My Thoughts on the Novel, Murder Revisited: A Jack Mallory Mystery Book 1, by William Coleman, 4/2/2026…

Before reading Murder Revisited: A Jack Mallory Mystery Book 1, by William Coleman, I wondered if it would be a straight-on mystery or a police procedural. After finishing the book, I understood that it was the former.

Using third-person limited narration throughout, Coleman tells the story primarily through the perspective of Jack Mallory, the main character and detective of the unnamed city in which this story is set. At times, when necessary, the t-pl narration switches points of view to other characters; not often, but enough. I’m not usually okay with choices like this—and I wonder if it’s editors or writers’ groups or beta readers who suggest revisions like this—but it works here, because, I guess, it has to. This conceit often causes the protagonist to appear unnaturally superior; frequently, the characters with whom the point of view alternates are foolish, or at the very least, not as intelligent as the main character.

None of the above got in the way of my enjoyment of this mystery, though.

And, the cornerstone of any good mystery—the reveal—I did not see coming at all. It was well-crafted. And if I were a better reader, I might have figured it out before the resolution, which I normally do with mysteries, since I read them often.

I will continue reading this series, and I recommend this book to those who enjoy mysteries.