Distant Gunfire

by David O'Neil

  As for himself, he had no idea at present what he would be doing; the path his career had followed had been completely unpredictable. Where it would lead in the future was anyone’s guess.

  He sighed; Barbara still had David at home, but for how long?

  Barbara came into his study and joined him; slipping onto his knee she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. “You are looking tired and troubled, my love, what’s wrong?”

  He explained about his feelings, about the family splitting up……!”

  “Shush.” Barbara said putting her finger to his lips. “They are our family, and they will always be our family, whether they are in Rangoon, Macao or London. Don’t ever forget it. Now come to bed and let me enjoy my husband while I may, for you will be off again without doubt and it is for us to live our time together as best we can.”

  She kissed him and rose from his lap leaving the room swiftly so that he would not see her tears as she went.

  ~*~*~*~

  Counterstroke # 1....Exciting, Isn’t It?

  O’Neil’s initial entry into the world of action adventure romance thriller is filled with mystery and suspense, thrills and chills as Counterstroke finds it seeds of Genesis, and springs full blown onto the scene with action, adventure and romance galore.

  John Murray, ex-Police, ex-MI6, ex management consultant, 49 and widowed, is ready to make a new start. Having sold off everything, he sets out on a lazy journey by barge through the waterways of France to collect his yacht at a yard in Grasse. En route he will decide what to do with the rest of his life

  He picks up a female hitch-hiker Gabrielle, a frustrated author running from Paris after a confrontation with a lascivious would-be publisher Mathieu. She had unknowingly picked up some of Mathieu’s secret documents with her manuscript. Although not looking for action, adventure or romance, still a connection is made.

  An encounter with Pierre, an unpleasant former acquaintance from Paris who is chasing Gabrielle, is followed by a series of events that make John call on all his old skills of survival to keep them both alive over the next few days. Mystery and suspense shroud the secret documents that disclose the real background of the so called publisher who is in fact a high level international crook.

  To survive, the pair become convinced they must take the fight to the enemy but they have no illusions; their chances of survival are slim. But with the help of some of John’s old contacts, things start to become... exciting.

  Counterstroke # 2....Market Forces

  Market Forces, Volume Two of the Counterstroke action adventure romance thriller series by David O’Neil introduces Katherine (Katt) Percival, tasked with the assassination of Mark Parnell in a hurried, last-minute attempt to stop his interference with the success of the Organization in Europe. As a skilled terminator for the CIA, Katt is accustomed to proper briefing. On this occasion she disobeys her orders, convinced it’s a mistake. She joins forces with Mark to foil an attempt on his life.

  Parnell works for John Murray, who created Secure Inc that caused the collapse of an International US criminal organisation’s operation in Europe, forcing the disbanding of the US Company COMCO. Set up as a cover for money-laundering and other operations designed to control from within the political and financial administration, they had already been partially successful. Especially within the administrative sectors of the EU.

  Katt goes on the run, she has been targeted and her Director sidelined by rogue interests in the CIA. She finds proof of conspiracy. She passes it on to Secure Inc who can use it to attack the Organization. She joins forces with Mark Parnell and Secure Inc. Mark and Katt and their colleagues risk their lives as they set out to foil the Organization once again.

  Counterstroke # 3....When Needs Must...

  The latest action adventure thriller in the Counterstroke series opens with a new character Major Teddy Robertson–Steel fighting for survival in Africa. Mark Parnell and Katt Percival now working together for Secure Inc. are joined by Captain Libby ‘Carter’ Barr, now in plain clothes, well mostly, and her new partner James Wallace. They are tasked with locating and thwarting the efforts of three separate menaces from the European scene that threaten the separation of the United Kingdom from the political clutches of Brussels, by using terrorism to create wealth by a group of billionaires, and the continuing presence of the Mob, bankrolled from USA. An action adventure thriller filled with romance, mystery and suspense. With the appearance of a much needed new team, Dan and Reba, and the welcome return of Peter Maddox, Dublo Bond and Tiny Lewis, there is action and adventure throughout. Change will happen, it just takes the right people, at the right time, in the right place.

  Donny Weston & Abby Marshall # 1 – Fatal Meeting

  A captivating new series of young adult action, romance, adventure and mystery.

  For two young teens, Donny and Abby, who have just found each other, sailing the 40 ft ketch across the English Channel to Cherbourg is supposed to be a light-hearted adventure.

  The third member of the crew turns out to be a smuggler, and he attempts to kill them both before they reach France. The romance adventure. now filled with action, mystery and suspense, suddenly becomes deadly serious when the man’s employers try to recover smuggled items from the boat. The action gets more and more hectic as the motive becomes personal

  Donny and Abby are plunged into a series of events that force them to protect themselves. Donny’s parents become involved so with the help of a friend of the family, Jonathon Glynn, they take the offensive against the gang who are trying to kill them.

  The action adventure thriller ranges from the Mediterranean to Paris and the final scene is played out in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in the city of romance and lights; Paris France..

  Donny Weston & Abby Marshall # 2 – Lethal Complications

  Eighteen year olds Donny and Abby take a year out from their studies to clear up problems that had escalated over the past three years. They succeed in closing the book on the past during the first months of the year, now they are looking forward to nine months relaxation, romance and fun, when old friend of the family, mystery man Jonathon Glynn, drops in to visit as they moor at Boulogne, bringing action and adventure into their lives once again.

