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Seeing Red: From the Case Files of Detective James T. Kirkland
Three short works featuring Florida Homicide Detective James T. Kirkland who has to put up with a Star Trek loving Medical Examiner, an ex-wife, and a cousin who overreacts to just about everything. Sometimes murder happens when and where you least expect it.
Red Shirted.
"He's dead, Jim." Homicide Detective James T. Kirkland dreads the Star-Trek loving medical examiner's joy in stating the obvious. This time, the victim was wearing a red shirt, and when what looked like a death from natural causes turns into a homicide, Kirkland is called upon to solve the crime, red shirt and all.
Red's Heat
"There's a body buried in my yard." Detective James T. Kirkland braves the hot, sweltering heat of a Florida summer to debunk his cousin's claim before both of them are set up for ridicule in the Sheriff's Office. But when the body isn't really a body, Kirkland accepts being the butt of department jokes—until things take an unexpected turn.
Red Flagged
"Call me when you've got a dead body." Favorite words of an over-worked detective trying to get some shut-eye. But when his ex-wife calls and says her friend is missing, all thoughts of sleep evaporate as James T. Kirkland rushes to help solve the mysterious disappearance.
Red Flagged first appeared in Deception, a Mystery Anthology published by Highland Press, 2011.
Red Shirted.
"He's dead, Jim." Homicide Detective James T. Kirkland dreads the Star-Trek loving medical examiner's joy in stating the obvious. This time, the victim was wearing a red shirt, and when what looked like a death from natural causes turns into a homicide, Kirkland is called upon to solve the crime, red shirt and all.
Red's Heat
"There's a body buried in my yard." Detective James T. Kirkland braves the hot, sweltering heat of a Florida summer to debunk his cousin's claim before both of them are set up for ridicule in the Sheriff's Office. But when the body isn't really a body, Kirkland accepts being the butt of department jokes—until things take an unexpected turn.
Red Flagged
"Call me when you've got a dead body." Favorite words of an over-worked detective trying to get some shut-eye. But when his ex-wife calls and says her friend is missing, all thoughts of sleep evaporate as James T. Kirkland rushes to help solve the mysterious disappearance.
Red Flagged first appeared in Deception, a Mystery Anthology published by Highland Press, 2011.
- GenresMystery
128 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2014
About the author
Terry Odell
64 books228 followersTerry Odell was born in Los Angeles and after living several decades in Florida now makes her home in Colorado. An avid reader (her parents tell everyone they had to move from their first home because she finished the local library), she always wanted to "fix" stories so the characters did what she wanted, in books, television, and the movies. Once she began writing, she found this wasn't always possible, as evidenced when the mystery she intended to write rapidly became a romance.
However, her entry into the world of writing can be attributed to a "mistake" when her son mentioned the Highlander television series on a visit home. Being the "good mother" she began watching the show and soon connected with the world of fanfiction, first as a reader, then as a critique giver, and then, one brave weekend, she wrote her first short story.
Things snowballed (if one can use that analogy in central Florida!) and soon she was writing her first original novel. Much later, she mentioned something about a recent Highlander episode to her son, and he said, "Oh, I've never actually watched the show, I just thought the concept was cool." Little did he know what he'd started.
"
However, her entry into the world of writing can be attributed to a "mistake" when her son mentioned the Highlander television series on a visit home. Being the "good mother" she began watching the show and soon connected with the world of fanfiction, first as a reader, then as a critique giver, and then, one brave weekend, she wrote her first short story.
Things snowballed (if one can use that analogy in central Florida!) and soon she was writing her first original novel. Much later, she mentioned something about a recent Highlander episode to her son, and he said, "Oh, I've never actually watched the show, I just thought the concept was cool." Little did he know what he'd started.
"
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 12, 2015
Three "red" themed stories featuring Detective James T. Kirkland and his star-trek obsessed medical examiner "Bones" McCoy. The crimes are each interesting, from a mysterious death to a couple who come back from vacation to find a newly dug grave in their yard to a missing woman. I really enjoyed all three and liked the minor Trek references and nods. My favorite story was Red-Shirted - a nod to the disposable away mission characters that have become a running ST gag. These are detective stories though - and good ones!
October 31, 2022
This little volume was in my goody bag from Left Coast Crime 2022. It consists of three short mysteries, featuring Florida detective James Kirkland. In each one, the color red is somehow involved in the solution of the case.
It was an entertaining little read, and a good introduction to the author's work. While the second story's solution felt rushed, it is worth remembering that these are short stories and sometimes liberties may be taken with impunity.
Nicely done.
It was an entertaining little read, and a good introduction to the author's work. While the second story's solution felt rushed, it is worth remembering that these are short stories and sometimes liberties may be taken with impunity.
Nicely done.
