Author: Eliot Parker,

Eliot Parker, author of A Knife’s Edge, has penned four novels. (2019, back cover) He has his MFA in Creative Writing from the Bluegrass Writer’s Studio at Eastern Kentucky University. He teaches writing and literature at Mountwest Community and Technical College. Previously he has won the West Virginia Literary Merit Award and was a finalist for a thriller in the Southern Book Prize. He is a native of West Virginia.

This book is the second in a series (the first was Fragile Brilliance) with the main character of Ronan McCullough. Ronan is a police officer and gay. His partner in this novel is Ty.

The book opens with a clandestine meeting near an abandoned railroad depot in the dead of winter in Charleston, South Carolina. Something is wrong as Marvin waits for his connection.

Ronan’s paramour Ty is a nurse. They met at the old hospital. Ronan was immediately taken with Ty. Ronan’s job requires that he keep his relationship with Ty a secret for the most part. A friend or two are aware of them as a couple but otherwise nobody knows he is gay.

There is a grand opening at the new hospital for the City of Charleston and Ronan plans on coming as a lay police officer. Ty is caught up in planning the fete. Once the soiree is underway a Hummer comes careening into the brand new building creating mass chaos. The man driving this vehicle has been shot prior to the automobile crashing into the building as Ronan and his brethren endeavor to divine what caused this terrible incident. However, Ronan, Ty, and many of the patrons have been injured in this tragedy. Soon the ambulances and other police responder arrived and begin to piece together things that occurred at the scene. Ronan wants Ty to be seen by the first responders to ensure he is fine. Ty is better at being the nurse than the patient.

Ronan meets Ty at home later that evening. Ty is always concerned when Ronan is out on the streets protecting the citizenry. Ronan puts on a brave face and comforts Ty.

The following day Ronan works with his cohorts to solve this murder mystery and get to the bottom of what is amiss. Many items from the crime scene are being analyzed at the lab and they are eager to see the results. Will they find out why this accident occurred and who is responsible? Will Ronan be able to keep his relationship with Ty a secret?

This is the first homosexual novel I have read. The characters were likeable and believable. The plot was interesting and moved along nicely.