A shocking crime. A haunting tragedy. One man's search for answers from beyond the grave.
Jackson Taylor's inner torment never dies. After losing his wife and kids in a car accident, the former MLB pitcher-turned-chef purchases a lovely new home at a steal while shrugging off its terrible history of a murder-suicide. But he soon realizes he's not alone when he hears a child's laughter echoing from behind a closed door.
Can Jackson expose the horror hidden within the haunted halls and find his own peace?
IN THE PRESS
THE HOUSE ON TYNER
“
Eerie, surprising, and profoundly emotional, The House on Tyner by Matthew O'Connell is a beautifully written ghost story with the structure of a mystery, plunging the reader into the snowy atmosphere of Nevada’s winters, and into the chilling outcomes of a murder case that challenges the reader’s sense of the rational.
All told, The House on Tyner is a powerfully written ghost story that manages to be appealingly realistic, while also questioning the boundaries of the tangible world. Giving a poetic side to the enigmatic and haunted, the novel is unique in the paranormal genre.
★★★★½
SELF-PUBLISHING REVIEW
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I like the events that led up to uncovering the mysterious killing. The series of paranormal happenings kept me on the edge of my seat! I love mystery thriller stories and this one delivered an enjoyable, informative, and nostalgic read. Highly recommended to readers who are into ghost stories.
5 out of 5 stars!
Shey Saints Reviews
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Set in the late 1980s, The House on Tyner is an engaging supernatural mystery novel about family secrets, the price of vengeance, and learning to move on after loss. The picturesque, isolated setting is perfect for this tragic ghost story. The story drops enough hints along the way that it is possible to guess at parts of its solution, making for a more satisfying mystery.
4 Stars
Clarion Reviews
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I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars. I found nothing to dislike about this novel. My eyes were glued to the pages by the end of the book. The author included many plot twists and turns to keep readers engaged throughout the novel. As someone who often shies away from ghost stories due to cheesiness, I wholeheartedly recommend this book, as it is a decidedly realistic portrayal of the paranormal.
5 Stars
online book club
Matthew O'Connell skillfully weaves a web of suspense and mystery, keeping readers engaged and eager to unravel the truth with Jackson. What sets The House on Tyner apart is its ability to seamlessly blend elements of the supernatural with the complexities of Jackson's journey. Jackson's grief and loss add depth and emotional resonance to the narrative. Matthew O'Connell's vivid descriptions and atmospheric writing style further enhance the eerie ambiance, immersing readers in Jackson's world and heightening the suspense. The House on Tyner is a must-read for mystery and ghost tale fans.
“
4 Stars
Readers' Favorite
IN THE PRESS
THE PAINTER OF TIME
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"Painter of Time is a brilliant piece of work; an evocative, carefully researched, well written narrative that will keep you enthralled from the beginning to end. Intrigued by Matthew O'Connell's story, I took the trouble of checking out some of the places, artists and masterpieces described in the book and, to my great satisfaction, found the underlying facts on which the storylines are based to be perfectly accurate. Because the book is basically a mystery, I will not go into too much detail, but I can confirm that I enjoyed it greatly and have no hesitation in recommending it. Read this book - you will not be disappointed."
Charles Remington,
Readers' Favorite
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I really enjoyed it. The audio recording was great, easy to understand, engaging, and enjoyable to listen to. And believe me, I now know more about art restoration and history than I ever imagined I would! The story kept my interest despite it being a topic I knew very little about going in.
I liked it and enjoyed listening and would definitely recommend it – even if you, like me, don’t know anything about the topic going in!
All Things Jill-Elizabeth
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“An enchanting story of a young art restorer's attraction to a handsome colleague turns into a tale of intrigue in Matthew O'Connell's The Painter of Time [...] O'Connell uses simple, often sensual, means to develop the relationships between his characters, all handled with tenderness and insight. His descriptions are richly colored and his flashbacks to the lives of the Renaissance painters are lively, intimate, and informative."
Foreward Reviews
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The plot details are engaging and kept me eagerly listening. The historical elements of the paintings and the detailed explanation of restoration are very fascinating. The descriptions would pull in any art lover and even those of us who are familiar with some art periods and styles but are in no way art authorities. I recommend this to mystery lovers as well as art lovers.
Martha's Bookshelf
What a great story! This was such a great story with a thrilling mystery that readers will find engaging; it’s a good blend of art history and imaginative fiction where the essence of both is manifested.
Overall, this is definitely 5 out of 5 stars. I like the plot twist and flow of narrative, the characters are engaging, and the descriptions of its dual setting are so fascinating that I can vividly imagine this book as a movie. I highly recommend this book to art and history enthusiasts, and readers who just want to experience a great story.