July 2, 2022
Terry O'Dell introduces the first story in this collection with, "I'd always wanted to use the line, 'He's dead, Jim,' in a story..." She achieved her goal by writing a set of three short stories about Detective James Thackery Kirkland and pathologist Frank McCoy. McCoy is a Star Trek fan and.... well, you can guess the rest. If you're a Trekkie, you'll enjoy all the red shirt and other jokes embedded in the stories. If you're not a Trekkie, don't worry. The mysteries are creative and intriguing on their own. I hope there are more stories about Detective Kirkland and rookie cop Charlene (Charlie) Stroup.
December 8, 2014
Three stories. Three homicide investigations. Each of them very interesting, and the solutions in each one always surprising. Once I started a story I wanted to keep reading. I enjoyed the Star Trek references.
Apart from the Start Trek references I felt that James T. Kirkland was a bit colorless, and since his presence is the one that ties the three stories together that was a disappointment. Part of the problem is that we aren't privy to the "eureka" moment when the detective solves the crime. The solution is reported as a kind of epilogue. Each of these stories might work better in a longer form. As it is there is a kind of ballad effect, where we get the setup and introduced to the characters, then the middle is jumped over and we get the summary of the end. In the first story this technique works very well but by the third it had become frustrating.
Apart from the Start Trek references I felt that James T. Kirkland was a bit colorless, and since his presence is the one that ties the three stories together that was a disappointment. Part of the problem is that we aren't privy to the "eureka" moment when the detective solves the crime. The solution is reported as a kind of epilogue. Each of these stories might work better in a longer form. As it is there is a kind of ballad effect, where we get the setup and introduced to the characters, then the middle is jumped over and we get the summary of the end. In the first story this technique works very well but by the third it had become frustrating.
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September 22, 2025I really enjoyed following Detective James T. Kirkland through these three short stories. He’s funny, relatable, and somehow manages to deal with a Star Trek–obsessed medical examiner, a dramatic cousin, and his ex-wife while still solving murders. Each story, Red Shirted, Red’s Heat, and Red Flagged, was engaging and clever, with just the right mix of humor and suspense. I especially liked how the Florida setting added heat and tension to the mysteries. Quick, entertaining reads that left me wanting more of Kirkland’s adventures.
January 18, 2015
I’m a Star Trek fan from way back, and I thoroughly enjoyed the running humor in the book related to this science fiction series’ characters. James T. Kirkland, detective, works with a medical examiner named McCoy. McCoy says “He’s dead, Jim,” and Kirkland calls McCoy “Bones.”
With a doff of the hat to the poor guys who wore red shirts on the long running Star Trek TV series, Odell named her first of the three novellas Red Shirted. In the story, Jim is tasked to figure out how a man in a red shirt died when there is no obvious sign of death.
The second novella, Red’s Heat, deals with a fresh grave in a neighborhood. None of the neighbors are talking, but solid detective work puts Jim in the know.
Lastly, Red Flagged is about Jim’s ex-wife’s coworker gone missing. Marlene is very punctual and never misses work, but she’s nowhere to be found. However, the husband is acting very suspicious.
These short stories/novellas are solid police procedurals. Odell’s familiarity with police investigations gives her work a stamp of authenticity that leaps off the page. A quick read.
With a doff of the hat to the poor guys who wore red shirts on the long running Star Trek TV series, Odell named her first of the three novellas Red Shirted. In the story, Jim is tasked to figure out how a man in a red shirt died when there is no obvious sign of death.
The second novella, Red’s Heat, deals with a fresh grave in a neighborhood. None of the neighbors are talking, but solid detective work puts Jim in the know.
Lastly, Red Flagged is about Jim’s ex-wife’s coworker gone missing. Marlene is very punctual and never misses work, but she’s nowhere to be found. However, the husband is acting very suspicious.
These short stories/novellas are solid police procedurals. Odell’s familiarity with police investigations gives her work a stamp of authenticity that leaps off the page. A quick read.
December 16, 2014
Seeing Red is a trio of short stories featuring James T. Kirkland, Homicide Detective. I really enjoyed these three stories, and I hope Terry writes more with these characters. In the first story the murder victim is found wearing a red shirt. The ME's name is McCoy and he can't wait to tell Kirkland "He's dead, Jim." Fortunately, Jim is a pretty sharp detective and he manages to solve all three mysteries in short order. These are great detective stories and I highly recommend you read them.
December 25, 2014
Reading these three short stories was a pure delight for me. Each of the stories kept me wondering how they would end – certainly a must for a good mystery! If you are a Trekkie, the references to Star Trek had to make you smile. I liked the way the relationship of the characters developed in each story and I can only hope that Ms. Odell will develop a series about Detective James T. Kirkland. I believe it would be as popular as her other series. Seeing Red is definitely a recommended read.
July 3, 2015
The short stories were good, but I like one long story better.
November 19, 2015
Yes, three good detective short stories, but I expected more of the Star Trek reference. Only JTK and Bones here, when there could have been so much more.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews