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Welcome to the Home of Detective Kyle McNally
BOOK ONE OF THE KYLE McNALLY DETECTIVE SERIES
In Canarytown, City of Grief, a police detective pursues a serial killer stalking the streets of a south Chicago neighborhood and learns that what first looked to be random murders are not random at all. It’s urban Chicago circa 1995, and a street- savvy police detective, Kyle McNally, has the lead on a task force following the trail of an interstate serial killer. The investigation tracks McNally and his antagonist, appropriately tagged “Slugger,” through a maze of suspects, political conspiracies, and unconscionable human greed. Time is against McNally, and with each new victim, the heat on him from his commander increases.
The story exudes a noir detective aura populated by a supporting cast of criminals, cohorts, and dark city scenes that will strike a familiar chord with crime detective story enthusiasts.
With the capture, interrogation, and disappointing release of each new suspect, McNally’s frustration and desperation deepens. He must overcome the loss of two partners and his own personal demons before he can crawl inside the killer’s head and solve the case.
During the investigation, he meets a feisty but attractive medical examiner, Dr. Mykel Hartley, with a reputation as a man hater. After overcoming their early dislike for each other, a relationship develops between them. But it is Dr. Hartley’s own secret past that may ultimately hold the identity of the evil genius, the Slugger.
“In this debut Chicago-set crime novel, police nickname a brutal serial killer Slugger because he beats his victims with a “bat-like weapon” and leaves a folded, collectable baseball card.
…fans of gritty crime stories and methodical police work will find the book a page-turner, complete with notable characters, dialogue, and descriptions (He guessed her at six foot two and skinny as a Ball Park frank”). Names and depictions of Chicago attractions and streets are accurate, with the exception that Canarytown is most likely a stand-in for Canaryville, a community on the city’s South Side that was originally a largely Irish neighborhood.
The authors hit this one out of the park; a highly recommended mystery.”
- Kirkus Indie
BOOK TWO OF THE KYLE McNALLY DETECTIVE SERIES
In Cigar City Crimes, Triple Jeopardy, former Chicago Police Detective Kyle McNally now owns and operates the Paladin Detective Agency in Ybor City, Florida. He’s a gifted sleuth, being called ‘an honorable man living in a world that cares little for such virtues.’
Kyle and his now-fiancée, Dr. Mykel Hartley, a Medical Pathologist, have moved to Tampa, Florida. With their wedding date two weeks away, an approaching category four hurricane threatens their plans. Kyle discovers their marriage is also jeopardized by an unexpected catastrophic incident.
He is joined at Paladin by his clever young friend and former partner from the Chicago P.D., Tony Petrocelli. Together, they work to solve the case of a recent client, convinced by signs from her astrological charts that her life is in grave danger. He not only pursues the truth of his astrology-spooked client, but is also asked to consult with the Tampa police by another friend and former ex-Chicago detective, Leo Davidson. Tampa Police Department is stymied in tracking a merciless serial killer. He calls himself “Y2K,” and his moniker echoes the threat posed to both international business and banking industries at the turn of the 21st century.
Fast-paced and well crafted, Triple Jeopardy is populated by unforgettable characters who interact in fascinating settings, moving from urban Tampa, south to the coastal Sarasota Marinas. When the novel arrives at the pulse-pounding conclusion, the believable actors and relentless, rapid-fire scenes combine to leave noire detective fans immensely satisfied.
Update: Cigar City Crimes, Triple Jeopardy, Book two in the Kyle McNally Detective Series is now available at fine booksellers everywhere!
BOOK THREE OF THE KYLE McNALLY DETECTIVE SERIES
Hungry for more of Kyle McNally's, Paladin Detective Agency adventures? Look for Book Three, tentatively titled Cigar City Crimes, Dead Man's Hand, scheduled for release in the fall of 2026.
M. Brooke McCullough was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in LaGrange, Illinois. During her teen years, she developed a love of reading, starting with the Nancy Drew mystery books, and later became an avid fan of the entire detective/crime genre. In preparing to write this story, two things were clear: it would be about a detective, and must take place in Chicago. Early in 1992, she committed to writing her first novel and began putting pen to paper. Her lengthy career with the secret service and federal court system afforded her many insights into criminal behavior and motivation, which she relied on to create the "Canarytown, City of Grief" story.
Joel Boydston, a retired Professor Emeritus, has an extensive background in education and publishing. He produced a popular annual reference guide for school personnel in the U.S. while serving as the Technical Manager and Consultant in a central Florida school district. For fifteen years, he served as a Professor of Networking Technologies. A Vietnam Veteran, he earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for valor during his tour.
He loves crime stories prominently featuring hard boiled detectives in the style of Lew Archer, Philip Marlowe, and Alex Cross. Boydston and McCullough are currently preparing Book 3 in the Kyle McNally detective story, Cigar City Crimes, Dead Man's Hand.
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