John McMahon is the debut author of
“The Good Detective,” a fast-paced new thriller that
“The Good Detective,” a fast-paced new thriller that
introduces Detective P.T.
Marsh.
Detective Marsh is a hardened police detective barely getting
by—and drinking hard—in Mason Falls, Georgia. Not too long ago, Marsh was a
rising star on the police force. But the shocking deaths of his wife and son
have left him a shell of his former self. He’s reckless and adrift, though
still an ace detective with a passion for justice.
by—and drinking hard—in Mason Falls, Georgia. Not too long ago, Marsh was a
rising star on the police force. But the shocking deaths of his wife and son
have left him a shell of his former self. He’s reckless and adrift, though
still an ace detective with a passion for justice.
In lieu of me interviewing John McMahon, I
asked his main character, Detective P.T. Marsh to step in and do the honors.
asked his main character, Detective P.T. Marsh to step in and do the honors.
McMahon and Marsh sit down at a place
called Moonie’s Roadhouse in Flowery Branch, Georgia. It’s home to neither of
them, a favorite of McMahon’s and a good hour from home for Detective Marsh.
The good news – they both enjoy brisket and pulled pork.
called Moonie’s Roadhouse in Flowery Branch, Georgia. It’s home to neither of
them, a favorite of McMahon’s and a good hour from home for Detective Marsh.
The good news – they both enjoy brisket and pulled pork.
The food is brought out. A basket of
pork with slaw. Sweet barbecue sauce atop brisket. A couple sides of cream corn
and Brunswick stew, along with a plate of sliced turkey.
pork with slaw. Sweet barbecue sauce atop brisket. A couple sides of cream corn
and Brunswick stew, along with a plate of sliced turkey.
(Author) John McMahon – I hope you’re hungry.
(Detective) P.T. Mash – I’ve been on a case for 72 hours. I’m that odd mix of hungry
and exhausted.
and exhausted.
The two men dig in.
P.T. Marsh – So I’m supposed to interview you? That’s how this works?
McMahon – I’m an open book.
A beat.
McMahon – Sorry, I couldn’t help the pun, go ahead.
Marsh – You start “The Good Detective” with me being woken up in my
truck by some three-hundred-pound bouncer outside of a strip bar. Why start
there? It’s not flattering, falling asleep like that.
truck by some three-hundred-pound bouncer outside of a strip bar. Why start
there? It’s not flattering, falling asleep like that.
McMahon – Horace Ordell. He was on shift that night at The Landing
Patch. And you were screaming in your sleep, P.T. You were scaring Horace.
Patch. And you were screaming in your sleep, P.T. You were scaring Horace.
Marsh – He wasn’t scared of me. He’d tried to
extort me.
extort me.
McMahon – He did threaten you. What was the expression you
said about Horace?
said about Horace?
Marsh – If brains were leather, he wouldn’t have enough to saddle
a june bug.
McMahon – Exactly. And then you drive off because you remembered you
promised one of the club’s dancers that you’d help her out by teaching her
boyfriend a lesson.
promised one of the club’s dancers that you’d help her out by teaching her
boyfriend a lesson.
Marsh – Just a healthy talking to. The boyfriend was a Neo-Nazi. Maybe
one hit to the nose. A shot to the ribs. His friends will hardly notice the
scars.
one hit to the nose. A shot to the ribs. His friends will hardly notice the
scars.
McMahon – Except when your partner Remy picks you up the next morning to
head to your latest murder scene, it’s the boyfriend’s house you arrive at.
head to your latest murder scene, it’s the boyfriend’s house you arrive at.
Marsh – And I get that feeling. That bad feeling.
McMahon – I think I know why. There’s a boy who’s been murdered in
a very strange way. And initial accounts say the Neo-Nazi may have done it.
a very strange way. And initial accounts say the Neo-Nazi may have done it.
Marsh – Yeah, I don’t want to talk about the case.
McMahon – How does it feel to know you might have killed your prime
suspect?
suspect?
Marsh – We don’t comment on active investigations. Especially to
writers.
writers.
McMahon – Your prints are all over the boyfriend’s house.
Marsh – This food is suddenly not to my liking. And I thought I was the one asking questions.
McMahon – So ask me a question.
Marsh – What would I possibly want to know about a soft writer like
you?
you?
McMahon laughs.
McMahon – People are getting nervous in Mason Falls. There’s secrets.
Marsh – No secrets from me.
McMahon – Your past…
P.T. Marsh gets up. Shakes his
head.
head.
Marsh – You don’t know
me.
me.
Detective Marsh walks out and McMahon
takes the untouched food from P.T.’s side of the table – slides it over to his.
takes the untouched food from P.T.’s side of the table – slides it over to his.
—
“The Good Detective” drops in stores
March 19th. It has been selected as an OKRA Fresh Pick by SIBA, the
Southern Independent Bookseller’s Alliance.
March 19th. It has been selected as an OKRA Fresh Pick by SIBA, the
Southern Independent Bookseller’s Alliance.
John McMahon will be on tour, looking for great barbecue places
in South Carolina, Phoenix, Houston, San Diego, and L.A. (while also going to
those towns’ best independent bookstores for Q&A and Signing). Find
out more about the tour at JohnMcMahonBooks.com
The Good Detective by John McMahon. Penguin, 2019. ISBN 9780525535539 (hardcover), 320p.
I've got this book on my list to try soon. Just watching for it to be available at my library. Love this new interview format, Lesa! Very clever. And I hope that John gets some good BBQ while he's in Texas. He should be able to – if he likes our kind of BBQ. 😉
Thanks, Kay! I actually did it with Isabella because I had interviewed her before. Give her character a chance. John liked the format. I bet he can get good BBQ in Texas!
Heck of a read. I thought the book was very good. My review runs later this week and includes a link back to this interview.
By the way, the next one in the series, THE EVIL THAT MEN DO, comes out on March 3, 2020. The Dallas Public Library System is getting four copies and I am now number three on the holds list.
Kevin
Thank you, Kevin. I really do need to get back and read this. I think I heard too much about it at the time, and sometimes that's a little off-putting for me.