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Sonny Marshall Series
Storm Warning
He’s used to improvising on stage. Can this seasoned bluesman use his ear for music to solve a dark crime conspiracy?
Sonny Marshall never forgot how he failed his sister. Haunted by her trauma during a home invasion, the thirty-two-year-old martial artist swears he’ll never let another innocent suffer. So when the valiant saxophonist hears from a friend about a fresh clue in a missing kid’s cold case, he refuses to heed the warnings of his girlfriend and family and pursues justice.
Certain he has vital information, Sonny clashes with the by-the-book detective troubled by her own inability to track down the little girl. But when the self-appointed hero runs afoul of pedophiles and corrupt bluebloods in this noir crime series, his ride-to-the-rescue may end with him playing his final notes.
Will his white-knight complex crack the case or put more lives on the line?
Storm Warning is the gritty first book in the Sonny Marshall mystery thriller series. If you like emotionally wounded characters, page-turning conspiracies, and hints of romance, then you’ll love Terry R. Bacon’s terrific literary fiction work.
Sonny Marshall never forgot how he failed his sister. Haunted by her trauma during a home invasion, the thirty-two-year-old martial artist swears he’ll never let another innocent suffer. So when the valiant saxophonist hears from a friend about a fresh clue in a missing kid’s cold case, he refuses to heed the warnings of his girlfriend and family and pursues justice.
Certain he has vital information, Sonny clashes with the by-the-book detective troubled by her own inability to track down the little girl. But when the self-appointed hero runs afoul of pedophiles and corrupt bluebloods in this noir crime series, his ride-to-the-rescue may end with him playing his final notes.
Will his white-knight complex crack the case or put more lives on the line?
Storm Warning is the gritty first book in the Sonny Marshall mystery thriller series. If you like emotionally wounded characters, page-turning conspiracies, and hints of romance, then you’ll love Terry R. Bacon’s terrific literary fiction work.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2023
About the author
Terry R. Bacon
29 books5 followersTerry R. Bacon is a poet, playwright, and award-winning author of more than a dozen books, including The Elements of Power, Elements of Influence, What People Want, Selling to Major Accounts, and Effective People Skills. He is the co-author of The Shipley Associates Style Guide, Winning Behavior, The Behavioral Advantage, Writing Winning Proposals, and Adaptive Coaching. He wrote most of these books for Lore International Institute, an executive-development consultancy he co-founded and led as President and CEO. He later sold that firm to Korn/Ferry International and has since retired. Executive Excellence magazine named him one of the Top 100 Thinkers on Leadership in the World.
He has a Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the American University and a B.S. in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point (Go Army!) and has studied leadership and management at Stanford University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University. In his working life, he developed dozens of educational programs, software, assessment tools, and simulations. He delivered educational programs to thousands of professionals and executives worldwide. Since retiring, he created a widely used website on power and influence (www.powerandinfluence.online), through which he offers online assessments of individuals’ sources of power (Power Sources Self-Assessment) and their effective use of common influence techniques (Influence Effectiveness Self-Assessment).
He has served on the boards of a number of non-profits in his hometown, including the Women’s Resource Center, Durango Steam Park, Music in the Mountains (chairman for two years), and Friends of the Fort Lewis College Theatre. He is past chair of the Fort Lewis College Foundation and currently serves on its governance and investment committees. He is also a co-founder of Durango PlayFest (a playwriting festival focused on new plays) and is currently chair of its program committee, which selects the plays to be presented each summer. The Leadership Center at Fort Lewis College is named in his honor.
A world traveler, he resides in the mountains of Colorado. He studies history and cosmology when he is not working on another writing project. Storm Warning in his first novel and the first in a series of Sonny Marshall thrillers. He has completed another novel, The Cerulean Ark, which will be published in the winter of 2023/2024.
He is married to Debra Parmenter. Together, they have three children and eleven grandchildren. He remembers everyone’s birthday but struggles to recall just how old they are.
