To get around the technical difficulties dictated by living in one country and writing about another especially about police procedures and crime detection of which she has no personal experience she travels to Britain every few years for research It was on one such trip that she met English police Inspector Tony Eyre now retired who supplied police information for her first novel Death of an Ordinary Guy Since then two other English police officers have become close friends of hers and help with police procedure catching American words that creep into her writing and re Jo A Hiestand is the author of two British mystery series While this may not seem so unusual Jo was born in and still lives in St Louis Missouri. To get around the technical difficulties dictated by living in one country and writing about another especially about police procedures and crime detection of which she has no personal experience she travels to Britain every few years for research It was on one such trip that she met English police Inspector Tony Eyre now retired who supplied police information for her first novel Death of an Ordinary Guy Since then two other English police officers have become close friends of hers and help with police procedure catching American words that creep into her writing and reading the novel manuscripts to eliminate police inaccuracies. This is all well and good but nothing beats hands on experience for writing Since one of her series features a team of police detectives from the Derbyshire CID and her other highlights an ex cop who investigates cold cases on his own Jo knew she d either have to commit a crime to get first hand police knowledge or enroll in a citizen s police academy course The latter seemed safer so she signed up through a St Louis county s PD It was there that she met future co author police officer Paul Hornung As Paul remembers their first ride along they talked about writing than about police work During several ride alongs they established a bond through these two mutual interests eventually they agreed to collaborate on books They ve done this with Paul supplying information writing the fights scenes and finally writing some of the chapters as one of the series characters Writing together is definitely fun but sometimes a challenge Neither knows specifically what the other person s chapter will be as the storyline is never fully detailed to the other This is so each can read the other s work with a fresh eye untainted by what I meant to say. Jo took a short respite from novel writing to try her hand with a play Her contest winning play Teething Pains was produced on stage in 2010 She flatly denies that her fear of dentistry was instrumental in selecting the subject. the mystery solving game that uses maps graphics song lyrics and other clues to lead the players to the lost treasure She also enjoys walking through the woods playing guitar and harpsichord her animals pets as well as backyard wildlife and reading. com site_link The Swim is not one of my usual mysteries featuring former police detective Michael McLaren It s a prequel novella giving a picture of his life from teenager to the strong man he is today He s real to me and I want you to understand him I want you to understand a man whose need to help others find justice became his incitement in a world like today He s been through a lot from his ordeal beginning with the swim his move from the Force and his cold cases He s made enemies friends and he has loved and lost Like many of us The Swim A McLaren Crossed Paths PrequelCan one traumatic event in his teens forge a path for Michael McLaren The Swim is a prequel to the Michael McLaren Mysteries As one of my favorite British detectives I ve always wondered what McLaren was like as a boy I ve been curious why he chose to become a police detective and what makes him tick There s a drive in Michael McLaren and also a slight fear for anyone to get close to him It all makes sense now after reading The Swim Let s start with the writing Jo A Hiestand writes British mysteries and has written almost twenty books This however is not a mystery It s literary fiction and it s very very good The writing is emotional and detailed Every aspect of every scene is poignantly described. The characters are well written and their viewpoints change over time as they age The characterization of Michael McLaren from boy to man from police cadet to detective is flawless I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Michael and Jamie as teens. My Rating 5 starsReviewed by NancyThis review first appeared Mystery The Swim is a prequel telling us about the life of one of my most favorite characters ever Michael McLaren The McLaren series is crafted around Michael McLaren an ex cop moody and yet tough and caring He s a solver of crimes and an advocate of justice He isn t disliked by cops by any means He did something they all wished they had done but he sure suffered for his actions I sometimes think of a prequel as a short story and yet that is not what this is This is a complete story of McLaren Aside from enjoyment reading this prequel accomplishes other things The two most blatant are giving you an idea of the wonderful character and his friends the author has developed and it gives you an insight into the talent of her writing. There are 18 books in the McLaren series If you plan to read that much you most certainly want a talented author I know you ll enjoy it I also know it will make you want to read about Michael McLaren and his cases Mystery

The Swim: A McLaren Crossed Paths Prequel By Jo A. Hiestand

English

230

Kindle Edition

.

.

Jo A Hiestand is the author of two British mystery series While this may not seem so unusual Jo was born in and still lives in St Louis Missouri: Jo realizes she s living many authors dreams Who else has three police officers helping her commit murder. If you re looking for a brilliant piece of fiction on life love and loss pick up The Swim.Her love of writing board games and music combines in P.I.R.A.T.E.S