James Montgomery Jackson
Stories that are "North of Cozy and South of Noir"
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Ant Farm [978-1-943166-00-8]In this first book in the Seamus McCree series, after thirty-eight retirees meet a gruesome end at a picnic meant to celebrate their achievements, financial crimes consultant Seamus McCree comes in to uncover the evil behind the botulism murders. Check out the first four chapters of Ant Farm. Follow this link to read the opening chapters of Ant Farm on Wattpad. Or click for a PDF file. Give it a read and let me know what you think. What Readers Are SayingJim Jackson nails a first line: "I flicked on the porch light and discovered grief standing in front of my door." I loved ANT FARM, the prequel to his other two Seamus McCree mysteries. The twists of plot just kept on giving, and his characters felt like real people, especially Seamus and his hacker son, Paddy. The writing was deep, the crimes intriguing. Read the book. You won't be able to put it down! What I loved most about Ant Farm are the vivid characters. I actually felt like I was in the room, car, etc with Seamus McCree. An awesome sequel that is suspenseful till the end. Dirty dealings, dirtier secrets, and one rough-edged sleuth come together in this gripping follow-the-money mystery. Seamus McCree is a brilliant, temperamental protagonist, capable of both gruff concern and charming guile, unsurprised by the depths of human greed.
Fast paced, with fully drawn characters, Jackson draws us in with the skill of an accomplished storyteller. Seamus McCree can be cantankerous, but he's also smart, resourceful, and dogged in his pursuit of results, and watching him untangle this particularly knotty mess of murder, money and mayhem was very satisfying. Jackson's prequel to his Seamus McCree Mystery Series is rich in textural details and flush with three-dimensional characters. I very much enjoyed reading Seamus' hair raising adventures. What I really liked best about Ant Farm was the relationship between Seamas and his son, Paddy. It was loving without being sentimental, with enough tension to make it believable. Click here for the book club Discussion Guide.
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