Life is unpredictable, and you cannot anticipate what awaits you next. It’s a journey like a series of transformations, where every experience shapes who you are and who you are becoming.
Some individuals live within familiar boundaries, while others—like Bob Kelly—embrace the unpredictable nature of existence, allowing the currents of change to carry them across literal and symbolic landscapes. His life story is not merely one of accomplishments or struggles but of transitions: from one place to another, from passion to profession, and from purpose to reinvention.
Bob Kelly’s life unfolds like a gripping novel that spans countries, professions, and genres. Growing up in a close-knit family on Chicago’s West Side, his diverse background shaped his perspectives.
Bob experienced a culture shock after moving to the North Shore suburb of Glencoe at age 13, yet he quickly found his footing through sports, particularly basketball, and football—his love for sports instilled resilience and adaptability, which later served him well throughout his career.
His educational journey took him from a small Catholic school to the sprawling halls of New Trier East High School, where he thrived academically and athletically, honing his competitive skills on the basketball court.
Kelly has embraced every opportunity that came his way, be it academics or athletics. His passion for basketball flourished the most, and he played on competitive teams in the Suburban League. This was a formative experience for his teamwork skills and competitive spirit.
After high school, Bob pursued a degree in English Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the early 1970s. This period of upheaval influenced his worldview and increased his appreciation for storytelling.
After graduation, Bob entered the workforce, selling athletic apparel and coaching a professional basketball team in Austria.
Bob’s legal journey began at Chicago Kent College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1981. He then received a Master of Laws in Transnational Business and Tax from McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, California. This program offered a unique opportunity for him to study abroad, including a prestigious internship at the Per Federspiel, a coveted law firm in Copenhagen, Denmark. His time there polished his legal expertise and allowed him to continue his passion for basketball through coaching local teams.
After returning to Chicago and establishing a solo law practice, his personal life took a significant turn. He became a father, and the joys of parenthood soon transformed into challenges as he became a single parent who also had to manage his legal career. Bob’s love and dedication to raising his son, Morgan, drove him to focus on family law, particularly as an Attorney for Children.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was a turning point in Bob’s life. With the world in lockdown, he seized the opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an author. Drawing from his extensive life experiences, he devoted himself to writing and completed three novels in three years, including stories that delve into the heart.
Introducing Detective Jack Fallon
Bob’s first book in the latest crime thriller series, Chicago Detective Jack Fallon in the Mystery of the Exotic Escort Murders, features a detective trying to save Chicago City from a cold-blooded serial killer. Following the mysterious murders of escorts in the city, Fallon and his partner, Elaina, are thrust into the dark underbelly of crime and drama.
In the second book of this series, Chicago Detective Jack Fallon In The Mystery of the Legally Dead, readers are shoved into a high-stakes investigation following the murder of a prominent defense attorney. Alongside his partner, Elaina Rodriguez, Fallon navigates a complex web of crime involving a carjacking operation linked to a white supremacist group and the Russian mob.
Bob Kelly’s writing style is a compelling mix of gritty realism and vivid sensory detail. He usually writes from a first-person perspective, putting readers in Fallon’s shoes.
Another unique aspect of Kelly’s writing is his use of sensory language to describe the complexities and unpredictability of both the environment and the situation. He also uses subtle psychological insights to show Fallon’s innate anxieties and guardedness.
Kelly has created Jack Fallon’s character as hyper-aware and guarded, constantly assessing his surroundings and potential threats like a typical detective. He builds up the suspense slowly, using the detective’s cautious, layered observations before throwing him into a sudden, jarring confrontation.
This blend of action and introspection and his ability to create a specific mood suit his writing well within the detective noir or urban crime genre. His style effectively balances detailed inner monologue with sharp, kinetic action, making the readers feel Fallon’s tension and vulnerability in the moment.
A Passion for Chicago
Bob Kelly’s writing reflects his love for Chicago and its people. His stories reflect the city’s vibrant culture, complexities, and challenges. By blending legal intrigue with gripping narratives, he captures the essence of contemporary Chicago life while addressing broader themes that resonate with readers across genres.
This fondness for the Chi city can be seen vividly in his words, which convey the energy and tension of urban life. His point of view draws heavily on specific Chicago landmarks, cultural elements, and weather references to ground the narrative authentically.
As he continues expanding Detective Fallon’s gripping saga, readers can expect further explorations into the criminal justice system’s harsh truths and moral ambiguities.
