Oliver Parrott first appeared in Murder in the One Percent and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Oliver.

What is your name?
Oliver Parrott

How old are you?
Twenty-seven

What is your profession?
Detective, West Brandywine Police

Do you have a significant other?
I’m married to the beautiful, brilliant, and brave Tonya Collins Parrott.

What is her name and profession?
Tonya is recently retired from her second tour of duty in Afghanistan as a Navy helicopter pilot.

Any children?
Not yet—we are still newlyweds.

Do you have any siblings?
No

Do your parents live near you?
My mother lives nearby in Exton, PA. My father has been deceased since I was a kid.

Who is your best friend?
I was close to my cousin Bo, but he was fatally shot by a policeman last year. He was an innocent bystander. You can imagine how that hurts me, being in law enforcement.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
Horace, the cockatiel, is my intelligent and talkative buddy.

What town do you live in?
I live in a suburb of Philadelphia, about twenty minutes away from the police station where I work.

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
We have a two-bedroom brick bungalow.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
Wherever Tonya is, that’s my favorite spot. If she’s cooking, it’s the kitchen. Otherwise, it might be the bedroom.

Favorite meal and dessert?
I’m not fussy about food, especially when I’m on a case. But I do love chili and cornbread and peach pie with vanilla ice cream.

Favorite hobby?
I used to play football for Syracuse. I’m still kind of obsessed with the game, and I dabble in fantasy football, too.

Favorite color?
Orange—can you guess why?

Favorite author?
Saralyn Richard. She totally gets me.

Favorite vacation spot?
Tonya and I honeymooned on an island in Texas—popularized by a Glen Campbell song.

Favorite sports team?
Not to be redundant, but The Orange.

Movies or live theater?
Movies, especially mystery/thrillers.

Are you a morning or a night person?
In my line of work, I have to be both.

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Professional. I report to Chief Paul Schrik. He’s a really good guy, very supportive.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Nothing about my days is typical. I see people at their worst, whether they are perpetrators or victims of crime, and then, if I’m lucky, I see them at their best, as they rise above the circumstances that have brought them down. I work with dedicated professionals: forensics specialists, medical examiners, judges, attorneys, and officers of the law—all striving to uphold truth, justice, and public safety. I love my work, and when it’s done, I get to spend time with my favorite woman and our favorite bird. All in all, I’m blessed.

A Palette for Love and Murder is the second book in the “Detective Oliver Parrott” police procedural mystery series, coming February 15, 2020.

A THEFT, A MURDER, A TREASURE HUNT, AND A PALETTE FULL OF SECRETS.

The art community of Brandywine Valley is filled with valuable paintings, famous artists–and dark secrets. Everyone has a past, but no one is talking. When two of Allmond’s paintings are stolen from his studio, Detective Oliver Parrott takes on the case. Soon theft leads to murder, a treasure hunt, a search for a killer—and then the investigation becomes personal.

Purchase Link
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About the author
Award-winning mystery and children’s book author, Saralyn Richard, is a writer who teaches on the side. Her books, Naughty Nana, Murder in the One Percent, and A Palette for Love and Murder, have delighted children and adults, alike. A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and continues to write mysteries. Reviews, media, and tour schedule may be found at saralynrichard.com.

All comments are welcomed.