Joey Coyle was down and out -- the affable, boyish South Philadelphian hadn't found dock work in months, he was living with his ailing mother, and he was fighting a drug habit and what seemed like a lifetime of bouncing into and out of bad luck. One morning, while cruising the streets just blocks from his home, fate took a turn worthy of Hollywood when he spotted a curious yellow tub he thought might make a good toolbox. It contained $1.2 million in unmarked bills -- casino money that had just fallen off the back of an armored truck.
Detective Pat Laurenzi, with the help of the FBI, was working around the clock to track it down, Joey Coyle, meanwhile, was off on a bungling, swashbuckling misadventure, sharing his windfall with everyone from his girlfriend to total strangers to the two neighborhood kids who drove him past it. To hide the money, Joey turned to the local mob bos -- a shadowy, fearsome man who may or may not have helped launder it. But as adrenaline-filled nights began taking their toll, Joey Coyle's dream-come-true evolved into a nightmare: Whom could he trust?
By one of our most evocative and versatile chroniclers of American life, Finders Keepers is not only a gripping true life thriller, it is the remarkable tale of an ordinary man faced with an extraordinary dilemma, and the fascinating reactions -- from complicity to concern to betrayal -- of the friends, family, and neighbors to whom he turns.
Download and start listening now!
"An quick paced, fast read, this concept always fascinates... and so far, Bowden has yet to let me down as a writer. An average guy finds a million bucks - what to do? It's a slippery slope we're on and we get to witness what happened to this character when he made his choices. Reminded me a lot of A Simple Plan by Scott Smith, which is a novel on the same kind of idea that I enjoyed infinitely more because of the character development (they also made that one into a film with Billy Bob Thornton). Also similar to the Marcus Sakey story Good People (if you're one of my Chicago pals, you need to read some of Sakey's stuff - a lot of it based there and his book The Blade Itself based in Bridgeport!). Overall, Bowden delivers - also recommend Killing Pablo and Blackhawk Down."
— Drew (4 out of 5 stars)
“Bowden follows two bestsellers with a tragicomic tale based on a series of articles he wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer…Bowden’s narrative is succinct and fast moving, spare but complete…This is a smaller tale than Bowden’s earlier ones, but a satisfying one, smartly told.”
— Publishers Weekly“Bowden’s quick and intense story is like a joyride in print.”
— Library Journal“Bowden’s easy journalistic style lets the story basically tell itself, as the portrait emerges of a man who just did not have the resources to pull off a successful scam. Joey was acquitted of any crime because the jury found him temporarily insane as the result of discovering all that money. Compared to grisly true-crime tales, this yarn is almost farcical and lighthearted; nonetheless, it offers a compelling story that makes it a likely candidate for the bestseller lists.”
— Booklist“Black Hawk Down author Mark Bowden is justly revered for transforming interviews and research into a story that rolls out before you in the here and now. His own vivid, intelligent voice deepens the verisimilitude of this story. He knows the text. He knew Joey. The 1986 series in the Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday Magazine around which this book was built also sparked a movie titled Money for Nothing, starring John Cusack. Seem like a happy ending to you? Check again.”
— AudioFile" Another good read that can be taken as a cautionary tale about drug abuse and how meth can addle your judgement. The author did a reasonable job with the narration on the audio version. Bowden is becoming one of my must read authors no matter what the subject. "
— Sandi, 2/18/2014" A drug addicted guy finds $1.2 million and can't keep his mouth closed. He is caught, doesn't serve time but kills himself years later "
— Sonya, 2/14/2014" Bowden is usually a perfectly capable writer who can make most stories interesting. This book gets 2 stars not because of him necessarily, but just because of the tale. I wanted to slap the main character from the first page. There's so little to the story, just, "He shot up some meth. Found money. More meth. Run away, more meth, get caught, the end." I read rather fast, but this book was such a blip, I literally read the entire thing in about 45 minutes. Not at all worth it. "
— Melissa, 2/8/2014" The thing that bugged me about this book was that the author ends the story talking about how the infamy/notoriety that Joey gained from his misadventure led to his demise. And yet here he was, 10 years later, cashing in himself on bringing the story back to light once again. It just seemed icky. "
— Kevin, 2/4/2014" What. The. Crap. Honestly, you will want to break it over your leg! Absolutely the worst book I have ever read and strongly advise shooting it if you own it. The story, despite SEEMING interesting, is merely a pathetic attempt at a novel that will make you fall asleep or throw the book or scream. It's redundant, you will despise the main character, and the whole thing in general is not even remotely interesting. Looks like we got an idiot writing this. Nice job. "
— Sam, 1/25/2014" Bowden wrote "Black Hawk Down" and as you might expect he has a compelling style. This is a true story about a feckless, and probably disturbed, young man who found $1.2 M dollars that fell from an armoured car in 1982 Philadelphia. This guy was totally incompetent, clueless, and disorganized. We also see the police in action, and the the inter meshed stories is very engaging. Near the end we see the trial, and this raises some interesting questions about the legal system. Apparently, a movie was also made, although Bowden claims it bears little resemblance to reality, since Hollywood could not have a speed-drug, duffus as a hero. "
