The opinions that matter: yours.
I just recently finished Dead Man’s Fancy and I will just say you keep getting better with each book! Very enjoyable once again. Kept me guessing till the end (spoiler alert deleted). And my oh my, oh my, Martha and Sean!! I like it, just hope it doesn’t mess things up with them! Keep up the good work, anxiously awaiting number 4.
— Brenda
Really just had to say I just at this moment finished The Gray Ghost Murders, what a treat. I think it leaves [writer’s name deleted to protect the innocent] in the dust. One of the best book I have read in years. Continued success and health & happiness to you and yours.
— Michael M
I was at the library yesterday and checked the computer to see if your new book was available. They had many of them–don’t remember the number– but throughout Hillsborough County (Tampa and environs) they were all checked out….so you have readers in Tampa!! I haven’t read it yet, kinda like putting off a special chocolate covered cherry , and you know when you eat it, it will be over…. Best wishes to you and hope you are pleased with the publication.
— Barbara
I will definitely write a review for all three books! I have also just started tying myself and really enjoy that too when I am not feeling up to cleaning ice out of my guides. I would love a bookmark, as I have been using a Sage bumper sticker! Thanks so much and keep up the great work!
— Rob
Loved your first 2 books, and just started the third!!! Hope #4 is in the works!!! They help me get through the cold New Hampshire winter when I can’t be fishing!
— Anon
I got your cards and meant to write sooner, but have been having back trouble (as in flat on my back for a week) and haven’t really been able to sit up at the computer much. Just what I need before baseball season starts in full swing, but I’ll get in shape somehow! I hope you are doing well, and I plan to give cards to a couple of fishing buddies of mine who also happen to be mystery readers. Hopefully you can get a couple of sales out of it. I’m going to purchase your Nook version of The Royal Wulff Murders tomorrow, it is much easier to read that way while carting around. (you will understand that comment better in a minute I would guess)
I really enjoyed your bit on the writing process and what mind games one plays with themselves while being “creative.” I’ve been a songwriter for many years and when you dump your heart and soul into something, finally get it where you want it and head home from the studio listening to it in your car, the gremlins somehow put you in a vise of panic gripped self loathing and refuse to let you believe that it doesn’t suck! Then round and round you go until others decide your fate. A painful spot we put ourselves in, isn’t it? I guess the good thing is that it’s usually a lot closer to what you first imagined than what those otherworldly creatures want you to believe it is, though admittedly some do fall flat. I have been thinking about trying to write a book at some point and I think it’s taken me this long, (into my late 50’s) to know enough to actually do it. Yet I’m still not sure I have the courage to try.
I would like to ask a favor, if I may. While I read books on the Nook quite frequently, there is nothing that I like better than actually owning a physical piece of property that I can put my hands on and just look at on occasion. I bought a very nice copy (I think) of The Royal Wulff Murders on-line today and would very much love to have it signed by you. Would you allow me to send it to you when I get it and have you sign it for me? I collect some books, really a rather small group of about 15 authors, and I would like to add you to the mix. You would be on the shelf with Michael Crichton, Lee Child, John Sandford and William Bernhardt of which I have signed copies of everything they ever wrote, and some other authors who I have partial collections of. I’m so possessed, I have acquired everything Child ever wrote in US, UK and ARC’s and am close to that with Crichton. I need a few more of his ARC’s to complete my collection, though I do have each US and UK 1st impressions of all of his works. I just love the feeling of knowing that great authors have actually held MY book in their hands. Perhaps an acute obsession of sorts? I just don’t know. It started out as an attempt to buy and sell enough books to have every Sandford 1st edition/1st impression signed and in my hands without breaking the bank and has morphed into some uncontrollable habit akin to heroin addiction I presume. Anyway, let me know if that is asking too much. If so, just tell me and I will understand. Careful, though, if you say yes you may be asked again in the future! Maybe I can trade you some tickets to a lowly AAA game I am umpiring some day for your trouble, though I have no idea if you are a baseball fan or not.
