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Too Young To Die
A beautiful woman named Kate is murdered in Tucson, Arizona, and no one can figure it out. A quirky private investigator from Phoenix named Blake Moran, gets hired to help. Even though Blake’s tagline, “We Find Stuff,” may be less than impressive, he is surprisingly good at what he does. The murderer thinks he got away with it. Working both inside and outside “the lines,” can Blake find the murderer before the murderer finds him? Along the way, Blake is faced with some of life's biggest questions, and he is slowly realizing the answers can only come from God.
About the Author
Davie Mac (aka David McAllister) is Pastor of a multi-location church and resident of Tucson, Arizona, and has always been a big fan of the “who-done-it” genre. He combines the suspense and humor he so enjoys and weaves in answers to some of the biggest question our society has about life, God, Jesus, and the Bible. David has already completed the third book in this series and is working on the fourth and the audio books. Professionally, David founded and has pastored the Bridge Christian Church for over 30 years. He is also a song writer, having written over 50 songs to date, he plays the drums in a band, and is an avid weightlifter. David and his wife Kimberly have seven children and twelve grandchildren.
For more information about the author www.daviemacbooks.com
About the Author
Davie Mac (aka David McAllister) is Pastor of a multi-location church and resident of Tucson, Arizona, and has always been a big fan of the “who-done-it” genre. He combines the suspense and humor he so enjoys and weaves in answers to some of the biggest question our society has about life, God, Jesus, and the Bible. David has already completed the third book in this series and is working on the fourth and the audio books. Professionally, David founded and has pastored the Bridge Christian Church for over 30 years. He is also a song writer, having written over 50 songs to date, he plays the drums in a band, and is an avid weightlifter. David and his wife Kimberly have seven children and twelve grandchildren.
For more information about the author www.daviemacbooks.com
- GenresMystery
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2022
452 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 26, 2026
"We Find Stuff"—Including a Thrilling Redemption Arc
Davie Mac’s Too Young to Die is a refreshing dive into the desert-noir genre, blending a gritty Tucson murder mystery with a quirky, soul-searching protagonist. If you’re tired of the typical "brooding detective" trope, Blake Moran is the breath of fresh air you’ve been waiting for.
The Plot: A High-Stakes Game of Cat and Mouse
The story kicks off with the baffling murder of Kate, a beautiful woman in Tucson whose death leaves local authorities at a standstill. Enter Blake Moran, a Phoenix-based PI with a self-deprecating tagline—"We Find Stuff"—that masks a sharp, unconventional brilliance.
As Blake navigates the investigation, the tension ratchets up. Mac does an excellent job of building a "dual-threat" narrative:
The Hunt: Blake is closing in on a killer who believes he’s committed the perfect crime.
The Peril: The killer isn't just running; he's turning the tables, turning Blake from the hunter into the hunted.
The Character: More Than Just a PI
What sets Too Young to Die apart is Blake’s internal journey. While he operates "outside the lines" to get results, he isn't just looking for clues; he’s looking for meaning. As the case gets darker, Blake is forced to confront life’s heaviest questions. Mac weaves a spiritual thread throughout the story, showing Blake’s gradual realization that the answers to life’s chaos can’t be found in a case file, but rather through faith.
Why You Should Read It
The Setting: The Arizona heat is almost its own character, providing a sun-scorched backdrop for a cold-blooded crime.
The Tone: It perfectly balances quirky humor with genuine suspense.
The Message: It’s a rare find—a compelling mystery that offers profound spiritual insights without feeling heavy-handed.
Final Verdict: Too Young to Die is a fast-paced, heart-pounding mystery that manages to be both entertaining and deeply reflective. Whether you’re here for the "how-dunit" or the journey of the soul, Davie Mac delivers a knockout.
Davie Mac’s Too Young to Die is a refreshing dive into the desert-noir genre, blending a gritty Tucson murder mystery with a quirky, soul-searching protagonist. If you’re tired of the typical "brooding detective" trope, Blake Moran is the breath of fresh air you’ve been waiting for.
The Plot: A High-Stakes Game of Cat and Mouse
The story kicks off with the baffling murder of Kate, a beautiful woman in Tucson whose death leaves local authorities at a standstill. Enter Blake Moran, a Phoenix-based PI with a self-deprecating tagline—"We Find Stuff"—that masks a sharp, unconventional brilliance.
As Blake navigates the investigation, the tension ratchets up. Mac does an excellent job of building a "dual-threat" narrative:
The Hunt: Blake is closing in on a killer who believes he’s committed the perfect crime.
The Peril: The killer isn't just running; he's turning the tables, turning Blake from the hunter into the hunted.
The Character: More Than Just a PI
What sets Too Young to Die apart is Blake’s internal journey. While he operates "outside the lines" to get results, he isn't just looking for clues; he’s looking for meaning. As the case gets darker, Blake is forced to confront life’s heaviest questions. Mac weaves a spiritual thread throughout the story, showing Blake’s gradual realization that the answers to life’s chaos can’t be found in a case file, but rather through faith.
Why You Should Read It
The Setting: The Arizona heat is almost its own character, providing a sun-scorched backdrop for a cold-blooded crime.
The Tone: It perfectly balances quirky humor with genuine suspense.
The Message: It’s a rare find—a compelling mystery that offers profound spiritual insights without feeling heavy-handed.
Final Verdict: Too Young to Die is a fast-paced, heart-pounding mystery that manages to be both entertaining and deeply reflective. Whether you’re here for the "how-dunit" or the journey of the soul, Davie Mac delivers a knockout.
February 20, 2025
A clean Christian whodunit in which the author gets his theology correct... but it could use a thorough line edit and a thorough study of a manual of style. I found multiple punctuation errors including incorrect usage of quotation marks. (I worked as a medical transcriptionist and editor for decades so I know whereof I speak.) For instance, there are often instances of two adjacent paragraphs which both have beginning and ending double quotation marks but both paragraphs are quotes from the same character. Trying to figure out who is talking when pulls the reader right out of the story, which is a big no-no in fiction writing. I also ran across several instances of the still-incorrect "alright." I remember long-ago school spelling/vocabulary lists that included "all right," and a quick Google search indicates that "all right" is still vastly preferred in any and all professional writing.
As far as the story, it's pretty good, but I tired quickly of the multitude of descriptions of the protagonist's poor dietary choices. I also figured out who the killer was before the Big Reveal--which almost never happens for me. In fact once all the clues had come together and the author had all but jumped the gun in revealing the perp, I figured he was setting up for a massive plot twist in which the killer turned out to be somebody else. This did not happen.
I may or may not read the subsequent books in the series. If anything I'll take a look to see if the author's style errors have been corrected.
Finally... although the theology was exactly right, the conversation in which it was offered was a bit too long. I understand the temptation to explain things very thoroughly, but quite frankly a sermon-on-the-fly of that length would have most people's eyes glazing over. A well-known axiom in show business is to leave your audience wanting more, versus going on too long so they just wish you would shut up.
As far as the story, it's pretty good, but I tired quickly of the multitude of descriptions of the protagonist's poor dietary choices. I also figured out who the killer was before the Big Reveal--which almost never happens for me. In fact once all the clues had come together and the author had all but jumped the gun in revealing the perp, I figured he was setting up for a massive plot twist in which the killer turned out to be somebody else. This did not happen.
I may or may not read the subsequent books in the series. If anything I'll take a look to see if the author's style errors have been corrected.
Finally... although the theology was exactly right, the conversation in which it was offered was a bit too long. I understand the temptation to explain things very thoroughly, but quite frankly a sermon-on-the-fly of that length would have most people's eyes glazing over. A well-known axiom in show business is to leave your audience wanting more, versus going on too long so they just wish you would shut up.
March 3, 2024
I loved this one, I found myself laughing, smiling and just generally being surprised as to the killer.
A little background, Blake Moran, is a Private Investigator and he tells the story all the way though, which is so enjoyable. His logo for his business is "We find Stuff" and he certainly is very good at solving the cases he takes on. In this one, he is contacted by the brother of a women that was killed in the Tucson, Arizona area. The case is over 6 months old and now it seems that the cops have run out of leads and not working the case actively.
Blake takes the case and heads to Tucson to find the murderer. I just loved this one and ready to go on to the next in the series!
A little background, Blake Moran, is a Private Investigator and he tells the story all the way though, which is so enjoyable. His logo for his business is "We find Stuff" and he certainly is very good at solving the cases he takes on. In this one, he is contacted by the brother of a women that was killed in the Tucson, Arizona area. The case is over 6 months old and now it seems that the cops have run out of leads and not working the case actively.
Blake takes the case and heads to Tucson to find the murderer. I just loved this one and ready to go on to the next in the series!
