Raymond Mackey is a struggling crime writer. His friends call him Mack. But friends are in short supply these days. Mack’s thirty years as a homicide detective came to the kind of abrupt, ignominious end that tends to make friends dry up and blow away. It matters little that Mack was never actually a mole working for a shadowy, seemingly omnipresent mob boss. Somehow, the evidence was there anyway and the scandal ended everything for him overnight. Lucky to stay out of prison, Mack lives in a netherworld of forced retirement, spinning his memories of old homicide cases into pulp fiction and working part time as a shopping mall cop. His wife Marlo, the greatest criminal investigator Mack has ever known, has been dead of pancreatic cancer for nearly five years. That leaves his ancient Smith-Corona Corsair, a pack of Camels, a bottle of Old Forester, and Marlo’s bourbon-loving cat, Phil, as Mack’s only company.

Almost. Because Mack also keeps himself company. The psychiatrists call it Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder. Mack calls it Triple-D. But crazy also works. It means he watches himself, usually from an overhead perspective, as though someone has tied a floating camera to a back beltloop on a long string. It makes him feel watched, and not by someone inclined to judge him kindly. So Raymond Mackey comes complete with his own Greek chorus. “Watch yourself, Mack,” people tell him. He has no choice.

When one of Mack’s old informants goes missing and Mack’s face turns up in a dead man’s camera, his past comes roaring painfully back to life. Now the police want him for questioning, the mob want him dead and it’s increasingly difficult to tell who, exactly, is working for whom. As a mercilessly hot Chicago summer finally breaks and it starts to rain bodies, Mack finds himself past his prime for this kind of action. Retirement has added weight and subtracted agility. He hasn’t fired a weapon in years. His antiquated cell phone will not stop ringing with a mysteriously blocked number. In the end, as Mack watches himself from above, it is razor-sharp instinct, cheap consumer electronics and his dead wife that offer his only hope.

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DISCOVERY: Loved it!

Hardboiled crime novel — good guys, bad guys, and a cat who loves bourbon. Who can say no to that?

Hardboiled — a genre that I’m not really familiar with. At least until I read Message in a Bullet, by Owen Thomas. And, now, I’m a fan.

The story’s protagonist, Raymond “Mack” Mackey, is a “retired” homicide detective in Chandler, a suburb of Chicago. I say “retired” because that’s the crux of the story. After a long and distinguished career, Mack was forcibly retired under a cloud of corruption and suspicion. Now, almost five years later, he’s reluctantly drawn back into the same case — his case — and he’s still maintaining his innocence.

But there’s a twist here. Mack is suffering from a psychiatric disorder — depersonalization/derealization disorder, or 3D as he sometimes calls it — a condition where the patient, Mack, detaches from the first person actualization, and sees himself in the third person. Weird, right? It makes for some interesting narratives.

We meet Mack four-plus years since being retired. He’s got 3D, he’s working part-time as a mall cop, still mourning the death of his wife, Marlo, and his only bestie is Phil the alcohol-loving cat. He spends his time trying to write crime novels, while over-indulging in Old Forester bourbon. He is resigned to his life, although not necessarily enjoying it.

Then, two Chandler internal affairs officers knock on his door, insinuating that the case that ended his career is anything but closed. Thus starts Mack’s journey to find the truth, and clear his name.

This was an interesting read. It took me a while to become comfortable with the first person-third person transition, but it works well. The descriptions and dialogue are spot on, although, at times, a bit clichéd. But that’s the whole premise of hardboiled, right? The narrative is liberally salted with similes, metaphors, and hyperbole. Again, that’s what hardboiled is all about — the turn of phrase, and sparse dialogue.

Although a bit dark, it’s interesting to read the way Owen Thomas describes Mack’s world and the people in it. The gritty streets of Chandler, good guys who are bad guys, bad guys who are good guys, and a liberal sprinkling of the women in Mack’s life. First and foremost is Marlo, Mack’s diseased wife. In a series of flashbacks, Mack “listens” to Marlo’s advice. He claims she was the best investigator who ever lived — much like Philip Marlowe (her namesake?).

This book would be a great read for anyone who loves hardboiled, or noir novels, in particular, or if you like crime novels, in general. It isn’t an easy read, you have to pay attention, but it’s worth it. I’m looking forward to book 2 in the series. — DISCOVERY

MAINCREST MEDIA: Breaks all the Rules

Message in a Bullet by Owen Thomas breaks all of the rules, insisting that no genre is safe from the mind-bending nature of the human condition it is meant to capture.

Raymond “Mack” Mackey, can’t catch a break. After the tragic death of his wife, Mack is let go from his job as a homicide detective under mysterious circumstances, sending him spiraling into a dreary life of relative solitude. He doesn’t have much luck turning his old cases into crime novels, either. Set during a pointedly hot Chicago summer, Message in a Bullet sees Mack’s life descend into chaos when he finds himself at the center of yet another new deadly mystery; all the while, his past is coming back to haunt him. He must push through the ordinary constraints of his increasing age and the not-so-ordinary effects of his psychological disorder to claw his way towards the truth and clear his name.

On one hand, the book comes complete with all of the characteristics that readers might want or expect from a crime mystery; Thomas clearly knows the rules of the genre. But, on the other hand, he refuses to stop there; Thomas’s brilliant use of language and his penchant for what’s beneath the surface sets the book apart from your standard detective novel. This straddling the fence between genre fiction and literary fiction lives to an unprecedented degree in the pages of Message in a Bullet. Its textual awareness is established, of course, by virtue of being a crime novel about a crime writer. But the funhouse of self-awareness is really brought home by Mack’s psychological condition, which causes him to experience his own life in third-person. Thomas doesn’t miss the opportunity to play with his stylistic use of point-of-view to bring this device to life.

The book’s protagonist is eccentric and well-developed enough to carry the narrative along and ground the reader in its philosophical themes and twisting plot, both of which compete as one of the book’s standout features. In addition, the supporting characters are just as compelling and well-rounded. Thomas’s unique authorial voice shines through, which makes Message in a Bullet shockingly original regardless of genre. One could argue that the book does run the risk of appealing to the potentially narrow center of a venn diagram of crime readers and literary critics, but Thomas checks all of the boxes for each so completely that he’s far more likely to reach a broader audience.

Message in a Bullet is as kaleidoscopic as it is fun and easy to read; it’ll leave you squinting for what’s just beyond the page. —  Maincrest Media

RANDOM THOUGHT MAGAZINE: So Retro It’s Fresh!

 Hey, Mack!

Have you ever picked up a novel, started reading, and felt like you walked through a door into another time, for no other reason than the style of writing? I had that experience this past weekend. I am trying with gusto to wipe out my stack of works that I have been asked to read and review. The work that was next in the line up was Message In A Bullet by Owen Thomas. As you might surmise it is a mystery, but what you would not surmise is that the author’s style is so retro that it is fresh!

The first pages seem like a cheap attempt at noir glam, but that is just the bait. Within a few pages it’s reading like one of those dime store novels in all the best ways. It’s gritty, raw, and monochromatic, but still clever enough to keep you turning pages wondering if you are keeping up with the clues. Everyone is damaged goods still trying to abide by their own versions of virtue.

This is the debut story for the main character’s series. In good dime store fashion he is a self-persecuting, redemption denying, relentless gumshoe from some of the toughest city streets and dirtiest halls of justice that America has to offer and none of it is softened by Thomas. Mack is just the kinda guy you would imagine having the nerve to work the streets of Chicago and just the guy that you would want on your side if you are in a bind. Additionally, now as a widower and “retired” detective he doesn’t have much to lose, but lots to gain, including his sanity.

The piece is a great weekend escape or Friday night date, one-night stand. With no next morning regrets. The chapters flip past just like the play list of the local band at the American Legion Hall. The story is constantly moving forward with just enough memory lane detours to not make it a marathon run in sprint mode. So pour that glass of merlot, turn off the phone, and spend the night with Mack and his motley crew of ghosts and cohorts. — Random Thought

UNTOLD READS: Riveting Dive into a Shadowy Thriller

In “Message in a Bullet: A Raymond Mackey Mystery – Book 1” Owen Thomas delivers a gripping and distinctive addition to the detective genre, guiding readers through the shadowy realms of noir fiction amidst the gritty alleyways of Chicago.

Raymond Mackey, once respected, loved and affectionately known as Mack by all, is portrayed as a homicide detective turned struggling crime writer. His esteemed detective career comes to an abrupt halt amidst scandal, leaving him isolated with blurred lines between allies and adversaries. Soon, Mack’s solitary existence is shattered by the unexpected arrival of two Chandler internal affairs officers. Their suggestion that the case marking the end of Mack’s career may not be as closed as believed, especially with his former informant now missing, entangles Mack in a deadly mystery that dredges up the past and challenges his sanity. Against the sweltering backdrop of Chicago’s heat, the story unfolds with relentless tension as Mack races against time to uncover the truth and clear his name.

Thomas skillfully weaves a pulsating noir mystery that ensnares readers from beginning to end. The complexity of Raymond’s psychology and the depth of his narrative are deserving of appreciation, showcasing the author’s adeptness at crafting engaging protagonists that evoke empathy and admiration. The seamless blend of suspense, character development, and atmospheric storytelling ensures that readers will eagerly anticipate the next installment in this captivating series. A testament to his talent for delivering an enthralling tale within the detective genre, Owen Thomas’s “Message in a Bullet” stands as a journey that’s as thrilling as it is unforgettable – a 5-star read from beginning to end! — Untold Reads

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over, Marlowe!

MESSAGE IN A BULLET is a promising start to a detective series featuring Raymond Mackey, as eccentric and nuanced a sleuth as you might expect from a writer of Owen Thomas’s caliber. Mack is a former Chicago PD homicide detective now embarking on a second career as a genre writer, until the reality of his own messy past intrudes on his fiction. Adding another layer of complexity, Mack suffers from something called Depersonalization- Derealization Disorder which causes him to view his first-person existence with third-person detachment. It’s a fascinating device which allows Thomas to change point of view throughout the narrative without actually introducing another narrator.

And this is not the only literary flourish; Thomas’s prose crackles with apt figurative language and haunting description of person and place. Dialogue is snappy and hard-boiled, in the tradition of Chandler, Hammett, and Cain. While there are pages devoted to setting up Mack’s backstory and developing secondary characters, the plot hurtles forward like a cranked-up mouse crashing through a maze. There are some fantastic action scenes, one in particular where I really thought ol’ Mack was gonna die in his debut. He takes plenty of punishment but survives to unravel the tangled strands of the caper, and more importantly, feed his feline, Phil, his daily ration of Old Forester. Highly recommended!

treekiller
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Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting & well written detective novel!

This novel is well written by an experienced writer that’s given this modern day detective novel and 1940/50s ‘Iceman’ feel! Really thought out , amazing storyline and easy reading, it’s quirky and I even caught myself reading in a Italian mobsters voice!

Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2021

5.0 out of 5 stars A gumshoe whodunnit with a twist

While the main character is not a private investigator by trade, to save his own hide he relies on the knowledge from his years as a police detective. The story emersed me in Macks loneliness and his need to prove his innocence. The suspense kept me reading. A good book.

Reviewed on Amazon

4.0 out of 5 Stars Message in a Bullet delivered a likable but flawed lead character in Raymond Mackey. (Reviewed on Goodreads)

Fighting for both his life and his ruined reputation the novel sees hard-bitten ex-cop Mackey struggling with his own mental health to both save his former informant and sort out once and for all who is responsible for his early release from the local police department on early retirement.

Now working as a mall cop Ray gets caught in the crossfire of the local Police and the Internal Affairs Dept as they go looking for the department mole who is passing info to the local mob boss.

I loved the style which was reminiscent of mid 20th Century Noir detective novels complete with the wisecracks.

The plot was fast paced and kept me guessing all the way through to the end. I’ll be looking out for book 2

5.0 out of 5 stars Literary Fiction in a Noir Package

What happens when a craftsman of language, the author of serious works of literary fiction, turns his hand to a noir detective story? You get a carefully plotted mystery, with lots of onion layers and surprise twists and turns. Even better, you get Owen Thomas’s keen observation of human nature and his ability to describe the varied circumstances of life with evocative details.

In The Lion Trees, Thomas rotated through a family cast of characters to provide different perspectives, then artfully pulled them together to provide a comprehensive understanding. Message in a Bullet uses a different conceit to similar effect: the protagonist is a washed up ex-cop with a dissociative identity that enables, or perhaps condemns, him to view his own alter ego from a psychological distance. Thomas puts the former cop, now working shopping mall security, through a rinse cycle that starts slow but builds momentum until the full spin mode has you rotating like the cylinders of a Model 10 Smith & Wesson thirty-eight.

Unlike my sardonic attempt at metaphor, Thomas brings the full measure of his skill with words to the noir genre. He creates vivid characters and invents characterizations that, with the possible exception of a naming homage to Raymond Chandler, are breezily original and free of any taint of cliche. As with other works by this author, every word is carefully selected and placed, every sentence and paragraph shows evidence of being worked and reworked until it just feels right.

Bullet doesn’t swing for the literary fences like Lion Trees did, but it is a solid work that respects both its genre and its readers. It’s labeled as Book One of a Raymond Mackey Mystery series. I’m looking forward to reading more.

Bob Osborne
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Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2022

5.0 out of 5 stars A Suspenseful and Funny Page-Turner

I bought MESSAGE IN A BULLET because I am a big fan of Owen Thomas’ novels THE LION TREES and MOTHER BLUES. And because I love Steve Martin’s satire of this genre in DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID. I was doubtful that I would like this novel, but I was curious enough to give it a
try.

To my surprise, I loved it!!!

Other reviewers have described the book’s premise, so I’ll skip that part. Here’s why you’ll like MESSAGE IN A BULLET even if Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler don’t turn you on… This book is to THE MALTESE FALCON what the Coen brothers’ O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU is to Odysseus. It’s a fresh, imaginative, hilarious reinvention of a classic form. The book is laugh-out-loud funny in places like Thomas’ other works, but much shorter and more streamlined. It’s a fast read with great suspense and page-turning momentum.

I love it when literary writers stray into genre fiction. They bring a different sensibility and gorgeous writing skills along with them. MESSAGE IN A BULLET has that quality. It is full of wittiness, thoughtful observations, and beautiful sentences – all put to service in bringing gritty
characters and action sequences to life.

If you know this genre, you will have fun spotting the names and tropes that Thomas has cleverly planted throughout the book. In the same way he inserted leonine references throughout THE LION TREES, these morsels will amuse you if you catch them, but your enjoyment of the novel won’t suffer in the least if you miss every one of them.

Raymond Makey is a soulful and engaging character. He is mature and savvy like Michael Connelly’s HARRY BOSCH, but irreverent and funny like a RYAN REYNOLDS character. I can’t wait to read the next Raymond Mackey book. I’m also hoping to see a cable network turn this gem into a series.

Chickadee
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2022

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT READ!

This book is a great start to a detective series by this Author, Owen Thomas. He has a great talent for creating colorful characters. The main character is said to have a mental illness called Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder. This allows the Author to change the point of view from first person to third person. This adds an additional view to the story-line. This is a great read for all. I highly recommend this book. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have! I look forward to reading the second book, THE RUSSIAN DOLL, by this Author.

Mary Z., January 22, 2023