He has a Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the American University and a B.S. in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point (Go Army!) and has studied leadership and management at Stanford University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University. In his working life, he developed dozens of educational programs, software, assessment tools, and simulations. He delivered educational programs to thousands of professionals and executives worldwide. Since retiring, he created a widely used website on power and influence (www.powerandinfluence.online), through which he offers online assessments of individuals’ sources of power (Power Sources Self-Assessment) and their effective use of common influence techniques (Influence Effectiveness Self-Assessment).
He has served on the boards of a number of non-profits in his hometown, including the Women’s Resource Center, Durango Steam Park, Music in the Mountains (chairman for two years), and Friends of the Fort Lewis College Theatre. He is past chair of the Fort Lewis College Foundation and currently serves on its governance and investment committees. He is also a co-founder of Durango PlayFest (a playwriting festival focused on new plays) and is currently chair of its program committee, which selects the plays to be presented each summer. The Leadership Center at Fort Lewis College is named in his honor.
A world traveler, he resides in the mountains of Colorado. He studies history and cosmology when he is not working on another writing project. Storm Warning in his first novel and the first in a series of Sonny Marshall thrillers. He has completed another novel, The Cerulean Ark, which will be published in the winter of 2023/2024.
He is married to Debra Parmenter. Together, they have three children and eleven grandchildren. He remembers everyone’s birthday but struggles to recall just how old they are.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 10, 2026
No Closure: Notes from an Open File
Terry R. Bacon's Storm Warning unfolds through the voice of Sonny Marshall, a blues saxophonist whose sense of moral obligation is tied to an earlier failure that continues to define him. The novel situates its investigation in a liminal realm between private guilt and public justice, allowing Sonny’s decision to pursue a long-cold disappearance to feel less like heroism than compulsion. Reading it, I kept returning to how insistently the narrative frames intervention as something uneasy, even intrusive. His involvement unsettles the official investigation and complicates his relationships, and that friction gives the book its forward movement; along with the alliance with Detective Katrina Hastings that carries STORM WARNING'S tension further.
The prose moves with a certain raw immediacy, especially when the story leans into settings marked by neglect and menace. Scenes accumulate through fragments of pursuit—leads that feel partial, encounters that open onto wider networks of exploitation—and the result is a narrative that expands outward rather than tightening neatly around a single thread. I found myself reading quickly, less out of suspense in the conventional sense than from a desire to see how far the novel would push its central premise: that an individual, acting outside institutional boundaries, might still force something into visibility. At times, the pacing feels uneven, with digressions that dilute the urgency, though these same stretches also deepen Sonny’s interiority in ways that make his persistence more legible.
What lingers is the book’s investment in damage that does not resolve cleanly. Sonny’s musicianship offers a suggestive counterpoint to the investigation, a way of thinking about improvisation as both method and risk. The novel draws energy from that analogy, even when the plotting grows dense. I finished it with a sense of having followed a character who cannot relinquish his need to repair what has already been broken, and who accepts the personal cost of that stance without fully understanding it. I got tired of doing so, but it was worth the chase. Great read for contemporary thriller enthusiasts!
Terry R. Bacon's Storm Warning unfolds through the voice of Sonny Marshall, a blues saxophonist whose sense of moral obligation is tied to an earlier failure that continues to define him. The novel situates its investigation in a liminal realm between private guilt and public justice, allowing Sonny’s decision to pursue a long-cold disappearance to feel less like heroism than compulsion. Reading it, I kept returning to how insistently the narrative frames intervention as something uneasy, even intrusive. His involvement unsettles the official investigation and complicates his relationships, and that friction gives the book its forward movement; along with the alliance with Detective Katrina Hastings that carries STORM WARNING'S tension further.
The prose moves with a certain raw immediacy, especially when the story leans into settings marked by neglect and menace. Scenes accumulate through fragments of pursuit—leads that feel partial, encounters that open onto wider networks of exploitation—and the result is a narrative that expands outward rather than tightening neatly around a single thread. I found myself reading quickly, less out of suspense in the conventional sense than from a desire to see how far the novel would push its central premise: that an individual, acting outside institutional boundaries, might still force something into visibility. At times, the pacing feels uneven, with digressions that dilute the urgency, though these same stretches also deepen Sonny’s interiority in ways that make his persistence more legible.
