Memorial Day

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.

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.

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 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.