  Jonathon was followed and an attempt to kill them happens immediately after his visit. They leave their boat and pick up the RV they have left in France, hoping to avoid further conflict. They are attacked in the Camargue, but fast and accurate shooting keeps them alive. They find themselves mixed up in a treacherous scheme by a rogue Chinese gang to defame a Chinese moderate, in an attempt to stall the Democratic process in China.

  The two young lovers, becoming addicted to action and adventure, link up with Isobel, a person of mystery who has acquired a reputation without earning it. Between them they manage to keep the Chinese target and his girlfriend out of the rogue Chinese group’s hands.

  Tired of reacting to attack, and now looking for action and adventure, they set up an ambush of their own, effectively checkmating the rogue Chinese plans. The leader of the rogues, having lost face and position in the Chinese hierarchy, plans a personal coup using former Spetsnaz mercenaries. With the help of a former SBS man Adam, who had worked with and against Spetsnaz forces, the friends survive and Lin Hang the Chinese leader suffers defeat.

  Donny Weson & Abby Marshall # 3....A Thrill A Minute

  They are back! Fresh from their drama-filled action adventure excursion to the United States, Abby Marshall and Donny Weston look forward to once again taking up their studies at the University. Each of them is looking forward to the calm life of a University student without the threat of being murdered. Ah, the serene life.... that is the thing. But that doesn't last long. It is only a few weeks before our adventuresome young lovers find that the calm, quiet routine of University life is boring beyond belief and both are filled with yearning for the fast-paced action adventure of their prior experiences. It isn't long before trouble finds the couple and they w
elcome it with open arms, but perhaps this time they have underestimated the opposition. Feeling excitement once again, the two youths arm themselves and leapt into the fray. The fight was on and no holds barred!

  Once again O’Neil takes us into the action filled world of mystery and suspense, action and adventure, romance and peril.

  Donny Weston & Abby Marshall # 4....It’s Just One Thing After Another

  Fresh from their victory over the European Mafia, our two young adults in love, Abby Marshall and Donny Weston, are rewarded with an all-expense-paid trip to the United States. But, as our young couple discover, there is no free lunch and the price they will have to pay for their "free" tour may be more than they can afford to pay, in this action adventure thriller. Even so, with the help of a few friends and some former enemies, the valiant young duo face danger once again with firm resolve and iron spirit, but will that be sufficient in face of the odds that are stacked against them?

  And is their friend and benefactor actually a friend or is he on the other side? The two young adults look at this man of mystery and suspense with a bit of caution. Action, adventure and romance abound in this, the latest escapades of Britain’s dynamic young couple.

  Donny Weston & Abby Marshall # 5....What Goes Around...

  Just when it seems that our two young heroes, Donny Weston and Abby Marshall are able to return to the University to complete their studies, fate decides to play another turn as once again the two young lovers come under attack, this time from a most unsuspected source. It appears that not even the majestic powers of the British Intelligence Service will be enough to rescue the beleaguered duo and they will have to survive through their own skills. In the continuing action adventure thriller, two young adults must solve the mystery that faces them to determine who is trying to kill them. The suspense is chilling, the action and adventure stimulating. Finding togetherness even among the onslaughts, Donny and Abby also find remarkable friends who offer their assistance; but will even that be enough to overcome the determined enemy?

  Better The Day

  From the W.E.B. Griffin of the United Kingdom, David O’Neil, a exciting saga of romance, action, adventure, mystery and suspense as Peter Murray and his brother officers in Coastal Forces face overwhelming odds fighting German E-boats, the German Navy and the Luftwaffe in action in the Channel, the Mediterranean, Norway and the Baltic – where there is conflict with the Soviet Allies. This action-packed story of daring and adventure finally follows Peter Murray to the Pacific where he faces Kamikaze action with the U.S. Fleet.

  The Mercy Run

  O'Neil's thrilling action adventure saga of Africa: the story of Tom Merrick, Charlie Hammond and Brenda Cox; a man and two women who fight and risk their lives to keep supplies rolling into the U.N. refugee camps in Ethiopia. Their adversaries: the scorching heat, the dirt roads and the ever present hazards of bandit gangs and corrupt government officials. Despite tragedy and treachery, mystery and suspense while combating the efforts of Colonel Gonbera, who hopes to turn the province into his personal domain, Merrick and his friends manage to block the diabolical Colonel at every turn.

  Frustrated by Merrick's success against him, there seems to be no depths to which the Colonel would not descend to achieve his aim. The prospect of a lucrative diamond strike comes into the game, and so do the Russians and Chinese. But, as Merrick knows, there will be no peace while the Colonel remains the greatest threat to success and peace.

  New Dynamic Series with Jonathan Penroc

  The Raptors

  Book one, Sarah Paige Chronicles

  A New World Order?

  A one government world?

  The United States with a weak president and a divided government. The world in chaos and turmoil. Happenstance or a diabolical scheme? Emerging from the dark shadows are "The Raptors," human birds of prey seeking to establish a new one-world government under their iron rule. For more than a century, no one has been able to stop this mysterious force from altering entire governments, forcing resignations and where necessary, assassinations. No one is safe, not the President of the United States, not the Shah of Iran, not the Russian Premier. No one has even been able to slow down the onslaught that is gradually, nation by nation, acquiring control of the entire world. Resistance is met with overpowering force and nothing has stemmed their advance as they annihilate one obstacle after another. Then they made a mistake. They killed the wrong person and now they are faced with an infuriated woman out to revenge the killing of her one true love. Having finally found romance only to have it rift away by terrorist fanatics under the control of "The Raptors," Sarah has only one goal: vengeance or death. Can one distraught and determined female take on a clandestine world power? There is a saying, "Hell has no fury...."