Plastic Gods (A Rich Coleman Novel) [Hardcover]

William Manchee (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Rich Coleman Novel | Publication Date: May 20, 2004

A young attorney and his new wife set out to make their fortune with a string of bankruptcy clinics throughout Texas. Unfortunately, they are so successful they threaten the lucrative credit card business of Houston\'s MidSouth Bank and earn the wrath of the bank\'s chairman.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Having practiced bankruptcy law for over twenty-five years I have observed first hand the debilitating effect credit cards have on the family. By far excessive credit card debt is responsible for most consumer bankruptcy filings today and a large percentage of divorces. With nearly 2 trillion dollars in comsumer debt outstanding a crisis such as the one depicted in Plastic Gods is brewing. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

William Manchee grew up in Ventura, CA in the 60's. After obtaining his BA from UCLA in 1965 he and his wife, Janet, moved to Texas in 1970 where Manchee attended law school at SMU. He began his legal career in Dallas as a sole practitioner in 1976 and currently practices with his son, Jim. Inspired by twenty years of true life experiences as an attorney, Manchee discovered writing in 1995. In addition to the Rich Coleman Novels, Manchee is the author of the Stan Turner Mystery series that take place in Dallas in the 70's and 80's.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 348 pages
• Publisher: Top Publications (May 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929976305
• ISBN-13: 978-1929976300
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,772,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm originally from Ventura, California where I grew up during the 50s and 60s. My wife Janet and I were married while I was attending UCLA and she was attending nursing school. We immediately started having children and had three boys and a girl by the time I graduated from SMU Law School. With four young children we decided to stay in Dallas, where we had family and friends, rather than returning to California. I started law practice in the late 70's and today practice consumer law with my son, Jim. About twelve years ago I took on a famous romance author as a client and, after working with her for a while, I started wondering if I could write a novel myself. Eventually I gave it a shot and found I really enjoyed the writing process. After that it only took a few generous reviews of my first novel and I was hooked. My current novel, Tarizon: Civil War is my fourteenth and my goal is to continue to write a novel a year for the rest of my life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very talented writer, poor editing, December 22, 2003

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plastic Gods: A Rich Coleman Novel (Rich Coleman Novels, 2) (Volume 2) (Paperback)

"Plastic Gods" is a suspense packed thrill ride through the worlds of power politics, the legal system, and finance. This is easily one of the most exciting fiction novels of the year. When Matt Coleman starts his bankruptcy legal practice his wife Lynn comes up with a fantastic marketing plan - convince people that the credit card companies are manipulating them into a permanent state of financial slavery. Since their financial distress is a result of these practices there is no shame involved in filing a bankruptcy to get out of their grip and become a free person. As a result of this plan business booms and bankruptcy filings climb. Of course several banks that are involved in predatory credit card practices are severely hurt. The problem is that these are very powerful people and they do not want his success to continue, nor do they want other lawyers copying his success in other parts of the country. The head Midsouth Bank is desperate to stop Matt at any cost and the story really takes off from there.

This is a very well written book that draws the reader into the storyline and doesn't let them go until the very end. I had to read the entire book at one setting to see how Matt would resolve his problems. Author William Manchee does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing and makes the book one surprise after another. While his excellent writing style and use of plot twists and turns make this one of the most exciting fiction novels of the year, I don't rate it as one of the best. The reason is simple. While William Manchee is an excellent writer and I look forward to many more great novels tantalizing plot lines from him, the quality of the editing makes him come across as more of a hack writer. There are multiple sentences where a complete word is just plain missing, wrong words are used (such as "there" instead of "their"), and multiple other problems. As you near the end of the book and suspense is building, the problems become more and more common. This completely breaks up the flow of the novel and breaks the suspense that he is so masterful at creating because you have to stop and play fill-in-the-blank. I looked to make sure I did not have an uncorrected proof, but alas I did not. An excellent story, masterfully done, and recommended for those who like a good suspense story, it falls back into the category of mediocre only because of bad editing. Mr. Manchee has the potential to break out of the pack and become a well-known name in suspense novels, but only with better editing.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Fave so far..........., April 14, 2011