What lingers is the book’s investment in damage that does not resolve cleanly. Sonny’s musicianship offers a suggestive counterpoint to the investigation, a way of thinking about improvisation as both method and risk. The novel draws energy from that analogy, even when the plotting grows dense. I finished it with a sense of having followed a character who cannot relinquish his need to repair what has already been broken, and who accepts the personal cost of that stance without fully understanding it. I got tired of doing so, but it was worth the chase. Great read for contemporary thriller enthusiasts!
April 14, 2026
A Musician’s Fight Against Darkness
STORM WARNING introduces Sonny Marshall as a protagonist driven less by duty and more by unresolved guilt. A musician with a strong moral compass, he is pulled into a cold case that quickly proves far more dangerous than anticipated. The story builds on this personal motivation, allowing his pursuit of justice to feel urgent, even when it puts him at odds with those around him. His background as both a saxophonist and martial artist adds an interesting layer, giving him a unique presence within the genre. From the start, the novel establishes a tense, noir-leaning atmosphere that carries through the narrative.
The partnership between Sonny and Detective Kat Hastings adds depth to the investigation. Their contrasting approaches create friction, but also a sense of balance that keeps the story grounded. I found their dynamic engaging, as it evolves alongside the growing complexity of the case. The plot steadily expands, revealing a network of corruption and exploitation that raises the stakes at every turn. At times, the narrative branches into multiple threads, which can slightly affect the pacing, but it also reinforces the scale of what Sonny is up against.
What stands out most in STORM WARNING is its focus on persistence and consequence. Sonny’s determination is compelling, though it often comes at a personal cost that the story does not shy away from exploring. I appreciated how the novel leans into the emotional weight behind his actions, rather than presenting him as a straightforward hero. The blend of music, action, and investigative tension gives the book a distinct tone. STORM WARNING ultimately offers a gripping and character-driven thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy morally driven protagonists and layered crime narratives.
STORM WARNING introduces Sonny Marshall as a protagonist driven less by duty and more by unresolved guilt. A musician with a strong moral compass, he is pulled into a cold case that quickly proves far more dangerous than anticipated. The story builds on this personal motivation, allowing his pursuit of justice to feel urgent, even when it puts him at odds with those around him. His background as both a saxophonist and martial artist adds an interesting layer, giving him a unique presence within the genre. From the start, the novel establishes a tense, noir-leaning atmosphere that carries through the narrative.
The partnership between Sonny and Detective Kat Hastings adds depth to the investigation. Their contrasting approaches create friction, but also a sense of balance that keeps the story grounded. I found their dynamic engaging, as it evolves alongside the growing complexity of the case. The plot steadily expands, revealing a network of corruption and exploitation that raises the stakes at every turn. At times, the narrative branches into multiple threads, which can slightly affect the pacing, but it also reinforces the scale of what Sonny is up against.
What stands out most in STORM WARNING is its focus on persistence and consequence. Sonny’s determination is compelling, though it often comes at a personal cost that the story does not shy away from exploring. I appreciated how the novel leans into the emotional weight behind his actions, rather than presenting him as a straightforward hero. The blend of music, action, and investigative tension gives the book a distinct tone. STORM WARNING ultimately offers a gripping and character-driven thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy morally driven protagonists and layered crime narratives.
November 6, 2023
Musical Justice
“Storm Warning" by Terry R. Bacon is a heart-pounding thriller that'll have you on the edge of your seat from the very first note. The story kicks off with the haunting disappearance of Erin Hightower, a young girl taken from a mall, her fate unknown for seven long years. Sonny Marshall, a passionate sax player with a knack for righting wrongs, stumbles upon a vital clue through his friend Fetch, who claims to have seen Erin at a truck stop. Sonny's determination to bring her back to her family becomes an unwavering mission.
