The Rules of Action ~ Paperback ~ Landon J. Napoleon

It's 1970, and America has a dirty secret. The author of "ZigZag"-"One of the boldest and most original first novels to appear in a long time" (Carl Hiaasen)-reinvents the legal drama popularized by Michael Connelly, John Grisham, and Scott Turow. Human beings are being warehoused in substandard nursing homes, neglected, and left to die under suspicious circumstances. But this is America in the 1970s, and no one seems to know about it, much less care. Rookie lawyer Connor J. Devlin discovers this secret underworld when he meets One-Armed Lucky, a cagey Vietnam vet and bail bondsman with an uncanny knowledge of the law. Lucky refers Devlin's new client, a heartbroken but tenacious woman who's convinced that neglectful nursing home care killed her mother Ann, a greyhound-racing devotee and Lucky's best friend. But Devlin has a big problem. Taking on a nursing home for wrongful death in the 1970s-one backed by a corporation owned by a hardnosed Texas industrialist-will be almost impossible. Almost. In this "briskly told and well-drawn" (Kirkus Reviews) legal drama, Landon J. Napoleon offers all the thrills of John Grisham and other masters of the genre, while proving that "legal procedure can provide as much action, suspense, and whodunit excitement as any shootout or car chase." REVIEWS "Briskly told and well-drawn... this legal thriller does what many courtroom-based novels and television shows do not: It stays true to the actual practice of trial law... A fast-paced tale of justice in action and a remarkably accurate portrait of a trial lawyer's daily grind..." "Prospective law students are frequently encouraged to read law-student memoirs or legal hornbooks, but for a realistic view of litigation and a great deal more action, they'd do well to add this legal thriller to their reading list." -Kirkus Reviews "One of the most compelling and entertaining books I have ever read on the strategy and gamesmanship of the legal process." -Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods PRAISE FOR LANDON J. NAPOLEON'S NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY "BURNING SHIELD: THE JASON SCHECHTERLE STORY": "This true story reads like a novel." -Kirkus Reviews "An inspiring true story of triumph." -Publishers Weekly "Landon J. Napoleon displays a flair for detail in this fast-moving book... an inspiring read." -The Arizona Republic "A powerful, inspiring story of one man's will to survive and to thrive in the face of horrific injuries. It is also a keen look into the workings of our police men and women and the close bonds that knit them together. We admire them, and we especially admire Jason Schechterle." -Janet Napolitano, former Arizona governor (2002-2009) and Arizona attorney general (1998-2002) "Sad, exciting, life-changing and emotional... an amazing story of one man's triumph over tragedy with the support of an entire community." -Jack Ballentine, former homicide detective and author of "Murder for Hire" PRAISE FOR LANDON J. NAPOLEON'S DEBUT NOVEL "ZIGZAG": "One of the boldest and most original first novels to appear in a long time. It's also very funny, in a way that only the raw street-song of truth can be funny." -Carl Hiaasen "A remarkable debut... An unaffected, moving, astonishing insight into the heart of a troubled, silent genius." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ..". this mixture of comic adventure and paean to the values of volunteerism is a vivid read. An impressive debut novel..." -Library Journal (starred review) "Landon J. Napoleon conveys the strength of the human spirit through his wonderful creation, and in the process tells an engaging and enriching story." -Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers ..". a latter-day 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' Like Twain's classic, this novel excels at adolescent monologue." -Arena Magazine ..". an affecting tale of the triumph of hope over desperate circumstances... a modern day 'Of Mice And Men.'" -The London TimesAuthor BiographyLANDON J. NAPOLEON is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of fiction and nonfiction books. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Arizona State University, a master's degree from University of Glasgow in Scotland, and has been an author for more than two decades. His debut novel "ZigZag" received starred reviews, was a Barnes & Noble "Discover Great New Writers" finalist (1999), was translated into multiple foreign editions, and was adapted for a motion picture (Franchise Pictures, 2002) starring John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, and Wesley Snipes. His nonfiction biography "Burning Shield: The Jason Schechterle Story" was the March 2014 "Arizona Republic Recommends" selection: "Landon J. Napoleon displays a flair for detail in this fast-moving book." Interweaving narratives of human triumph, medical marvels, police procedure and high-stakes legal showdowns, this "inspiring true story" (Kirkus Reviews) chronicles the odyssey of a rare human being with an undeniable will to live. "Burning Shield: The Jason Schechterle Story" is "An inspiring true story of triumph" (Publishers Weekly). www.landonjnapoleon.com www.burningshield.com