Anyway, now I’m just babbling. I think the back pain and medication have overtaken my brain, so I shall stop now. Write me back if you have the desire and time. Thanks, Keith.
— Alan
I read about your latest book in Trout-Winter Issue.
I just finished reading The Royal Wulff Murders, couldn’t put it down. I’m starting The Gray Ghost Murders this afternoon. I took lessons from Orvis and starting Trout Fishing last summer at Black Earth Creek, Cross Plains, WI. Since reading your book I am interested in learning to fly-tying.
Really enjoyed your book.
— Barb
I was at the library yesterday and checked the computer to see if your new book was available. They had many of them–don’t remember the number– but throughout Hillsborough County (Tampa and environs) they were all checked out….so you have readers in Tampa!! I haven’t read it yet , kinda like putting off a special chocolate covered cherry , and you know when you eat it, it will be over…. Best wishes to you and hope you are pleased with the publication.
— Barbara
Just discovered your book. So excited to have found you. Keep
writing! You are so good. Engaging characters. Amazing settings.
Can’t-put-the-book-down plots. Keep writing…I’m almost done with your third
book and want more, lots more.
— Anon
Have read your other books and am in process of enjoying The Gray Ghost Murders (sequence is a problem for me as you are aware). Will be waiting for next book and further adventures of folks in and around Bridger.
— Bob
Hi Keith. I am about one third of the way through The Royal Wulff Murders and am really enjoying it. I am an avid (did not say good) fly fisherman and live in Hamilton, Montana. My favorite Montana beer is Moose Drool and I went to Ole Miss. Great connections with your book. Then I looked at your website and found that you and I grew up in southern Ohio. I lived in the little town of Lucasville just north of Portsmouth. Were you close to there? Looking forward to reading your other books.
— Jim
Well, I have begun the third book, and I am enjoying it immensely. I did write a couple of quick reviews on Amazon for the first 2 books. I think the obsessing over the world and characters that you’ve created is probably what makes for a good book, or series in this case. If that world and those characters aren’t real to you, then why would your readers buy into them?? After all, isn’t reading fiction mainly an escape or a chance to see life and the world from another perspective?
As I told you in my first email, I work in our local public library, so I have been plugging your books and encouraging readers to give them a try. I have worked there for 20+ years and you get to know patrons and their reading likes, so I have made sure to suggest them to certain people that I think will enjoy them. We have also have a book cart near the circulation desk where we put “Librarian’s Picks” and I have put them on that cart and the first one is checked out now, I added the 2nd one to the cart on Friday.
I too worry about Martha, I like her with Harold, but guess we will see what happens. I am not too sure I like Sean with the young half-naked barrista, I think he needs a more mature, classy lady!! But I’m sure your men readers like him with her just fine!! That is what makes your books appeal to men and women both, you put in a little something for everyone!
Keep up the good work!
Take care and keep writing,
— Brenda
Keith McCafferty 
Keith, Thank you for coming to Arizona to talk about your books – I can’t wait to read them now!! I’ve never been to Montana but have always wanted to take a camping trip up that way – maybe this will entice me. 🙂
Thanks Again!!
Just finished Royal Wulff Murders” teriffic! My group are not fishemen but we are hikers, campers and boater in Washington and hae seen a lot of Montana. Can hardly wait to read the new book
Keith, I just read your recent article on fly fishing in Montana (“Great Catches in Montana”) in the Alaska Airlines Horizon Edition Magazine. Very nice writing about the fishing and having fun with family. However you were not accurate in the section called “The Essentials.” You missed out on mentioning CrossCurrents Fly Shop (www.crosscurrents.com) for Craig, Montana. It’s the second oldest business in that town (since 2001) and it’s located in the largest and newest building right in the middle on Bridge Street. CrossCurrents Fly Shop also has a second store in Downtown Helena that’s been in the same location since 1994 and has been helping anglers fish the Missouri and other rivers for over 2 decades, including our well respected guide service. Was there any reason you did not mention that well established business for the Missouri River? I’m the owner of those shops and my great staff and I put a lot of effort into make them a great place for anglers of all skill levels to feel comfortable walking into and getting great service. I understand the constraints of space in articles but this omission seems pretty significant considering the small size of my town. Let me know if I can provide any information for future articles that may help you get a more accurate picture of what your readers will be experiencing when the travel to the Missouri. Thank you for your consideration.