Bacon masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, mystery, and unyielding resolve. The story's hero, Sonny, is a unique blend of a musician and martial artist, making him the perfect protagonist for this dark and suspenseful journey. His drive to seek justice, even in the face of danger, is an irresistible force that propels the narrative forward. As he teams up with the steadfast detective Kat, the stakes rise exponentially, revealing a sinister underbelly of criminal intent that will send shivers down your spine.
With each chapter, Bacon keeps you guessing, pushing you deeper into a web of deceit and peril, leaving you hungry for the next revelation. The author's vivid descriptions transport you to the gritty underbelly of the story, making it impossible to put the book down. "Storm Warning" is an electrifying thriller that deserves a place on your must-read list. As Sonny's pursuit of justice unfolds, you'll find yourself immersed in a captivating world of dark secrets and unyielding determination. Don't miss out on this thrilling adventure - Terry R. Bacon's masterful storytelling will keep you riveted from start to finish.
“Storm Warning" by Terry R. Bacon is a heart-pounding thriller that'll have you on the edge of your seat from the very first note. The story kicks off with the haunting disappearance of Erin Hightower, a young girl taken from a mall, her fate unknown for seven long years. Sonny Marshall, a passionate sax player with a knack for righting wrongs, stumbles upon a vital clue through his friend Fetch, who claims to have seen Erin at a truck stop. Sonny's determination to bring her back to her family becomes an unwavering mission.
Bacon masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, mystery, and unyielding resolve. The story's hero, Sonny, is a unique blend of a musician and martial artist, making him the perfect protagonist for this dark and suspenseful journey. His drive to seek justice, even in the face of danger, is an irresistible force that propels the narrative forward. As he teams up with the steadfast detective Kat, the stakes rise exponentially, revealing a sinister underbelly of criminal intent that will send shivers down your spine.
With each chapter, Bacon keeps you guessing, pushing you deeper into a web of deceit and peril, leaving you hungry for the next revelation. The author's vivid descriptions transport you to the gritty underbelly of the story, making it impossible to put the book down. "Storm Warning" is an electrifying thriller that deserves a place on your must-read list. As Sonny's pursuit of justice unfolds, you'll find yourself immersed in a captivating world of dark secrets and unyielding determination. Don't miss out on this thrilling adventure - Terry R. Bacon's masterful storytelling will keep you riveted from start to finish.
April 5, 2026
A Tense, Gritty Tale
Storm Warning is a first-person narrative, 315-page by Terry R. Bacon. Its main character and narrator is Sonny Marshall: a martial artist and a blues-loving saxophonist affiliated with the Storm Lake Blues Band.
Earlier on, Marshall learns about a missing girl, Erin, and decides to intervene against his better judgement. Why? “He's atoning for what happened to his sister.” When his journalist friend, David, provides more details–girl seemingly found in a Wyoming’s gas stop four weeks previously, seven years older, and changed yet with the same unmistakable eyes–it fuels Marshall’s urge to rescue the girl at all costs.
Elsewhere, Sacramento police view it as a cold case despite their hopes for new leads. Thus, it’s a godsend when Marshall teams up with detective Katrina Hastings in a daring quest to unravel what happened to, and rescue, Erin from her abusive captor. From compromised authorities to involving bikers, they soon learn that breaking a high-profile, cross-border kidnap ring is a high-stakes showdown.
Storm Warning is a tense, gritty tale.
Storm Warning is a first-person narrative, 315-page by Terry R. Bacon. Its main character and narrator is Sonny Marshall: a martial artist and a blues-loving saxophonist affiliated with the Storm Lake Blues Band.
Earlier on, Marshall learns about a missing girl, Erin, and decides to intervene against his better judgement. Why? “He's atoning for what happened to his sister.” When his journalist friend, David, provides more details–girl seemingly found in a Wyoming’s gas stop four weeks previously, seven years older, and changed yet with the same unmistakable eyes–it fuels Marshall’s urge to rescue the girl at all costs.
