Customer Reviews

One of the Wicked, A Mick Callahan Novel (Five Star Mystery Series)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Radio talk show psychologist Mick Callahan is back and better than ever. In Shannon's follow-up to Eye of the Burning Man, Callahan reunites with an old friend of his from the Navy Seals, Bud "Bone" Stone. Stone is in trouble and asking for a favor--to keep an eye on an old girlfriend who might be a target of some very bad men--and Callahan (who seems to have a nose for trouble) owes him, big time. So he agrees to help, and is quickly pulled into a dizzying web of mob goons, missing money and double-crosses. Bud Stone has angered the wrong men, and as he goes in search of the cash and a mysterious "disk" that everyone in the country seems to want, Callahan is left behind to try to sort out the mess.

It isn't in Callahan's nature to avoid a fight. Embroiled in a complicated love-hate relationship with a policewoman he'd been dating seriously and supported by his regular cast of quirky characters, he sets out on his own to uncover the truth. One set of mob bosses leads to another. Callahan seems to be on the trail of the money and disk, only to have it whisked out from under him. Throw in the unexpected appearance of a family member he never knew he had, the loss of his radio show, and a trail of beaten and murdered suspects, and suddenly nothing in Mick's world seems safe. One thing is certain: the people after this disk are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure its safe return, and Mick Callahan and his friends are expendable parts in a very dirty and dangerous game.

One of the Wicked cements Shannon's ascent to the top of the mystery/thriller genre. His Callahan psychologist series is every bit as good as those from better-known writers such as Kellerman, Evanovich and Grafton. Mick is a flawed and complex hero who readers can't help but love, a man who will do anything to help a friend and, luckily, has many friends who will do the same for him. He grows and changes in interesting ways through each book, something that often cannot be said about other long-running and more well-known series leads. Mick is sure of his strengths, aware of others' motivations, and baffled by his own insecurities and weaknesses, a winning combination indeed.

One of the Wicked marks some of Shannon's best writing as well, particularly early scenes where Callahan is counseling patients. But the novel moves quickly and never bogs down. If anything, the plot is almost too confusing, with enough twists and turns to throw the most seasoned mystery reader for a loop. But Shannon manages to pull it all together in the end.

One of the best mystery-thrillers of the year, and there's still a lot of room for Callahan to breathe. Readers should pray for many more books in the series. Highly recommended.

I could not put the book down! With each page came more suspense, intrigue and surprises! This was my first Mick Callahan novel and it won't be the last. Well-written indeed! Bravo and 5 stars!

I'll confess I have a serious crush on psychologist Mick Callahan, who went from a self-involved, newly sober alcoholic ("Memorial Day") to knight in dinged and tarnished armour ("Eye of the Burning Man") and in this third novel ("One of the Wicked") becomes the unwitting, if not quite unwilling hero of a fast-moving, tough thriller. Booklist accurately calls this one the best in the series.

All of the familiar characters are back: the wise, empathetic, yet mysterious Hal (this character deserves a book of his own), Mick's resilient sidekick Jerry, and his hot-tempered love interest, Sgt. Darlene Hernandez. These characters are well defined, and their stories are nicely threaded into the plot. Bud "Bone" Stone is a terrific new addition to the ongoing cast. I hope he'll be back in the next novel.

This can't be the last outing for my favorite reformed bad boy. And someone needs to put this series into mass-market for more people to enjoy.

Psychologist Mick Callahna owes an old Navy buddy from way back. When Bud "Bone" Stone somes to collect, it doesn't seem like that6 big a deal. What could be so difficult about keeping an eye on Bone's ex-mistress while Bone takes care of some business? Mick should know better, because these kinds of favors usually turn into a big problem. And so this does.

Bone is trying to find some guys who ripped him off in a drug deal. Somehow, the major players turn out to be way higher up the gfood chain than anyone expects: Russian Mafia, major Mob, and possibly some governments. Mick gets beaten up, the ex-mistress is abducted, and then things get crazy.

Shannon can plot with the best of then, although hard-core readers of the genre will see some of the twists coming. Mick is a psychologist, which doesn't make him any better at dealing with his close relationships than most of us, just better at recognizing that he's being an idiot or a jerk. He's also a recovering alcoholic, trying to keep it together. His love life doesn't contribute to his stability, and neither does his past - both of which come back to kick his butt. Mick is a stand-up guy, trying his best to do the right thing; certainly this is a stock character, but Shannon makes him more interesting than some, more believable than most. ONE OF THE WICKED is the third in the Mick Callahan series, a series for lovers of thrilles.

