Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
General Questions
- Where should I start with your books?
- How are the Niki Undercover and Seamus McCree worlds connected?
- What are you working on now?
- Do you have audiobooks and where can I get them?
- Can I read free samples from your books?
- How do I get signed copies of your books?
- Newsletter & extras—what do I get if I sign up?
- What's this about applesauce on pizza?
Questions about the Seamus McCree series
- Are you a lot like Seamus?
- What more can you tell me about Seamus McCree?
- When do we get to meet the rest of Seamus's family?
- Are the financial crimes in your books possible?
Where should I start with your books?
Such an easy question is difficult to answer because it depends . . . on your reading preferences. Each novel or novella is a complete story, so if you have a book in hand, that's a fine place to start.
For the Seamus McCree series
- If you are someone who must read a series in chronological order, then you should start with Ant Farm (Seamus McCree #1).
- If you are attracted to stories set in remote areas, then you might start with Cabin Fever (Seamus McCree #3), which is set in the dead of winter in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
- Readers who enjoy stories set in Cincinnati and Southeast Ohio might also start with Ant Farm (Seamus McCree #1). followed by Bad Policy (Seamus McCree #2)
- If you are fond of Boston, then False Bottom (Seamus McCree #6). followed by the novella Furthermore (Seamus McCree #6.5) might be your cuppa.
For the Niki Undercover Thriller series
- If you are primarily interested in the Niki Undercover Thriller series, I suggest reading the books in order, starting with Niki Undercover.
- But If you are someone who must read a series in chronological order, then read the next question How are the Niki Undercover and Seamus McCree worlds connected? and make your decision.
How are the Niki Undercover and Seamus McCree worlds connected?
Without giving away any spoilers, I can tell you that the two series share several characters, and their timelines overlap. If you do not want any spoilers, then skip to the next question. If you are interested in knowing how the series interact, below is a chart that illustrates their combined timeline.
| Seamus McCree | Niki Undercover Thriller | |
|---|---|---|
| Ant Farm | ||
| Bad Policy | ||
| Cabin Fever * | ||
| Doubtful Relations | ||
| Empty Promises | ||
| False Bottom | ||
| Furthermore (a novella) | ||
| Low Tide at Tybee (a novella) *† | ||
| Niki Undercover ‡ | ||
| Niki Unleashed ‡ | ||
| Granite Oath * | ||
| Hijacked Legacy * | ||
| Niki Unbound ? |
* Niki appears in a Seamus story • † minor cameo • ‡ Seamus appears in a Niki story • ? You'll have to read the story to find out, eh?
With that information, for those interested in the Niki Undercover Thrillers and want to start at the beginning of the series, you might choose to begin with Cabin Fever (Seamus McCree #3). Of course, that means you are starting the Seamus McCree series in the middle, so that might mean you'll want to begin the Seamus McCree series with Ant Farm (Seamus McCree #1). Ain't life wonderful?
What are you working on now ... ?
I am neck deep in all aspects of the Niki Undercover Thriller series. Niki Undercover releases (or released depending on when you read this) on September 16. The only tasks remaining for that novel are marketing and sales work. The second novel in the series, Niki Unleashed is scheduled for release on November 11. The final edits are almost complete, leaving the technical aspects of publishing remaining. I am creating the first draft of the third novel in the series, Niki Unbound. That one will release in 2026.
The best way to learn what's next—and recieve bonus material—is to subscribe to the Readers Group newsletter. Sign up, if you haven’t already.
Do you have audiobooks and where can I get them?
I'm glad you asked, because I do. They are all narrated using AI technology. This link will take you to the Seamus McCree series audiobooks. The audiobook for Niki Undercover will be coming soon.
Can I read free samples ...?
Seamus McCree series in reading order
- Ant Farm — first four chapters (PDF)
- Bad Policy — first four chapters (PDF)
- Cabin Fever — first four chapters (PDF)
- Doubtful Relations — first four chapters (PDF)
- Empty Promises — first four chapters (PDF)
- False Bottom — first four chapters (PDF)
- “Furthermore (a novella)” — first chapter (PDF)
- “Low Tide at Tybee (a novella)” — first chapter (PDF)
- Granite Oath — first four chapters (PDF)
- Hijacked Legacy — first five scenes (PDF)
Niki Undercover Thriller series in reading order
- Niki Undercover — first three chapters
- Niki Unleashed — sample coming soon
- Niki Unbound — sample coming 2026
How do I get signed copies ...?
Two ways:
- Come to a live event. You can find them on my Appearances page.
- Order the book directly from me. I'll sign it and, if you want, inscribe it to you. Select which book you want from the All Books page and you'll find the details on how to place an order.