By 

Christine Tuttle "chrissy" (Dunellen, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plastic Gods (A Rich Coleman Novel) (Hardcover)

By far, this is my most favorite of William Manchee's books to date! This book covers a huge problem going on today in the United States, and MAY help to direct some attention toward the problem. For legal thriller fans, this one is a "MUST READ"! You will not be disappointed with the story, the characters, the non stop action, or the ending. Highly recommend it!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AuthorZone.Com Book Review, October 10, 2003

By 

"webmaster4419" (PoliticsForum.Com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plastic Gods: A Rich Coleman Novel (Rich Coleman Novels, 2) (Volume 2) (Paperback)

As a follow up to Death Pact in which we met Rich Coleman and his wife Erica, comes Plastic Gods. The book opens with attorney Coleman ruminating over his life with Erica, his children and his law practice. Coleman is surprised when eldest son Matt announces his marriage plans to a woman he has only recently met. Matt and Lynn hold an almost single minded determination to quickly become very wealthy. Their plan is to tap into the potential bankruptcy market. Lynn's college professor Swensen is convinced that disreputable forces are at work behind easy credit enjoyed by many until they can no longer pay their bills. Rich cautions both Matt and Lynn against investing all their money too quickly. But, before long Matt's charm and knowledge of bankruptcy law along with Lynn's penchant for marketing the pair engender a TV campaign that brings in more work than either dreamed.

It doesn't take the banking industry long to notice that bankruptcy filings in the northern part of Texas are suddenly burgeoning. MidSouth executive vice president Douglas Barnes, chairman of the board Frank Hill and a treacherous ex Marine, Hans Schultz join forces to coerce Matt out of the bankruptcy scene. Matt will not budge. Hill and Schultz step up their campaign to include murder, defamation and lots of dirty tricks. Following Matt's being set up by a supposed landscaper needing debt relief; Matt faces not only jail and probation but a hefty fine as well. When the depraved banker and his deadly henchman endanger Lynn they have gone too far. Matt uses his jail time to fine hone a strategy for settling the score between himself and Frank Hill. The FBI, police from Texas to the east coast, the stock market and even Federal Congressmen all figure in this tale.

One of Manchee's best Plastic Gods is a nail biter. From the opening paragraphs when Rich Coleman reflects over his own life and muses about his son's surprising decision to become an attorney through the whole action packed tale we follow Matt on his headstrong journey into a life he never expected. Matt's impulsive determination carry him and those with whom he associates into jeopardy, lethal danger and a crassness the naïve young man never suspected existed. Writer Manchee's long years as an attorney hold him in good stead as he guides the reader through what might be far less interesting reading if offered by a less gifted writer. The reader is drawn right into the setting as Matt faces questioning by the Texas Bar Association, trial and incarceration. Manchee's writing skills only increase as he continues producing narrative after narrative filled with zestful characters, absorbing premise and spine tingling action.

I did not find Lynn a particularly likeable character when first introduced, however she grew on me, and I was saddened to read of Hans' attack upon her. Matt's terrified concern for his wife, his predictable desire for revenge against the banking entity and chairman Hill in particular were handled with deftness. This reader was caught up in the tale and wanted Hill brought to swift and certain justice as well. Potent emotions, perilous conspiracy, treachery, perplexing tale, a keen eye for detail are all bound into this stunning work as writer Manchee offers the reader a peek into a side of banking and credit most of us never realized might exist. I enjoyed following the strategy outlined for bringing Hill and those associated with him to justice. While Plastic Gods is a work of fiction the tale offered by writer Manchee certainly gives the reader something to think about when we receive our next bank card credit offer in the mail.

Not for the faint of heart. Excellent read, happy to recommend.

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Reviewed by: molly martin