By: Seraphina Quinn

Storytelling is a powerful force. It has the ability to immerse individuals in narratives woven by authors showcasing the plight of a protagonist, a lore worth expanding upon, or a fictional world to escape into. In writing, you lose yourself putting the puzzle pieces together as the worlds you’re building grow before your very eyes, and the characters seem to write themselves.

The result? A book that many will find engaging and worth discussing.

A particular series epitomizes the power of storytelling, keeping audiences transfixed by the characters, the plot, and the twists accompanying it. From the crime-ravaged streets of Chicago, one man steps in, solving the mysteries lurking within the shadows. Jack Fallon from the Chicago Detective Jack Fallon series is gaining attention in the genre due to his charisma and courage.

Chicago Detective Jack Fallon features a series of twists and turns, daunting antagonists, and storylines that will make you laugh, cry, fear, and anticipate.
And the mastermind behind it all? Bob Kelly.

We had the privilege to sit down with Kelly to discuss his story, inspiration, and more.

An Attorney Who Was Summoned by Storytelling

Bob Kelly’s call to his authorial vocation is as intriguing as the series itself.

Kelly grew up in a family of readers and storytellers. His mother was a school teacher, infusing him with love, imagination, and curiosity. After becoming a voracious reader by age ten, he began writing poetry in high school and college before venturing into novels and screenplays as a young man. When Kelly became a single parent of a young son and a solo practitioner lawyer, his writing endeavors were put on hold for nearly 30 years.

Before resuming his creative endeavors, Kelly practiced law and built a respected career in his field. After years of working all kinds of jobs, from bartending and substitute teaching to coaching basketball and even selling radio advertising, he took his time and energy to take the New York Bar Exam in 1994, and his legal career took off from there. By then, Kelly was a full-time single parent of a nine-year-old boy, so he opened up a solo practice and began practicing criminal defense and representing children in Family Court. He was thriving in his profession, but it was as though Kelly’s creative prowess was knocking on his door. When COVID-19 shut the world down in May 2020, Bob Kelly decided to fulfill his dream of becoming an author of entertaining novels.

Thus, the Chicago Detective Jack Fallon series was born.

What Makes the Series So Great?

The first book in the series, Chicago Detective Jack Fallon in The Mystery of the Exotic Escort Murders, introduces readers to a young detective’s first homicide investigation in Chicago. Fallon and his fearless partner, Elaina Rodriguez, are part of an elite task force solving the murder of young escorts in high-end hotels on the Near North Side. Kelly’s experience practicing law enhances the book, providing a vivid backdrop of Chicago’s crime scene.

Kelly mentions:
“Growing up in Chicago’s West Side Neighborhood of Austin in the late 50s and 60s, I learned to love the energy, grit, and diversity of not only my neighborhood but the whole City of Chicago.”

Fans praise the series for its authenticity and engaging storytelling, highlighting Bob Kelly’s knack for creating relatable characters. Readers often remark that the characters feel lifelike, as though they could exist in the real world. Kelly’s commitment to consistency across the series has also been noted.

The Mystery of the Exotic Escort Murders is followed by other thrilling titles, including The Mystery of the Egg of Chaos, The Mystery of the Legally Dead, and The Case of the Leopard Man. Each book sees Jack Fallon tackling a new case, offering readers an exhilarating journey.

While the series has many hallmarks of a TV adaptation, it remains an excellent choice for readers who enjoy crime fiction.

Bob Kelly hopes readers will bring their own experiences, enabling them to feel the tension, fear, anger, sorrow, and love the story’s characters feel.

Click on the link to learn more.

Published by Nicholas A.