"A retired detective takes on a UFO investigation."

MCMINNVILLE is the fictional account of a retired NYPD cold case detective who decides to look into an old friend's unanswered questions about a UFO encounter his family experienced when he and the detective were childhood best friends. Author Derrick McCartney takes a deep dive into the phenomena of UFOs in the United States and the world to create a unique and mesmerizing tale of science fiction and mystery.

The main character is former NYPD detective Ray Baker, who, for the past several years before his retirement, has focused on clearing up some of the department's old unsolved homicides. After a terminal cancer diagnosis, he decides to travel back to the hometown of his early youth, McMinnville, Oregon, to look into what would prove to be one of the most controversial cases of his life: the appearance overhead of a flying saucer, seen by many and photographed by a childhood friend's father and the concurrent disappearance of a local girl on the same day. Ray is inclined to be skeptical of the whole matter, but his early research reveals much that leaves him open to changing his opinion. Ray is an engaging and endearing character in many ways. He's kind, even after years as a law enforcement officer dealing with people at their worst. Ray has outlived his beloved wife and will soon follow her, but he still maintains a great attitude and desire to serve others and uncover the answers to long-held questions. I loved that he decided to revisit all the places he lived as a child and fill in the memories of his past with his now adult point of view. I'll bet that is a trip many people would love to be able to make; I know I would.

The book's premise is tantalizing: aliens, abductions, first encounters, and government coverups. But I enjoyed Ray's journey much more than the details of his research into UFO sightings and secret government reports. Some of the interviews with the experts he contacted felt overly lengthy, and, at times, I had trouble maintaining interest in what they had to say. In addition, much also seemed to go over the same ground repeatedly. However, the true UFO buffs among this book's readers would probably find this compilation of extreme interest and vastly entertaining.

I recommend MCMINNVILLE to science fiction readers who enjoy a lot of historical detail in their tales of alien encounters or first contacts.

This wasn’t exactly what I had hoped it would be. It felt like the story went on and on. Like much of the time we were covering and recovering the same ground. There were times when faced with little sentences like “Alan finished his piece of bacon” or when reading page after page of quantum physics or string vs loop theories or space-time theory that I wasn’t sure that I was going to make it. Yet part of the underlying story made me stick with it. Am I glad? I’m not sure. Glad I got through it without giving up. Overall an OK story. Just feel like it was not what I was expecting or what I had hoped for.

The title of this book is a place I've been many times over the years, and so caught my attention in book lists - it's a little place, hole-in-the-wall, off the usual tourist's map. But there is actually a UFO Festival celebrating the photographs which are the subject of this book of fiction (05/17,18/2024 McMenamins UFO Fest, if you are interested).

Honestly, it took me a third of the way in to get that this was a book of fiction, not non-fiction. The delivery up front feels very journalistic. Once that understanding came over me, my relationship to the book changed appreciably. I was less concerned about truth, less invested (but very interested) in outcome, and was able to overlook many aspects of the tale that seem to be convenient or over-the-top.

Still, there is something very appealing about Ray Baker, retired NYPD detective. Hanging out in his head is not uncomfortable, and works for the entire book, despite some very unbelievable twists and turns. Yet, they serve the story that is told and this reader was satisfied at its end.

*A sincere thank you to Derrick McCartney, MK Author Marketing Services, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #McMinnville #NetGalley 52:49

Excellent read….look forward to more from this author. Kept me entertained throughout the entire story.

This one was to slow for me . I loved the setting and the story line ad I lived there for 5 years and they still have a UFO festival but the book was just ok
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

In 1950 a man takes two photos of what he says are UFO's After the death of his wife and now his impending death retired detective Ray Baker is looking for something to occupy his time and decides to investigate the authenticity of the photos. Good solid mystery.

Disappointed, thought I was going to have fun with this one due to how minimal the cover is I thought it would be a little subdued and have more of a hey what's going on vibe but that is not what I got.

McMinnville by Derrick McCartney is a fairly long and complex work of fiction that follows Ray Baker, a retired detective who is dying of cancer and dealing with the death of his wife. He discovers an unresolved case of photographs of a UFO at a place near his childhood home in Oregon. Ray applies his detective skills and concludes... I can’t finish that or it would spoil the plot – but it’s about much more than just UFOs. The book is very well-written and although long and complex, it is easy to read and follow along. I enjoyed it and had to repeatedly remind myself that it’s fiction.

Perfectly satisfied my craving for "weird." A bit spooky, A bit mysterious, a bit detective investigation. A fun adventure with an eerie twist.

As someone who was obsessed with the paranormal growing up the cover alone had me hooked. I really enjoyed this read and cannot wait to see if there is more in the series

This book was perfect. A retired detective investigates two UFO photos with his analytical skills which is seemingly at odds with most paranormal phenomenon. In this story, it works so well. The history and facts of the event were obviously well researched making this an enlightening read

Ray Baker, a recently retired NYPD detective stumbles across two photographs taken in the 1950's by his friends parents of a UFO. Are these photos fake or are they real?

This book is like nothing I have ever read before and I loved it. I have had a fascination with UFOs since i was a teenager (brought up when The X Files was a hit TV show) but I have never read a story with a detective investigating a suspected alien abduction. It really was a fascinating read with Chapter 4 giving us a quick recap of UFO phenomena from the 1950s right up to 2011. If like me you are fascinated by the phenomena I highly recommend giving this a read.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.l