The Maw by Taylor Zajonc is an adventure novel that takes place in modern-day Africa -- Tanzania to be exact. Milo Luttrell is a history professor who has a career downturn. He is likely to be out of a job because of his inability to publish outside of a personal blog. He risked his career on publishing a paper on Lord Riley DeWar that turned out to be incorrect. He has only a few friends left in academia and not much hope of a career. Milo's head of the department tells him of a project that may keep him on for another semester. The project is a mystery. Hesitantly, Milo accepts and finds himself with a Female black British lawyer as his chauffeur. He receives no new information until he signs the nondisclosure agreements. Dale Brunsfield, a billionaire, explorer, investor wants the historian for a mission into the only super cave in Africa. Milo's role, as a historian in the cave adventure, is to provide insight into the DeWar exposition's disappearance in 1901. Brunsfield believes DeWar's group was lost in the cave and Milo is there to document and provide historical insight to Dewar. Also included in the team, along with the chauffeur, is a television documentary team, and a medical doctor, who just happens to be Milo's former girlfriend.

As entertainment this The Maw delivers. The story moves at a good pace and manages to add to the realism of a cave adventure. Milo adds history and the medical doctor adds not only medical aid but also information on disease that may still be lingering in the cave. Needless, to say there are more complications and twists than originally expected. The writing is well done and the story keeps the reader's attention throughout. Well-done and entertaining. ( )

The Maw by Taylor Zajonc is a highly recommended action/adventure story set in a supercave in Tanzania.

Milo Luttrell is a historian who is mysteriously invited to Tanzania under the pretense of a project that may help him keep his job. When he arrives he discovers he has been invited by Dale Brunsfield, a billionaire explorer, to join an expedition that will be exploring a new supercave. Milo has been invited because of his research into the life of famed explorer Lord Riley DeWar. Dale believes that DeWar's last, lost expedition may have been to this cave and he needs Milo along for his expertise. Milo, who has no spelunking experience, is joining the team of seven that just happens to include his ex-girlfriend and a reality TV show star.

This is a thrilling adventure story that is full of intrigue and suspense. There are enough complications and emergencies in the narrative to leave you expecting a unanticipated catastrophe around even corner. The descriptive passages make you even more cognizant of the unknown discovers awaiting along with the danger as the situation deteriorates for the expedition. Zajonc keeps the pace quick, moving the plot along, as the challenges mount. The Maw will hold your attention throughout.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Skyhorse Publishing. ( )

A historian with a particular speciality, Milo Luttrell is recruited for a dangerous expedition into an underground cave system larger than any other in Africa in THE MAW by Taylor Zajonc. According to the information Milo has been provided, eight people (including Milo) are searching for an infamous lost explorer from the turn of the 20th century who Milo happens to be an expert on. As the cave exploration deepens and several clues are stumbled upon, it becomes clear that this mission is wrought with problems and false pretenses. The real question becomes, what are they really looking for and will they survive to tell the tale?
Part of me is yearning to go cave exploring while the other part of me wants to never go near a cave and tell everyone I love to avoid them. That's what make a good story, it excites and scares at the same time. Zajonc has crafted a story with eight very interesting and well thought out characters and placed them in a perilous, beautiful and certainly unique setting of a giant underground cave system. I was reminded of Preston & Child books while I was reading THE MAW, where ancient discoveries and true intentions are slowly doled out and the truths that are revealed are layered, surprising, and yet completely believable within the context of the book.
I really had a fun time reading THE MAW and I'll just leave this one last thought: the ending is monumental and profound and I didn't see it coming at all.
Thank you to Skyhorse Publishing, Taylor Zajonc, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ( )