Terry R. Bacon has long lived in the space between intellect and imagination. Widely recognized for his work on leadership and influence, there has always been an underlying current — the writer, the storyteller, the quiet observer of human complexity. In recent years, that current has emerged fully through his Sonny Marshall series, a collection that feels both inevitable and deeply personal.
“Life is an exquisite mystery that will end in mid-sentence.”
The line, drawn from Storm Warning, reads more like a worldview than dialogue. It sets the tone for Sonny Marshall himself — a jazz saxophonist with a restless mind, a bruised body, and a moral compass that doesn’t always match the law. Sonny isn’t a traditional hero. He is flawed, driven, and constantly walking the fine line between right and wrong.
The series begins with Storm Warning, a novel rich in atmosphere — jazz clubs, late-night talks, intellectual friendships, and the pull of memories. Sonny’s world is one of music and ideas, loyalty and loss, built on weekly routines and meaningful conversations that are sacred because they are human.
“We meet weekly to talk about everything from history and world affairs to the nature of the universe … Tuesday nights with these guys are sacred for me.”
That sense of connection — intellectual, emotional, and communal — runs throughout the Sonny Marshall books. The novels linger in conversation as much as in action, letting character, place, and interior life carry as much weight as the mystery itself.
With Storm Damage, the series delves into darker, more urgent themes. The story begins with a sudden act of public violence and a medical mystery that spreads outward, pulling Sonny into a situation much larger than himself. As those close to him are affected, the novel examines the reach of designer drugs, the fragility of control, and how quickly order can fall apart. Sonny, still an outsider to law enforcement, trusts his instincts — guided by music, loyalty, and a personal code that rarely aligns perfectly with the system.
What makes the Sonny Marshall series so compelling is not only its suspense but also its restraint. These stories build tension subtly, allowing choices to matter and consequences to develop naturally without rushing. The questions raised stay with the reader long after the last page, encouraging reflection rather than offering quick solutions.
Terry lives in the Colorado mountains, where writing is part of his daily routine. The Sonny Marshall series feels more like a return than a departure — to music, storytelling, and the curiosity that has always shaped how he sees the world.
The sentence continues to develop. With Storm Damage, Terry Bacon reminds us that new impressions can come at any stage of life — sharp, unexpected, and strong enough to pull us in without revealing everything.
From the Publisher: As a musician, I was instantly drawn to Sonny Marshall — a blues saxophonist exploring mystery through instinct, rhythm, and intuition. I’ve read both books and appreciate how Terry taps into the wild, associative nature of a musician’s mind to solve what logic alone cannot. There’s something profoundly familiar in that way of thinking, where improvisation becomes insight and music transforms into a form of truth. Take a listen HERE to the Sunny Marshall song created for the series!
— Denise Leslie
