Rotten Apple

Henry Perkins, a young lawyer, troubled and hesitant, is drawn into an investigation of corruption in the City of New York. Amid unfolding revelations of extortion - or worse - among "meat-eating" police, local politicians, and organized crime, Henry carries out a series of fast-paced and risky investigations under the resolute leadership of Special Prosecutor, Howard Matlin, appointed by the Governor, James A. Whalen. Over the course of professional and inner conflicts, he experiences personal redemption, as does Sara, a beautiful, but willful, female prosecutor with whom he falls in love. Action-packed and filled with vivid descriptions of a gritty City interspersed with flashes of beauty, Henry grapples with threats to his person and his own career. In addition to being a narrative of frustrated anti-corruption attempts, Rotten Apple is a tale of growth and self realization ending with a final stirring message.

This novel is based upon a true-life investigation into corruption led by then-Special Prosecutor Maurice H. Nadjari that took place in the early 1970s under the authority of Governor Nelson Rockefeller. The author was a member of the prosecution team.