Mike O’Malley
writer of humorous,
paranormal mysteries
Spending 40 years inside radio stations explains a lot about Mike who’ll be quick to tell you that the late 70s/early 80s TV show “WKRP in Cincinnati” wasn’t too far from the real thing. While maintaining that he’s never been involved with a live turkey drop, Mike has seen enough to know that having a sense of humor goes a long way in life, making the good great and the not-so-good tolerable.
A native New Jersian, Mike holds a BS from Ohio University and an MS from Florida State. He is a 2018 inductee into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.
In addition to writing novels and flash fiction, Mike is a blogger, a regular contributor to radio trade publications, a speaker at industry events, and a radio industry thought-leader.
His wit infuses his first novel, LAST BUT NOT FLEECED. The romp, set in pre-gambling Atlantic City, NJ., is the first in a series of irreverently funny, paranormal mysteries featuring New Jersey locals proudly living up to their stereotypes while navigating tackily attired tourists and trying to prevent mugs, thugs, and scammers from adding to their reputations.
Stan Luca, a full-time psychic and part-time amateur sleuth, knows firsthand that the Atlantic City Boardwalk is anything but boring. How could it be when tacky tourists, looney locals, and the spirits of the dearly departed are as plentiful as shells on the beach?
But all is not well. An ex-con is in town seeking revenge on Stan’s acquaintance, Pinky, and is also plotting scam for good measure. Worse, he’s reached out to the darker side of the psychic community for help.
Stan reluctantly agrees to get involved, as does his pulp-detective-loving girlfriend, Maureen “Mo” Kelly. Mo’s as quick to pick up on a hot lead as she is to deliver hard-boiled parody lingo. Also on the case is Stan’s spirit-helper—the ghost of the wildly popular 1960s DJ Fabulous Frankie, who only speaks in rhymes and delivers his clues as riddles, just like he did on his old radio game Fabulous Frankie’s Hanky Pankies. But when the case takes a dangerous and personal turn, Stan calls on his psychically gifted friends to help before everything he holds dear goes out with the tide.
The irreverently funny novel takes readers through Atlantic City’s dive bars and swanky night clubs, pizza joints and fancy restaurants, and down the Boardwalk and up back alleys in a case Mo says, “has more twists than a Chubby Checker concert.”
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR LAST BUT NOT FLEECED
Hard to believe this is a first novel. Mike O’Malley populates the fast-paced plot with distinctive characters, rollicking humor, a blizzard of bon mots, and enough hard-bitten noir throwaways to satisfy the toughest mug on the mean streets of Atlantic City. He clearly had a great time writing this, and you’ll have a great time reading FLEECED ~ Ed Mickolus, author, humorist, speaker, and recovering stand-up comic.
Reach Mike at Info@MikeOMalleyAuthor.com