This series competes effectively with most of the top mystery and thriller fiction around, but 'One of the Wicked' would be fine as a stand-alone. This one is built differently than the others, more people take center stage for entire chapters, the action is a mile a minute, and there's a brand new surprise character we'll all want to see again. Recommended.

It was difficult for me to put this down. I had to force myself to read only one (1) chapter a day. Harry Shannon's presentation of Mick Callahan is so endearing and fascinating...I wanted it to last for as long as possible. Great characters, great story and great writing. One can't guess where the next turn in the road is...excellent...I was loving it!

One of the Wicked is the third and probably (sadly!) final Mick Callahan novel. Others have explained the plot. Trying to help his friend Bone, Mick gets in deep with the Russian mob and has to come up with some fancy footwork to save the lives of his loyal friends. Solid mystery/thriller with a brisk sense of humor and a psychologists insight into the human condition. Five Stars. Come on Harry - give us one more!

In Los Angeles Bud "Bone" Stone visits his friend psychologist and radio talk-show host Mick Callahan to ask a big favor though they have not seen one another in years. Bone explains he owes money to a Vegas mobster who might harm his former girlfriend due to failed payments. He wants Mick to keep Brandi DeLillo safe while he finds a few hundred thousand to pay off dangerous Big Paul Pesci. Although he knows he needs to avoid trouble and is losing his radio spot to a right wing extremist with an IQ in negative numbers, Mick agrees because he owes Bone for saving his life during their Navy SEAL days.

Mick gets some of his friends to help him watch the woman. However, the case takes two nasty spins. Big Paul summons Mick to a chit chat in his casino in the Valley of Fire where he is told what to do or else he and compatriots will lose joints, limbs, and lives to his henchman Nikolaou Argetoianu. Also apparently Stone also stole money from a neighborhood dealer and Big Paul needs to send a loud message to wannabes even if that means killing Mick if he cannot immediately find Stone.

The third Callahan thriller (see EYE OF THE BURNING MAN and MEMORIAL DAY) ONE OF THE WICKED is an exhilarating tale that grips readers from the moment that Stone visits Mick and never slows down as the hero and his team try to protect Brandi and find Stone. The story line is fast-paced as a sober Mick begins to learn how deep in sh*t his friend really is. Even though the key cast (except somewhat AA alumni Mick) is never fully developed beyond one superficial trait each, the action is everything in this one sitting thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Mick Callahan is back in what is almost definitely the best entry in Harry Shannon's suspense series. This time Callahan reluctantly agrees to help a friend and as everyone knows, no good deed goes unpunished. He finds himself embroiled in a messy, dangerous, ugly situation. One of the Wicked is fast-paced, smart and endlessly enjoyable, as is everything else that this gifted author has published.

Oh and a new development from Callahan's past enters the story. Development, or should I say complication? It makes for a nice dramatic touch to the series and I hope to see a lot more of Mick in the future. The big lug is really growing on me.

This, the third Callahan novel, is the best of this young series, tightly plotted and sharply written. Mick continues to be a very compelling lead, a hero who is flawed in interesting but not incapacitating ways. With any luck this is still early days for this increasingly addictive series.

-- Booklist


The action keeps on coming in Mick's third case (Memorial Day 2004, Eye of the Burning Man, 2005, etc.).

--Kirkus Reviews

This was my first Mick Callahan book and it certainly won't be my last. Indeed I'll most likely go straight from here to Amazon to buy up copies of the rest of the series. Callahan, a former Navy SEAL turned therapist turned TV/Radio talk show host may describe himself as ONE OF THE WICKED but such is the life of a man who has dedicated his life to rescuing people including friends old and new from actual bad guys. The question is who are the bad guys of this story and the answer is your journey to discover.

With a cast of characters that only Harry Shannon could pull together, the story pulls you in and grabs your attention from the get go. It takes you on a wild ride of cops and robbers, gangsters and their women, thugs and drugs, a half sister Mick never knew existed and an ex-flame who happens to be a cop as they all try to keep ahead of each other to get their hands on the same incriminating evidence without getting killed. Oh yeah: He also fights to stay sober and maintain his integrity.

Mick Callahan opines that, "People constantly amaze me with their resiliency and capacity for change" and that it "keeps the work so interesting and rewarding." In my opinion it is Harry Shannon's gift for insightful characters and engaging prose that makes this book a thrilling read you won't want to put down.