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Kyle Callahan Mystery #6
Reservation for murder
It’s been several years since Kyle Callahan sought the help of a New York City therapist to overcome the trauma of his encounter with a serial killer, and just as long since his investigation into a teenage girl’s murder brought down the Manhattan District Attorney. He and his husband Danny Durban have decided to move away, to start a new life in the idyllic river city of Lambertville, New Jersey. They have friends there. They’ll have peace and quiet. They can leave the hustle and bustle and stresses of America’s biggest metropolis behind.
They open a bed and breakfast, and soon discover that murder and mayhem are waiting to check in. There’s a writers conference in town, with big names and big egos heading for a clash—and a killing—of titans. No sooner has the ink dried on the guest registry than Kyle finds himself pursuing another murderer, this one closer to home than they’ve ever come. He enlists the help of his old friend and local resident Linda Sikorsky, once a detective on the New Hope, Pennsylvania, police force. The two of them follow one lead after another in a race against time until the shocking truth is exposed.
They open a bed and breakfast, and soon discover that murder and mayhem are waiting to check in. There’s a writers conference in town, with big names and big egos heading for a clash—and a killing—of titans. No sooner has the ink dried on the guest registry than Kyle finds himself pursuing another murderer, this one closer to home than they’ve ever come. He enlists the help of his old friend and local resident Linda Sikorsky, once a detective on the New Hope, Pennsylvania, police force. The two of them follow one lead after another in a race against time until the shocking truth is exposed.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2020
28 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
Mark McNease
54 books118 followersI've recently released 'Blank Page to Bookshelf: From First Sentence to First Sale,' condensing two years of my workshops into one easy to read guide on fiction writing, character creation, and self-publishing.
I've also written horror as M.A. McNease - not a pen name, it's my initials. Books under M.A. McNease include 'I, Warlock,' 'A House in the Woods (1 and 2)', and 'Hell to Pay' (a two-book volume of both House in the Woods books).
I'm the author of the Kyle Callahan Mysteries, two of which have been best sellers on Kindle. In 2022 I released the second Maggie Dahl Mystery, 'Open Secrets,' with Maggie pursuing another killer in sleepy Lambertville, NJ.
My Detective Linda mystery, 'Last Room at the Cliff's Edge', was released in September, 2016, and called a winner by Publishers Weekly. I released the first Marshall James thriller, 'Murder at the Paisley Parrot', in 2017, followed by 'Beautiful Corpse,' 'Final Audition,' and most recently 'Night Flight to Murder Town' in 2025.
'Black Cat White Paws: A Maggie Dahl Mystery' was released in 2018, followed by 'Open Secrets.'
I have 10 audiobooks currently available (Audible, Amazon, various retailers). My short story 'Stop the Car' was selected as a Kindle Single and is now an audiobook narrated by the amazing Braden Wright. It was selected twice to be included in the Amazon Prime reading library.
For old time's sake I also have two Emmys for Outstanding Children's Program for 'Into the Outdoors', a television show I co-created and wrote for two years that is now in its 17th year.
I live in the New Jersey woods with my husband, Frank, and our two cats, Wilma and James.
You can find me at my website, MarkMcNease.com.
I've also written horror as M.A. McNease - not a pen name, it's my initials. Books under M.A. McNease include 'I, Warlock,' 'A House in the Woods (1 and 2)', and 'Hell to Pay' (a two-book volume of both House in the Woods books).
I'm the author of the Kyle Callahan Mysteries, two of which have been best sellers on Kindle. In 2022 I released the second Maggie Dahl Mystery, 'Open Secrets,' with Maggie pursuing another killer in sleepy Lambertville, NJ.
My Detective Linda mystery, 'Last Room at the Cliff's Edge', was released in September, 2016, and called a winner by Publishers Weekly. I released the first Marshall James thriller, 'Murder at the Paisley Parrot', in 2017, followed by 'Beautiful Corpse,' 'Final Audition,' and most recently 'Night Flight to Murder Town' in 2025.
