Customer Reviews

Five Star First Edition Mystery - Memorial Day

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(0)
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Harry Shannon burst onto the scene with his first novel, Night of the Beast, in 2002. That book that put him on the map in the horror field, and was soon followed by the second, Night of the Werewolf. His horror trilogy, a tribute to classic 1980s pulp, will conclude in August, 2004 with Night of the Daemon. Now with Memorial Day (A Mick Callahan Novel) Shannon has yet again put his name on the map in a big way--this time in the mystery genre.

Mick Callahan, the troubled young protagonist, has led a fascinating life, one that mirrors author Shannon's own past as an actor, singer, Emmy-nominated songwriter and now counselor in private practice. A recovering alcoholic, ex-TV pop psychologist and a former Navy SEAL washout, Mick has returned to his hometown of Dry Wells, Nevada to host a radio talk show with high hopes of finally cleaning up his life. While out jogging, he comes across a dead body near a back alley dumpster, a crime the local sheriff apparently wants to cover up. When a distressed young girl who called his radio show is found murdered the very next day, Callahan is reluctantly persuaded to investigate the crimes on his own. Naturally, he immediately starts making enemies. To find the truth, Mick, who is a skilled therapist, must first probe into the lives of Dry Wells most respected residents. When he does, he ends up placing himself in several sticky situations.

This clever noir tale which ultimately leads up to one wild, climactic ending that takes place on Memorial Day is a fast paced read with unforgettable characters and several exciting plot twists. It not only comes recommended to mystery fans, but also to fans of Harry's past intoxicating and pleasurable horror genre novels. In fact, Harry Shannon's debut mystery novel screams for another installment featuring the loveable Mick Callahan.

Harry Shannon has pulled off a terrific thriller with Memorial Day, with echoes of James Lee Burke--vivid characters, connections from the past rising up in the present, compelling suspense. Let's keep our fingers crossed for more Mick Callahan.

Memorial Day rocks. This is my first Harry Shannon book and I am hooked. There are no little girls or horses having fun (I don't understand the comparison, someone thinking they are cute).There is crime , mystery, great settings, and a really good story. I thought the book was well paced and I look foward to more from Mr. Shannon.

The writing is tight, focused, and filled with colorful, vivid character and setting descriptions. Strong character and plot development that definitely winds together very well by the end. Mick Callahan has enough depth and emotion to make for a great series of novels. Hope to see more from him.

I couldn't put it down. Harry Shannon grabs you, pulls you into the story, the desert, the town, and Callahan's headspace. A tightly woven plot of twists and turns, you get a true feeling for Mick Callahan as he relates to your own vulnerabilities, sense of adventure, hurdles, and murder? (I thought I was investigating) Well, it's that good...give it a read, you'll want more! I look forward to Harry Shannon's next story.

In Beverly Hills, Psychologist Mick Callahan was a media superstar, but let fame get to head as women and booze began to destroy him. He finally reached bottom when he cut off an abused battered woman because he was too busy and as a result of his neglect she died.

Taking his guilt with him and trying to start over, Mick returned home to Dry Wells, Nevada where he has a radio talk show in which no one calls until a woman, who refuses to provide her name so he dubs her "Ophelia", breaks the silence. She insists she loves an abusive con man and fears for her life. Not long afterward the caller is dead. Though he knows he should mind his business after being warned off by Sheriff Bass over a corpse he found, he obsesses over finding out the truth even if it means his return to Los Angeles is delayed. Though the truth is out there if Mick comes to close to it he will be dead too.

This is an exciting amateur sleuth tale starring a former hedonist who learned first hand the down side of fame. The story line is crisp once Mick begins his inquiries as Harry Shannon insures the audience comprehends how difficult life is for the hero now that he is no longer on top, but instead scratching just to attain the lowest rung of the food chain. Though his own childhood memories seem out of place (even if he is home) within the investigative tale, fans will appreciate Mick's memorable MEMORIAL DAY.

Harriet Klausner

Writers hate being compared to other writers, but Shannon and his protagonist, Mick Callahan, made me think of John D. MacDonald and Travis McGee. Callahan is worldly and competent, but he's driven by his own inner demons to get himself about six feet over his head in deep and turbulent waters.

Shannon sucks you into the world of Dry Wells, Nevada, and if you're like me, you'll become very impatient with anything that comes between you and your reading.

