Maxwell, John 1965–

PERSONAL: Born 1965, in New York, NY. Education: Attended New York University film school.

ADDRESSES: Home—New York, NY. Agent—c/o Scribner Publicity Dept., Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

CAREER: Sound recordist and author. Former production assistant for rock videos. Sound recordist for film and television.

WRITINGS:

Point Fury, Scribner (New York, NY), 2002.

ADAPTATIONS: Film rights to Point Fury were purchased by Warner Brothers.

SIDELIGHTS: John Maxwell's debut novel, Point Fury, tells the tale of Chris Nielson, a twenty-nine-year-old musician who has recently become a drifter after being cast out of his rock band and dumped by his girlfriend. When a family friend, Ted Harper, hears his tale of woe, he asks Chris to house sit for him. Chris moves to the wealthy businessman's extravagant beach house on a remote island off the Maryland coast. Here he begins to reflect on his life, recover from his cocaine addiction, and write music without distractions, except for Caroline, an actress and Ted's gorgeous neighbor, who suddenly appears on the island. Caroline tells Chris about her own troubled life, but when her story becomes muddled, Chris begins to think Ted has manipulated the situation in order to encourage positive changes in the young man's life. An angered Chris seeks revenge by interfering in Ted's personal life, but when the wealthy businessman reacts with furor and reveals his covert connections to influential and dangerous people, Chris suddenly finds himself prisoner to a psychopath. As more secrets are revealed, Chris realizes that his mistakes may end up costing him his life.

While many reviewers of Point Fury compared Maxwell to such mystery and suspense writers as Anthony Shaffer, Stephen King, and John Fowles, Smoky Mountain News contributor Jeff Minick revealed in an online review that the book is "a finely tuned suspense story that deserves to stand on its own," without comparison to authors established in the genre. Similarly, Booklist contributor Carrie Bissey maintained that Point Fury is "a promising debut thriller," and in a review for Allreaders.com, Harriet Klausner found it to be "the ultimate in suspense." Klausner went on to describe the novel as "darkly foreboding and atmospheric," further commenting that Maxwell's "very well designed novel… can't be put down."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 1, 2002, Carrie Bissey, review of Point Fury, p. 22.

Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2002, review of Point Fury, p. 67.

Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2002, review of Point Fury, p. 14.

Publishers Weekly, January 21, 2002, review of Point Fury, p. 60.

ONLINE

Allreaders.com, http://www.allreaders.com/ (January 20, 2006), Harriet Klausner, review of Point Fury.

Smoky Mountain News Web site, http://www.smokymountainnews.com/ (September 25, 2002), Jeff Minick, "Revealing the Secrets of the Soul," review of Point Fury.

eReader.com, http://www.ereader.com/ (January 23, 2006), "Authors: John Maxwell."