Threshold by Kevin Barry O'Connor
In the second installment of the Key Murphy Thriller series, Threshold is a modern thriller that crosses genres and defies expectations. Action, international intrigue and suspense may be the most prominent aspects of this story, but author Kevin Barry O’Connor punctuates the experience with historical significance, elements of the unexplainable and ambitious themes of global unification and self-sacrifice.
With such a sprawling narrative, Threshold is the kind of book that makes you want to know the inner workings of the author’s mind to see how they came up with such a concept. And that’s exactly what we did, talking to O’Connor about what kind of research went into crafting this series and what essential advice he gives aspiring writers looking to follow his example.
Q: What first inspired the Key Murphy Thrillers?
A: Most people wonder, ‘Who would I want to meet if I could travel back in time?’ I asked a different question: what if a genetic mutation allowed one to view the memories of an ancestor? I have long been fascinated by The Book of Kells, Ireland’s most important national treasure. I knew that the cover and nine pages were stolen in 1006 and that finding them would be worth a fortune.
Key Murphy has the ‘Ancestral Memory Gene’ and views the memory of an ancestor who hid those pages. To find it, he needs the help of a Jamaican anthropologist who shares the family tree. The book’s entire plot came from that one question: what if I could view the memory of an ancestor?
Q: For a series that has such deep roots in actual historical fact, how do you go about conducting research? And when do you choose to take artistic liberties?
A: Two threads run through the series: the little-known historical connections between Ireland and Jamaica and the genetic mutation I named the Ancestral Memory Gene. I want to ground the reader in the history and science so that the story feels real. If you google any of it, you will see that it is historically accurate, including research on ancestral memory. The internet made gathering the facts easy; getting the ‘feel’ was the critical part. I traveled to Ireland, Scotland and Jamaica for location research. I have dual Irish and American citizenship and lived and worked in Jamaica for several years. Once confident in the facts and feel, I am free to run with the fiction.
Q: Let’s talk about your new release, Threshold. Is second book syndrome as real as they say? And how did you navigate keeping track of such a complex, sophisticated political plot?
A: Fortunately, I never heard about second-book syndrome until now, so the idea was never in my head. I wanted to do something very different from Key to Kells and amp up the intensity while maintaining the Irish, Jamaica and Ancestral Memory threads. Threshold takes place over four days in Philadelphia, and the life of the Vice President is at stake. I introduced one new central character and gave her the Ancestral Memory. Most of the other characters I knew intimately from book one, which made it easier. There was a ton of details to keep track of. I write in Word, but my research and character notes are in Scrivener. I would have been lost without it.
Q: You published your first novel on your 70th birthday to celebrate aging “as an adventure to be met with fun, creativity and passion.” What advice would you give aspiring writers?
A: One advantage of starting my writing career at an older age is that I know my time on the planet is limited. My father died when he was 41, my sister at 21. So yeah, none of us know our expiration date. I find it freeing. I want to write, I need to write. It took me four years to write The Key to Kells and ten months to write Threshold. I hear people of all ages say they are too old to start. If you believe any of that nonsense, then you will die with your stories in you. If you need to write, get your butt in the chair and start. Nothing beats starting; it’s the only way to finish.
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from Threshold?
A: It was July 2021 when I started writing Threshold, and the world was trying to emerge from the nightmare of the pandemic. The sense of disruption and displacement was global. But in the US, the political climate had escalated to a fever pitch. Instead of COVID bringing us together in common cause, it was one more log on the political fire. I asked one simple question: who benefits from our chaos? I created a parallel storyline set in the 1800’s abolitionist movement before the Civil War. I take the reader on a wild ride on the streets of Philadelphia and early 1800’s Dublin. The takeaway: who wins if we lose? I leave the answer to the reader.
Q: What’s next on your to-do list?
A: I just finished preparing the audiobook for The Key to Kells, which will launch in October, and I am deep into writing book three, Shake The Jar. The Key Murphy Thrillers are a series, but the first three are sequels. I’ve started the outline for book four. I plan on launching book ten on my 80th birthday.
Kevin Barry O’Connor has been a storyteller most of his life. From living room productions as a child to studying mime, circus arts, acting, dance and writing for the stage. He co-founded a comedy theater company that toured the US for over a decade. His passion for story led him to become a global sales trainer and motivational speaker, taking him to 90 countries on six continents.
Kevin has dual US/Irish citizenship and a passion for history. He lived and ran a business in Jamaica in the nineties. His novels blend the history of the Irish and African diasporas set in contemporary thrillers. Kevin’s traveling life will continue to be displayed in this series as he takes you to the far corners of the world, where exotic locales become the setting for fast-paced action and adventure.
Kevin published The Key to Kells on his 70th birthday to celebrate aging as an adventure to be met with fun, creativity and passion.