Hi,
I’ve enjoyed reading your three Sean Stranahan books a lot. As an avid knitter I can appreciate the pleasure that people who tie fishing flies must enjoy when they tie a perfect fly.
I have only a few suggestions, check your continuity e.g. Martinque is suppose to finish her vet studies in Corvalis, Oregon, not Seattle as mentioned in Willoughby’s letter to Sean. Martha talks about her two teenaged sons in the first book and they are never mentioned again (?) this is a true mystery. Sean and Martinque are suppose to be trying to maintain a long-distance relationship and he only phones her a couple of times in the third book – what about on-line chat, e-mails, Skype and he’s not too broke to travel to BC (okay Summersby is paying) why not Corvallis to see what gives with Martinique and the sex hot line. Also we don’t know how it really ends – I can’t see him finally starting a relationship with Martha without knowing that his relationship with Martinque is truly over.
One last suggestion while I know you changed the course of the Madison for the purposes of the storyline – it still would be great to have maps on the inside over showing the various trails and rivers that Martha, Walt, Harold, Kate, Sam and the others take on their tracking fishing endeavours.
I know I’m a picky reader – Toronto is a city of over 3 million people and about 7 million in the GTA and Sean if called every McCarthy in the book would probably take 3 days – I don’t think so – also most doctors don’t list their home phone numbers in the white pages – it would have be more realistic if he checked physician listings in the yellow pages,
Enough – looking forward to the fourth book next June…
Sheila Otter
London, Ontario
Just finished your first novel, “The Royal Wulff Murders,” Really well done. Thank you for writing it!! Look forward to more. Hoyt (“Old fart” fly fisherman from Virginia)
My husband, who doesn’t see the point of fiction, liked your first book. He likes fish. He likes explaining fish jargon to me (ie lording it over me – who reads everything). So, thank you for your wonderful characters and their fish.
And back to the IU game. I’ll be ordering from your local bookstore.
I’m liking Buffalo Jump Blues. Page 42 & 43 hate the use of “iched” to mean “scratched”. Otherwise – I have read all of your books and enjoyed every one! Thanks and keep up good work!
Buffalo Jump Blues seems to utilize every politically correct phrase or subject in this story. Not a book for a real Montanan. Fred Mello
About to start Buffalo Jump Blues. So impressed and entertained with and by your writing — you paint with words.
when will the next one be out???
Keith, I hope the dated content on your website attests to your being engrossed in whatever is to follow Buffalo Jump Blues. I am one of those readers who must hold if not own the book, and as I was patiently awaiting its arrival in my favorite local bookstore, I was informed by my 97 year old mother that she had gotten it a the library and finished it already. It is a rare author who writes women well, but all of your female characters seem vaguely familiar. Actually the men do too. The geography, place names, hatches, dive bars, snobs and slobs all ring true. R Ruffner, Arizona
Caught one of your books in the middle of a back cast from the loss of Ivan; now trolling with a second. Refreshing; you have extracted some of the pain from Doig’s sojourn. JP🎣
Just finished “Cold Hearted River” and greatly enjoyed. As a die hard Au Sable River angler and Holy Water cabin owner, the Michigan references were appreciated. One nit to pick – it’s “Wakeley” not “Wakely”.
Loved Buffalo Jump Blues! Just finished it today. Already ordered (and received) book #6. Two years ago I read M.W. Gordon’s book Deadly Drifts and found you as an “also might like” author. Wow! So glad I followed the link. I love your well developed characters, storylines and beautiful descriptive setting in the West. And as a fly angler myself, it’s fun to relate to and understand the fishing parts of the story. I would love to fish with Strannie, Sam, too!
