Blog Archives
Based on True Events
Scam at Higgins Canyon follows a computer forensic data analyst who agrees to manage a group of construction contractors; however, he had not counted on finding a hidden room full of literal skeletons and unanswered questions. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My stories are based on true events. I have worked in the construction industry in South Africa and Dubai. When tearing down old buildings or doing renovations, it is not uncommon to find things hidden in the wall and under the floor.
How did you come up with the idea for the antagonist in this story, and how did it change as you wrote?
The antagonist is based on someone I knew. As I wrote, the antagonist took on his own persona. All I was doing was writing the words.
Authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
Absolutely. This is especially true for the antagonist as he morphed as I wrote more and more.
What do you have in store for Jack Rhodes next, and when can your fans expect his next thrilling adventure to be out?
The draft for Book 5 in the Scam series is with beta readers. It should be published in the next two months. Here is what will be on the back cover: “In the aftermath of police officer Ted Clark’s heroic death, his wife Marie grapples with grief and guilt. As she becomes a target for an insurance scam, Ted’s colleague Jack Rhodes steps in to protect her. The investigation into Ted’s death and the murder of Danny Carlton uncovers a web of familial and criminal entanglements. Freya Ragnall, who runs a chop shop, restores Ted’s Mustang, symbolizing his legacy and revealing more about her criminal activities. Meanwhile, the Lund brothers face their estranged father, Frank, amidst betrayal and ambition. Jack’s lover, Stella West, supports him as he uncovers suspicious financial activities linked to Victor Thornfield’s advanced technology. This culminates in a violent showdown at Vortex. This gripping narrative explores the ethical dilemmas posed by technological advancements and the fragile nature of human connections. A story of loss, justice, and the pursuit of closure.”
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Scam at Higgins Canyon Road
Scam at Higgins Canyon is a fast-paced thriller set in modern-day San Francisco, where Jack Rhodes, a forensic data analyst with a past riddled with personal tragedy, is drawn into an investigation that blurs the lines between conspiracy theory and criminal fact. After being approached by Tommy Griggs, a former military man grieving the suspicious death of a close friend, Jack finds himself navigating murky dealings involving construction companies, veterans, shady bar staff, and a patchwork of old friendships and new threats. The story unfolds with scenes ranging from dive bar brawls and emotional reckonings to intricate digital sleuthing and philosophical musings about loyalty, justice, and memory.
Mackay’s voice is dry, often funny, sometimes poetic, and surprisingly introspective. He doesn’t just tell a story, he sits with it. The dialogue is snappy and real. The prose veers between gritty and lyrical, painting San Francisco with a worn, lived-in brush that feels nostalgic and alive at once. The characters are layered, flawed, often a bit lost, and it works. Jack isn’t your typical hard-boiled hero. He’s sharp and measured, but there’s a sadness beneath all that quiet competence. And the side characters from the chaotic Madam Li to the old army guys drowning their grief in tequila feel like people you’ve met in a bar at 1 a.m.
The plot feels realistic. There’s no grand twist, no explosive climax, just the slow, methodical piecing together of something quietly wrong. And that’s where Mackay leans into an idea I appreciated: that real scams, real deaths, real betrayals, don’t need Hollywood endings. They just need someone to pay attention. It made me think more than it thrilled me, which, to be honest, I didn’t expect, and ended up liking.
Mackay’s writing style reminded me of early Michael Connelly mixed with the gritty introspection of Raymond Chandler and the modern, character-driven pacing of Tana French. If you like character-driven mysteries with heart and grit, stories that hang out in the gray areas and don’t rush the truth, then Scam at Higgins Canyon is a gem. It’s a book for people who don’t mind sitting with uncertainty, who appreciate when a mystery’s biggest revelation isn’t about a killer but about the world we live in.
Pages: 341 | ASIN : B0DTFLZMNC
The Darkest Mysteries
In Scam at Mount Diablo, you blend elements of romance, humor, and mystery into the crime thriller genre. What inspired you to take this approach and how do you balance these different elements in your writing?
As my stories are based on true events, in my experience, in real life, romance, humour ansd mystery are not mutually exclusive nor do they occur sequentailly.
In the darkest of mysteries in one’s life, sparks of humor can appear unexpectedly and at the same time, the beginnings of a love interest can appear. Anyway, my life has been like this. I didn’t have to invent it.
