LETHAL SCORE
Page 27
“Thank you,” I responded, “but that’s not a question.”
“No,” he said. “My question is this. If you can play the piano as beautifully as you do and create a sound so rich that it can either torture or calm the souls of so many, then you must surely know that you have a vocation in the arts?”
I just nodded, almost imperceptibly. I still couldn’t see the question. De Vries seemed to sense my uncertainty.
“If you can do all I’ve just said, then why the hell do you choose to spend your time running around with guns shooting people and getting shot at?”
Again, the room erupted in raucous laughter. A minute later the laughter trickled down to silence as everyone waited for my answer.
I looked directly at Jasper De Vries. As I answered him a small amount of discomfort sidled into my voice.
“It’s not a choice, De Vries. It never was.”
Afterword
Get your FREE electronic copy of the NICHOLAS SHARP origins Novella PLAY OUT, the latest news about new releases and some other exciting freebies along the way by joining my mailing list at my website: https://markmannock.com
Although you can begin reading the NICHOLAS SHARP THRILLER series at any point here is my suggested order of reading:
KILLSONG (NS thriller No. 1-available on Amazon)
BLOOD NOTE (A NS short story-available exclusively to my mailing list members. I’ll send you the link 7 days after sign-up)
LETHAL SCORE (NS thriller No. 2-available on Amazon)
HELL’S CHOIR (NS thriller No. 3-available on Amazon September 2020)
PLAY OUT-an origins novella (available exclusively to my mailing list members on sign-up) can be read at any point. The story takes you back to when Nicholas Sharp left the U.S. Marines.
Reviews are life’s blood to an author. If you’ve enjoyed LETHAL SCORE please consider leaving a review on the book’s Amazon page.
Acknowledgements
My heartfelt thanks and love to Sarah, Anisha and Jack for your love, tolerance and support. Lachlan, your counsel and wisdom has always been appreciated. Tony Ryan, editor extraordinaire. Thank you so much.
Cover by Anisha Mannock
About the Author
Mark Mannock was born in Melbourne, Australia. He has had an extensive career in the music industry including supporting, recording with or writing for Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, The Eurythmics, Irene Cara and David Hudson. His recorded work with Lia Scallon has twice been long-listed for Grammy Awards. As a composer/songwriter Mark’s music has been used across the world in countless television and theatre contexts, including the ‘American Survivor’ TV series and ‘Sleuth’ playwright Anthony Shaffer’s later productions.
Mark is presently writing the ‘Nicholas Sharp’ thriller series about a disillusioned former US sniper whose past plagues him as he makes his way in the contemporary music industry. Sharp is a man whose insatiable curiosity and embedded moral compass lead him to places he ought not go. The series is currently read in over 50 countries.
Mark lives on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula with his family. His travels around the globe act as inspirations for his writing.
Mark enjoys hearing from his readers, so please feel free to contact him.
You can connect with me on:
https://markmannock.com
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Also by Mark Mannock
PLAY OUT
A Nicholas Sharp Origin Novella
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Set five years before KILLSONG
A Terrorist attack on the London Underground. Nicholas Sharp doesn’t think so.
While on leave from Iraq, the U.S. Marine Sniper finds himself intervening when innocent lives are threatened. He walks away, but for Sharp it’s never that easy. Something doesn’t feel right. Twenty-four hours later everything is wrong.
The brief solace he finds in his beloved piano is shattered when Sharp becomes the attacker’s next target. Step up or step away. Nicholas Sharp doesn’t like to kill, but he sure as hell knows how to.
Somewhere between Lee Child’s Jack Reacher and Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole, Nicholas Sharp may be a flawed human, but you certainly want him on your side.
KILLSONG
Nicholas Sharp Thriller Number 1
Nicholas Sharp knew there would be blood on his hands. It was just a question of how much.
The death of a child and her mother, or the loss of countless thousands. Sharp is ordered to choose, but the former Marine Sniper gave up following orders long ago.
Turning his back on the military system that turned him into a killer when he shot an innocent man, Sharp is grateful to have now found refuge in a career as a successful musician. But while he is preparing to back well-known former rock star Robbie West on a USO tour of Iraq, a close friend and her daughter disappear.
Nicholas Sharp has survived by not believing in coincidence. He is now compelled to act.
One wrong decision, one misstep, and the consequences could be disastrous.
Available on Amazon
HELL’S CHOIR
Nicholas Sharp Thriller Number 3
A goodwill visit to Sudan, what could possibly go wrong?
Nicholas Sharp is performing as part of a political and cultural group representing the U.S.. Suddenly caught up in the middle of a political coup, the leader of the American contingent, who also happens to be Vice President of the United States, goes missing and his security staff murdered.
Communication with the outside world is cut off. It falls to Sharp and Greatrex to track their missing leader down.
But then things get really complicated…
Available on Amazon September- 2020
BLOOD NOTE
A Short Story Prequel to the Thriller KILLSONG (should be read after KILLSONG-available FREE to mailing list subscribers 7 days after sign-up)
Just turn around and walk away. That was all Nicholas Sharp had to do when the mysterious and intoxicating Elena approached him for help.
She knew far too much about him. The warning signs were all there.
Sharp didn’t listen to them.
What followed for the former Marine Sniper turned musician, was a harrowing night of violence, deceit and intrigue.
When the sunrise ushered in a new day, Sharp thought it was all over…but it was really just beginning.