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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.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
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 Old River
Jack is no stranger to difficult situations. It’s certainly not unheard of for him to get into the occasional jam, but his current predicament might be the strangest one yet. When Jack awakens to find a stranger beating on his door, he can’t predict the wild ride on which he will soon find himself. Debbie, the woman he has been seeing, has somewhat of a secret she has been keeping from him, and the man beating down Jack’s door knows exactly what that secret is. Assuming he is about to find help for them both, Jack calls the police, only to discover that Debbie is long gone.
Scam at Old River, by Mike MacKay, is a mystery/crime novel centered around Jack Rhodes, a man skilled in both computers and martial arts. Every interaction with Jack is an adventure, and he is no stranger to romance. As the main characters go, Jack is gutsy, determined, and possesses a sense of humor that lends itself well to this genre.
Mysteries have always topped my reading lists, and MacKay’s works rank right up there. MacKay keeps readers on their toes and leads them through a series of quickly-paced events, each peppered with the perfect amount of action and intense interactions between characters. Jack is a no-nonsense guy who gets to the point but has to deal with more than his fair share of struggles as he searches for answers.
The secondary characters in MacKay’s novel are ideal companions for Jack. Their dynamics are relatable and hold readers’ interest from the book’s intense first chapter to its final pages. Stella and Jack have some truly genuine exchanges throughout the book. The way they discuss their pasts and share with one another sets the stage for a relationship readers will cheer for from the beginning.
Jack’s unique skills make MacKay’s book a standout in the mystery genre. I found it interesting that the main character’s skillset centered around computers and processes and the way they relate to forensics. Though MacKay has chosen to give him physical strength and knowledge in martial arts, his abilities with computers make him all the more interesting.
Scam at Old River, by Mike MacKay, is a little more than 300 pages, but this novel moves quickly, keeping readers engaged and fully invested in Jack and Stella’s adventure. I highly recommend MacKay’s book to anyone looking for mystery/crime steeped in action with a touch of romance. I look forward to following Jack Rhodes throughout more of Mike MacKay’s novels.
Pages: 305 | ASIN : B092Z81G7L
Their True North
Scam at Old River follows a computer forensic expert who volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate a dangerous criminal organization. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
What happened at Old River is based on a true event. I was there. The actual location I moved to Old River, (which does exist). as it was similar to the actual location. I have an MSc in Computer Science and have spent the last forty years consulting in corporates. A good portion of this work became forensic in nature. This story I have told many times when sitting around a campfire in the bush. It would frequently get comments, “Mike, you should put that story in a book.”
Jack Rhodes is an interesting character that’s well developed. What were some driving ideals behind his character’s development?
Jack Rhodes had to be believable and someone to whom, the reader, men and women of all ages., could relate. Firstly, Jack is not a superhero. Secondly, he has his own internal problems. This, to me, sounds like most people. People need a support structure, no matter who they are. Jack’s internal problems he keeps in check with help from his cousin and their mutual friend. In my view, people do not have a good sense of their True North – their values, their beliefs, their purpose. This is interesting to consider when you meet bad people. I put my thoughts on this into my stories.
I enjoyed the mystery at the heart of this story. Did you plan the mystery beforehand or did it develop organically while writing?
From the original true event, it was a mystery I needed to uncover. When I started writing it, the mystery grew legs of its own and ran down the road. I just followed with my keyboard.
Do you have future books planned starring Jack Rhodes?
My books are a series, The Scam Series. The second book which has just been published is called Scam at Five Mile Road, set in Plymouth, Michigan, where there is a Five Mile Road. Plymouth is close to Detroit – the definitive automotive city. I did a lot of consulting in the automotive sector, so I based the story on a particular forensic event. Once again, I followed the mystery down the road with my keyboard.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
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 Old River
![Scam at Old River by [Mike MacKay]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416cKrpsD2S.jpg)
Scam at Old River, by Mike Mackay, is the riveting story of a man who stumbles upon a dangerous criminal organization. Jack Rhodes is a computer forensic expert with a rough past. He meets a girl in a bar and they go home together, but what happens when a goon comes knocking on his door the next morning? After a wild twist, Jack goes undercover to take down a criminal enterprise. Jack meets Debbie and is soon pulled into a mess she has made with her previous employer. Now that Debbie has entered his life and the criminals will also be coming after him, Jack decides to take on their organization and help the police bring them to justice.
Mike MacKay has an entertaining writing style that will keep readers engaged throughout the story. The characters are written so that there is a strong sense of self, each with their own unique characteristics that make them interesting but grounded at the same time. Jack is an intriguing character all on his own, I was always interested to see how he was going to handle the various provocative situations that come up throughout the book, as I knew it was going to be entertaining one way or another. I felt like all the other characters in the novel were there to support Jack’s character, or character development, throughout the story, but were nonetheless interesting in their own way.
This is a crime thriller with an alluring plot that takes its time to develop and evolve slowly throughout the novel. I would have appreciated a quicker pace, but if you are a reader who enjoys getting into the gritty details of a crime fiction novel then you will have plenty to enjoy here.
This is a character driven crime fiction story with a focus on the action and moving things forward at the expense of background information. The mystery at the heart of the story will appease amateur sleuths as it takes some work to piece together the puzzle, although I would have appreciated more clarity.
Scam at Old River is full of action, with an exciting main character, and a stimulating storyline that crime thriller fans will enjoy. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy action, mystery, a slow burn crime thriller and a strong male lead.
Pages: 305 | ASIN: B092Z81G7L
LITERARY TITAN 