Killing Time


Fiction - Thriller - General
384 Pages
Reviewed on 03/14/2023
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Killing Time by Michael Joseph Mahn is a thriller of epic proportions. Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans but once the storm has passed, the chaos continues. Corpses are found in empty buildings, looters run riot, and the police are struggling with a rising number of deaths – not all caused by the storm. Ex-DA Henry O’Grady is right in the middle of it all but when he comes across The Kid, he finds out he was a witness to the JFK assassination. The Kid now lives in fear for his life and some of his enemies are O’Grady’s enemies. When their pasts catch up with them, it might just uncover the truth about what happened in Dallas, but not everyone wants the truth to come out.

Killing Time by Michael Joseph Mahn is a cracking thriller, a fast-paced story that takes off hard and accelerates, never slowing down until the explosive ending. The narrative is tight and the pacing is perfect for the story, leading us on a journey that might seem unbelievable at first glance but could so easily happen in this day and age – anything seems to be possible these days! Mr. Mahn has clearly done his research, drawing on his own experiences to bring us an enjoyable story with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages. The characters are solid, intriguing, real people and the plot is intricate yet easy to follow. With no small amount of humor and irony to keep a dark story a bit lighter, this thoroughly enjoyable book is a highly recommended read. Looking forward to more from Michael Mahn.

Keith Mbuya

Flooded streets. Dead bodies all over. Looters, vandals, and thugs running around. Anarchy. This was what had become of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The former New Orleans assistant DA, Henry Xavier O’Grady, was among the few people who helped restore sanity in the city. After being attacked by professional assassins, Henry feared for his life. Since he had a lot of enemies from his past, Henry could not tell exactly who wanted him dead. He later learns that the assassins may have been after his writer friend Martin Montague, alias "The Kid." It turns out "The Kid" had important information on President JF Kennedy’s assassination, which he had witnessed decades ago. To Henry’s horror, the chief of NOPD - who had been acting strangely since the attack - was strongly linked to the JF Kennedy case. Before the pair could think of their next move, another group of assassins attacks them, putting them on the run. What information did "The Kid" have? Who exactly is being targeted and what will happen to the pair? Get yourself Michael Joseph Mahn’s Killing Time to learn more.

Michael Joseph Mahn’s Killing Time is a compelling read. I was hooked on this book, which kept me on edge with tension, thrills, suspense, sensational action, and secrets. Mahn hatches an intriguing plot, featuring ingenious and remarkable twists and an awesomely exciting cast. His narration alternates between the scenes, digging between the present and the past and effortlessly giving this storyline a beautiful flow. The depictions were incredibly vivid in capturing the annihilated urban setting after the hurricane. Mahn makes the action scenes fast-paced and tremendously intense. He adds drama and wit to the narrative, making the reading experience terrific. The author describes the traits and emotions of wonderfully developed characters boldly, making it easy for me to connect with them. O’Grady’s childhood experiences in Ireland left me heartbroken. This is a magnificent piece of work and I loved it. I’m looking forward to reading more of Michael Joseph Mahn’s work.

Pikasho Deka

Killing Time is an action-packed thriller by Michael Joseph Mahn. Since leaving the D.A.'s office, Henry Xavier O'Grady had been living a humdrum life when the arrival of Hurricane Katrina forces him to enact his version of justice once again as nefarious entities spring up all over the city of New Orleans. As the pile of bodies mounts, Chief of the New Orleans Police Department, Lanny Landrieu, and his detectives are desperate to hold O'Grady culpable for the chaos. Meanwhile, Landrieu's part in President Kennedy's assassination was caught on camera by one Martin Montague, a.k.a. the Kid, whose life has never been the same. As members of the Ulster Brigade and local law enforcement agencies chase O'Grady and the Kid across state lines, a dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues. However, O'Grady's old friends may yet level the playing field.

A thrilling caper full of suspense, action, and mystery, Killing Time does not have a single unmemorable scene or moment where you don't feel entertained. Author Michael Joseph Mahn infuses several twists and turns that make the plot unpredictable to keep readers hooked to the pages, wondering what's about to happen next. The characters have well-crafted backstories that give agency to their actions and motives, making them feel like real people driven by real emotions who react to their surrounding environments. The cast of characters is quite large, but O'Grady and the Kid shine amongst a stellar cast, each of whom has a well-developed personality. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it to readers who love action-packed stories.

K.C. Finn

Killing Time is a work of fiction in the thriller, intrigue, and mystery subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Michael Joseph Mahn. In this interesting mystery tale with allusions to an alternate take on history, we follow our protagonist Henry Xavier O’Grady through a turbulent time in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The former assistant district attorney meets “the Kid”, a witness to the assassination of JFK who has lived in fear ever since that tragic day, and from here Henry’s own troubled history intermingles with the Kid’s to create chaos and danger for them both.

Author Michael Joseph Mahn has crafted a highly engaging thriller for those who want an ideal balance of fast-paced action and tension-fuelled exposition scenes, filled with detail and intriguing possibilities. It’s the kind of novel that really makes you think about it non-stop when you’ve put it down until you simply have to go back and find out what’s happening to Irish Henry and the Kid. There was also an underlying but sharply astute assessment of the machinations of American government and politics that was disconcertingly apt, and a clear wealth of research and insight into the history, law, and crime that makes the novel feel all the more realistic. As the bodies rack up and the attacks on all sides grow in ferocity, the pace culminates in some startling but very satisfying conclusions, making Killing Time a highly recommended read for crime, mystery, and thriller fans alike.