I'm looking forward to many more exciting mysteries from Shannon! I'm withholding a star from MEMORIAL DAY only because I'm confident that Shannon will get even better as time goes by.

Harry Shannon keeps the tone just melancholy enough, and the pace lively. Mick, the reluctant sleuth with a past to overcome; Jerry - nerd with a new cause; and Mick's long-distance but very helpful sponsor, all make for an intriguing investigative team. You almost wish they'd just open up an office already, but the crime-solving isn't Shannon's only subject. Taking his own experience as a therapist and applying it to the explosively dysfunctional small-town dynamic allows him to make some Chandlerian observations regarding his environment, imbuing it with an almost Lynchian decadence that, while by no means completely original, still has the power to enthrall, illuminating the dark side of the human condition while entertaining with more than enough crime and violence to make one forget the traditional big city as noir setting ... Shannon's first mystery signals a new arrival on those wet noir streets, where the gumshoe's conscience is stronger than his greed and whose calling is tilting at windmills. Mick's the sort who goes from suspect to suspect, pretending he knows more than he does, painting a bullseye on his own back. And that's pretty hard-boiled after all. Let's hope he doesn't resurrect his TV career just yet - he should have several investigations left in him after this exhausting case. You'd like to have a beer with Mick Callahan, except that he'd have a soda because he's in the program. Memorial Day reads like a smooth whiskey with a beer back (if you're not in the program). -- From my review at The Chiaroscuro

Harry Shannon has quickly become one of the brightest new voice in horror fiction. But what happens when a talented horror writer tries his hand at writing a noir violent thriller? Well, the result is Memorial day, and engrossing, original and compelling read that surprises at every turn.

Mike Callahan is no longer shining in the spotlight. After years of boosing and abuse, he has finally decided to go down the sobriety route. He moves back to his hometown of Dry Wells and takes a job as a radio host in the hopes of finding redemption and maybe even solace. But on his very first night on the air, Callahan receives a call from a distressed young woman who just wants to talk. He quickly becomes uneasy with the conversation and stops it just as his show ends. Then, on his way home, Callahan finds the body of a dead man lying in the street.

Days later, the daughter of the richest man in town is murdered. Was she the young girl who called his show? And who in the small town of Dry Wells can be trusted? Well, no one it seems, save for one young man who befriends Callahan and helps him in his investigation. Of course, Callahan quickly becomes a suspect himself and must uncover the town's darks secrets before it is too late. This is the kind of scenario where everyone is a suspect. The impeding feel of paranoia grabs you by the gut and doesn't let go of you until the very last page.

I will not say any more about the book because I do not want to ruin a completely, all-around enjoyable read. What I will say is that Callahan was one of my favorite characters in years; he can be compared to Chandler's Marlowe or Connelly's Harry Bosch. And Shannon's style never tires. His book always have this frantic quality to them that makes you keep on turning the pages way past your bedtime. His characters are vivid, realistic and always flawed, something I wish more authors could make use of.

I've already read Memorial Day twice. I can't wait to read the next Callahan novel, or Shannon's next for that matter. Do yourself a favor and discover one of the most entertaining new voice in genre fiction. It's been a while since we've had the chance to encounter such an original voice. Shannon's future seems very bright indeed.

Harry Shannon's Night of the Beast and Night of the Werewolf are taut and breakneck horror fiction, and his excursion into the mystery/detective genre only builds on his skills as a storyteller. The character of Mick Callahan is smart, self-aware, and flawed, which makes him a most believable protagonist. Stuck in the craphole town of his childhood because of a string of bad breaks, misunderstandings, and a death for which he takes responsibility, Callahan is about to get his comeback break. But it's not going to come easily--he's discovered a corpse in an alleyway and now he can't get out of town, and the picture gets more cluttered as his own past failings, more deaths, and a palpable sense of isolation drive him deeper into the twisted history of this place. We're just as entwined in the mess as Callahan, and just as reluctant to walk away from it (the book, that is). Readers will be guessing and second-guessing all the way to the last moment, and still the author manages to dodge all presumptions. Shannon's got Callahan's character down, knows how to weave a plot, and has a great ear for dialog. We can only hope for more from Callahan (and Shannon) in the future. Now, how about a movie of this book?