Wheel Man

About the Book

In the winter of 1990, Oklahoma’s economy is still recovering from the crash of the state’s oil boom and the failure of many a family farm. Despite the burst bubble, illicit drug trafficking is thriving, and cocaine is king. Amidst the rubble is Ringer—a down-and-out racecar star who’s desperate for a comeback after a four-year stretch in prison for transporting marijuana. When Ringer’s old drug-dealing friend, Darryl-Jack Chaney, offers him an iffy second chance in the form of a small town bank job, Ringer accepts the risk as getaway driver, figuring why not? He’s got nowhere to go but up. Instead of making a payday, though, Ringer ends up double-crossed by his pal, who leaves him for dead and absconds not only with the cash but Ringer’s wife Julie, too. Ringer survives the murderous betrayal and sets out on a different kind of comeback. No longer does he seek the glamour of racecar driving. Instead, he’s out for bloody revenge. Ringer embarks on a rampage of guns, deadly car chases, and a showdown only one man will survive, proving it’s never good to cross a man with nothing left to lose.

About the Author

Gene Triplett is a veteran newspaper journalist who served ten years as city editor of The Oklahoman, the state’s largest daily newspaper. He won numerous awards for his breaking news and entertainment coverage, film and music reviews, and feature writing. He lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Wheel Man is his first novel.