In tales exploring dark, primal desires of man, Michael Marra creates intriguing characters facing police corruption, revenge and murder that catch on quickly and arrive at seemingly obvious conclusions, and then discover that things are not always as they appear to be. These absorbing characters learn to expect the unexpected in Marra's hard-boiled menageries. Life's lessons can manifest themselves in strange, unforeseen ways. No Less a Man sheds light upon behavior, other people's expectations concerning it and the impact of these expectations on others. Beyond Your Means provides a glimpse into the extent of what some people will do to live the life they feel they deserve. Yet perseverance and cunning don't always guarantee success. A man in One for the Money goes to extremes to surreptitiously acquire money, love and the most powerful job in the world. A Host of Suspects is a collection of stories full of gritty, corrupt worlds in which the line between right and wrong, free will and destiny, and good guys and bad guys is often very hazy. Enjoy the lurid environments in which murder, greed, seduction, betrayal and passion provide ingredients propelling their residents to do things they never would have imagined.