Elsewhere, Sacramento police view it as a cold case despite their hopes for new leads. Thus, it’s a godsend when Marshall teams up with detective Katrina Hastings in a daring quest to unravel what happened to, and rescue, Erin from her abusive captor. From compromised authorities to involving bikers, they soon learn that breaking a high-profile, cross-border kidnap ring is a high-stakes showdown.
Storm Warning is a tense, gritty tale.
April 13, 2026
This was a good story about a missing girl and really made me wonder about other missing people. The main character, Sonny Marshall, is a tortured soul who feels guilty about his sister dying from a home invasion gone wrong. While in San Francisco on a job, a friend “Fetch” tells Sonny about a missing girl, Erin Hightower, and how he thought he saw her in another state. Hearing this, Sonny and his hero complex decides that he needs to find the girl and bring her home. Sonny spars with the original detective on the case, Kat Hasting, who still struggles with not having solved the case when it first happened. There’s lots of action, excitement, a few laughs, and a good mystery. I had just recently heard on the news about a 30 year old missing person’s case having recently been solved with the use of DNA. The missing person was alive and doing well. The person had been at the center of a heated parental custody battle when she “disappeared.” It didn’t say that a parent had taken her, but it gave that impression. Learning of that case and reading this book made me wonder about how many missing people are out there waiting to be found.
November 1, 2023
Storm Warning by Terry Bacon is a unique thriller for the ages. Sonny is a sax player, and his friend Fetch saw the missing five-year-old girl, Erin Hightower, taken while she was at the mall. Sonny has a vital clue, and even though his heart is in the right place, it's not his case to solve, but he teams up with Kat, who is the lead detective on this case, and they will stop at nothing to solve this case to return Erin to her family.
Fans of Castle and Chuck will appreciate this story. Storm Warning is the first book in the Sonny Marshall series; I have no doubt Terry Bacon will have more exhilarating thrillers for us to read. This book had everything: mystery, drama, conflict, twists, turns, and much more that will surely pique our interest. There were even several chapters where the author brilliantly used imagery to captivate the scene to the point where we tagged along on the journey with Sonny and Kat.
Storm Warning by Terry Bacon will take us on a mind-blowing thrill ride that will leave us breathless and wanting more. The book was well-written and well-edited. It is an honor to award this book five stars.
Fans of Castle and Chuck will appreciate this story. Storm Warning is the first book in the Sonny Marshall series; I have no doubt Terry Bacon will have more exhilarating thrillers for us to read. This book had everything: mystery, drama, conflict, twists, turns, and much more that will surely pique our interest. There were even several chapters where the author brilliantly used imagery to captivate the scene to the point where we tagged along on the journey with Sonny and Kat.
Storm Warning by Terry Bacon will take us on a mind-blowing thrill ride that will leave us breathless and wanting more. The book was well-written and well-edited. It is an honor to award this book five stars.
April 6, 2026
This book came out of nowhere for me. Sonny is a blues saxophonist with black belts in martial arts, and somehow Terry Bacon makes that combination feel completely natural.
He's haunted by failing his sister during a home invasion years ago, so when his friend spots a girl who went missing seven years earlier, Sonny can't just let it go like that. The official investigation is stalled, the cops have their own rules, but the thing is, Sonny doesn't.
The plot moves like a freight train. A sophisticated network is abducting gifted children for something genuinely horrifying, and the trail takes Sonny and a “by the book” detective named Kat from San Francisco jazz clubs to the desolate landscapes of New Mexico.
The villains are absolutely ruthless, the stakes just keep on climbing, and every chapter ends on a note that makes you mutter… "just one more."
If you like gritty crime fiction with an unusual hero and zero patience for evil, this ones for you!
He's haunted by failing his sister during a home invasion years ago, so when his friend spots a girl who went missing seven years earlier, Sonny can't just let it go like that. The official investigation is stalled, the cops have their own rules, but the thing is, Sonny doesn't.
The plot moves like a freight train. A sophisticated network is abducting gifted children for something genuinely horrifying, and the trail takes Sonny and a “by the book” detective named Kat from San Francisco jazz clubs to the desolate landscapes of New Mexico.
