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On the Massachusetts North Shore

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Author: Gavin Keenan

I am a retired police chief living in Massachusetts who enjoys police fiction writing, humor, social commentary and waking up each morning. My stuff has appeared in Mystery Readers Journal, "Busted - Stories From the Beat 2017" and Best New England Crime Stories 2015 - Rouge Wave" both published from Level Best Books. "Felons, Flames and Ambulance Rides" (Oak Tree Press) and "True Blue" (St. Martins Press) I try to see the lighter side of things, unless of course I'm writing about life and death. Raised to be unfailingly polite, I never disrespect others unless provoked, and then only if I'm dead sure I'm at least half right. Obviously, I spend a lot of time eating crow. I've found it a tasty dish.

The Karma of Modern Problems

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment

by Gavin Keenan. This article was first posted in 2017, and is timely as ever.

Posted in Commentary

Oh, wintry Christmas of my youth!

December 23, 2022December 23, 2022 Gavin Keenan3 Comments
Gavin Keenan Christmas

It's popular to wax nostalgic of a time and place where the winters were colder, the snows deeper, and the pace of life more manageable. For those of us lucky enough to grow up in Ipswich, these things were mostly true.

Posted in CommentaryTagged Christmas, Gavin Keenan

Let’s Go Walking……. After Midnight……

July 20, 2021November 24, 2022 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment
Ipswich at midnight

Up for a walk tonight? How about joining me on a late-night beat shift in the early 1980’s? When you’re from a place and stay put, you pay attention to things. It’s the stuff of life that let’s you know where you belong.

Posted in Stories

Deluge! An Eyewitness Account of the Mother’s Day Storm of 2006

July 9, 2021January 7, 2023 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment

Essex County was subjected to days of relentless, pouring rain that caused millions of dollars in property damage, deaths and left Ipswich nearly isolated from neighboring communities.

Posted in History, StormsTagged Gavin Keenan, Mother's Day

Life in the Time of Greenheads

July 2, 2021November 24, 2022 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment

Situated in the epicenter of The Great Marsh, Ipswich is ground zero for the annual invasion of Town's Official Pest, Tabanus nigrovittatus, better known as the Greenhead Fly. In my opinion, which I am happy to share with you, the Latin name for this scourge lends it far more dignity than it deserves.

Posted in Uncategorized

Little Neck Nostalgia

May 23, 2021November 24, 2022 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment

"Ipswich is paradise with bugs.”

Posted in PlacesTagged Gavin Keenan

The Postman Only Rang Once…….

January 26, 2021November 24, 2022 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment

What was forwarded to me was a shocking eye-opener of national proportions, I promised to keep it under my hat, so consider yourselves among the very privileged few to have this access. Please don't tell anyone...

Posted in CommentaryTagged president, Trump

Pink Flamingos, “more musings from a musty mind”

July 28, 2020November 24, 2022 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment

I call for all of us to embrace a cause that may serve to unite our fractured democracy before it’s all too late. This of course is the plight of Plastic Pink Flamingos. What, you ask?

Posted in Uncategorized

Behold, a Pale Corpse

July 19, 2020November 24, 2022 Gavin Keenan13 Comments

Gavin Keenan is drawn to reminisce of certain events which occurred during his lengthy enlistment in the local constabulary, including this Clamtown mystery of pandemic proportions.

Posted in StoriesTagged Gavin Keenan, greenheads, Stories

“We’re Here For a Good Time, Not For a Long Time.” Remembering the Celebrated Life of Ipswich Police Officer Ed Walsh

January 20, 2018November 24, 2022 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment
Ed Walsh

Retired Ipswich Police Officer Edward Walsh, who died recently, worked for the Town nearly fifty years, beginning in 1969 as a rookie patrolman.

Posted in animals, PeopleTagged Gavin Keenan

The Battle of Middle Ground

January 9, 2018November 24, 2022 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment

Gather all ye noble men and listen to my song. I know you have more pressing things But this shouldn’t take too long. Our tale occurs on slippery sand at a place called Middle Ground.

Posted in StoriesTagged Gavin Keenan

Keeping My Bearings in Changing Times

July 14, 2017November 24, 2022 Gavin KeenanLeave a comment
Meeting House Green Ipswich aerial view

What is an unreconstructed Townie to do when pummeled by these endless and unwanted shifts in the familiar that masquerade as progress?

Posted in Uncategorized
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