book cover of Second Time Around
 

Second Time Around

(2024)
(The ninth book in the John Keegan Mystery series)
A novel by

 
 
The Second in the John Keegan Retro Series
Two detectives, one unlikely partnership, and a murder that will test the old ways against the new.


Still reeling from his partial failure in his first case, Keegan is partnered with department snob Rick Calhill, an upwardly mobile detective who looks down on him. It's an unlikely partnership but their boss believes they complement each other. Keegan could not disagree more. When Keegan's boss asks him to 'watch' Calhill for him, the partnership becomes more antagonistic.

Seeing the partnership as punishment for his failure, Keegan attempts to work the case, a seemingly simple murder of a convenience store clerk, by himself. When curious clues surface, Keegan dives deep into the case as Calhill deals with personal issues that cause him to retreat.

Initial signs pointed to the clerk intercepting a robbery. This theory begins to unfold when the surveillance VHS tape goes missing and attempts to elicit answers from the owner prove fruitless. When happenings at the store indicate trouble, Keegan and Calhill realize they stumbled on something larger, and are determined to solve the case and get justice for the clerk's family.

In late 1999, computers threatened to take over detective work while at the same time, the world feared Y2K.
Second Time Around focuses on this intersection. Keegan and Calhill fall on opposite sides of the argument, setting up a contentious investigation.

This trip down Keegan's memory lane includes recurring characters and serves as a way for Keegan's adopted children to better understand their deceased father, Rick. It also serves as an inflection point for Keegan as he enters the final stages of his career. He realizes he reached head of homicide through the guidance of Calhill on cases like this one.

It's anyone's guess who killed the clerk and it's a battle to see if time-tested methods or new technology will win the race.


Genre: Mystery

Used availability for John Misak's Second Time Around


About Fantastic Fiction       Information for Authors