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Replied Jul 31
Welcome, Michael Phelps!
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- Favorite Book
- THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE
- About Me:
- I am a Veteran of the United States Air Force - Military Police Combat Defense Forces - K-9, Viet Nam War. I am divorced, and split my time between New York City and Miami, Florida, where I live with my faithful German Shepherd Dog, Rico der Hunter III.
I retired as Chief Investigator for a prominent Miami Law firm, specializing in criminal defense. While with the law firm, I had a chance encounter with an old friend, ELLIE JANSSEN, the first wife of the late TV and Film Star, Golden Globe winner and EMMY nominated DAVID JANSSEN. We began a collaboration resulting in CO-WRITING "DAVID JANSSEN-MY FUGITIVE". The success of the biography re-kindled in me a passion for writing.
MY debut novel, "THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE" (Blue Line Publishing House, Inc, - First Edition - Hardcover - 408 Pages - $27.95) was released three weeks ago. It is based on the true story of the murder of my close friend and mentor, a Detective Sergeant in the Robbery and Homicide Division of the Indianapolis Police Department. Indianapolis is my hometown. The novel is fiction, as I was not present at his murder, but the facts remain close to reality. This debut novel introduces the reader to "Detective Mikie Walsh", a dedicated cop, devoted husband, and a good friend to have.
His life is turned upside-down in the aftermath of his friend-mentor-partner's murder. His wife leaves him; guilt-ridden, he turns to booze to ease his deepening depression, and thoughts of suicide rumble in his alcohol-soaked brain. Can he pull himself together? Can he survive?
I am currently working on "The JOCKEY'S JUSTICE", (working title), based on a homicide case I worked on for the law firm. The murder of a winning horse racing jockey in a small western Kentucky town, and eight years later, his widow, son-in-law and his widow's nephew are charged with the murder. Can Mike Walsh and his young assistant, Rosa Cuello dig up the evidence to keep the firm's clients out of the electric chair?
"The JOCKEY'S JUSTICE" will be published in 2009, and followed by "INSANE COST of JUSTICE" (working titles), also based on a case I worked on for the law firm.
INSANE COST of JUSTICE, a young Cuban immigrant becomes involved in a homosexual relationship with a young man from Kansas. During the year-long relationship, the "Gringo" coerces his young lover into male prostitution to support him and his drug addiction. After using him up, he finds another young latin lover. The result is murder - - - double murder. The evidence is overwhelming, beyond any reasonable doubt. Can Mike Walsh devise a plan of defense to keep the young immigrant out of Florida's Electric Chair?
You'll be surprised.
- Website:
- http://www.MichaelPhelpsNovels.com
Michael Phelps's Blog
DAVID JANSSEN - MY FUGITIVE * FOURTH EDITION * NOW AVAILABLE
FOR FANS OF DAVID JANSSEN and the ABC Television series, "THE FUGITIVE" (1963 to 1967),
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF "DAVID JANSSEN-MY FUGITIVE", Fourth Edition, Hardcover.
THIS IS THE ONLY AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE TELEVISION AND FILM STAR, WHICH I CO-AUTHORED WITH ELLIE JANSSEN, DAVID'S FIRST WIFE.
THE BEST PART, IT IS AVAILABLE NOW AT THE ORIGINAL 1994 PUBLICATION PRICE OF $18.95!
Go to: www.MichaelPhelpsNovels.com
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF "DAVID JANSSEN-MY FUGITIVE", Fourth Edition, Hardcover.
THIS IS THE ONLY AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE TELEVISION AND FILM STAR, WHICH I CO-AUTHORED WITH ELLIE JANSSEN, DAVID'S FIRST WIFE.
THE BEST PART, IT IS AVAILABLE NOW AT THE ORIGINAL 1994 PUBLICATION PRICE OF $18.95!
Go to: www.MichaelPhelpsNovels.com
Posted on August 22, 2009 at 2:00pm —
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Thanks for your comments with regard to The Hunted and your advice to pass on the review.
Brian Haig the Author responded.
First, thanks for your very kind email and certainly I'm glad that you
enjoyed the book. Second, I couldn't be more pleased that you went the
extra length and went online and checked out Alex more thoroughly. Also
I'm very appreciative that you've offered me the chance to clarify the
differences between 'Defiance' and The Hunted.
When Alex first approached me about five years ago, I have to say that I
was dubious about attempting a fictional story about a real story ... that
was in reality so astounding. Like you, I also checked out the news
stories about Alex, and then he and Elena drove up here from DC and we had
dinner and spent an evening together. Alex suggested that I write a
nonfictional account of his struggle. I suggested that I not. As much as
his tale was worthy of a nonfiction book, I felt it was
problematic--legally, because it involved a number of high officials from
the Clinton administration, several of whom were friends of mine, and also
because it would take years of research to get everybody's side of the
story. I mean, Alex had his side, based on his perspective, and the US
officials involved in his prosecution had their side. Recall that during
those years I was the special assistant to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,
so I called several friends of mine who served on the national security
council staff during that period and they tried to explain to me why Alex
was treated the way he was.
So I told Alex that instead I wanted to write a fictional story 'inspired'
by his real story. For one thing Alex's tale occured over a fifteen year
period. So I compressed that into three years, and altered a lot of the
true facts. From there, the Hunted is a mixture of tall tale built on
facts, and total fabrication. The part that is largely true is that Alex
built a fortune, and had it stolen by a clutch of former KGB thugs. But
the cabal that steals his money in The Hunted is totally invented, and
their involvement in real historical events is fabricated, as are Alex's
twists and turns to get out of the nightmare he was in. So for example,
no, the real life Alex did not have his chest fried. Nor did he escape in
Budapest as was detailed in the Hunted, and so forth and so on. Also, in
real life, the story did not have such a happy ending.
You mentioned that historical fiction goes into historical facts and uses
character as the theme. Then you mention that you are perhaps bothered by
the fact that the Hunted is simply a recounting of what Alex wrote in
"Defiance." As nearly all the characters in the Hunted are invented, and
entirely fictional, from the cabal that took Alex's money, to the FBI
director to the FBI agents, to the judges and lawyers and translators and
prisoners--and so forth--I think that the Hunted does exactly what you
believe historical fiction is supposed to accomplish. The larger
narrative in the Hunted, in many places, resembles what happened to the
real Alex, but the characters are all invented, as are the fictional
outcomes.
That said, I felt it was important to hew to the larger themes of the real
nightmare that Alex and Elena lived. One, is that as good and just as
America is, there are abuses of power that almost stagger the imagination.
And there are injustices done in the name of the American people that are
nearly sickening. But also, as ultimately was the real life outcome for
Alex and Elena, our legal system has enough safeguards that these
injustices can be, and often are, undone. Think of deathrow cases where
the convicted are exhonerated years after the fact.
Also I thought it was worthwhile to show readers exactly what happened to
the grand dreams Yeltsin inspired. I went in and out of Russia during
those years and saw the crime on the streets and the eventual souring of
idealism, and then the growth of massive crime and corruption of
capitalism that led to the rise of Putin. I hope that the Hunted helps
put a human face on this era.
So I also hope that this clarifies the concern that you highlighted.
Again Clark, thanks for the very kind note, and good luck with the review.
All the best, Brian
I think that answers a lot of questions. The review will be done Wednesday, and I will post it on the site. It is a very good book and really takes you into a realm which we as Americans do not visit very often.
By the way, I used to practice Criminal Defense as an Attorney. I certainly respect investigators as I had employed several myself through the years.
Clark
Later,
Ron
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