Bullets in the Water

A gripping tale of small-town intrigue and corruption
When Mike Carson, a disgraced New York journalist, returns to his 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.
McAnally masterfully weaves together multiple storylines, creating a rich tapestry of small-town life that feels authentic and lived in. From the seedy underbelly of local politics to the struggles of everyday citizens, every character and setting rings true.
As Carson grapples with his own demons and past mistakes, readers will find themselves rooting for this flawed but determined hero.
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.

Conor McAnally is an award-winning writer, performer, producer and TV director. A native of Ireland, he is a former investigative print, radio and television journalist. He has produced thousands of factual and entertainment television shows for networks worldwide and his story Love Spines was the 2024 winner of the Plaza Prize for Microfiction. His short stories Shattered Silence and The Bell Tolls were published in the anthology Stories of Place by Black Rose Writing in April 2025. The Psychiatrist’s Window was a prize winner in the South West Writers short story competition and published.

McAnally created, wrote, produced and directed the hybrid youth drama series Over The Wall for BBC, and he has written and performed three one-man shows -- The Irish in America, Texas Independence and The Mexican-American War. His passions have included skydiving and gardening, motor racing and cooking, motor cycling and golfing, poetry and performing -- although not all at the same time.

He has homes in Austin, Texas, and Galway, Ireland.