Development - Paul Backalenick

The first book in the author's Twisted Roads Series, It starts with a bang.

The money was gone. That much was certain.

Mystery, tension and poignancy combine to make this multi-layered novel a riveting read. Well written and thoughtfully crafted, DEVELOPMENT weaves together three stories about life. About hopes and dreams. About frustrations and disappointments. And about love and redemption.

It is the early 1970s, in the affluent town of Westport, Connecticut. Hank Latour finds himself in an unhappy marriage, disconnected from his two teenage daughters, paralyzed in a mid-level career as a bank officer, and in debt. Tempted to make BIG money - FAST, Hank invests his savings in a new residential real estate development. But more money is needed. His bank is not willing to authorize a loan to the developers so Hank unexpectedly has the added burden to help deliver cash and momentum to this real estate project. Unable to find another source, he borrows the money from a loan shark.

At the same time, Hank struggles with his relationships in his family, as each individual develops in their own way, sometimes for the better and sometimes with tragic results. This story is original and thoughtful. The reader easily becomes part of this family; becoming part of their struggles and dreams. The reality of their circumstances are just that, reality.