'Black Cat White Paws: A Maggie Dahl Mystery' was released in 2018, followed by 'Open Secrets.'
I have 10 audiobooks currently available (Audible, Amazon, various retailers). My short story 'Stop the Car' was selected as a Kindle Single and is now an audiobook narrated by the amazing Braden Wright. It was selected twice to be included in the Amazon Prime reading library.
For old time's sake I also have two Emmys for Outstanding Children's Program for 'Into the Outdoors', a television show I co-created and wrote for two years that is now in its 17th year.
I live in the New Jersey woods with my husband, Frank, and our two cats, Wilma and James.
You can find me at my website, MarkMcNease.com.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 31, 2020
It's been too, too long of a wait. Five years! I read "Kill Switch" back in 2016 and have been hoping for a 6th book in this amazing and thrilling series.
I love the characters of Kyle and Danny. It's refreshing to read a LGBTQA+ book with main characters of my generation. And to make them a well rounded, 3-dimensional, realist gay couple. I was pleasantly surprised and refreshing thrilled that even though they were a loving and affectionate couple I did not end up knowing their penis size, what their favorite type of lubricant was and who pitched and who catched. Mark McNease has a wonderful way of slowly building suspense and character development. He sucks you into the story and doesn't let go.
Highly recommend this series and I hope and pray Mr. McNease writes many more books in this series.
I love the characters of Kyle and Danny. It's refreshing to read a LGBTQA+ book with main characters of my generation. And to make them a well rounded, 3-dimensional, realist gay couple. I was pleasantly surprised and refreshing thrilled that even though they were a loving and affectionate couple I did not end up knowing their penis size, what their favorite type of lubricant was and who pitched and who catched. Mark McNease has a wonderful way of slowly building suspense and character development. He sucks you into the story and doesn't let go.
Highly recommend this series and I hope and pray Mr. McNease writes many more books in this series.
December 31, 2020
Well this was a pleasant surprise! I’m not normally a murder mystery kind of guy, but I surprised myself and truly enjoyed this book. So much so that I may be a convert. I ordered more novels from the Series.
I really enjoyed the characters that included folks of my age group. Some of their references that only folks of my age would pick up on, made me smile.
I don’t normally leave reviews so that in itself says something. Enjoy!
I really enjoyed the characters that included folks of my age group. Some of their references that only folks of my age would pick up on, made me smile.
I don’t normally leave reviews so that in itself says something. Enjoy!
January 4, 2021
I've enjoyed the Kyle Callahan mysteries from the start, but Mark McNease outdid himself with this one. It's a good old-fashioned Jersey cozy - that's New Jersey USA, not the Channel Island. The characters are distinctive and appealing (even the grumpy ones), the relationship between Kyle and his husband is enviable. McNease's humor shines throughout and, to top it off, there's a well-plotted mystery. What a delight to read!
January 14, 2021
204 pages
4 stars
This is a very nice little cozy mystery. I very much liked the characters, Kyle and his husband Danny. They have taken on running a little B & B in nearby smalltown New Jersey after leaving New York for good – albeit somewhat reluctantly.
The guys have a handyman and a woman of all duties, Patty. She takes care of everything, including the guests' needs and minor complaints.
When one of the guests gets himself murdered, Kyle and another friend of his who lives nearby (who is a retired police officer), are on on the trail. Following clues and having vital information about a woman's suicide, they begin to put the motive together. Now they just need to match it to a suspect.
Mr. McNease writes very well. The plotting is superb. The story is clear and easy to read. The pages flew by. I liked this book quite well. Well done, Mr. McNease!
I want to thank Goodreads for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. I won this book as part of the GoodReads giveaway program.
4 stars
This is a very nice little cozy mystery. I very much liked the characters, Kyle and his husband Danny. They have taken on running a little B & B in nearby smalltown New Jersey after leaving New York for good – albeit somewhat reluctantly.
