ashleynestlermsw's review against another edition
5.0
Eliot Parker is a master of storytelling. Not only did he manage to write a novel that involves a gay couple beautifully, but he managed to write the novel in a way that didn't just focus on the couple and nothing else in the story line. Instead, he painted out for the reader a fast paced mystery and emotionally tearing novel that made a gay relationship as normal as any other relationship. From page one I was engrossed by his lacy way of writing, and that is not something that I can say happens to me very often anymore due to the large amounts of books that I read and review on a daily basis.
Sometimes with books that focus on crime thrillers and involve the police force and emergency rooms, the audience is a very particular target audience; but after reading Fragile Brilliance I found that it would be perfect for any kind of reader. It is a great introductory novel into the genre, and the mystery and intrigue was heavy. I even found that the surprises, twists, and turns in his novel were reminiscent of the great James Patterson. Parker's novel punches you in the gut throughout the entire story, and I haven't felt punches like that since I read James Patterson's Beach Road. I am honestly very surprised that Parker isn't published on a wider scale, as he most definitely deserves the spotlight.
I admire the clever way that Parker laced multiple characters together in such a riveting novel without confusion, and I am absolutely looking forward to reading his other novels. His talent stands out in today's over-crowded literary world, and I strongly urge you to pick up one of his books. They will change you for the better, and I am not the same as I was before reading Fragile Brilliance. Parker's writing changed me in the best possible way, and my literary standards are now even higher than they were before.
Sometimes with books that focus on crime thrillers and involve the police force and emergency rooms, the audience is a very particular target audience; but after reading Fragile Brilliance I found that it would be perfect for any kind of reader. It is a great introductory novel into the genre, and the mystery and intrigue was heavy. I even found that the surprises, twists, and turns in his novel were reminiscent of the great James Patterson. Parker's novel punches you in the gut throughout the entire story, and I haven't felt punches like that since I read James Patterson's Beach Road. I am honestly very surprised that Parker isn't published on a wider scale, as he most definitely deserves the spotlight.
I admire the clever way that Parker laced multiple characters together in such a riveting novel without confusion, and I am absolutely looking forward to reading his other novels. His talent stands out in today's over-crowded literary world, and I strongly urge you to pick up one of his books. They will change you for the better, and I am not the same as I was before reading Fragile Brilliance. Parker's writing changed me in the best possible way, and my literary standards are now even higher than they were before.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
Sergeant Ronan McCullough has worked twenty years for the Charleston, West Virginia Police Department. Ty Andino, Ronan’s life partner of two years, is an ER nurse. Being in West Virginia, they are still trying to keep their relationship on the down-low. Ty comes from old money, and is younger than Ronan, and at times, Ronan finds himself wondering why Ty is with him.
On his way home, Ronan sees a young man being attacked. He gets involved in the melee and is injured, and loses two days. Ty finally gets to take Ronan home, but Ronan struggles with a nightmare. To add to the chaos, Ronan’s nephew Nick, whom he hasn’t seen in ten years, shows up. His nephew is trying to escape from a bad situation at home. Ty is baffled; he’s been with Ronan all this time, and he’s never mentioned his nephew. Ronan gets a call when the suspects have been spotted; a manhunt pursues, and Ronan leaves Ty alone with Nick.
Drug dealers out to kill him, murder, a deadly drug on the streets, Nick in serious trouble and Ty in danger. Then the chaos goes from bad to worse. Ronan’s homophobe bitchy sister, Melissa, shows up to retrieve Nick.
Apart from keeping their relationship semi-hidden, Ty has a very strong personality in all this. He supports Nick and gives his all against Ronan’s dysfunctional family members, and even helps him with clues to the drug case.
Fragile Brilliance is a first time read for me by Eliot Parker. I really liked this fast paced, action thriller, mystery. There’s plenty of danger and suspense, and it gets a bit gory, too. The plot is centered around a drug called Krokodil, and the narrative describes some strategic police procedures. The multiple characters’ relationships are complex, and as the story progresses, we can see the changes come about. Overall, this was a good mystery and good read.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
On his way home, Ronan sees a young man being attacked. He gets involved in the melee and is injured, and loses two days. Ty finally gets to take Ronan home, but Ronan struggles with a nightmare. To add to the chaos, Ronan’s nephew Nick, whom he hasn’t seen in ten years, shows up. His nephew is trying to escape from a bad situation at home. Ty is baffled; he’s been with Ronan all this time, and he’s never mentioned his nephew. Ronan gets a call when the suspects have been spotted; a manhunt pursues, and Ronan leaves Ty alone with Nick.
