Five Star First Edition Mystery - Memorial Day (Hardcover)

by Harry Shannon (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Meet Mick Callahan, a former television talk-show psychiatrist foiled by his own ego (and a penchant for liquid refreshment). Now he's earning an undistinguished living as a radio host in Dry Wells, Nevada (a place for which the phrase "small town" is too grandiose). But, several years after his self-inflicted downfall, things are looking up: in a few days, he has an interview for a job that will return him to television. The only roadblock is the potential for scandal surrounding the murder of a young woman caller to his show. Mick needs to find out whodunit before the case can foul up his job opportunity. First-novelist Shannon gives the amateur-detective theme a nice little twist by giving his hero a deadline--and a self-centered one at that. The crisply detailed small-town desert setting adds to the novel's sense of freshness. Callahan isn't the first psychiatrist-detective hero, but he's certainly one of the more memorable. Let's hope he's around for a long run. David Pitt
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Review
". . . a fast, edgy, twisty, modern noir thriller . . ."
-- Bill Pronzini, author of The Nameless Detective novels (20040514)

"Recommended reading for any mystery fan, a tale you will enjoy all the way through. This book will have you looking for other books by Harry Shannon. Enjoy."
--Murder and Mayhem Bookclub (June 2004) (Murder and Mayhem 20040501)

"A completely winning, engaging first mystery. Memorial Day isn't a strict whodunit or howdunit, though it masquerades as the former. It's located squarely in the grey area between the noir school and that of the breezier, more modern mysteries—as well as playing off a long-standing amateur sleuth tradition...Shannon keeps the tone just melancholy enough, and the pace lively...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...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)."
--The Chiaroscuro (UNKNOWN )

"What makes the novel especially good is the complexity of the characters...the book never drags. The author creates genuine tension by keeping us interested in the characters, so we want to know what will happen to them next. That is what makes Memorial Day a page-turner. The dialogue is snappy and realistic without being too aware of itself--the people in the story actually seem to be talking to each other rather than reading lines...Every author tries to achieve this effect, but they are not always successful. Harry Shannon's noir debout is a good read all the way around. Recommended."
--Cemetary Dance (June 2004) (Cemetary Dance )

"Mick's road to redemption is wry, bittersweet, and altogether touching in this notable and brilliant new addition to the mystery genre. And Mick is all we love to see in a fallen hero; vulnerable, insightful, and just simply a likable guy. The secondary characters also shine, especially young Jerry who is funny, sweet, and charmingly na$#239ve. Shannon picks apart this small desert town with finesse and grace, and gives the reader a poignant and stirring story that is also filled with suspense and just the right amount of darkness. We hope to see more of this wonderful cast and crew from an author who has proven he's got what it takes to excel."
--New Mystery Reader Magazine (May 2004) (UNKNOWN )

"Mick Callahan, once a famous pop psychologist, now a recovering alcoholic, retreats to his small-town roots in Dry Wells, NV. There, two sudden murders, probably connected, get his attention. One of the victims had asked him for help, just as a Beverly Hills woman had done three years earlier and met the same fate. So he sticks around, jeopardizing a Hollywood audition, to question suspects, antagonize the richest family in town, help a computer-nerd friend, and solve the murders. Big-city problems in a little town tackled by a likable hero result in a most promising first mystery."
--Library Journal (May 2004) (Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: Five Star; 1 edition (May 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594141991
• ISBN-13: 978-1594141997
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,572,834 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A first-class first mystery!, June 2, 2004

By	Jonathan Reitan (Oregon) - See all my reviews

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid thriller, July 15, 2004

By	Jeff Mariotte (Southeastern Arizona) - See all my reviews

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS NO SUNNYBROOK FARM CRAP, June 25, 2004

By	Kenneth Epstein "huntercat" (Lake Oswego, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.