Found Money

by James Grippando

Single mother Amy Parkens feels trapped by a boring job, low pay, and no time for her young daughter. But that's before $200,000 in cold, hard cash arrives in an unmarked box. Desperately needing the money, Amy fears a setup or a connection to her mother's suicide 20 years earlier. So she sets out to find the source. A decent, responsible small-town doctor, Ryan Duffy didn't expect to inherit a fortune from his electrician father, who had millions stashed away in the attic. Did it come from extortion, robbery, or some other terrible crime? Painful as it is, Ryan is drawn to his father's dark past, determined to find the truth. Desperate for answers, Amy and Ryan soon cross paths on a dangerous quest that takes them through a labyrinth of deception and blackmail - leading them to a man of unfathomable power who holds the key to their fortunes...and their lives.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Legal Thriller, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

The first thing you should know about bestselling author James Grippando is that he is no longer clueless—or so they say, after “A James Grippando Novel” was a clue for #38 Across in the New York Times crossword puzzle. James is the winner of the Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction and a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 novels to his credit, including the popular series featuring Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck. His latest, "Goodbye Girl" (HarperCollins 2024), is the 18th in the Swyteck series. His novels are enjoyed worldwide in 28 languages. As an adjunct professor he teaches "The Law & Lawyers in Modern Literature" at the University of Miami School of Law. He is also counsel at one of the nation’s leading law firms, where he specializes in entertainment and intellectual property law, representing clients who have won more than 40 Tony Awards. He writes in south Florida with Atlas at his side, a faithful golden retriever who has no idea he’s a dog.
Series:
* Jack Swyteck

Reviews

[Mohammed omran · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I find an author I like I go right through all his books one after another. Found Money by James Grippando is another great read. The plot is tight, suspenseful and believable. A woman receives a box with $200,000 cash. A doctor finds $2 million in cash in his deceased father's attic. The windfalls are related and Grippando takes us on a journey to another continent and back to solve the mystery, a rape and a murder while adding new twists and turns. His style is easy to read and flows well. Recommended.

[Linda Lpp · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading this book, I found there were many, many times I thought I'd figured out the mystery behind the found money. But true to form, Grippando would not be content with a simple story line. Enjoyed the possibilities of motive, who and why...Check it out for yourself. I listened to this in audio format.

[NicholeReadsWithCats · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won't lie, the main reason I chose to listen to Found Money was because of George Guidall. While a bit fantastic and unbelievable, Found Money was nonetheless entertaining. Kept me guessing until the end, although some of that may be due to the fact the plot doesn't make a lot of sense if you really think about it.

Recommend if you're looking for an easy, fast paced thriller. I can easily see this being 4 stars if the characters were developed a bit more.

This review may be skewed by the fact that George Guidall read Found Money to me. Fairly sure I would enjoy hearing him read grocery lists. Hard to believe a little over a year ago I never thought I would enjoy audiobooks and now I look forward to them.

[John Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library audible (To remind me of the story) Amy Parkens is a struggling single mother forced to abandon a career in astronomy for a practical computer job. She feels condemned to long hours, low pay, and no time to spend with her daughter. Then an unmarked package arrives. There's no card, no note, no return address. Someone has simply sent her a small fortune, $200,000 in cash. Amy has no idea who––or why. She only knows her dead–end life has changed forever. She then is able to trace the source back to the Duffy's and it is discovered that Ryan's Dad had sent the money as some sort of payment for a letter exonerating him of the rape he served time for as a teenager thus the time served was sealed.
Ryan Duffy is a decent, responsible man, a small–town physician from the plains of southeastern Colorado. Like Amy, Ryan has recently found unexpected wealth. His father's estate is worth more than Ryan could ever have imagined––millions more. Truth is, Dad was a hardworking electrician for forty–years. But in his attic, he hid a fortune.

Further enquiries reveal that Amy's mother's friend Marilyn who helped her when she was younger had told her mother that Frank Duffy was innocent and she found out later it was her husband Joe, who had raped her and put the blame on Frank. Frank had blackmailed her husband later thus the myserious money and life threats and killings to reclaim the money and threatening evidence. Nasty hatchett man was on the trail. He in the end is shot and the husband, Joe in the shoot out etc goes over a cliff.

Amy's grandmother turns out to have murdered her mother who was dying of cancer, made it look like suicide. Just to keep Amy so they break up as well. Amy gets together with the son , Ryan, the doctor of Frank Duffy in the end.

[Lisa Weber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointed. I didn't feel the story held together well at all, which was irritating. Parts were a bit transparent, parts were out in left field and just didn't make much sense at all to me. Lots of loopholes and inconsistencies in the plot. I would miss this one.

[Bill Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept this book for many years since reading it. Looking at rereading books I've enjoyed years ago. Funny how time changes your thinking. The book did not live up to my expectations but still Kept me interested till the end.

[Una Tiers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to get to a three star rating. The plot was forced and the ultimate issue not addressed.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I real quick read. I found the character Amy to be pretty annoying, but otherwise it was an enjoyable read.

[Cbats · Rating 2 out of 5]

Convoluted doesn’t begin to describe this book. I usually like Grippando but think he needed to cut about 1/3 of the content and 1/2 of the plot twists.

[Connie Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting page turner from the first page to the last.
A box filled with $200,000 cash appears on single mother, Amy Parker's door step.
She is concerned it has something to do with the suicide of her mother years ago.
On his deathbed, the father of a small town doctor, Ryan, tells him about a suitcase in the attic with cash.
Amy's box has a clue, which allows her to find Ryan. They connect and compare notes.
This is well written with all pieces of characters pasts (dark or otherwise), connecting and falling into place.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'll go with 2-1/2 stars since the story kept me partially interested and it was an easy read, but as more and more characters were introduced and events got seriously out of hand it was hard to take much of the story seriously. there were too many twists and an awful lot of dead bodies for this to be believable. and, who ever completes their doctorate in one year?

[Tgordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was well short and ok. I guess the biggest lesson is is found money ever really yours or what do you have to do to keep it? What are you willing to do to keep it? Lie? Cheat? Murder? I guess it all depends on the depth of your person and the amount of money? How deep is your need or greed?

[Tammy Stafford-Bellflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author. It's a short read with a sudden, unexpected and even shocking change of direction toward the end. I'm looking forward to reading more of his novels.

[Karen Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense

A page turner with a surprise ending. My first Grippando! Nice development of characters. Looking forward to more novels by Grippando.

[Tal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the assumed truths! It's the way situations truly unfold. This was a really good read.

[Bookwurm637 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story started off so promising. but then got so convoluted and unrealistic, I just gave up 3/4 of the way through.

[ML Couch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one from Grippando

James Grippando is an author I can always count on to spin a good tale. This book did not disappoint.

[Randa Mcnair · Rating 3 out of 5]

WOW! For such a short book, there are SOOOO MANY characters! Lots of twists & turns & backtracking. Just didn't see the final twist coming.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, could not put it down.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

[Barbara Huskey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook.

[Sid Mickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid read!

[Marwan M-Dm · Rating 5 out of 5]

k

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed Reading

[Tamera Mcmahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 2000

Thousands of dollars is left on a woman’s doorstep, millions are found in a fathers attic.

[Lopsided · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick listen. Decent plot

[Carol Jenkins]

I have another favorite writer.

[Sharon Tamburello · Rating 5 out of 5]

good writer

[Karen Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid mystery with interesting characters and good plot development. Fast read.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but the end was weird. Also the reason for the blackmail seemed kind of ridiculous