A gripping tale of small-town intrigue and corruption
In this crime thriller from Conor McAnally, Mike Carson, a disgraced New York journalist, returns to his Texas hometown to sell his late uncle’s house. Asked to look into a suspicious death while he is there, he finds self-dealing and drug trafficking running straight up through local government and law enforcement. What should be a simple task quickly spirals out of control as Carson uncovers a web of lies, self-dealing, and drug trafficking, and with each revelation, he finds himself dragged deeper into a powerful conspiracy.
Fast-paced, with a colorful cast of characters and razor-sharp dialogue, Bullets in the Water is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and investigative thrillers.
A gripping tale of small-town intrigue and corruption
Bullets in the Water, Conor McAnally’s crime thriller based on actual events, Mike Carson, a disgraced New York journalist, returns to his small Texas hometown to sell his late uncle’s house, what should be a simple task quickly spirals out of control.
Asked to investigate a suspicious death, Carson uncovers a web of lies, self-dealing, and drug trafficking that reaches the highest levels of local government and law enforcement.
With each revelation, the stakes grow higher, and Carson finds himself in the crosshairs of powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.
Fast-paced, with a colorful cast of characters and razor-sharp dialogue, Bullets in the Water is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and investigative thrillers.
Category: Thriller
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-965766-32-3
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-965766-33-0
Pages: 364
Trim size: 5.5 x 8.5
Stephen Stewart, TV director“This is exactly the sort of book I choose when reading fiction. Proper characters that I loved or loathed, and a very clever storyline. McAnally has a real gift for painting a picture.”
June Lorraine Roberts, Murder in Common"Fast pacing, strong atmosphere, plenty of tension, and characters who feel like they belong to this world. There’s a gritty, lived-in quality to the Bullets in the Water that makes the danger feel real."
Bullets in the Water follows Mike Carson, a journalist whose New York career ended badly, back to the Texas town he came from. A simple errand — sell his uncle’s house — turns into an investigation of a suspicious death, and then into a corruption case reaching local government, law enforcement, and a drug trafficking operation.
Crime fiction and investigative thriller, set in small-town Texas, with a journalist rather than a detective at the center.
It is a standalone novel — for now.
The characters and settings are fictional, but the crimes described in the book were inspired by true events.
Read the full review
Stephen Stewart, TV director“This is exactly the sort of book I choose when reading fiction. Proper characters that I loved or loathed, and a very clever storyline. McAnally has a real gift for painting a picture.”
June Lorraine Roberts, Murder in Common"Fast pacing, strong atmosphere, plenty of tension, and characters who feel like they belong to this world. There’s a gritty, lived-in quality to the Bullets in the Water that makes the danger feel real."
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