Bob Rothman Author | Attorney | Former Journalist

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org
Published by: Black Rose Writing
Release Date: April 23, 2026
Pages: 316
ISBN13: 978-1685137427

 
Unemployed after barely graduating from high school, Bud Boyer's fortunes suddenly change when he flattens two knife-wielding thugs trying to rob him. Moogie, a part-time loan shark, spots the altercation outside the tavern he owns in a Georgia mountain town. Immediately, he hires Bud to collect from deadbeat borrowers. All goes well until Bud falls for the daughter of the town's police chief, and sensing the relationship is getting serious, Moogie reluctantly fires him.

Months later, when Moogie unexpectedly announces he's going to close his tavern, Bud persuades Moogie to sell it to him instead and to serve as his business consultant for one year. After Moogie suddenly vanishes, Bud is shocked to learn Moogie has been charged with arranging for the murder of a man who conned him out of $250,000 in a phony horseracing ownership syndicate.

When Moogie decides to surrender, he unexpectedly shows up at the tavern and asks Bud to call the police chief, who is now Bud's father-in-law. Their relationship takes another shocking turn when Bud is called as a witness at Moogie's murder trial.

With twists you won't see coming, The Shark's Protégé will keep you turning pages to the very end.

---

Praise

“A swift and seductive tale that will delight any fan of mobster stories.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“From the back rooms of a tavern to the sanctity of a courtroom, this story is filled with engaging characters, realistic dialogue, and plenty of intrigue.”
—A.J. McCarthy, author of  Sins of the Fathers and other novels

“A fast-paced legal thriller that will keep you engrossed from the first page.”
—Gary Gerlacher, author of the AJ Docker Series

“Reminiscent of O’Henry’s short stories in focusing on ordinary people and radiating an empathetic humanity"
—Lea O’Harra, author of Sayonara, My Sweet and other novels

“Bob Rothman pens another legal thriller smothered in gritty, small-town noir!”
—Cam Torrens, award-winning author of the Tyler Zahn mystery/suspense series

“The [courtroom] scenes were professionally authentic, surpassed only by an ending that left nothing behind, showing the human condition in its myriad shades of gray.”
—Patrice Mahurin, author of Two Necklaces

“Reminiscent of the craft of Grisham or Baldacci, Rothman brings us a page turner of unique style and suspense.”
—Chris Manning, author of the forthcoming novel, The Consultant