— Jrobertus, 1/22/2014" I picked this to listen to randomly as it was an audiobook at my library but I couldn't even come close to finishing it as the main character was a complete idiot. I tried but I just couldn't get over it and finally gave up. "
— Sarah, 1/15/2014" This book is short, fast paced and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. Although it is ultimately a sad story. I particularly recommend this if you're looking for a quick read. "
— David, 1/11/2014" A couple of low lifes in South Philadelphia come upon $1.2M lying by the side of the road. They blow it in a frenzy of drugs, drinking, gangsters and begging friends and relatives.By the author of Black Hawk Down. I just could not get into this book. "
— Frederick, 12/25/2013" Funny but ultimately tragic story. "
— Fuzzy, 12/18/2013" Fairly lightweight account of one of life's losers who found 1.2 million dollars that literally fell off the back of a lorry in Philadelphia, and his efforts to keep it. Easy to read, easy to forget. "
— Jim, 12/2/2013" this is great,all through it you will allways ask yourself what would you do if it happened to you!!!!!!1 "
— Philip, 11/27/2013" What not to do if you find a million dollars on the street. The most frustrating book I've ever read. "
— Ryan, 11/12/2013" A story so crazy and entertaining you'd swear it was fiction. The only time Bowden's narrative slows down is during the latter trial portions when it's almost hard to root for Joey. "
— Tim, 11/9/2013" What an idiot. If I found 1.2 million dollars I would get away with it . . . and that's a fact. "
— Amelia, 10/5/2013" 2.5 stars I didn't know whether to laugh or cry about the things that happen in this true story about a young out of work dock worker who finds $1.2 million dollars in unmarked bills just after it falls out of an armored truck. He pretty much made all the wrong choices. "
— Kathy, 8/25/2013" It felt like a magazine or newspaper treatment, which is what it was, I suppose. Light read, interesting, but it's not going to change my life or even really inform it. I enjoyed Blackhawk Down and Killing Pablo much more, but this would make great airplane reading, etc. "
— Shawn, 4/26/2013" Probably the quickest book I ever read. The only interest to me was that this story happened near where I live. "
— Fred, 1/19/2013" Bowden is known for Blackhawk Down, of course. But this little book is a quick read and amazingly entertaining reconstruction of what became a complicated crime. "
— Mike, 9/15/2012" A novel that will make you fall asleep or throw the book or scream. The whole book isn't remotely interesting. "
— Amber, 5/25/2012" Enjoyed this. Well written and well paced, just like the other Bowden books I've read. "
— Paul, 2/22/2012" This was a pretty interesting read and kept my attention...what would you do if you find a million or so dollars somwhere and it looked like you could just walk away with it?... "
— Wes, 12/13/2011" Ceritanya lumayan sebenarnya, tentang kelucuan orang-orang yang menemukan uang yang sangat banyak (lupa jumlahnya) di dalam sebuah koper. "
— ABO, 6/21/2011" This is the story of a guy who find a million dollars that fell out of the back of an armored truck and all of the drama that ensues as he tries desperately to keep it for himself. "
— Natalie, 4/19/2011" 383rd - 2011 <br/> <br/>Konon John Cusack yang main sebagai Joey, yang jadi sinting gara-gara nemu uang 1,2 juta dolar ini. "
— Threez, 4/2/2011" This book is short, fast paced and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. Although it is ultimately a sad story. I particularly recommend this if you're looking for a quick read. "
— David, 2/12/2011" A drug addicted guy finds $1.2 million and can't keep his mouth closed. He is caught, doesn't serve time but kills himself years later "
— Sonya, 1/15/2011" Dissapointed with the telling of this story. Bowden's better. "
— Judith, 8/14/2010" What an idiot. If I found 1.2 million dollars I would get away with it . . . and that's a fact. "
— Amelia, 7/25/2010" It felt like a magazine or newspaper treatment, which is what it was, I suppose. Light read, interesting, but it's not going to change my life or even really inform it. I enjoyed Blackhawk Down and Killing Pablo much more, but this would make great airplane reading, etc. "
— Shawn, 12/14/2009" Hilarious in Places but a sad and painful story of a young guy who finds 1.2million in the street and in the course of a week with the money what he goes though trying to hide it and how to keep it, before eventually being caught. The trial, and the outcome. <br/> <br/>Brilliant read "
— Toni, 11/2/2009" this is great,all through it you will allways ask yourself what would you do if it happened to you!!!!!!1 "
— Philip, 3/14/2009" A novel that will make you fall asleep or throw the book or scream. The whole book isn't remotely interesting. "
— Amber, 11/17/2008Mark Bowden is the author of Road Work, Finders Keepers, Killing Pablo, Bringing the Heat, Doctor Dealer, and Black Hawk Down, which was nominated for a National Book Award. A number of his books have been made into movies, including Money for Nothing, Killing Pablo, and the blockbuster hit Black Hawk Down. He worked as a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer for twenty years and is currently a national correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. He lives in the Philadelphia area.