RJ
McDonnell is the son of a Pennsylvania State Police Detective. His father
received several citations and decorations over the years for solving
complex and high-profile crimes. One of his cases was featured in
"True Detective" magazine. Another was the subject of "A
Justice Story," the centerfold of the Sunday New York Post for many
years. In addition to a traditional education, RJ also had the benefit of
seeing every police detective drama on television and in the movies. His
father would frequently critique these stories for believability of
characters and police procedures.
But instead of becoming the third generation of
McDonnell’s to enter the police force, RJ found that his talents lie
elsewhere. In high school, he was fortunate to have an exceptional English
teacher, Donald Walton, who exposed him to an exciting cross-section of
American literature and sparked his interest in the Mystery genre.
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Penn State
University and a Masters at Marywood University. During his college years
RJ was a rhythm guitarist and vocalist in two bands. Shortly thereafter,
he moved to San Diego where he went to work for a professional writing
service. In addition, he wrote a monthly column for the Military Press,
and another for a San Diego publication, providing advice to job seekers.
In the 90s, RJ discovered he had a knack for
comedy writing. He wrote for a local San Diego cable television show that
had a Saturday Night Live-type format. Over its two seasons on the air, 34
of his skits were produced.
While he continued to work as a professional
nonfiction writer, his creative juices were now flowing. After college,
RJ's interest in crime stories transitioned from television and movies
into novels. He discovered that the lack of detail and intricacies that
his father complained about were abundant in the novel format.
"Rock & Roll Homicide" is the first
novel in a series featuring private investigator, Jason Duffy. The second
novel