The guys have a handyman and a woman of all duties, Patty. She takes care of everything, including the guests' needs and minor complaints.
When one of the guests gets himself murdered, Kyle and another friend of his who lives nearby (who is a retired police officer), are on on the trail. Following clues and having vital information about a woman's suicide, they begin to put the motive together. Now they just need to match it to a suspect.
Mr. McNease writes very well. The plotting is superb. The story is clear and easy to read. The pages flew by. I liked this book quite well. Well done, Mr. McNease!
I want to thank Goodreads for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. I won this book as part of the GoodReads giveaway program.
April 15, 2021
This was an entertaining story, and a fun mystery once the first murder happened (roughly 45% into the book). The small town setting is well written, and it often feels like being there. Author Mark McNease has crafted an interesting cast of characters that he explored using mostly omniscient POV, which gives us glimpses inside the heads of almost every significant character, without dwelling too long on any one (even the main character, Kyle Callahan). This takes a little getting used to, since a close 3rd person POV is more in vogue these days, and as a result the story doesn't always ground us in Kyle's perspective as much as I would have liked (there's a certain emotional distance). There were also times that things were told to us that could have been brought out in the action or dialogue, which added to that sense of distance.
The conflicts between the various individuals in the book feel very realistic, and well-done, giving us a good sense of tension in the air. There are many possible killers to sort through, making for a good mystery. The clues and red herrings were scattered around really well, and I figured it out just a few paragraphs before the protagonist, which is perfect timing.
One of the book's other strengths is its focus on characters who are older than 50--something that is all too uncommon in LGBT lit, and which I found refreshing. Definitely a fun read for fans of LGBT mysteries.
The conflicts between the various individuals in the book feel very realistic, and well-done, giving us a good sense of tension in the air. There are many possible killers to sort through, making for a good mystery. The clues and red herrings were scattered around really well, and I figured it out just a few paragraphs before the protagonist, which is perfect timing.
One of the book's other strengths is its focus on characters who are older than 50--something that is all too uncommon in LGBT lit, and which I found refreshing. Definitely a fun read for fans of LGBT mysteries.
March 16, 2021
Kyle and Danny are beginning a new chapter in their lives: they have left New York for good and they are managing a bed and breakfast in Lambertville, New Jersey. They are sure that they have left all the danger and mayhem behind and that they are ready for a more calm, sedated life.
What they get instead, is, of course, murder. Not one, but two of their guests are victims of, probably (hopefully) the same killer. And Kyle can't stop himself and, with the help of his friend Linda, goes in search of the killer.
I think this one is the best of the series: the plot is really intricate, with secondary characters are wonderful in their humanity and they feel truly real and a very unexpected ending and yet, very logical.
And it's so refreshing seeing a story in which the main characters are in this age range! And in a committed, beautiful and loving relationship ♥
I really hope we won't have to wait another five years for the next book in this series :D
What they get instead, is, of course, murder. Not one, but two of their guests are victims of, probably (hopefully) the same killer. And Kyle can't stop himself and, with the help of his friend Linda, goes in search of the killer.
I think this one is the best of the series: the plot is really intricate, with secondary characters are wonderful in their humanity and they feel truly real and a very unexpected ending and yet, very logical.
And it's so refreshing seeing a story in which the main characters are in this age range! And in a committed, beautiful and loving relationship ♥
I really hope we won't have to wait another five years for the next book in this series :D
April 9, 2023
( Format : Audiobook )
"Welcome old friend death..."
Kyle and Danny are now beginning a new stage in their lives together by moving out of their beloved New York apartment to Passion House, the B and B they had recently opened in Lamberville. New Jersey. And it was full house, all rooms taken when Kyle just can't seem to avoid getting involved when a visiting author is killed.
So good to see the return of this couple, more like cosy friends than fictional characters. All of the protagonists are infused with a life and the story, though ending rather abruptly, is a curious one. Performance by Sean Rhead further enhances the reader's enjoyment with a well intimated warm, deep voice who's only negative aspect is a tendency to turn down his sentences at the end.
