
  

• Bannerman's Ghosts
  By A2884Q11ZXSEUY on 2003-04-13
  My only complaint about this book is that I had to wait too long for it to come out. Now I find out that the new book, The Bannerman's Prophecy won't be out for another eight or more months.

  John R. Maxim is the world's greatest storyteller. I consider this book to be one of his best. He is an expert in weaving the background history of his characters into the new story. For the first time reader of Maxim's books they shouldn't have any difficulty to figure out who Bannerman and his "ghosts" are.

  I had a difficult time putting it down once I started reading it the first time. The story made me laugh and cry all though the book. The characters seem so real, I can almost imagine what Bannerman, Carla and of course Waldo might look like. I'm not sure I would want to know if they were one of my neighbors.

  I highly recommend this book for anyone's library. I have reread all of Maxim's books that I have several times.
  
  

• MAXIM�S DYSFUNCTIONAL LITTLE FAMILY IS BACK
  By A3D0LX6H2DHI61 on 2003-05-03
  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.
  
  

• A Great Read
  By A1OS6EXVL62OFO on 2003-05-09
  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.
  
  
• All thrills
  By A3VMCKYN22X0CO on 2003-05-16
  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.
  
  

• I could take Elizabeth Stride!
  By A2DLVEG7Y80ERN on 2003-06-01
  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.
  
  
• Bannerman Returns!
  By AUGABW5AS2OXM on 2004-04-30
  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.
  
  
• Too much prologue
  By A9LAPV8XNKZVZ on 2004-08-28
  When the action happens, it works, but too much of the book is review of the characters and updates on their personal lives.
  
  
• These ghosts are very real
  By A2EYCL2ZT0PSTX on 2005-07-15
  I picked up a copy Bannerman's Ghost in an airport bookstore when faced with an unexpected flight delay. I had previously read Maxim's Whistler's Angel and had wanted to go back to read the Bannerman series. With the early books not available at the moment, I decided to start at the end of the series with Bannerman's Ghosts. Although I suspect that the book would have been better if I was more familiar with some of the characters that clearly had been part of Maxim's previous works, Bannerman's Ghosts was still a great story - fully capable to standing on its own. Maxim spins an intriguing story, effectively bouncing back between the present and the past while building to an exciting climax. This is a fast read that will not disappoint. I will now absolutely need to go back to start at the beginning of the Bannerman series and move forward.
  
  

• Bannerman's Promise
• The Bannerman Effect (Bannerman Novels)
• Bannerman's Law (Bannerman Novels)
• Whistler's Angel
• Haven