Turnabout

by Jack Adler

Turnabout is an ironic coming-of-age novel about a 15-year old high school student who inadvertently sees one of his teachers commit a homicide against another teacher and then blackmails this teacher to make him into a better person, academically and socially.
The teacher, meanwhile, also faces a deepening crisis with his wife whose behavior led to the homicide. The escalating blackmail imbroglio creates a tremendous intertwining impact on their lives with dramatic turnabouts. The student gets involved with a wild fellow student who introduces him to the world of sex and drugs. Then he is blackmailed himself by his fast friend to cover up the death of a young call girl from a drug overdose.
Both student and teacher are brought before the police for questioning about drugs and an improper relationship, with their lives and futures in jeopardy. Ultimately, as portions of the truth emerge, each learns from his experiences as their lives are drastically changed by their actions.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2013

About the author

While born in New York I've spent most of my life in California starting
with college at UC Berkeley. I've worked as a travel writer and have been a freelance columnist for the Los Angeles Times' travel section. I've also been a columnist for a number of other publications including Westways, Better Business Traveling, etc. Many freelance articles have been published.
As a playwright I've received a grant from the Yaddo Foundation. Six one-act plays have been produced at Off-Off Broadway theaters with one published.
Currently, I live with my wife, Barbro, in Los Angeles