Mystery Authors You May Have Missed
David J. Walker
Biography
Born in Chicago, David J. Walker is a true Illinoisian. He grew up in Mundelein and currently resides in Wilmette. Walker has worn a diverse grouping of occupational hats: after Quigley North High School, he joined the seminary and was in the Catholic priesthood, working as a parish priest for a time. After the priesthood, he went to Loyola University for law school and became a lawyer and an investigator with the Chicago Police Department. He now divides his time between crime fiction writing and practicing law.
What he writes: Walker writes two mystery series. One features a Chicago private investigator, Malachy “Mal” P. Foley, who plays jazz piano when he’s not solving cases. The other, the Wild Onion Ltd. series, features a husband/wife team: Kirsten, a PI, and her husband Dugan, a lawyer. Walker also has written one standalone thriller, Saving Paulo.
| List of works |
||
| Mal Foley series | ||
| Fixed in His Folly (1995) | ||
| Half the Truth (1996) | ||
| Applaud the Hollow Ghost (1998) | ||
| No Show of Remorse (2002) | ||
| Wild Onion, Ltd. series | ||
| A Ticket to Die For (1998) | ||
| A Beer at a Bawdy House (2000) | ||
| The End of Emerald Woods (2000) | ||
| All the Dead Fathers (2005) | ||
| Too Many Clients (2010) | ||
| Other work | ||
| Saving Paulo (2008) | ||
| Awards and nominations |
| Fixed in His Folly: Edgar nomination for Best First Mystery, 1995 |
| The End of Emerald Woods: Society of Midland Authors Book Awards nomination for Adult Fiction, 2000 |
| Mal Foley series: Love is Murder “Lovey Award” for Best Series, 2000 |
| What the critics say |
Regarding Saving Paulo... "This is Edgar nominee Walker's first stand-alone thriller. Readers should be hooked from the first scene... What follows is a plunge into a protracted chase scene... through a wonderfully sustained suspense story." - Connie Fletcher, Booklist |
Regarding Fixed in His Folly... "A tangled, moody debut... a solid, sordid job of work. [Walker's] debut showed unusual range and reach." - Kirkus Reviews |
Regarding Applaud the Hollow Ghost... "Mr. Walker has given us a real gem here. The plotting is well worked out, Foley is interestingly complex, and the secondary characters enrich the book like well-chosen herbs in a thick broth." - Washington Times "This third Mal Foley case is a solid effort distinguished by the realistically portrayed relationship that develops between Foley and [his client]. ...A very satisfying read." - Booklist |
Regarding the Wild Onion, Ltd. series... "There have been numerous attempts to create modern versions of Nick and Nora Charles, but [Walker's] Kirsten and Dugan are the most fun." - Booklist |
Regarding A Ticket to Die For... "As richly plotted as Mal Foley's... cases, but good for a lot more laughs..." - Kirkus Reviews "An eye-popping plot, wacky characters, oddball humor, and, best of all, the delightful [Kirsten and Dugan] in a story that's fresh, funny, and thoroughly entertaining." - Booklist |
Regarding A Beer at a Bawdy House... "The Edgar-nominated author has created a second compelling and enjoyable series... with well-drawn characters, serpentine plots and atmospheric setting." - Publishers Weekly |
Regarding All the Dead Fathers... "The fast-pace, well-rendered cast, and solid Midwest flavor make this a potential crowd-pleaser." - Publishers Weekly "A chilling backstory makes Wild Onion's fourth a complex and creepy puzzler." - Kirkus Reviews "Walker writes with a sure hand and a fine eye for character and plot. His story is both thought-provoking and entertaining." - Chicago Sun-Times |
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