Drug dealers out to kill him, murder, a deadly drug on the streets, Nick in serious trouble and Ty in danger. Then the chaos goes from bad to worse. Ronan’s homophobe bitchy sister, Melissa, shows up to retrieve Nick.
Apart from keeping their relationship semi-hidden, Ty has a very strong personality in all this. He supports Nick and gives his all against Ronan’s dysfunctional family members, and even helps him with clues to the drug case.
Fragile Brilliance is a first time read for me by Eliot Parker. I really liked this fast paced, action thriller, mystery. There’s plenty of danger and suspense, and it gets a bit gory, too. The plot is centered around a drug called Krokodil, and the narrative describes some strategic police procedures. The multiple characters’ relationships are complex, and as the story progresses, we can see the changes come about. Overall, this was a good mystery and good read.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
peachykeenreviews's review against another edition
5.0
Eliot Parker is a master of storytelling. Not only did he manage to write a novel that involves a gay couple beautifully, but he managed to write the novel in a way that didn't just focus on the couple and nothing else in the story line. Instead, he painted out for the reader a fast paced mystery and emotionally tearing novel that made a gay relationship as normal as any other relationship. From page one I was engrossed by his lacy way of writing, and that is not something that I can say happens to me very often anymore due to the large amounts of books that I read and review on a daily basis.
Sometimes with books that focus on crime thrillers and involve the police force and emergency rooms, the audience is a very particular target audience; but after reading Fragile Brilliance I found that it would be perfect for any kind of reader. It is a great introductory novel into the genre, and the mystery and intrigue was heavy. I even found that the surprises, twists, and turns in his novel were reminiscent of the great James Patterson. Parker's novel punches you in the gut throughout the entire story, and I haven't felt punches like that since I read James Patterson's Beach Road. I am honestly very surprised that Parker isn't published on a wider scale, as he most definitely deserves the spotlight.
I admire the clever way that Parker laced multiple characters together in such a riveting novel without confusion, and I am absolutely looking forward to reading his other novels. His talent stands out in today's over-crowded literary world, and I strongly urge you to pick up one of his books. They will change you for the better, and I am not the same as I was before reading Fragile Brilliance. Parker's writing changed me in the best possible way, and my literary standards are now even higher than they were before.
Sometimes with books that focus on crime thrillers and involve the police force and emergency rooms, the audience is a very particular target audience; but after reading Fragile Brilliance I found that it would be perfect for any kind of reader. It is a great introductory novel into the genre, and the mystery and intrigue was heavy. I even found that the surprises, twists, and turns in his novel were reminiscent of the great James Patterson. Parker's novel punches you in the gut throughout the entire story, and I haven't felt punches like that since I read James Patterson's Beach Road. I am honestly very surprised that Parker isn't published on a wider scale, as he most definitely deserves the spotlight.
I admire the clever way that Parker laced multiple characters together in such a riveting novel without confusion, and I am absolutely looking forward to reading his other novels. His talent stands out in today's over-crowded literary world, and I strongly urge you to pick up one of his books. They will change you for the better, and I am not the same as I was before reading Fragile Brilliance. Parker's writing changed me in the best possible way, and my literary standards are now even higher than they were before.
msw's review
4.0
This is the first of Eliot Parker's crime novels with the rough-and-tough-cop protagonist Ronan McCullough, who happens to be in a committed gay relationship. Ronan is a dependably determined officer who is willing to cut corners to catch bad guys, sometimes going farther than he should, as when he tortures an admitted-piece-of-crap bad guy in his hospital bed, probably causing his death.
The bad guys in this book have pretty much no socially redeeming characteristics-- a whole raft of drug addict/cartel types of many races and economic strata. Ronan's estranged and homophobic sister also appears, as does her son, Ronan's nephew. The sex scenes are good, and I loved the setting in Charleston, West Virginia!
The bad guys in this book have pretty much no socially redeeming characteristics-- a whole raft of drug addict/cartel types of many races and economic strata. Ronan's estranged and homophobic sister also appears, as does her son, Ronan's nephew. The sex scenes are good, and I loved the setting in Charleston, West Virginia!
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