“
“
" In The Painter of Time, Matthew O’Connell has woven art history, art conservation and mystery into a fascinating multi-layered story. Reading this novel is like being taken on a tour of the Uffizi by a passionately informed docent who introduces us, not only to the paintings, but to the artists who painted them. O’Connell weaves a contemporary plot with flashbacks through time to Renaissance Italy and gives a sense of the artists as flesh and blood men and not just famous names in catalogues. Art history has never been so alive. "
Suzanne M. Wolfe,
Author of The Confessions of X
This is a charming contemporary tale that incorporates the lives of some of the great Italian artists from Medieval and Renaissance times. The suspense is well done, cranking the reader up chapter by chapter.
Susan Fouche did a fantastic job with this narration. Her New York and Italian accents really brought this story to life. Her pacing was perfect and her male voices were believable. She had distinct voices for all the characters. Plenty of emotions are on display in this tale and Fouche brought them all to life
“
Dab of Darkness
Shey Saints' Book Reviews
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"Spirit of the Fox is thrilling, captivating and will take your breath away."
Chicago Tribune
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"Spirit of the Fox is brilliant. It takes you on a mysterious journey that is simply captivating."
The Baltimore Sun
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“Matthew O’Connell combines ancient Japanese folklore with modern-day life in this fast-paced mystery. O’Connell beautifully and vividly describes the Japanese cityscapes, food and culture; for example. The main characters are likeable, caring and believable. As this story pitting myth against reality unwinds, murder, suicide, deceit and Meiko’s clever grandmother conspire to make it an indelible page-turner."
SPIRIT OF THE FOX
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"Spirit of the Fox will take you on an incredible journey that you will never forget..."
Daily Press
“
Spirit of the Fox is a gripping, culturally immersed mystery.
Matthew O’Connell’s intriguing and compelling mystery, Spirit of the Fox, draws on the culture and history of Japan.
Atmospheric descriptions of Japan’s spiritual landscape help to set the scene. Breaking with form, the novel gives readers much more information than any one character possesses through expository scenes that implicate the culprit early on. The technique is both frustrating and delightful, drawing connections that the characters themselves cannot yet make.
The appearance of Hana as a character is jarring and unclear; the revelation of the mystery speeds up the story. Once Hana is established as a character, her schemes are gut-wrenching and impressive. The resolution of the mystery is deliberately unclear, but satisfying and appropriate.
The writing is precise; descriptions are terse, moving quickly between action and dialogue, with some mouthwatering descriptions of food and drink coming between.
Clarion Review
BlueInk Review
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"Very well written and worth reading. I recommend this book for people who are interested in Japanese folklore or just love a good mystery." Chosen as one of the top 5 mystery fiction books of 2018.
Write-Read-Life
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"Spirit of the Fox is an amazing, thrilling novel from start to finish - I never knew quite what to expect next in this story."
Working Mommy Journal
BIO
About Me
I’m not exactly sure when I decided to become a novelist, but I have always loved fiction. I'm sort of a plodder when it comes to reading (and writing as well). I enjoy lingering on the dialogue, the descriptions, the scene and setting. While my tastes are pretty eclectic, I am definitely drawn to books that push the limits of reality.
In 1998 we sold the company, Select International, that I co-founded in 1993. We started the company in Guadalajara, Mexico where my wife Mari and I lived and worked for a little over two years with a wonderful group of employees. It was a phenomenal experience; we both learned not only to speak the language but also to embrace the Mexican culture and people.
In the past twenty years I’ve written over two hundred white papers, journal articles, book chapters and even a book, Hiring Great People. But writing technical papers is far removed from writing fiction. There are more constraints -- the need to backup what you write with results or references, and the format is usually clearly outlined, and frankly, somewhat rigid. Fiction, though, is truly a blank page, which is both liberating and terrifying.
Almost ten years ago I got the idea for The Painter of Time, my debut novel. Then, of course, it was just a concept that needed a lot of fleshing out. It meant a lot of research on art history and art restoration, neither of which I had any formal training or experience. But I love doing research and learning new things so it was a natural fit. What I didn’t realize is how hard it is to actually write a good novel. There’s much more involved in the actual craft of writing that I ever expected.
I published my second, Spirit of the Fox, which takes place in Japan, in 2018. My third novel, The House on Tyner, is due to be published in April, 2023.
I currently live in Tokyo, Japan with my wife, our dog and our cat. My wife and I are actively involved in philanthropic endeavors mostly related to animal protection and welfare. In fact, all the revenue I receive from the sale of my books goes to various charities. To learn more about some of the charities we support, click on the Giving Back tab on this website.
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