Keith,
I feel like a trout–hooked! I’ve read four of your books so far ( The Royal Wulff Murders, The Grey Ghost Murders, Dead Man’s Fancy, and Buffalo Jump Blues). They are spectacular! Reminded me of my dad teaching me to fly-fish when I was small, as well as using a bamboo pole. Makes me remember how complete you can feel, just watching the fly and the ripples of fish, and how intense it is to get your first bite. I just finished Buffalo Jump Blues and will definitely look at the fwp.mt.gov website. I seem to recall a video last year of a herd released (/), or maybe it was transferred from one park to another; but the video creater was quite excited about this occasion. Thank you for telling us (the public) about the hidden reality behind the hoopla of having bison in Yellowstone.
And, thank you for writing of the beauty and excitement of fishing, and being out in such beautiful surroundings! I have a visit to the area you describe and relearning to fly fish added to my bucket list. Keep ’em coming!
Helen
I met you in Cody, Wy in July at the book store. We were visiting and I bought Cold Hearted River. My wife and I were on our way to Goose Wing Ranch for a week of horse back riding. You signed my book and wrote, ” for Jerry, Tight lines in the Snake-if you can bear to get off the horse”. I did get off the horse and went fly fishing Had a great vacation. Since then I have read Buffalo Jump Blues and Crazy Mountain Kiss and planning to order the first three books. I`m hooked on fly fishing; Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing – a great therapy through the V A. Good Luck on you future expeditions, Jerry P.S. Your cookies are the best!
Buffalo Jump Blues. pg 249 Joseph was used when I think you meant John… There were several other times where the J’s got mixed up. Perhaps next time use dissimilar names so editors pick up the errors. Other than that, great books.. Would love to see Number of series on cover to make it easier to read in sequence.
Fishing on the Madison at Cameron with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing was super. Wading one day and float two days. Stayed at Beartooth Flyfishing, Madison River, Montana. The PHWFF coordinator for Montana did a fantastic job. Caught plenty of fish. The Big Sky Country is amazing. I have read all the books and our coordinator has read them also. On the day I went wading he was the guide and we started fishing at “no trespassing in front of the cabin” and finished the day at the “three dollar bridge”. We talked about other locations in the books. Pretty amazing when you can put real life experience into a series of murder mystery and bring in fly fishing. Love it. Anxious to read the next adventure. Thanks for all you do for my new life in the great outdoors of fly fishing My wife and I met Keith last year in Cody, Wy. and the cookies are the best. Thanks, Jerry
Your books get better and better. “A Death in Eden” is your best. Your character development with needed nuances and your storyline with necessary twists and travels have stopped competing with each other. They rest easily side by side. Your Sean Stranahan series has cowboyed up and you are playing in the big league. It’s wonderful! Thank you for the tale.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of your mystery novels and always look forward to the next one. However, I am very disappointed in your latest, “A Death In Eden.” It was very misleading to call it “Another Sean Stranahan Mystery”. He is a minor character, the protagonist is Harold Little Feather a minor character in all the other novels. This character has been a rather stereotypical character and remains so in this novel. It is difficult to find him interesting as the lead. I also feel cheated that the author and the publisher still marketed it as “Another Sean Stranahan Mystery “, Instead of calling it “A Harold Little Feather Mystery.” Unfortunately, I will look carefully before buying or reading another Keith Mccafferty book.
Dear Mr. McCafferty – I just wish to thank you so much for the Sean Stranahan Mystery Series books. I read the first book looking for a good filler until my favorite author releases a new book. However, I got sucked into your series, binge read all the books, and now I will have to wait for Sean and company’s next adventure. I sincerely HOPE there is a next adventure anyway. I live in Colorado, have lived in Wyoming, and spent alot of time in Montana. I know the general area you describe in your stories. I’ve read a lot of Craig Johnson and C.J. Box and you stand shoulder to shoulder with them. Again, thank you, Sir, for sharing your imagination and talent with me. Please, please, please continue the series.