Jerry McGinley

A Brief Biography

Jerry McGinley is an accomplished author known for his mystery and thriller novels. Born and raised in Wisconsin, McGinley spent nearly four decades teaching literature and writing at various educational institutions, including DeForest High School, the University of Wisconsin, and Herzing University. His extensive teaching experience earned him several accolades, such as the Kohl Educational Excellence Fellowship and the Jarvis Bush Award for Excellence in Teaching Writing.

McGinley is best known for his seven-book Pat Donegal and Shea Sommers mystery series, which includes titles like A Driftless Murder, Lake Redemption, and Ghosts of Dharma Hills. His books are praised for their fast-paced action, snappy dialogue, well-researched plots, and complex yet likable characters. A Driftless Murder earned the 2022 Midwest Book Award for Mystery Fiction.

McGinley's book, A Driftless Farewell, wraps up the series. It features Detective Shea Sommers in the most challenging case of her life as she confronts not only an international drug cartel but also a local crime syndicate and the darkest demons from her past.

In addition to his novels, McGinley has published numerous poems and short stories. He founded and edited the Yahara Prairie Lights and Lake City Lights, online creative writing magazines that showcased the work of established and emerging writers. He also edited Yahara Prairie Review, a poetry magazine.

McGinley recently completed a historical fiction novel, Dust Under Our Feet. The novel traces the story of a family of Irish immigrants from their home in County Down, Ireland, to the virgin farmlands of southwestern Wisconsin, covering their lives from 1844 to 1940.

The author currently resides with his wife, Gail, in Waunakee, Wisconsin.