October 14, 2024
Good story line, adolescent delivery
Do you like the "voice over" style of entertainment where what you're seeing and hearing/reading is being explained along with the thoughts of the narrator (think the old "Kolchak" TV show)? Then you'll like the writing style. If you don't, you'll have to power through a lot of 12-year-old tough guy drivel and mediocre quality writing (editors should have caught a lot more than they did!) to what is actually a decent mystery story line. Though the whodunit captured me enough to do that once I started, the writing quality and style means I am unlikely to read any more of the series, unusual for me.
Do you like the "voice over" style of entertainment where what you're seeing and hearing/reading is being explained along with the thoughts of the narrator (think the old "Kolchak" TV show)? Then you'll like the writing style. If you don't, you'll have to power through a lot of 12-year-old tough guy drivel and mediocre quality writing (editors should have caught a lot more than they did!) to what is actually a decent mystery story line. Though the whodunit captured me enough to do that once I started, the writing quality and style means I am unlikely to read any more of the series, unusual for me.
June 5, 2023
This writer has a unique style of writing. At first it put me off, but I decided to finish at least the first book. I’m so glad I did. I ended up loving all three books. I just finished book three and now I’m so sad I have to wait until the next book. The story in each book is so awesome. The way everything comes together, is so interesting. I loved that it was written by a Christian Pastor. His insights were very interesting. And eventually I got used to the personal comments he contributed. Give it a chance because while they are mystery books, the lighter side is a pleasant change.
February 7, 2023
This was a good book. I did guess the killer but I kept waiting for a twist that would change things up from what I thought it would be. I did like how the author incorporated his Christian beliefs into the story. I did not like how the book was written in a film noir style. The whole book was written as thought the protagonist was telling us his thoughts out loud. It wouldn't have bothered me so much except for the silly little asides he kept throwing in.
January 21, 2025
Storyline was GREAT, Delivery... not so much
I enjoyed the plot and the story as a whole. The characters were very interesting. I did think that the over-the-top humor, side jokes, etc. were too much, too often, and quite irritating! Sorry.
The interjection of aspects of Christianity was quite refreshing.
I will read books 2 and 3 with the hope that the humor is a bit more subdued.
I enjoyed the plot and the story as a whole. The characters were very interesting. I did think that the over-the-top humor, side jokes, etc. were too much, too often, and quite irritating! Sorry.
The interjection of aspects of Christianity was quite refreshing.
I will read books 2 and 3 with the hope that the humor is a bit more subdued.
January 25, 2025
I really enjoyed the perspective that the book was written from. The narrator was a funny character and I enjoyed his silliness throughout the book. It was an interesting pairing between the jokes and serious matters of murder and the mystery being solved. The author also cleverly incorporated evangelism from a unique perspective. This was the first book I've read by Davie Mac and I'm excited to read more of his books. He gets 5 stars from me!
January 7, 2026
The mystery itself was quite interesting but the main character was a bit annoying. He came across as immature and egotistical. I had to skip parts since he often went off on silly tangents that spoiled the story. However, Blake was good at his job. A young woman was murdered at a fancy resort and her brother hired Blake to find the killer. It was risky but with help of the local police he was able to put the murderer behind bars.
December 13, 2022
not as good as I was hoping
I won’t be reading more of these! This book had over 100 chapters and easily could have been done in 50 (or less)! There was way to much rambling and goofy to suit me. I love good, suspenseful, Christian stories and was excited by the Facebook blurb about how great this series is. I did not find that to be true.
I won’t be reading more of these! This book had over 100 chapters and easily could have been done in 50 (or less)! There was way to much rambling and goofy to suit me. I love good, suspenseful, Christian stories and was excited by the Facebook blurb about how great this series is. I did not find that to be true.
April 5, 2023
Really like the story
Really like the story, and I 've already bought the next two. But I feel like I have to fight through the writing style to get to the story. I have a couple more gripes, but I don't know if they're about things the author controls, or if the editor is responsible, so I'll just not mention them. But I will stew over them.
Really like the story, and I 've already bought the next two. But I feel like I have to fight through the writing style to get to the story. I have a couple more gripes, but I don't know if they're about things the author controls, or if the editor is responsible, so I'll just not mention them. But I will stew over them.
June 18, 2024
Entertaining PI Story!
Clever writing style that constantly caused smirks and laughs from me the reader throughout the telling. Old fashioned “gum shoe” style. It was a good read. Definitely a mystery of who dun it. Pretty strong story line and especially liked the part where the PI visited the church and got an earful from the pastor. Well done.
Clever writing style that constantly caused smirks and laughs from me the reader throughout the telling. Old fashioned “gum shoe” style. It was a good read. Definitely a mystery of who dun it. Pretty strong story line and especially liked the part where the PI visited the church and got an earful from the pastor. Well done.