The villains are absolutely ruthless, the stakes just keep on climbing, and every chapter ends on a note that makes you mutter… "just one more."
If you like gritty crime fiction with an unusual hero and zero patience for evil, this ones for you!
November 9, 2023
Storm Warning is a good must-read book that I liked reading a lot. It starts with a friend of the protagonist seeing what appears to be a missing girl. With that, the story erupts into a story that starts off with a possible pedophile case and turns into a conspiracy that involves a group willing to abduct girls for an eugenics project. What I liked was that this was a good story that had everything you need. A good resourceful, but realistic protagonist. The woman that he inadvertently falls in love with due to circumstances and so on. It’s a bit of a trope, but I think the author did a good job of working it into the story. The protagonist suffers but manages to survive and beat the bad guy. Again the characters were well defined and I cried with joy at the ending of the book because invariably the good guys do eventually win, and that’s why I like this story.
November 16, 2023
A thrilling, non-stop action read!
I started reading STORM WARNING by Terry Bacon and could not put it down! What seemed an investigation into sex trafficking veered into a totally unexpected and unique direction.
Although Bacon's hero Sonny is flawed, his story is compelling, as is his integrity and undaunted need to save others. Haunted by a home invasion from his childhood, Sonny is driven to rescue young women who, in this case, have been kidnapped. But are things really as they seem? Why were these girls taken, and by whom?
This fast-action story is both character and plot driven, with strong male and female leads -- and just enough romance to spice things up. I read it in one (long) sitting! With no dull moments, unique intrigue, clever dialogue, and incredibly well-developed characters, STORM WARNING is a wild ride worth taking!
I started reading STORM WARNING by Terry Bacon and could not put it down! What seemed an investigation into sex trafficking veered into a totally unexpected and unique direction.
Although Bacon's hero Sonny is flawed, his story is compelling, as is his integrity and undaunted need to save others. Haunted by a home invasion from his childhood, Sonny is driven to rescue young women who, in this case, have been kidnapped. But are things really as they seem? Why were these girls taken, and by whom?
This fast-action story is both character and plot driven, with strong male and female leads -- and just enough romance to spice things up. I read it in one (long) sitting! With no dull moments, unique intrigue, clever dialogue, and incredibly well-developed characters, STORM WARNING is a wild ride worth taking!
April 18, 2026
Sonny Marshall is a lovely protagonist, but I am biased, being married in San Francisco and to a musician. I found the paedophile storyline did not ring true. I know it is a logical conclusion if children go missing, but it felt hollow. The Eugenics programme was much more convincing. The villains are superb, with the action being well constructed. I like the fact that the author does not protect our hero too much; he gets stabbed and shot just like the rest of the characters. Even though Sonny is not involved with law enforcement, there is a clear motive behind his actions. There is good teamwork between all the characters, although many of their roles are more functional than character-driven. Despite the slow start, this is generally a good read.
November 13, 2023
I hadn't read anything from Terry Bacon before Storm Warning, so when I picked up this book I wasn't sure what to expect. I don't want to spoil any of the story, so let's just say I was extremely impressed! The core of what kept me hooked was the masterful slow reveal as the mystery is methodically illuminated across the arc of the book with some VERY interesting and unexpected twists. Blend the intriguing mystery with intense action scenes, constantly rising tension and stakes, and you have a top tier thriller. This is one of those rare books that I really struggled to put down despite the late hour and work looming the morning. Just one more chapter! Highly recommended.
April 13, 2026
Wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but "gritty" is a great word to describe the first in this series. I like that Sonny isn't a perfect MC, that he has a past and has his own issues he's working through. And being from Louisiana, I also love the addition of him being a blues musician. An easy thriller for thriller lovers to add to their TBR -- excited to see what's next for Sonny!
April 13, 2026
"Storm Warning" by Terry R. Bacon was an incredible thriller! I was captivated by the main character, Sonny Marshall, from the beginning as he begins his search for the local missing girl. His desire to seek justice leads him down a gritty path that any thriller or mystery fan will love!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews