Trios: Death, Deceit, and Politics

by Carl Parsons

Rita Collins, a reporter and writer for a local Washington, DC television station, faces apparently unexplained rejection by her husband, who has suffered amputation of both legs during the Iraq War. He refuses both her affection and any attempts at rehabilitation. At the same time Rita is investigating a radical political cell on an elite college campus. With the help of her husband’s psychiatrist, she discovers that her marriage was doomed from the start because of its intricate ties to the career of her politically corrupt father-in-law, a Pennsylvania state senator, and his manipulative political advisor. Once her initial grief gives way to anger, Rita uses her contacts within the news media to exact revenge on her father-in-law. On the same night she successfully covers a major campus riot, the revenge she fashions proves more destructive than she could have imagined.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2023

Reviews

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Collins family is an intriguing and enigmatic group, marked by an inherent lack of trust and a tendency to betray one another at every opportunity. Through a labyrinthine web of deceptive lies and deceit, they continually strive to outdo each other, setting the stage for a riveting tale of political corruption and intrigue. Within the pages of Trios: Death, Deceit, and Politics, Carl Parsons skillfully weaves a suspenseful narrative that delves into the life of Rita Collins, a tenacious local reporter and writer for a prominent television station in Washington DC. It is through her eyes that we witness a perplexing turn of events, as she finds herself unexpectedly rejected by her husband, Brian, who suffered the amputation of his legs during his service in the Iraq War. Brian’s return from the war zone brings with it an unyielding refusal of Rita’s affectionate love and any attempts at rehabilitation from his profound wartime trauma.

Parsons exhibits an exceptional ability to craft a cast of characters that encapsulates the complexity of the human experience, leaving readers captivated by the unfolding tale. Among these characters, Rita stands out as a remarkable figure, demonstrating unwavering resilience in the face of her husband’s family’s web of deception and deceit. Her ability to remain steadfast amidst such adversity is a testament to her strength and serves as a magnetic force that draws readers into her story. The plot of this book is a particular highlight, immediately gripping readers’ attention and holding it steadfast throughout the journey. At numerous junctures, the narrative becomes so enthralling that it becomes difficult to put the book down. Such is the magnetic pull of the storyline, which skillfully intertwines elements of suspense and intrigue, effectively leaving readers yearning for more.

Trios: Death, Deceit, and Politics by Carl Parsons is an enthralling work that is sure to engage readers, immersing them in a world brimming with suspense. Furthermore, Parsons adeptly balances the brevity of his writing, ensuring readers are not overwhelmed while maintaining a firm grip on their attention. The relatability of the characters to the universal human experience further strengthens the book’s appeal. I recommend this book to those in search of a page-turning suspense novel.

[Papergirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carl Parsons gives little away in the blurb related to Trios: Death, Deceit, and Politics, so it really is a case of suspense when the reader first weighs up whether to bite the bullet and read on. With little to go on other than an Iraqi War soldier, an estranged journalistic wife, and a series of infidelities, I was eager to read more. So, here is what I have to say about what turned out to be an extremely slow burn.



The book opens abruptly with Brian retelling his account of an explosion from his hospital bed. What should have been a routine journey back to base following a celebration for liberating a city quickly turned sour when a fabricated accident caused Brian and his fellow troops to a halt. It took merely a few minutes before planted bombs took out the vehicles and troops he was traveling with, taking his legs, his lover, and a few good men. Great start. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to befall this fallen soldier who had lost someone particularly close to him.



The closeness and specifics of the bond between a casualty and Brian is made clear from the offset. Though it is not mentioned in blatant terms until almost 40% into the book, we all know. This makes what should be a thriller and suspense novel rather dissatisfying. Yet, I persevere because I figure death has been witnessed. Deceit from so many different angles has been revealed and I want to know the politics behind these decisions. Unfortunately, it does not pick up in pace until we are significantly into the second half of the book. At this point, the story is moving too fast.

Full review can be found at https://thebooknook.papergirl.info/tr....

[Rox Burkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl Parsons wraps the state of society into the life of a political kingpin—Senator Leader hoping for a successive political win. Rita Collins, a Washington DC television station reporter, is married to a wounded veteran, Brian. Brian hoped to follow in his father’s political footsteps. He and his school friend, Vincent, were on tour in Iraq when he lost his legs and his friend was killed. Brian refuses treatment for unexplained reasons. His father, Dolph Collins, never visited his son in the VA hospital. Marla, his mother and trophy wife, wants her son to do therapy and come home.

Veterans get support in the hospital as long as progress continues. When Brian refuses treatment, a psychiatrist gets assigned. Interviews of the people in Brian’s reveal a dark, seedy side to love and politics. Marla shares how she met and married her husband and the personal and political sides of her unhappy life. Rita also carries her share of secrets. She is unaware of many of Brian’s decisions when she tells the psychiatric team what she knows. Mr. Parsons creates distinctive, three-dimensional characters. Their choices during their life’s journey are like individual hamsters on their wheel, making choices that won’t quietly disappear even in death.

The narration by Jeff Heisler fits the grim thriller in tempo, though in places, it seems too slow. The women’s characters sounded similar, while the men’s voices were more distinguishable. Fans of political thrillers will enjoy peeling back the layers of the manipulative lies until the unexpected end.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the narration of Jeff Heisler

Rita is a reporter for a local Washington DC television station. Her home life is a struggle after her husband lost both his legs during the Iraq War. He rejects any affection and any attempts of rehabilitation.

Rita is investigating a radical political cell on an college campus. She also finds out that her father in-law is corrupt, and made it that her marriage would fail.

Revenge is now what fuels her.

A great thriller.

[Maria E. Leduc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner!

From the beginning to the end, this book captured my attention and couldn’t put it down until the end. I strongly recommend it .