Mystery Writing-The John Keegan Mystery Series

  Writing Ghosts of Days Gone By and Fourth Gear : A Tale of Justice, Closure, and Lingering Revenge When I was working on Ghosts of Days Gone By and Fourth Gear , there was one concept that kept coming back to me: the idea of revenge. Not the kind of flashy, movie-style revenge, but the slow-burn kind that lurks beneath the surface, shaping decisions and relationships over time. Both of these novels explore how long-buried resentments and unresolved issues can affect a person—whether it’s Keegan or his old partner Matty Long. In Fourth Gear , revenge plays a more subtle role. While Keegan is trying to close a case that dates back to the early days of his career, there’s more at stake than just solving a crime. His partner Matty Long is back, and Matty’s history is still haunting them both. If you’ve read Third and Long , you know Matty had his share of issues with other cops, bad blood that never really got resolved. Those tensions were left to fester, and now, with the past coming

 After the intense partnership dynamics of The Lies That Bind Us , where readers experienced Detective John Keegan's world from both his and Pauline's perspectives, Ghosts of Days Gone By marks a return to a pure Keegan voice. But this time, it’s different. Pauline, his wife and frequent partner in crime-solving, is absent. And her absence is felt everywhere. In Ghosts of Days Gone By , Keegan is plunged into a case that reverberates with echoes from his past, forcing him to revisit old wounds—both professional and personal. This novel brings us back to the Keegan of earlier books, before he had Pauline to rely on, before Death Knell changed everything. Without Pauline’s grounded presence, Keegan is left grappling with his own demons, insecurities, and the crushing weight of his memories. Her absence is a palpable presence throughout the book, serving as both a void and a ghost, haunting Keegan at every turn. A Life Without Pauline – But Not Without Her Ghost I didn't rea