Newsletter & extras ...?
I think of the Readers Group newsletter as a way for us to have a continuing conversation. When you sign up, you'll get two short stories (one features Seamus McCree at his camp in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the other has Seamus and Niki working together). Newsletter subscribers are the first to learn what I'm working on and have the opportunity to become beta readers or receive Advanced Review Copies of future novels. If you haven't already, Sign up now!
What's this about applesauce on pizza ... ?
Seamus says that he "eats to live rather than lives to eat." In Ant Farm we learn his son Paddy has a different approach to life. As a result, when they are together Paddy cooks and Seamus cleans up.
Oh right, applesauce on pizza. Try it; you'll like it. Mikey did. However, there is no truth to the rumors that the McCrees are planning a cookbook. [Update on that: They have a recipe in a Kindle book that sadly is no longer in print: KP Authors Cook Their Books. Don't you love the cover?
It really is tasty, and you don't have to wait for the pizza to cool down before you can start eating it.
Are you a lot like Seamus ... ?
For starters, he has all his hair. Need I say more?
Yes?
Fine, be that way. He's younger, taller, faster, stronger, smarter, better looking and if that weren't enough, he's independently wealthy.
But he needs to be careful. One electronic search and replace and all that can change.
What more can you tell me about Seamus ... ?
Seamus was born and brought up in Boston. His father was a police officer, killed in the line of duty. His mother worked at home, trying to keep Seamus out of trouble. He has an older sister. He's divorced and has a son, Paddy (Patrick to everyone else).
Seamus attended parochial grammar school, public high school and private college on a full scholarship. After graduating from college in four years, he played professional soccer. A first year injury forced him to quit the game.
He obtained his MBA with a concentration in finance and became a top stock analyst, specializing in the banking industry. Long before the current shenanigans on Wall Street, he quit a leading Investment Bank when he couldn't stomach the corporate duplicity over one of his reports and began working for the Criminal Investigation Group ("CIG") later that year.
Seamus is 6'2", weighs 185 pounds and if pressed can run 5 miles in 31 minutes. He loves a variety of music, but has a special interest in the pre-classical period, oldies rock and Celtic. He sings bass/baritone in a church choir and periodically joins select choirs for special performances.
When we first meet him in Ant Farm he lives alone in a large Victorian house in the Clifton area of Cincinnati, Ohio or at his camp in the wild woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
When do we get to meet ... ?
We meet Seamus's son Paddy in Ant Farm and watch him grow and mature in the later movels. He shares equal billing with Seamus in Doubtful Relations. Seamus's mother has a small, but crucial role in Bad Policy and reappears in Doubtful Relations and False Bottom. We know Seamus has an estranged sister, but we don't know the reason for the estrangement.
Why not?
Hey folks -- I'm trying for a series here. I need some room for Seamus to change over time, so cut me some slack. Actually, In Doubtful Relations we get a hint of the issues. That book, the fourth book in the series, also introduces us to Seamus's ex-wife. And isn't that fun? The estranged sister shows up in False Bottom where we learn more of her story.
Since these books are mystery/suspense/thriller, not fantasy, we have only memories of Seamus's father, but we know from Bad Policy that his presence is felt long after his death.
Uncle Mike, a retired Boston police captain, isn't officially family, but he's Seamus's godfather and surrogate father. He is offstage in Ant Farm, appears in Bad Policy, has a small role in Doubtful Relations, and his murder is the inciting incident for False Bottom.
We're first introduced to Seamus's granddaughter, Megan McCree in Empty Promises. She also plays a major role in the novella "Low Tide at Tybee" and in Granite Oath.
Are the Financial Crimes in Your Books Possible ... ?
Almost any crime is possible given enough skullduggery and people in the right places. The crimes in my short stories and novel are fictional. I am sure some have happened somewhere in the real world in a fashion similar to what I have depicted. Others have not, most likely because no one has figured out a way to get away with it.
Paddy has a tendency to hack computer systems to get information. This too is a financial crime and while again, most things are possible, I have probably made it easier for Paddy to crack some computer systems than is reality. But then again, maybe not...certainly the NSA, Chinese and Russians seem to have it down to a science.
The real issue for all of us is how to safeguard our own financial assets. Do not routinely provide your social security number. Make sure all e-mail or phone call solicitations for account information are real. Most financial institutions will not ask for your account number or personal identification number over the phone or in an e-mail, unless you have initiated the inquiry.
Phishing is a major crime today. Criminal gangs are very good at developing websites that have the look and feel of real financial institution sites. An email directing you to "company" websites and asking for account information is called phishing. If you are ever in doubt, do not respond to the email or phone call—contact the company directly.