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School Marshal Series #2
Unknown Alliance
Imagine your 14-year-old daughter goes to a neighborhood party and returns bloody and semi-conscious.
That’s what happened to Brandi Welch and her father wants justice.
The party was at the home of the most prominent attorney in Brookfield. Brandi’s father will do what it takes to get justice. One catch—he won’t go to the police until he has evidence to prove guilt.
Because Mac MacKenna, Blackstone Academy’s School Marshal, has a good-guy reputation and sees the kids daily, Scott Welch, Brandi’s father, asks Mac to help him identify the assailant.
After an exciting 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force Special Operations unit known as Pararescue, Mac retired and returned to his hometown of Brookfield. Pararescuemen specialize in unconventional rescue and recovery in both humanitarian and combat situations. They’re deployed to extract, medically treat and stabilize injured soldiers. A combat search and rescue squad.
Blackstone Academy is a public school in an affluent neighborhood. To keep the school exclusive for their children, parents make generous annual donations.
Mac doesn’t want to get involved with Scott but can’t say no to the distraught father. Mac’s not married and doesn’t have children, but he’d also seek justice if the same thing happened to one of his nieces.
Follow Mac as he checks names off the suspect list until there’s only one name left.
A Mystery/Thriller based on disturbing reality.
That’s what happened to Brandi Welch and her father wants justice.
The party was at the home of the most prominent attorney in Brookfield. Brandi’s father will do what it takes to get justice. One catch—he won’t go to the police until he has evidence to prove guilt.
Because Mac MacKenna, Blackstone Academy’s School Marshal, has a good-guy reputation and sees the kids daily, Scott Welch, Brandi’s father, asks Mac to help him identify the assailant.
After an exciting 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force Special Operations unit known as Pararescue, Mac retired and returned to his hometown of Brookfield. Pararescuemen specialize in unconventional rescue and recovery in both humanitarian and combat situations. They’re deployed to extract, medically treat and stabilize injured soldiers. A combat search and rescue squad.
Blackstone Academy is a public school in an affluent neighborhood. To keep the school exclusive for their children, parents make generous annual donations.
Mac doesn’t want to get involved with Scott but can’t say no to the distraught father. Mac’s not married and doesn’t have children, but he’d also seek justice if the same thing happened to one of his nieces.
Follow Mac as he checks names off the suspect list until there’s only one name left.
A Mystery/Thriller based on disturbing reality.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2018
About the author
Robin Lyons
5 books16 followersI write small-town murder mystery novels. Escape reality grab one of my books, your favorite drink, and relax.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 14, 2020
I love Mac's character! If I had a daughter, Mac is the kind of guy I'd want her to marry.
Unknown Alliance takes on a difficult topic, but Robin Lyons manages to keep the mood from becoming too dark. We see things unfold from the kids' perspectives, as well as from the parents' perspectives. And, of course, we have Mac's calm and watchful viewpoint throughout.
Like many heroes of crime fiction and suspense, Mac has personal demons. What I love is that, unlike the vast majority of fictional heroes, Mac doesn't drown himself in alcohol or escape into drugs for relief. In many respects, he's just a normal guy trying his best to make a difference in the world.
This book can be considered a "clean" read. Violence is alluded to more than shown, and there is no strong language. While this is an adult mystery, I think there's tremendous crossover appeal here for the YA audience who can relate to high school life.
*Unknown Alliance can be read as a stand-alone, but there's a continuing thread from Unknown Threat, book one, and so this series is best read in order.*
Unknown Alliance takes on a difficult topic, but Robin Lyons manages to keep the mood from becoming too dark. We see things unfold from the kids' perspectives, as well as from the parents' perspectives. And, of course, we have Mac's calm and watchful viewpoint throughout.
Like many heroes of crime fiction and suspense, Mac has personal demons. What I love is that, unlike the vast majority of fictional heroes, Mac doesn't drown himself in alcohol or escape into drugs for relief. In many respects, he's just a normal guy trying his best to make a difference in the world.