A fun, enjoyable read - more please, Mark McNease.
Recommended.
"Welcome old friend death..."
Kyle and Danny are now beginning a new stage in their lives together by moving out of their beloved New York apartment to Passion House, the B and B they had recently opened in Lamberville. New Jersey. And it was full house, all rooms taken when Kyle just can't seem to avoid getting involved when a visiting author is killed.
So good to see the return of this couple, more like cosy friends than fictional characters. All of the protagonists are infused with a life and the story, though ending rather abruptly, is a curious one. Performance by Sean Rhead further enhances the reader's enjoyment with a well intimated warm, deep voice who's only negative aspect is a tendency to turn down his sentences at the end.
A fun, enjoyable read - more please, Mark McNease.
Recommended.
April 30, 2021
A Cozy Very Well Done
This is my first Kyle & Danny’s exposure, but it won’t be my last. Mr. McNease is a great story-teller. I enjoyed his characters and truly couldn’t put this book down. I don’t usually give 5 stars for a book, but this one gave me more pleasure than most, so 5 it is. It’s unusual to find an author whose protagonists are approaching my old age. Kyle and Danny are almost up to me. Much of the fun of reading this book was enjoying Mr. McNease’s take on growing old. If you like a good cozy, and you’ve read all of Agatha Christie, then Kyle and Danny are for you.
This is my first Kyle & Danny’s exposure, but it won’t be my last. Mr. McNease is a great story-teller. I enjoyed his characters and truly couldn’t put this book down. I don’t usually give 5 stars for a book, but this one gave me more pleasure than most, so 5 it is. It’s unusual to find an author whose protagonists are approaching my old age. Kyle and Danny are almost up to me. Much of the fun of reading this book was enjoying Mr. McNease’s take on growing old. If you like a good cozy, and you’ve read all of Agatha Christie, then Kyle and Danny are for you.
January 16, 2021
This is a simple little murder mystery that I enjoyed. It apparently is part of a continuing series that has the main character and his partner moving from Manhattan to a small New Jersey town. There he encounters a series of murders and, with the help of a friend, he sets about solving it. Not particularly suspenseful or complicated but an easy read with some interesting characters.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
May 28, 2021
A nice gentle read…
This is the fourth or fifth of a series. I jumped onto the caboose and may search out previous installments. Protagonist is late middle aged New Yorker, his husband, and a now retired lesbian police detective from small town New Jersey. An ill army characters well drawn though superficial. A mite too treacly in parts for my taste. But mystery held together, and I end well satisfied.
This is the fourth or fifth of a series. I jumped onto the caboose and may search out previous installments. Protagonist is late middle aged New Yorker, his husband, and a now retired lesbian police detective from small town New Jersey. An ill army characters well drawn though superficial. A mite too treacly in parts for my taste. But mystery held together, and I end well satisfied.
December 13, 2020
A Good Mystery
I didn’t know what to expect of course. Only that a gathering of writers was being mixed together in a small town and that was about it. What a mix it is too. And then what happens at the B&B...well let’s leave that to after you’ve read it. An excellent read and fun.
I didn’t know what to expect of course. Only that a gathering of writers was being mixed together in a small town and that was about it. What a mix it is too. And then what happens at the B&B...well let’s leave that to after you’ve read it. An excellent read and fun.
January 22, 2021
Writing was crisp and clear, with believable characters. However, the author spent too much time introducing the characters, not getting to the crime until a full 1/3 of the way through the book. still, the complexity of the plot somewhat makes up for the delay
January 5, 2021
By the fifth chapter there was no murder. Nothing mysterious at all about this book. I put it down.
January 23, 2023
Enjoyable Story
A well written mystery story with likeable characters. This one is slightly different from the previous ones in that you don't get the killers perspective until the end.
A well written mystery story with likeable characters. This one is slightly different from the previous ones in that you don't get the killers perspective until the end.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews