The Stopover: Divided Highways: Divided Highways

In this third novel in the Stopover series, the Plains town of Bamptonville is set to erupt and plunge into turmoil, bursting out of the rigid class community structure that has been its lot for more than a hundred years. No longer following the expected path of social behavior, everybody is running their own agenda, like traveling on divided highways. The ruling oligarchy is in a tailspin, frantic and desperate to preserve their status against the coming backlash. Community College Principal Armstrong, sits at his desk, terrified of a possible legal repercussion for inappropriate disciplinary impositions: waiting for a call from Sheriff Donovan to tell him all is well. Flik Donovan went outside of the law to ascertain whether or not his office is compromised, prompting a reckoning with local crime boss, Felix Gleitner. Gleitner has a lucrative opening with a rogue film company that could set him up for life, if only he can get young Jesse White to model for a 'blue' photo shoot on Sunday. He has the Date Rape drug to help him, but the kid's fallen under the influence of an English visitor likely to destroy Gleitner's ambition: presenting him with a serious obstacle to overcome. Judge Denman sits in chambers late at night, fretting over his mistake to cover Sheriff Donovan's outlaw actions. Mayor Harvey Denton plummets into dismay as a real threat emerges to prevent his re-election in the fall. Mitt Fawley, buffoon owner of the local Grain and Feed Supply Company, seizes the chance to ride over planning objections to him opening an entry into his plant from the town. It's a catastrophe for the town's prominente and directly or indirectly they all blame Greg Mitchell, the English visitor who accidentally ran down farm boy Jesse and stayed to put him back on his feet, along with a bunch of out of work condo dwellers. Greg is blissfully unaware of what is going on in the town or of how he is affecting the situation. In spite of the overall lack of welcome, dirty tricks and foul rumors he decides to stay and see his plans through to the finish. He lost everything he held dear in the UK through a treacherous lawsuit and instead of fighting for restitution ran away to the USA. A painful realization, but he's done with running away. Without a friend in town to turn to for help, his confidence is heightened when he learned several minor investments he made with 'loose cash' two years ago have matured during the world's biggest engineered economic boom to make him a millionaire. One of the investments has done so well, the company is about to go to IPO - and the owner wants Greg as his CEO, and is coming to Bamptonville to get him. This is a once in a lifetime prospect that will put Greg back at the top of the business pole, but there's a problem. Greg has given his word to Jesse and the bunch of condo dwellers he's offered to help, and Greg Mitchell lives by his word. Along with everything else going on, this is a dilemma and a major problem for him. He cannot do both; he must take the job, or keep his word.

About the Author :
Peter Thomson writes fact based fiction and is a keen observer of western society and the evolution of modern democracy governed by market forces. His writings include his praises for reformers, and his misgivings about what is going wrong as society becomes increasingly insular for its people. He has led a rich and varied life as a soldier in the British army, a shipmaster in the Mercantile Marine and having held senior positions in business. He harbours a love of America and wishes to spend time there eventually to explore the Civil War sites and the scenic Smoky Mountains.When asked what is the motivation behind The Stopover series of Bamptonville novels he replied: 'In 2007, the year in which the series is set, America and the UK basked in the comfort of the largest, uncontrolled free market made economic boom based on the sub-prime mortgage scam, . National economies collapsed along with Lehman Brothers, ruining the lives of many ordinary people - and nobody has gone to jail! These a effects are played out in the characters of the story.