November 23, 2022
Enjoyable
At first I was sceptical about this book. The main character was very irritating in an attempt to be funny. However, I don't give up easily . As I continued to read I started to admire Mr. Moran abilities as a PI. This is a very entertaining book.
At first I was sceptical about this book. The main character was very irritating in an attempt to be funny. However, I don't give up easily . As I continued to read I started to admire Mr. Moran abilities as a PI. This is a very entertaining book.
February 2, 2023
Too much personal stuff by the author about how he was "feeling" about women especially. I felt like there was way too much about his attractions. A lot of romance with too little detective findings. Not my type.
February 13, 2023
Too Young to Die
The way that story was written took me a bit to going but once I got acquainted with that PI it moved along and I did enjoy it. Only one thing made me wonder. Why would he have his office in such an unpleasant place when he apparently could afford better.
The way that story was written took me a bit to going but once I got acquainted with that PI it moved along and I did enjoy it. Only one thing made me wonder. Why would he have his office in such an unpleasant place when he apparently could afford better.
August 26, 2023
Different but Good
I am always looking for new Christian mystery books for me and my Mom to read.
A totally different style but it works.
I was beginning to wonder about Christian/God relationship but it appeared near the end.
Assuming more will be in book 2?
I am always looking for new Christian mystery books for me and my Mom to read.
A totally different style but it works.
I was beginning to wonder about Christian/God relationship but it appeared near the end.
Assuming more will be in book 2?
June 16, 2024
At first I did not like the writing style but I was intrigued by the story line. This ended up being a good book. I liked the characters and story development. The only downside were spelling and grammar errors that proofreading should have caught.
January 4, 2025
This could have been a better book if I would have read it instead of listening to the audiobook. The guy reading it (which is the author) read it super annoyingly, which made me think the main character was annoying. I will not be reading any other books in this series.
October 9, 2025
Excellent read! The k author combines humor with intriguing suspense and a little romance. He also covers some difficult subjects from a Biblical perspective in a non preachy way. I’ve read all Davie Mac’s book and so far, I like this the best but enjoyed every one!!
April 25, 2022
Great who done it. Highly recommend
June 6, 2022
Too many corney references and old sayings. The plot kept me reading but the allusion to a welll known local was a little too close for comfort….the religion bit was pure postalizing. Sorry Dave
June 29, 2022
Fairly good read
Like the chacters and the story, just didnt like that he kept talking to the reader. Just not my style of reading so reason for the 4 stars.
Like the chacters and the story, just didnt like that he kept talking to the reader. Just not my style of reading so reason for the 4 stars.
June 30, 2022
Excellent book
Kept me wanting to read! Loved it being set in Tucson! Hopefully there will be more to follow! Very enjoyable!
Kept me wanting to read! Loved it being set in Tucson! Hopefully there will be more to follow! Very enjoyable!
July 18, 2022
I enjoy other books based in the state I live so I thought I would give this one a try. I enjoyed all the twist and turns. Can’t wait for the next book to come out in September.
July 19, 2022
Murder and Comedy all rolled up together
Enjoyed the book especially since it was set in Arizona. Loved Blake Moran....AND his initials are the same as mine!!!
Enjoyed the book especially since it was set in Arizona. Loved Blake Moran....AND his initials are the same as mine!!!
March 20, 2023
XLNT detective work and humor, good combination.
Southwestern mystery buffs would enjoy the local color, restaurants and scenery. Always nice when a real bad guy gets his due.
Southwestern mystery buffs would enjoy the local color, restaurants and scenery. Always nice when a real bad guy gets his due.
Read
April 17, 2023Great book.
I considered this rating because this book kept me interested and on edge. Liked the characters. Great read for me. Whitbread others.
I considered this rating because this book kept me interested and on edge. Liked the characters. Great read for me. Whitbread others.
August 3, 2023
dull, stupid start
The book started off with a stupid acting PI. The “name/initial reference mentioned several times in first chapter. Wasted time trying to read
The book started off with a stupid acting PI. The “name/initial reference mentioned several times in first chapter. Wasted time trying to read
October 28, 2023
A Fun Read
The main character is original and engaging. The storyline and investigating make it hard to stop reading when it is way past your bedtime!
The main character is original and engaging. The storyline and investigating make it hard to stop reading when it is way past your bedtime!
December 31, 2023
I Loved this book!! A bit quirky at first until I got used to the style. Because it got such high ratings, I persisted and I am SO glad I did! I will definitely read the rest of the series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews