“Bullets in the Water” by Conor McAnally

It is not often, in these days of perpetual motion and constant demands for our time and attention, that a book comes along and simply demands to be devoured in a single sitting. Conor McAnally’s debut novel, Bullets in the Water, is one such book. Mystery, murder, mysticism, political intrigue, redemption, and loss – this book has it all.

Mike Carson, a disgraced big-shot journalist, has come home from the big city to sell his deceased uncle’s house and lick his wounds. But what he finds in his hometown of Taborville, Texas, requires him to reckon with both his family history and the dark currents that run beneath the small town’s wholesome veneer. When his high school sweetheart asks him to look into the murder of her husband, Mike is drawn into the underbelly of Taborville – and finds that his own past is inextricably tangled up with some of the worst folks in town. While attempting to renovate his uncle’s house, he must struggle not only to find answers – for the grieving widow and for himself – but to survive.

Anyone who has lived in a small Southern town will recognize the story’s antagonists, the McMillans and their cronies. Every town has that family – the good ol’ boys who own half the land and most of the politicians, who are somehow mixed up in – and profit from – every business deal that costs others money, who always somehow come out squeaky clean in the eyes of the law. This is, perhaps, one of the novel’s greatest strengths; it evokes smalltown America flawlessly. The scenery, sounds, accents, and smells walk the reader right along with Mike into the Texas heat.

The novel was inspired by two real-life murders and is fast-paced and tightly constructed. If you are looking for long philosophical musings or steamy romance scenes, you will not find that here. Instead, you have a story that is masterfully told, with very little superfluous material. Nearly everything directly drives the story (see my interview with Mr. McAnally for some insight into the two inclusions that don’t). With a narrative style reminiscent of Thomas Harris or John Gresham, Mr. McAnally brings his background in journalism to create a true page-turner. Whether you’re looking for a summer thriller or a weekend southwestern adventure, Bullets in the Water fits the bill.

Conor McAnally

Conor McAnally is an award-winning writer, performer, producer and TV director. Irish-born he is a former investigative print, radio and television journalist. Conor has produced thousands of factual and entertainment shows for networks worldwide including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, DirecTV, AMC, Nickelodeon, RTE and Fuse. HIs TV shows have garnered 22 major awards including five British Academies and five from the Royal Television Society. ‘Love Spines’ was the 2024 winner of the Plaza Prize for Microfiction.