Official Review: The Kahler Files #5 -- Maxwell's Silver ...

[Adedayo+23]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Kahler Files #5 -- Maxwell's Silver Hammer" by Eric Safflind.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is the fifth book in The Kahler Files series by Eric Safflind. Twenty-nine-year-old Barry Sandler’s life is upturned after saving the life of a distressed damsel whose car inexplicably blows up in the middle of DC traffic. Rescued damsels are supposed to be grateful, but Alexandra Blake is not your typical damsel. It soon becomes clear that someone is out to get either Barry or Alexandra or both of them. Or could the target be Alexandra’s scientist brother, who is working on a secret military defense project?

Iran plans to launch a nuclear missile at Israel, and the United States’ secret weapon appears to have been sabotaged. Ethan Blake, the head scientist in charge of the project cannot seem to make any headway. Are Iranian agents responsible for the sabotage, or could it be someone on the inside? The missile launch window is closing fast, and time is running out.

The book begins with a bang, quite literally, and the pace does not slow down much till the very end. The author’s attention to detail was reflected in the level of research that went into executing this book. It was both riveting and informative. The writing was concise, the story easy to follow, and the dialogue was flawlessly delivered. The characters had depth and were relatable. The romance that eventually blossomed between Barry and Alexandra did not feel rushed for the plot and was entirely believable. The story was more than adequately suspenseful, and there was no guessing who the bad guy was till the big reveal.

One of the things I liked about this book was that even though there were subtle hints at minor plotlines from the previous books in the series, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer can be enjoyed as a standalone novel without missing a beat. The writing was top-notch, delivering an action-packed, fast-paced thriller with laugh-out-loud moments when needed and undeniable cinematic appeal. I also appreciated how the author took his time developing Barry and Alexandra’s relationship. Forces beyond their control may have thrown them together, but that didn’t mean they had to fall in love. At least not right away. This is usually the case with a lot of storylines. I enjoyed their banter, and this, as well as the paranormal and adventure elements in the book, made for a lively and entertaining read. Safflind is an undeniably talented writer, and I look forward to checking out his other works.

On the downside, the book could do with a more animated narrator. It was submitted for review in an audio format. If I had not read the book’s description, I would have been reluctant to accept that I was listening to an action-packed thriller. It took determined focus, and constantly hitting rewind for the better part of the book, to fully grasp the flow of the story. Reading the Kindle sample on Amazon, it was hard to imagine that I was listening to the same book. The flat narration soured my reading experience just a bit.

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer undoubtedly deserves the maximum rating, but considering the flat narration of the audiobook, I am compelled to rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. Due to the strong language and graphic sex scenes, this book is not suitable for children. If you’re into fast-paced and action-packed thrillers with a dash of the paranormal, be sure to check out this book.

******
The Kahler Files #5 -- Maxwell's Silver Hammer
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Amy747]

Normally an educational and informative story would interest me but this particular subject probably wouldnt. Great review though.

[NetMassimo]

I like this kind of thriller and I don't mind strong language and sex scenes if they make sense in the plot. I think I'll avoid the audiobook though. Thank you for your review that made me discover this series of novels!

[PRECIOUSreads]

I'm not really a thriller fan but the story really captivates a reader. Of course the sex scenes and use of strong language gave the book a wider range of readers but I won't recommend it to people who find this kind of story upsetting. Good read though

[Nuru]

I love this kind of thriller and the stories makes my eyes glued on the book.Great review.

[Tonika632]

Stand-alone thriller that grabs you from the beginning. The plot is divine!

[Manang Muyang]

I don't think the audiobook would work for me, but thrillers are my thing so I'm interested. I am intrigued about the paranormal element, too. Are ghosts moonlighting as terrorists now?

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

I like that this book is a standalone book with subtle hints from previous books. Sounds like an action-packed book with some romance infused within it. I am interested as to why a damsel blew up and how it will all be sorted out. Thanks for the great review.

[jenny delacruz]

Wow! The review is a complete package! The book seems interesting enough and the descriptions mentioned in this review make it even more exciting. I would love to read this book (not listen to it in the audio format).

[Bles]

Why wouldn't Alexandra Blake be thankful after being saved, I mean that's the least she could do. Who's after her and Barry? I will find out by reading The Kahler Files #5 -- Maxwell's Silver Hammer by Eric Safflind. Congratulations to the author on the BOTD. Great review!

[ankushavhad]

Great review, Adedayo.
The fifth in The Kahler Files series books, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is a thriller plot tale, involving Iran’s nuclear missile targeting Israel, and some hands in the secret military defense project. A mystery tale, I guess. Wish to get thread connected, possible after reading previous books in the series. Te review is informative though. Thanks.

[OnawaBrewer]

Maxwell's Silver Hammer looks like a very interesting book. It sounds like it is action packed and fast moving, but I will opt-out of reading it until I can read the first 4 books.

[Leen282]

Good to know this book can be read as a standalone even if it's number 5 in the series.

[Jorge Leon Salazar]

The fifth book in the series The Kahler Files by Eric Safflind. A fast-paced, action-packed thriller with a hint of the paranormal. The plot has to do with military secrets, international espionage, and also romance. It sounds very interesting.

[JeanyJean]

This is an amazing review. However the strong language and sex scenes make it a book I wouldn't read