Finders Keepers: The Story of a Man Who Found $1 Million
Bowden follows two bestsellers (Black Hawk Down; Killing Pablo)  with a tragicomic tale based on a series of articles he wrote  for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was a reporter for two  decades. Joey Coyle, at 28, is down and out, amiable but  aimless, an unemployed longshoreman from South Philly who,  despite his cheerful exterior, has a gnawing sense of inadequacy  that he masks with methamphetamine. In February 1981, Joey has a  spectacularly lucky or spectacularly unlucky, as Bowden shows  with the tale's unfolding day: driving with a couple of guys  from the neighborhood, he finds two sacks containing $1.2  million in cash. Despite major media attention on the money's  disappearance from an armored car, Coyle decides to keep it.  What ensues is partly a police procedural (will the cops find  Joey?), but the drama, as Bowden relates the story, lies mainly  in Coyle's rapid, drug-mediated deterioration into panic and  paranoia as he attempts to launder and stash the money. Bowden's  narrative is succinct and fast-moving, spare but complete, and  ends in a farcical trial, in which Coyle tries an insanity  defense, followed by Hollywood's muddled attempt to turn the  story into a feel-good movie starring John Cusack. The tale has  a sad conclusion, as Coyle's attempt to live up to his new role  as a kind of urban hero fails. This is a smaller tale than  Bowden's earlier ones, but a satisfying one, smartly told. (Oct.)  Forecast: As Bowden writes, who doesn't dream of finding $1  million? This should have wide appeal, aided by Bowden's  reputation.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.