This book can be considered a "clean" read. Violence is alluded to more than shown, and there is no strong language. While this is an adult mystery, I think there's tremendous crossover appeal here for the YA audience who can relate to high school life.
*Unknown Alliance can be read as a stand-alone, but there's a continuing thread from Unknown Threat, book one, and so this series is best read in order.*
February 16, 2019
GA Unknown Alliance by Robin Lyons is an interesting, fast read, one that resonates in today's school set-up. I enjoyed Mac, Nico, Roni and Monica - these are characters I hope will stay around for a sequel or two. I received this novel from as a free pdf from The Fussy Librarian. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Not available at B&N
Fussy Librarian
pub date July 17, 2018
Singing Dog Media
Not available at B&N
Fussy Librarian
pub date July 17, 2018
Singing Dog Media
April 7, 2022
Another great book from Robin Lyons! The topic of this book is one that I am aware of especially given that I am a parent. I have a daughter and I can't say that I wouldn't do different than the father in this story. Online predators are a very real threat that cannot be ignored no matter how much you trust your child.
Mac Mackenna is a school marshal at the prestigious Blackstone Academy. A teenage girl is assaulted at a neighborhood party, the father, Scott, reaches out to Mac to help find the culprit but has asked him not to contact the police until they have more evidence. So, Mac starts asking around without arousing suspicion. As the investigation deepens it will take a turn that even Mac never sees coming.
This book is full of mystery and intrigue! Not only is there the story of the assault, but there's also a missing kid and a mysterious new classmate, RaeAnn, whose parents were killed in a car crash, and she's been sent to live with wealthy first-time foster parents. I'm very interested to see how her story is going to plan out.
I like that the story is told from different perspectives. We get glimpses into each storyline. The chapters are short, and the pacing has a really great build up, finishing with a twist that I never saw coming! I had a feeling as to who the culprit might be but was still shocked when he was revealed. There were several times I felt my pulse throbbing and I couldn't wait to turn the page to find out what was going to happen.
Even though the topic is a sensitive one, its one I feel is very important in this day and age. We as parents must play an active role in our children's lives. Especially those whose kids are in public school. As a homeschool mom, I have the privilege of seeing my kids all day, every day. I actively monitor what they watch, who they talk to and what they are exposed to. For us, that means, no cell phones. It also means no unmonitored computer use. Some may say I'm being too protective but seeing as I keep seeing adults being arrested for hurting kids, I don't think I am. It's a fine line as a parent we must walk, and this is one book I think teens and parents alike should read.
Mac Mackenna is a school marshal at the prestigious Blackstone Academy. A teenage girl is assaulted at a neighborhood party, the father, Scott, reaches out to Mac to help find the culprit but has asked him not to contact the police until they have more evidence. So, Mac starts asking around without arousing suspicion. As the investigation deepens it will take a turn that even Mac never sees coming.
This book is full of mystery and intrigue! Not only is there the story of the assault, but there's also a missing kid and a mysterious new classmate, RaeAnn, whose parents were killed in a car crash, and she's been sent to live with wealthy first-time foster parents. I'm very interested to see how her story is going to plan out.
I like that the story is told from different perspectives. We get glimpses into each storyline. The chapters are short, and the pacing has a really great build up, finishing with a twist that I never saw coming! I had a feeling as to who the culprit might be but was still shocked when he was revealed. There were several times I felt my pulse throbbing and I couldn't wait to turn the page to find out what was going to happen.
Even though the topic is a sensitive one, its one I feel is very important in this day and age. We as parents must play an active role in our children's lives. Especially those whose kids are in public school. As a homeschool mom, I have the privilege of seeing my kids all day, every day. I actively monitor what they watch, who they talk to and what they are exposed to. For us, that means, no cell phones. It also means no unmonitored computer use. Some may say I'm being too protective but seeing as I keep seeing adults being arrested for hurting kids, I don't think I am. It's a fine line as a parent we must walk, and this is one book I think teens and parents alike should read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews