Critical Mick

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Reviews by the Clown that All Other Critics Want to Strangle with a Black Turtleneck

Playing Along

RJ McDonnell, author of Rock & Roll Homicide jams with Critical Mick on "The Irish Mafia," The Dufus Detective, the escape tunnel and the seventeen sub-genres of HEAVY METAL. An unruly email interview, November 2008.

Critical Mick: I understand that, like your protagonist Jason Duffy, you're a rhythm guitarist.

RJ McDonnell: Yes, I started playing at the age of 9. Two years later, when "Meet the Beatles" hit the US, I went to my school nurse the morning after buying the album, complaining of a stomach ache. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of trying to figure out the chords by playing along to the hi-fi before the nurse had actually left my house.

Critical Mick's review of RJ McDonnell's Rock & Roll Homicide

CM: Very sneaky- just like Jason Duffy! Have you solved any crimes like he has? RJMcD: I'm currently working on the case of a small publisher trying to avoid getting killed during a global recession. CM: Is your estranged Dad a former San Diego detective? RJMcD: Mine was strange but not estranged. He was a detective with the PA State Police and solved two high-profile murders. One was featured in "True Detective" magazine, and the other in "A Justice Story," which was the center section of the New York Post for many years. CM: And is there an Irish connection, like the heroes and villain of Rock & Roll Homicide have? RJMcD: Being 100% Irish on both sides of my family, there are plenty of Irish connections. Dad's ancestors came from Ballycastle in the 1840's. However, his cop partners were an eclectic mix. There were no "Irish Mafia" meetings at our home.

CM: When not writing PI novels and playing rhythm guitar, what activities fill your day?

RJMcD: I also write a free comedy photo web comic book called, "The Dufus Detective." It's about an intellectually challenged guy who gets brought into the family detective business, only to be set adrift on his own after driving everyone crazy. Now, he gets by with the help of his very hot sister and a psychic neighbor. It's at www.dufusdetective.com.

CM: What did you think of my criticism regarding the absence of a virtual soundtrack to connect the readers to the music?

RJMcD: While I mentioned that both Doberman's Stub and Tsunami Rush were both Heavy Metal bands, I steered clear of specifics for two reasons. First, a hardcore drummer gave me an article on the 17 sub-genres of metal. I felt that the tighter I locked into a particular sub-genre, the more distance I would be creating with readers who are not fans. Second, after reading thousands of MySpace profiles of mystery readers, age 18 to 68, I realized that a small percentage of them are specifically heavy metal fans. So, like the sex scenes in the novel, I left a lot of the rockin' to the imagination. But, I did feel a twinge of regret when I read your criticism because there is nothing quite like the feeling of getting up on stage and being one with the audience, especially in a dance venue. I'll try to capture that connection in a future novel as a result of your critique.

Editorial Note: Pissed off? Name a villain "Mick Halpin!" Endebted? Name a villain "Mick Halpin!"
(It's his heart's eighth-fondest desire, can't really be explained....)

CM: Are there certain songs which form a soundtrack to the novel, maybe some music you had on while you were writing?

RJMcD: I can't listen to music and write at the same time. It's too distracting to me. My natural inclination is to want to sing and play along.

CM: I got the idea of a promotional CD from John Connolly. Twice he has included a compilation of dark, moody tracks to play while reading his novels. Have you read any of his Charlie Parker books? He's got the creepy PI vibe down pat.

RJMcD: I haven't read them, but they sound interesting.

CM: Whose writing do you admire? Why? What elements make a good book?

RJMcD: I am influenced by Michael Connelly's approach to characterization and have gotten several positive comments from reviewers in this regard. Other favorites include Nelson DeMille, Robert Crais, and Lawrence Sanders.

CM: Have we read any of the same shtuff? (Critical Mick Full alphabetic index) Was my review way off about them?

RJMcD: I'm trying to play catch-up after a two week vacation and just spent 45 minutes being thoroughly entertained by your reviews. I bookmarked the page and will be passing it along to many friends. You have a unique talent, my friend.

Editorial Note: Aw, shucks....

CM: Please, a few words on how your Rock & Roll Homicide was written….

RJMcD: After 17 years of working as a professional writer, I took a job in the admissions department of a college and quickly grew bored. Every day at lunchtime I would take a two mile walk and plot my novel, then write notes as I ate my lunch. After work I would spend at least two hours every night shaping my ideas into a first draft. As my job grew less bearable, I likened my efforts to WWII films about prisoners digging an escape tunnel and dumping the dirt into the yard in small increments each day. I'm pleased to report that I've cleared enemy lines and am now concentrating on the "happily ever after" part of the plan.

CM: What are you working on now?

RJMcD: The second book in the series is currently being edited. Jason's client is a career studio musician with a large family, who came up with a unique retirement plan, only to have it stolen. The working title is "Rock & Roll Rip-Off."

CM: What's on your nightstand at the moment? (books, I mean, but other items if you wanna....)

RJMcD: I'm currently reading Girls Like Us by Sheila Weller. It's a biography of Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon.

CM: And what's on your stereo? (Music, I mean, but other items if you wanna….)

RJMcD: U2-Achtung Baby. I'm learning to play "One."

CM: My favorite U2 album! Many thanks, RJ!

Twiddle your dial to www.rjmcdonnell.com to learn more about Jason Duffy and his Rock & Roll adventures!

Yo! This interview transcript and all content on the DFA Guide site are copyright 2008 Mick Halpin. All links to other sites and documents are copyright to whatever source wrote something cool enough for Mick to give it a referral. Try to claim them as your own work and bad karma will catch up with you, baby. Believe it.

Irate, huh? Managed to piss off another one? Direct your hatemail to mick @ mickhalpin dot com.

This Page Was Last Updated On 16 November, 2008.