John B. Peoples - by Michael Cowan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"A persuasive, human, and deeply affecting novel that transforms one man's pursuit into a powerful meditation on justice, dignity, and the cost of resilience." -Literary Titan

"A sharp, intelligent, thoroughly compelling page-turner." -Barry Sandler, screenwriter (Crimes of Passion, Making Love, Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd)

Divorced and living in a converted garage, John Peoples thinks his difficulties are over when he wins half of a $40 million lottery jackpot. But his boss, Ed White, bought the winning ticket for the two of them, and only Ed's name is on the ticket. When White makes clear his intention to cut John out of the winnings and then disappears with the entire jackpot, John embarks on an effort to find White and right the wrong.

During his quest, John suffers a debilitating spine injury and struggles to heal physically and emotionally. Yet he continues pursuing White from Los Angeles to Paris to Marseille. Along the way, he tries navigating the legal system, meets a woman he believes he can only dream about, and eventually engages the help of organized crime. Ultimately, he is faced with the question of how far he is willing to go to retrieve and protect what is his.

John B. Peoples is more than the study of a character out to correct an injustice. It takes us on a powerful journey while examining loss, personal growth, and the everyday challenges of life in America today.

Review Quotes

"A persuasive, human, and deeply affecting novel that transforms one man's pursuit into a powerful meditation on justice, dignity, and the cost of resilience." -Literary Titan

"A sharp, intelligent, thoroughly compelling page-turner." -Barry Sandler, screenwriter (Crimes of Passion, Making Love, Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd)

"An engaging and entertaining story that moves briskly and incorporates thought-provoking circumstances." -Paul Bergman, professor of law emeritus, UCLA Law School, coauthor of Real to Reel: Truth and Trickery in Courtroom Movies, and author or coauthor of more than a dozen books focused on civil and criminal law

"A curious soup of you-done-me-wrong cured by noirish coloring outside legal lines. A rousing read." -Matthew Rose, publisher, Trouble magazine

"Michael Cowan's John B. Peoples is a tense thriller about one man's quest to even the score. John Peoples is equal parts unforgiving and relentless, and you'll want to sign up for this gritty ride." -Mark Stevens, author of No Lie Lasts Forever