SJ Brown

Detective Inspector John Mahoney is the officer in charge of TAS Police’s Serious Crimes Squad. The remit of this branch includes kidnapping, blackmail, GBH, and homicide. It is the last item which most exercises the ability of his team. His home state of Tasmania is nothing like Al Capone’s Chicago of the 1920’s but ‘foul murder’ is most certainly part of this domain.

Mahoney, now in his fifties, was born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania’s capital city. He left school at sixteen to escape the taught religious dogma and display some independence from his family. At the Police Academy he quickly matured and flourished. Good fortune continued in his initial postings with their allied linking to shrewd role models. Just as his career was consolidating a brutal personal betrayal led to him flying the nest. There followed a decade or so with the Metropolitan Police in London. For him it was the time of his life.

Returning home he was seconded to the Homicide Division owing to his learned experience with Scotland Yard. Very soon he was promoted to his current position as D.I. This has proven to be something of a bugbear as he must contend with internal politics and keep abreast of administrative requirements. He has always felt at his best in the field and this is where you’ll find him doing the work of chief detective.

Somewhat solitary by nature he is adapting to the demands of teamwork, bureaucracy, and collegial responsibility. At the heart of his work is the belief that life should afford the greatest good for the greatest number. It is those who seek evade personal accountability that draws his greatest ire. It is not the hackneyed vices of so many gumshoes that threaten to mar his performance but a self-doubt that he is up to the job. Thankfully, he usually is…he has to be.