Tom Johnson, attorney and debut novelist, unveils The Deposit slip, a gripping legal thriller set in the small Minnesota town of Mission Falls. His well-crafted story concerns a beautiful client, an unusual deposit slip, shady ethics, greed, malice and murder, constructed with the expertise of a seasoned novelist. From the authentic dialogue to the gripping diabolical plot and unraveling chain of events, readers are kept guessing until the last page is turned.
The story begins with Erin Lawson several weeks after her father’s funeral. She not only mourns the loss of her father, she had just learned the family farm would be foreclosed and sold for non-payment of the mortgage. Then Erin opens her father’s safe-deposit box and finds a machine printed bank deposit slip from Ashley State Bank among her father’s papers. She thought it odd her father kept it until she read “…February 10, 2008…his old account number—and a deposit for 10.3 million dollars.”
Even though Erin knew nothing about the money, if this were true it would solve everything and she wouldn’t lose the farm she’d been raised on and loved. She closed the safety-deposit box and went to the bank the slip was drawn on, the account her parents had used when her mother was alive. However, when she presented the deposit slip they said the account number didn’t match their records.
Thus begins a fast-paced tale of unforeseen plot twists, turns and surprises that leave readers captivated and shaking their heads. From Erin’s hiring of trial attorney Jared Neaton who just lost a big case he had counted on to help bail him out financially to dysfunctional family relationships, to the loss of Erin’s family farm and murder.
Add a large unethical law firm with bullying tactics, a town divided by a corrupt PR campaign, a father and son’s broken relationship, subtle romance and issues of forgiveness and it’s hard to believe this is the author’s first book.
With every turning page, readers wonder if the money is real, where it came from, what happened to it, who benefits, who lies and why. While Todd, like a veteran novelist, keeps the pages turning with a little clue here, a little clue there scattered like bread crumbs until the last page is turned.
Faith, forgiveness and redemption add subtle depth and meaning to realistic characters with genuine problems that illustrate a variety of strengths, weaknesses and human failings. I enjoyed Todd’s writing style, characterization and plotting and look forward to reading his next novel set in Washington State at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
If readers enjoy Christian novelists like John Grisham, James Scott Bell and Randy Singer Todd Johnson is an author to add to their list of favorites.
‘The Deposit Slip’ by Todd M. Johnson, Bethany House Publishers, 2012, 368 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-0764209864, $14.99
Back Cover Copy:
$10,000,000 Is Missing.
Erin Larson is running out of options. In the wake of her father's death, she found a slim piece of paper--a deposit slip--with an unbelievable amount on it. Only the bank claims they have no record of the money, and trying to hire a lawyer has brought only intimidation and threats. Erin's last chance is Jared Neaton.
How Far Will One Lawyer Go to Find the Money?
When Jared wearied of the shady ethics of his big law firm and started his own, he never expected the wheels to fly off so quickly. One big loss has pushed him to the brink, and it's all he can do to scrape by.
And How Far Will Someone Go to Stop Him?
He's not sure if Erin's case is worth the risk, but if the money is real, all his problems could vanish. When digging deeper unleashes something far more dangerous than just threats, both Jared and Erin must decide the cost they're willing to pay to discover the truth.
About the Author
Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over 30 years, specializing as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of International Law and served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong. This is his debut novel. He lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife, his son, Ian, and his daughter, Libby. Visit his website at www.authortoddjohnson.com.
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