Jack Rhodes is a complex character with both computer and martial arts skills. How did you develop his character, and what challenges did you face in creating such a multi-faceted protagonist?
I have met people who have exceptionall computer and martial arts skils, but in focusing to develp these skills some part of them gets lost or part of them was missing or wired differently in the first place which enable these skills to develope above and beyond the norm. An example is people with autism who exhibit savant capabilities within a narrow focus.
Scam at Mount Diablo is the third book in the series. How has your writing process changed or evolved over the course of your career, and what have you learned from your previous works?
My writing regime hasn’t changed. I rise at 5 am. walk on the beach with my wife, we have breakfast together, she goes to work and I am at my desk by 6:30 am. I then write for three hours, despite what is happening in the world. I have learned that I must ensure that there is consistency in the Jack Rhodes character as well as the secondary characters who are in all the books. Someone once described Jack Rhodes as a Jame Bond Noir, which, when I read it, I realised wasn’t a bad summation.
What advice would you give to aspiring crime and mystery writers who are looking to develop well-drawn characters while also maintaining a thrilling plot full of twists and turns?
When you are next in a coffee shop, get out your notebook, choose someone in the coffee shop (don’t stare) and describe them. Not just there physical charactistics, but what they are wearing and why are they wearing those clothes and what you think is going on in their mind. Then write the most unlikely thing you think they will do. (Maybe this person will come over and smack you because you were staring). A weel later read what you wrote. Write everyday and read every day.
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Scam at Mount Diablo
Jack Rhodes is about to lend his hand in solving the case of a suspected serial killer. There are common threads that run throughout the cases, and the team that has assembled believes this is not the killer’s first round of victims. Jack is no amateur when it comes to investigations, and he soon begins asking all the right questions to get the ball rolling. As disturbing as the murders are, there exists another and, perhaps, even more, disconcerting commonality. All victims are successful women who own and operate their own companies. Jack quickly realizes that this aspect of the crimes puts Stella West, his close friend, in imminent danger.
Scam at Mount Diablo, by Mike MacKay, follows the main character Jack Rhodes as he thwarts one attack after another all while doing his part to solve a series of murders and prevent Stella West from becoming a serial killer’s next victim. Jack is adept at what he does and puts both his computer and martial arts skills to remain one step ahead of his enemies. MacKay’s novel is an enthralling crime thriller that contains elements of romance, humor, and a hefty dose of mystery.
This is the third book by MacKay I have read, and I can say beyond the shadow of a doubt that Mike MacKay is going to become a name to remember. I never throw around the word “love” loosely when it comes to writing, but I absolutely love MacKay’s work. His characters are well-drawn and pull the reader effortlessly into the story. Jack is a one-of-a-kind main character. His relationship with Stella adds a perfectly measured dose of romance to an already fascinating plot. Some crime thrillers lack character development and focus too heavily on the plot. MacKay’s work is the ideal blend of a plot full of twists and turns and a cast of stand-out characters.
I am giving Scam at Mount Diablo, by Mike MacKay, a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend MacKay’s work to any fan of crime thrillers and mysteries. MacKay’s novels offer something others seem to lack; depth of character. Readers will fall quickly into Jack’s world, become invested in his plight, and remember him long after they finish the last chapter. With no lack of action sequences, Scam at Mount Diablo is a sure-fire win for readers who want their socks knocked off from the first chapter.
Pages: 321 | ASIN: B0C3FFCL36
Leading Up To The Discovery
Scam at Five Mile Road follows Jack on a new assignment that seems straightforward, find missing money, but after a string of near misses, he finds that someone is willing to kill to keep their secret. What were some sources that informed the development of this novel?
This is based on true events which happened in the automotive component industry.
I did a lot of consulting in this industry and was the one who uncovered what was going on.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The one where I am leading up to the discovery.
As it was a true event and clear in my mind, getting that same clarity across to the reader was fun.
What were some challenges you set for yourself as a writer with this book?
To get a better balance, with dialogue and description without losing My Voice.
What is one surprising way you’ve seen Jack Rhodes’ character develop in this book?
Jack’s sense of justice is heightened due to the killings that occur.
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Once he arrives at the facility, it’s clear not everyone is happy about his arrival. After a string of near misses, it is evident that someone wants him out of the picture and is not afraid to get their hands dirty.
As Jack closes in on the culprit, he inadvertently places everyone he comes in contact with in danger. If he doesn’t get results fast, there’ll be more to lose than the factory and the people he cares for. This time, there won’t be any escape from the darkness within.
The Essence Of The Story
Scam at Old River follows a computer forensic expert who goes undercover in the San Francisco criminal world to find a missing woman. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I have told this story many times and my listeners said it would make a great crime/thriller novel.
You state that this novel is based on true events; what kind of research did you do to ensure you captured the essence of the story?
It is based on true events. However I had to move the location and change the names to keep me out of range of anything legal.
Hence I had to make sure the new locale was a reasonable facsimile to the original.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
My wife, who says, I mustn’t overthink what I write as the first draft has a rawness to it that captures the essence of the story.
When I try to get too clever and make it more “literary” the rawness fades away.
When I show both versions to people, they always prefer the raw version.
Will there be more mysteries for Jack Rhodes, if so when can readers expect the next novel?
There are already.
Book 2 – Scam at Five Mile Road is with you for review.
Book 3 – Scam at Mt Diablo is its final stage of editing, then it will be on its way to you for a review.
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After a night out celebrating the conclusion of a successful assignment, computer forensic expert Jack Rhodes, wakes up with a beautiful woman in his bed, an almighty hangover, and someone is pounding on his door. He answers, and the large stranger asks for the woman by name. The stranger goes on the attack. Jack thinks he’s in the middle of a relationship drama.
Drawing on his martial arts training, Jack subdues the assailant. He calls the police, but not before learning the woman has hidden incriminating files from a dangerous man. When the police arrive, the woman has disappeared.
Through his connections on the force, Jack volunteers to go undercover and discover the truth. It becomes a dark and menacing path into the hidden underbelly of San Francisco’s business and criminal element where murder, exploitation, fraud, and betrayal are a way of life. He needs to make the connections, get the proof he needs and find the woman fast. But to do so means facing his demons, a darkness within, and a past he cannot escape.
Scam at Five Mile Road
It’s not unusual for Jack to get a call from his on-and-off-again lover, Stella. After all, the two are peas in a pod. They share not only computer skills but also a strong desire to solve mysteries. This time, Stella needs more than just a favor. This time, Stella briefly mentions that his assistance is urgently required as she throws in a quick reference to three deaths. Assuming these are accidental deaths in Stella’s facility, Jack is more than surprised to find that the authorities are not quite so sure these deaths are accidents after all.
Scam at Five Mile Road is another riveting entry in author Mike MacKay’s crime thriller series centered around main character, Jack Rhodes. In this installment, Jack is given inside information about three mysterious deaths from Stella. Stella’s abilities as a hacker come in handy when she accesses footage to see for herself how these deaths occurred. Jack and Stella, again, make the perfect crime-fighting team. MacKay’s characters are well-drawn and have wonderful relatable elements that make them all memorable and easy to read.
MacKay has mastered the action-packed introduction, and that continues to be one of the things that draws me into his novels. Right out of the gate, MacKay hits hard with an intense fight scene on Jack’s flight–a scene that showcases both Jack’s intelligence and his physical strength. Action and drama permeate MacKay’s work and make for a fantastic read.
Another appealing aspect of MacKay’s writing in the Jack Rhodes series is the focus on highly technical language and computer skills. As the mother of two computer geeks, I find MacKay’s choice to give his main character this particular skillset a fantastic choice that will pull in a new generation of readers. Jack makes his career look and feel exciting from all angles and tech-savvy readers will love that.
I’ve read some mystery novels recently that had the potential to be great reads but fell short due to one thing–dialogue. MacKay has nothing to worry about in that department. There is an ideal mix of narrative and dialogue in Jack Rhodes’s stories. Readers are treated to revealing back-and-forths between Jack and Stella and quips here and there between Jack and secondary characters that make for a read that is not only engaging but fun.
Mystery buffs will appreciate the effort MacKay has put into developing both the storyline and his relatable cast of characters. Scam at Five Mile Road will appeal to readers across genres due to its action, suspense, romance, and mystery.
Pages: 354 | ASIN: B09L81MBN6
LITERARY TITAN 