Murder on Frequency: Harrie McKinsey Mystery #3

Harrie McKinsey Mysteries #3

by Patricia Smith Wood

There's nothing unusual about a ham operator contacting other radio enthusiasts. Unless he's been dead for five years. When Harrie McKinsey and Ginger Vaughn - who have been described as the Lucy Ricardo and Ethyl Mertz of murder mystery - decide to study for their ham radio licenses, they get pulled into this mystery and find a trail leading to a long-lost treasure somewhere in New Mexico. Before it's over, there's another murder, an abduction, and a showdown with an aging Mafia don who values treasure more than human life. Harrie, Ginger, and their merry band of FBI, APD, and private detectives have to be on their toes to prevent another murder and save a family.

363 pages, Paperback

Published November 28, 2016

About the author

My father, first as a police officer and later as a career FBI agent, sparked my interest in law, solving crime, and mystery writing.

After retiring from a varied and successful business career (including eighteen months working at the FBI and fifteen years as CEO of my own computer company) I attended writing seminars, conferences, and in 2009 graduated from the FBI Citizens Academy.

My first mystery, The Easter Egg Murder, was published in February 2013 by Aakenbaaken & Kent. My second book in the series, Murder on Sagebrush came out in 2015, and the third, Murder on Frequency debuted in late 2016. It won the NM/AZ Book Award for Best Cozy Mystery 2017. The fourth Harrie McKinsey will be out soon. It's called Murder at the Petroglyphs and it, too, is set in Albuquerque.

Reviews

[Amber Foxx · Rating 4 out of 5]

A New Mexico man long missing and presumed dead seems to have come back to broadcast on ham radio, only to fade out as if something terrible has happened to him.

Patricia Smith Wood has crafted another tight puzzle of a mystery in this third in the Harrie McKinsey series, once again blending multiple mystery genres—a touch of cozy, a touch of police procedural, and now a touch of the PI story as well. Amateur sleuths Harrie and Ginger, the Albuquerque police department, and the FBI come together on a complex case with help from a new character, private investigator Bernie Thomas, a former member of the APD. His role as a liaison between the professionals and the amateurs is an effective device. The amateurs take some risks, and they use their brains and their ability to gain trust and talk with people, but they don’t do what’s better done by the pros.

Harrie and Ginger, who are studying to become amateur radio operators, are naturally and believably drawn into investigating the apparent broadcast from the missing Alan Whitney. I like a mystery that gives me glimpse into a hobby or occupation I previously knew little about, and this book provides a fascinating exploration of amateur radio without ever losing the pace. Wood slips the exposition into the energetic dialog as part of a page-turning plot.

Much of the detective works, realistically, takes place through interviews, asking the right people the right questions, and through research and the use of creative intelligence to understand the clues. Most of the violence takes place offstage, though there are suspenseful scenes in which danger threatens characters the reader comes to care about. While this isn’t in the category of a humorous mystery, there is humor in the characters’ banter, and one of the criminals was an incredibly amusing diversion. He’s a bit like someone who walked out of a 1940s black-and-white movie in a way, and yet also wholly original.

Wood is the master of the chapter-ending hook that makes you want to keep going. Surprises kept coming around the corner right to the very end. If you like to challenge your brain to solve a mystery, Patricia Smith Wood is an author you’ll come back to again and again.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

While in pursuit of their Ham radio license, Harrie McKinsey and her friend Ginger learn of a mysterious treasure, a missing man, and murder.

While Harrie’s husband, DJ, and the Albuquerque Police Department try to keep Harrie’s knack for private investigating nipped in the bud, she and Ginger once again help outwit the criminals.

This novel not only spins a fascinating tale of murder and deception, it explores the many facets of the amateur radio hobby. The characters are well developed and the suspense in captivating.

[Paula High-Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, loved this book. I'm an amateur radio operator and this author knows her stuff. Her research is thorough and she weaves the story so well. Again, I adore the characters and how they solve their... issues. This story is full of fun twists, turns, and intrigue. It takes place in the Albuquerque metro area, and I enjoy this as well.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would enjoy this book. Set in New Mexico, a murder mystery. Was it my mood? Was it the story? Was it the writing? Don't know. The premise was interesting. The story not so much. Too focused on the reluctance of the characters to be amateur sleuths and their personal lives to focus on the story line. Wish it were otherwise.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with plenty of suspense and mystery. Amateur radio isn’t overly infused in the story line, but provides accurate information and adds to the overall story.

[Timothy Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I didn't find any typos in this.
Relationships between friends FBI and police. All working together to find the bad guys.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading my friend Pattie’s books!