The Thin Gray Line

by Anthony R. Fanning

The Thin Gray Line speaks of women's right to be themselves without judgement and live free of violence and abuse, and of a young woman forced to choose between doing what is right or what is legal.Twenty-six-year-old June Garrett is a smart but impulsive laborer, as serious about her job as she is about having fun. Since her mother's death fifteen years before, June has become fiercely devoted to her sister November, and her father, Sam, whose health has been deteriorating. Little sister November is na�ve and vulnerable, and married a somewhat older man named Jake, a mascupathic monster just waiting for his wife to inherit the family farm, their share of the company, and insurance money. When June's father dies, June is left in complete care of his estate and money. Jake's hope for his wife's inheritance is shattered, and November's husband unleashes his frustrations and fury on first June, and then his wife, nearly killing the latter. In the aftermath, June must decide on action to liberate her sister and change their lives forever.

234 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2019

About the author

I write books featuring women with strength, fortitude, and conviction. Not bodice rippers or tales about women who manipulate men into doing their work for them. I write about women I know, and have known all my life.

Well, I didn't choose writing as a profession, writing sort of chose me. I worked in an office for years, and then got a late start as a firefighter/paramedic on the busiest department in the area. I may be getting a little old for dragging a hose into a burning building, but I can lead a crew in saving a gunshot victim with the best of them. As for the writing: the whole thing snuck up one day.

I was standing on the beach on Ocracoke Island and looking out over the ocean and considering that Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, once sailed along those very shores. A series of stories came into my head as if on the wind - The Adventures of Natalie Brennan. Tales of a young girl during the Golden Age of Piracy with an ample supply of swash-swash-buckle-buckle, starting with "Natalie's Good Fortune."

Another time I happened upon a video of a man out firing a Lewis machine gun, holding it up like a rifle. I wondered if a woman could handle that thing as well, and thought she woud have to be strong. The next thing I knew I was writing a futuristic sci-fi dystopian adventure entitled "The Cyclone Wars."

One of hobbies is photography, and my favorite thing to do is outfit people and photograph them. Recently, I've been doing a lot of 'old west' style photos. However, one day I saw a photo of a young woman in a summer dress and cowboy boots sitting in an old truck. I thought I'd do a similar shoot, and so wrangled one of my favorite subjects to throw on a beat up bull rider hat, some cowboy boots, cut-off jeans, and a plaid shirt to sit in my old truck. I added a bottle of bourbon and a pistol and we had fun with the shoot. My sister saw some of the photos and asked me, "Is that a prelude to another book?" All of a sudden I was writing "The Thin Gray Line."

And so it goes. Being an Indie author, I'll not be quitting my regular job anytime soon since the book sales are just enough that I can justify to my wife that I spend the time writing and not painting the house. I also tend to like to leave copies of my books here and there when I travel, especially when we go back to the OBX, which is almost every year. If you happen to vacation at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and stay in a house on the oceanside beach, check the book shelves for copies of my books. It'll give you something to do if it's raining

Reviews

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A very entertaining look at the Thin Gray Line - that place where we stand and have to choose what is right and what is just. June Garrett is a firecracker for sure. Hard working and hard playing, she is fiercely devoted to her father and her sister, and so very much like her mother. Dad is dying and the sister is in an horribly abusive relationship. This kept me turning the pages to see how it was all going to play out!

[Bonnye Reed]

Netgalley
pub date July 19, 2019
received Feb 27, 2020
BooksGoSocial

[CassandraG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good tale with very likeable and complex characters and it also has one that's truly dispicable
and doesn't care. They just want to try and get what they want and think they deserve. The lead character is a strong woman and despite the obsticles knows how to deal with any situation. It's a gripping good read and you'll enjoy it. So when you get a chance, pick up a copy and enjoy.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful characters. Interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. I felt every emotion. Simply a GREAT read!

#TheThinGrayLine #NetGalley

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Milly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was NOT what I was expecting! It starts with a bang when two people on their first date witness the shooting of a deputy sheriff and step into the action. Flash forward to today, when their children are grown and have lives of their own. The oldest daughter, June, is a tough, hard-playing working girl, and the younger, November, is a sweet, hopeful girl in a terrible marriage. By now their mom is gone. She was killed in an accident on the highway. Their dad is dying of cancer. So, we get to see what the lives of the two girls are like for a while, and the bond between them. Personally, I could relate to them both, and the troubles and feelings they dealt with. There's some really funny stuff that made me really laugh, but there is also some really dark things happen that had me crying. Literally crying tears. There is an element of horror when the sheriff's dad, who was once the sheriff himself, tells his son about hunting down a psychotic killer. There's lots of action. I particularly liked the car chase when the tweaked out robber is running from a deputy, and the deputy is casually munching a bear claw while he's driving ninety on the robber's back bumper. I mean, it's a complex and satisfying story, although it did not go where I thought it would. The real villain of the story is November's husband, Jake. Even though he starts out bad, he just gets worse as more information is revealed about him. I honestly, honestly thought June and November's dad was going to do something about his horrible son-in-law. But then he died! What? The? Hell? Then the guy just worse still. First he rape's June. That's when I had to set the book aside. It was all to vivid and real and just disheartening to see my hero fall victim like that. But she bounced back because she is girl-tough. Then, Jake almost beats November to death. So, who is going to do something? Is it going to be the deputy? The sheriff? Who? I won't tell the ending even though I really want to, but I will say this is my new favorite story of all time. If you want a fun book with a lot of stuff happening, this is the one.

[Junko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wild ride from start to finish. A quick read with a relaxed, witty writing style spins a tale of suspense and emotion. The characters are relatable and familiar, as though they were old friends you’d known for years. The dialogue is clever and fun, and had me laughing up until the last page. With sharp plot twists, the mood turns serious and intense in all the right ways. You’ll be hooked on every chapter, grappling with your own sense of morality in this raw tale of justice, brutality and true grit. Another bullseye from author Anthony Fanning!

[Cindie Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not easy being a woman no matter how strong you've had to become. The main character in this story was so real and believable. I read as much as I had time for each day and found myself thinking about it in between. It has a satisfying end, but I want to read more about the characters and hope there is a sequel. Although this author is male, he writes with an understanding of his female characters that is surprising. He really knows how to tell a story.

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wondered if i would like this book ... it took a while to get into the storyline, but when i did ... it really held me ... the storyline is one for the ladies to read as it describes alot of male dominance and abuse, of women who are holding their own and competing with the male dominated society....... There were times in the book that i was actually scared as Juney stopped the car to change a tyre in the pouring rain at night in what seemed to be an isolated spot.......

Her sister November staying with he abusive husband took everything he gave her but stayed with him...... and this made me feel compassion for the woman who loved her husband but was stuck in this abusive relationship.....

The two girls both different but the same were the centre of the book, it was refreshing to read in a way as the lives of these two girls were different......but also the town seemed to know everybody and the lives of each individual

Not an action packed thriller but a steady and interesting storyline that takes these two girls and builds around the lives of each of them......

I really enjoyed this and would recommend this book highly

[Shelly Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real bang-up kind of book! It's a new western with a tough, smart woman as the main character, and there's so much that rings true about the conditions women live in today. June Garrett works with a construction crew for a company her dad owns, and she knows her business. She's also a rodeo girl, following kind of in her mother's footsteps there, and works hard to be the best. She has a younger sister, who she is very protective of, and I think kind of envious, too. There is really a lot going on. The sister, November, is in an abusive marriage she's afraid to get out of, June has a love interest she has trouble approaching, there's a guy who crushes hard on November, but she's married, and November's husband is a true villain. Still, not only could I feel the pain the girls went through, and anger, but there were laughs. It was almost Shakespearean. I can't wait to get into the sequel.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vivid descriptions and complex characters made this an amazing read. The author's ability to get the reader to become emotionally invested in the characters is a gift that some writers do not have.

[Anthony Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be my best work to date. It's contemporary, it's easy to relate to, and it has a balance of comedy and tragedy. The whole story came to me after a photo shoot I did with one of my favorite models. My sister saw the photos and asked if they were a snapshot of a book yet to come. I didn't have any plans for a story at the time, but taking another look at the photos was inspiring. So, I wrote this tale of a western girl with modern day problems. Big modern day problems. June Garrett is a tough, feisty girl who might drink and fight too much, but she has a big heart. Her love and devotion to her family has no boundaries. Those boundaries are tested, and it's up to June to take the test. Will she be the victor? Read "The Thin Gray Line" and find out.