The Nail Knot

Fly Fishing Mystery #1

by John Galligan

The going has gotten tough, and Ned “Dog” Oglivie has gone fishing. Fly fishing. For trout. All across America. At least until his money runs out . . .
Driven by tragedy to turn his back on human society, the Dog is on a quest to fish himself into oblivion. And he’s nearly made it. Playing the back highways of America in a wounded old RV . . . provisioned with a supply of peanut butter sandwiches, bad cigars, and vodka-Tang . . . armed with a loaded pistol (for when the money runs out) . . . the Dog is nearly at the end of his tether when he rolls into little Black Earth, Wisconsin, intending to fish the yellow sally stonefly hatch . . . and finds a body instead.

Who killed Jake Jacobs, fellow fly fisher and late-coming agitator who was trying to save Black Earth Creek? Why was Jacobs disfigured in such a peculiar way? Why does the Dog give a damn? Can he rekindle his faith and interest in humankind? By caring about the death of a stranger, can the Dog recover his own life? Can he untie The Nail Knot?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks

231 pages, ebook

First published November 28, 2003

About the author

John Galligan,in addition to being a novelist and teacher, John has worked as a newspaper journalist, feature-film screenwriter, house painter, au pair, ESL teacher, cab driver, and freezer boy in a salmon cannery. He currently teaches writing at Madison Area Technical College, where his experience is enriched by students from every corner of the local and world community.

Series:
* Fly Fishing Mystery

Reviews

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be a strange little book. The main character calls himself Dog and talks about himself in third person which is very unsettling. It's rather bizarre and even by the end of the book, I never really got used to it.

The mystery itself was rather interesting and I think with another writing choice, I might have enjoyed the book more.

Dog is a trout bum. He travels around fishing and that's it, not job, no other means of support. He stops at this little stream in Wisconsin and finds a body. That nets him a boatload of trouble. While I liked some of the details of this mystery, the secondary characters were a little two dimensional and flat. The love interest was a bit nutty, too, but then Dog is a bit strange, so maybe it's a good mix.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is John Galligan's first book in his fly fishing mystery series. Ned Oglvie (Dog) is a wonderful character. I can't help but love this book since it is set on a stream 20 minutes from my house in Wisconsin. John is a good author and equally great guy. Always willing to talk fishing, books, writing, et. cetera. Mystery lovers, fly anglers, and anyone who appreciates a great central character will enjoy this book.

[Susie Dahlk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly like this guy lit book a lot. Initially was attracted to it due to southern Wisconsin setting. I like the protagonist "Dog" and "Junior" his Wisconsin farmgirl partner. She became very real to me; I felt like I knew her personally. This book made me feel "right at home" in southern Wisconsin.

[Meg Hannah]

This guy definitely knows Wisconsin. That's good. But his voice grates on me...maybe a little too flippant, and too much gore? And what's this thing he has for making the main character talk about himself in the third person? Just not working for me.

[Catsalive · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm! I had to grit my teeth to get through this because a man in his 40s refers to himself in the third person, as The Dog, all the way through. This was so irritating that I nearly gave up on it several times, which is a shame because it's not a bad tale apart from that. I see it's the 4th, & last, in the series, but the first one published. I won't be reading any others because I couldn't stand that experience again - it's the sort of thing frat boys might call themselves.

It's quite an interesting story, a murder mystery based on Ned's (I can't call him the Dog) favourite hobby, fly-fishing. In fact, it's his lifestyle now as he travels the country fishing the best spots. His love interest, Melvina Racheletta "Junior" O'Malley, is a curious & appealing woman, but none of the other characters amount to much.

[Ed Sarna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery set in Wisconsin that makes me want to take up fly fishing. This is the first installment in the series of mysteries featuring Ned Oglivie who goes by the nickname, Dog. The characters are interesting and the mystery kept my attention throughout. The only slight fault, at least for me, was Ned referring to himself, on numerous occasions, as 'Dog.' But other than that minor stylistic choice, I enjoyed the tightly constructed story and the well defined characters.

[Linda Frances · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book extremely annoying. What adult refers to himself in the third person? Even worse, by his self chosen nickname, The Dog! At one point, the narrator says (speaking of himself), "he put his paw on her shoulder".

As for the rest, it was just plain stupid and unrealistic.

I see that this is the first in a series. I definitely will NOT be reading the others.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Wisconsin mystery. Loved the characters esp. Junior.

[Jerry Basford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery with fly fishing undertones

This whole series is good but I felt the books got better with each volume. Good story and a fun way to tie fly fishing into a mystery.

[Aengels · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the bright characters that was my favorite part of this book. The excitement and suspense was bonus.

[JILL SCHMOLDT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery written with Southern Wisconsin as a setting. Enjoyable!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, light & short murder-mystery.

[Marni · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining first novel set in Black Creek, WI - an area I know. Characters that made me laugh.

[Christine Rosskopf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mystery, well-developed quirky characters and town, and fly fishing. What more could a reader want?

[Kat Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, descriptive writing—the river came alive for me. BUT, too much insect life…that’s why I don’t fly fish. Will be reading the next in the series.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not much for the mystery genre. However, a mystery that revolves around fly-fishing will get me to bite. Actually, that's not quite true.

Colonel Baker recommended this to me when my sweet wife and I went up to Michigan to visit him a few years back. I'm a basser and the Colonel is a fly fisherman. Surprisingly we enjoy a lot of the same books. Bassers are generally knuckle draggers that don't write good, whereas fly fisherman are prissy sorts that can be very good wordsmiths sometimes. Weird ain't it?

Anyways, this is a murder mystery. Dog is out fishing when he discovers a body in the spring creek he is fishing up in Black Earth, Wisconsin. Hilarity ensues. I'm not saying murder is funny, just that the author is very clever and humorous as he presents his unbelievable story. The myriad of characters are crazy, and goofy, and loathsome, and awesome.

Plenty of twists and turns. The yellow sally stonefly hatch is the scene, and the nail knot is the unraveling. Very clever but largely unbelievable. The book was a riot that I finished in two days. I guess I AM a sucker for a good murder mystery but only if it involves fishing, a crazy farm girl, and a yellow sally hatch. ;)

[J.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is billed as a fly fishing mystery. Don’t let that put you off, though. You don’t have to be a fisherman to enjoy it.

There is some fishing. Ned Oglivie, better known as Dog to friend and foe, has left behind a failed marriage and bitter memories and seeks solace in traveling around the country in a beat up RV, fishing the famous trout streams by day and drinking himself to sleep at night.

Life changes when he comes to rural Black Earth, Wisconsin, and finds the body of a local environmentalist floating in the stream. Before he has a chance to realize what’s happening farm girl Melvina “Junior” O’Malley has snapped the fly from Jake Jacobs’ leader and cast it away and plucked something else from the dead man’s mouth.

Despite her odd behavior, Dog comes to like Junior who confesses she acted to protect her dementia-plagued father who had threatened Jacobs. The old man is only the first of many suspects and it takes some time to sort them all out and get to the real motive.

The timing of an insect hatch on the creek and the particular fishing knot of the title are vital clues. Quirky characters, a bit of humor and a keen insight to human nature make this a fun read.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because it takes place in Black Earth, WI which is a small town very near where I grew up. Ned Ogilvie (better known as "Dog") is just looking to spending a few relaxing days on the local river. He's a dedicated trout fisherman who has spent the last three years traveling across the country, living in his RV and fishing rivers and streams recommended in a book. What he doesn't bargain for is finding the body of Jake Jacobs, a local agitator who was trying to save Black Earth Creek. Not particularly popular with the locals, Dog realizes that there's a whole town full of suspects. I enjoyed the interesting and humorous local characters, such as a woman farmer that everyone calls Junior (maybe because she got her real name, Melvina, from her father, Melvin.) A very well-written page-turner, with a charming sense of place.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's not your typical murder mystery in that you're really not sure if you are supposed to like the main character or not. As you get into the story you realize he is a man who has been devastated by tragedy in his life and isn't coping very well. Ned "Dog" Oglivie is a tout bum. He wanders from river to river fly fishing. He lives in an old RV, living off junk food, vodka & Tang and Swisher cigars. Life has just about beaten him down. But when he finds himself involved in the murder of a local environmental activist, his old security instincts kick back in. He can't leave it alone until he figures it out. This is a great story with fully developed characters, an unusual plot line and twists you don't see coming. Check it out; you won't be sorry.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The main character, Ned Oglivie a/k/a Dog, is a fly fisherman making his way across the country for the past 3 years in a camper, fishing the best streams in the USA. He finds himself in Black Earth, Wisconsin where he finds a dead body. There are so many interesting and engaging characters and good humor. A real pleasure to read! I'm looking forward to the others in the series.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by John Galligan. He weaves a great story, you get to know the characters pretty well as you go through the story.

There's a lot of sadness here, and in my opinion, little resolution. Maybe that's life, but I really want closure - with the main character, "Dog", there wasn't any.

Still, the tale went along well.

This was a real mystery, with real people, that makes me want to go wander and fish the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) and meet these people called "Yoopers".

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trout bum comes to town, finds body and solves mystery. I've not read any of this mystery series before. It was a pretty good story and not predictable. There are lots of fly fishing references that made it more interesting (which reminds me that I need to get my fishing license renewed...) and the author seems to know what he is talking about. I might read another one.

[Julia Muller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dog, he just wants to fish. He travels the country, searching for rivers to fly fish. He drinks vodka and Tang. He smokes special cigars. Lives in an RV. And fly fishes, but I mentioned that. But the wheels come off at Black Earth when he finds a dead body.

This is not your retired cop novel. I'll leave it at that.

[Dbvdb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I am doing some business with John so we read it on a road trip. It was a fun mystery where everyone was a suspect. I could see it being turned into a mini-series because of all of the character actors it would require. I especially liked Junior, the tough love interest, and the description of the rural settings here in Wisconsin.

[Ilyanna kreske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book I normally would have chosen -- my dad handed it to me -- but an engrossing murder mystery. Good character development, mature perspective, new topic for me (fly fishing) and good use of location as part of the story.

[Mike M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great realistic fiction read. It is a combination of pain and personal experience with a detective story entwined within. the main character's escape from his former life and pain becomes the metaphor for the story (trout fishing).

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I did not think I was going to like this, however as I kept reading, I enjoyed it more and more. Loved the main character, Dog, and really enjoyed the relationship with Junior. Good mystery that kept me guessing. Really enjoyed.

[Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable murder mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you engaged. The author's description of the terrain and people of southwest Wisconsin was spot on. I look forward to following the exploits of the Dog in his next book, The Blood Knot.

[Heather L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had some difficulty getting into the voice of the narrator at the beginning of this one, but ended up liking it more than I thought I would.

[Samoofish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was give to me by a fly fishing friend because it's set in Black Earth, WI where I go fishing. I wanted to figure out where all the spots were! Good mystery, kept me guessing.