Mystery Writing-The John Keegan Mystery Series

Writing  Ghosts of Days Gone By : When Keegan Stands Alone I am editing the next Keegan novel, and one that sets up the logical end of the series. That's tough for me, as Keegan's been around as long as I have been writing, and change can be difficult. Plus, I want to make sure the setup works here, as the next books rely on it.  While reading through it, I see the struggle Keegan has with change as well. He hasn't lost anything yet, but I know what's coming, and just his temporary separation from Pauline screams as wrong, even if it is necessary. When you're with someone that means so much to you, time away feels like the loss of a limb, a misplacing of something so important, you walk around in circles in the same room desperately trying to track it down.  Keegan faces this as tensions in the NYPD bear on him. He has a television show that's doing well and his last case brought way too much attention. There comes a time in every detective’s career when they lo...

When I started writing the Keegan series, I didn’t set out to write just another detective story. The world has plenty of those—sharp-jawed sleuths brooding over whiskey, twisted killers taunting police with cryptic riddles. What I wanted was something different. Not a story about murder, but a story about people. Sure, homicide is the catalyst. It kicks things into motion, forces my characters into late nights, bad coffee, and moral dilemmas that don’t wrap up neatly by the last chapter. But at its core, the Keegan series is about the impact of crime—on the victims, the families, and most of all, the people who investigate it. The Keegan Difference: Humor, Introspection, and Family (the Found and the Stubbornly Sticking-Around Kind) John Keegan isn’t your typical detective. He’s sharp, yes. Persistent, absolutely. But he’s also tired in a way that isn’t just about long hours and cold cases. He’s a man constantly processing the world around him, trying to make sense of both the crimes ...

 Click image to buy from Amazon   Revisiting All in a Row : Streamlining the Chaos Without Losing the Core Every writer knows the feeling of looking back at their earlier work and wondering, "What was I thinking ?" Not in the sense of regretting the story itself—no, I’m still immensely proud of All in a Row , the first sequel to Soft Case . But the more you write, the more you evolve as a storyteller. And as I’ve matured, I’ve realized that the original version of All in a Row had a bit more Keegan-esque rambling than it probably needed. I needed to also consider phrasing and terminology that speak better to the genre and a modern audience at the same time. So, when the opportunity came to revisit this book—while working on its narrative tie-in to Never Look Back and fleshing out the retro series—it felt like the right time to streamline the prose and tighten up the pacing. The result? A sharper, faster-paced novel that stays true to the heart of the story while being bette...

When Two Paths Diverge: Crafting Parallel Stories and a Dual Narrative For years, Keegan's wife, Pauline, has nudged me for more space in the novels. So, in The Fallen , she gets it, taking a bigger role in the story. But that didn't satisfy the call for more attention. I felt she deserved something more detailed, that she had a larger story to tell. So, I took a shot at doing something I thought I might regret. Turns out, I hit on something that rang true. One of the most exciting turns in writing the John Keegan Mystery Series arrived with The Lies That Bind Us . In that novel, I experimented with a dual narrative—shifting between John Keegan’s investigation and Pauline McCrory Keegan’s covert search for answers. It created an immediate tension: two detectives (though Pauline technically isn’t one) entwined in the same case, yet walking very different roads. The challenge was to capture both perspectives within a single book without diminishing either character’s depth or mot...

  Wrapping Up Third and Long : Editing, Continuity, and Crafting the Keegan We Know Today Let me tell you something about editing: it’s a game of chicken between you and your manuscript. You sit there, coffee in hand (or Red Bull) daring the words to blink first. With Third and Long , I stared into the abyss of Detective John Keegan’s third retro outing and, let’s just say, the abyss gave me plenty to work with. I had a vision for this book, as it sets up the climax of the retro series, and dictates the two or three books afterward.  This book, more than any before it, is about becoming . It’s the story of a younger Keegan navigating the messy road to becoming the detective we know today. But here’s the catch: when you’re writing someone’s "origin story," you’re walking a tightrope. How do you make the rookie version of a beloved character feel fresh, while still leaving breadcrumbs for the readers who know his future? Oh, and let’s not forget the continuity errors. Those lit...

Crafting Mysteries: Writing Intrigue and Building Relationships in the Keegan Series When it comes to creating a compelling mystery series, it’s not just about the cases—it’s about the people solving them. The relationships between Detective John Keegan, his wife Pauline, their trusted allies, and the adversaries they face add depth and resonance to the series. These connections, professional and personal, form the backbone of each story, weaving together a narrative that’s as much about the people involved as it is about the crimes they unravel. The Intricacies of Relationships in the Keegan Universe Detective John Keegan is the quintessential flawed hero. He’s introspective, sarcastic, and deeply committed to his work. However, his relationships—especially with Pauline, Karl Lavin, Jacob, Captain Geiger, and Amy—are what make the series stand out. Pauline, an undercover officer and John’s wife, shares a partnership that blends humor, tension, and unwavering support. They’re not the p...