Conversation is more than just words being spoken, interpreted, and acted upon by others. Conversation is also the ultimate human interest activity, bringing people into direct contact with people in all of their complexity and vulnerability. The main characters in Parker's ten multi-genre stories set in the heart of Appalachia want to be heard; to have others listen to them-really listen-and understand their needs and concerns.

The characters in these stories do not always get listened to, and many of them find that the need for attention comes from aggression. A woman confronts her father about his dementia. Two fathers whose guilt and shame over the disappearances of their sons hide more sinister motives. A young boy frustrated with a ring appraisal learns a lesson about how people and things can be valued equally. Each of the characters in the collection is faced with a balance of talking and listening with a need for action, which often leads to manipulation and coercion.

The characters in these stories want to be heard; to have others listen to them-really listen-and understand their needs and concerns. However, when they do not get listened to, there is often an attempted persuasion by aggression. One character often finds himself/herself faced with another character who believes that conversation has no place in their lives.

The belief of the antagonists in these stories is that- who needs to talk when there is action that needs to be done? The antagonists believe that there is no need for conversation when the protagonist can be manipulated, coerced, or discredited by actions. Each story is a thrilling adventure with unexpected turns. Parker's honest and provocative prose will captivate readers with its urgency.

From the award-winning author of Fragile Brilliance comes another gripping Ronan McCullough thriller.

Recovering from the emotional and physical damage of his last case, Ronan McCullough is trying to put his life back together. But when a federal agent's charred remains surface, linked to a professor's encrypted money laundering scheme, Ronan becomes embroiled in a high-stakes game of life and death with someone who is willing to kill everyone that knows anything about the encryption codes.

Ronan soon uncovers several dark secrets and learns that nobody is being honest with him, including the people he trusts the most. When the encryption codes are stolen and Ronan learns their real purpose, he finds himself in a race to stop a plan that will make it nearly impossible to stop the funding of dangerous crimes.

How will Ronan succeed when the main suspect is a set of numbers? Dive into this heart-pounding thriller today and experience the adrenaline-fueled ride of Double-Crossed.

From award-winning author Eliot Parker comes the gripping story of a cop who must fight to protect a city and his family from a dangerous new drug threatening to rip the city apart.

When off-duty Charleston police sergeant Ronan McCullough responds to the assault of a college student outside a downtown sports bar, he is brutally attacked and nearly killed by the assailants. As he struggles with the physical and emotional damage and doggedly pursues the perpetrators, his personal and professional relationships are strained to the limit, and what he uncovers in his investigation takes him to the heart of a deadly drug ring threatening the very core of the city.

A gripping and gritty police thriller that kept me rapt in its pages until the end. The book is an easy read to get into it was competently written, featured likable characters, and had an evenly paced infusion of mystery, action and adult romance. -Lisa-Brown Gilbert, Pacific Book Review

Thoroughly engrossing, riveting, and filled with surprises. -Midwest Book Review

In the heart of Cleveland, Lieutenant Stacy Tavitt faces the chilling aftermath of an overzealous decision. Thrust into the shadows of a botched undercover operation, Stacy emerges from an attack that leaves her for dead in the icy embrace of the river. Six months of recovery later, she's back on the force, but her comeback case is as cold and perplexing as the waters she was rescued from. The city is reeling from the murder of Devon Baker, a star player for the Cleveland Browns, and with forensic evidence scarce, the mystery deepens.

Stacy, with her sharp instincts back in play, dives into the investigation, threading through a maze of dead ends and dangerous secrets. The killer, emboldened by Stacy's previous misstep, lurks in the shadows, weaving a sinister plot not just against her but those she holds dear. Each clue Stacy uncovers binds her closer to a truth too horrifying to conceive-the killer might be wearing a familiar face, one soaked in betrayal and hidden in plain sight.

As the investigation spirals into a deadly cat-and-mouse game, Stacy is forced to confront her past decisions and their haunting consequences. Can she outsmart a murderer who's always one step ahead, or will her second chance at justice slip through her fingers like the cold, elusive river currents?

A 2012 Weatherford Award finalist for Outstanding Fiction.

Eliot Parker sifts through the darker elements of competition to produce a winner of a novel. -John Herrick, Author of From The Dead and The Landing

Embark on a thrilling journey with star quarterback Cullen Brewer, as he uncovers a mystery that will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Cullen Brewer, starting quarterback for the Clear River College Cougars, discovers that his senior year will be far more exciting than winning a few football games. He is suddenly shocked when the body of his favorite wide receiver, Dane Antonelli, is found in a dormitory stairwell. He links up with Serena Johnson, a student newspaper reporter, searching for the truth behind Dane's death.

As they explore ties to coaches and college administrators, Cullen and Serena find themselves facing perils more dangerous than they ever expected.

Grab your copy now and discover the secrets lurking beneath the surface of Clear River College.

Step into the captivating world of Snapshots, where every moment holds the power to redefine lives.

A good snapshot keeps a moment from going away.- Eudora Welty.

Journey through small towns and bustling urban landscapes in eleven immersive tales that delve into the complexities of personal and professional relationships. From characters grappling with their own backgrounds and life experiences to unexpected twists that challenge their beliefs, each story is a snapshot of human resilience and conflict.

Eliot Parker uses his absorbing prose to help his audience see these characters uncover their pain, doubt, and disbelief and how those emotions are challenged, and ultimately changed, when they attempt to rise above. -Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review