by Daniel L. Gardner

Tortoise Riskies, the tumultuous debut novel by Daniel L. Gardner, unfolds in the suburbs of Boston as Derek 'Turk' Hogan is forced to come to grips with his criminal past. Inspired by a chance meeting with a stunning beauty named Vickie Portinari, Derek confronts the hypocrisy of his lifestyle as he battles both spiritual confusion and the mayhem that surrounds him.

Told over the span of a long weekend in June of 1990, Riskies is the story of a young man's search for redemption from a life committed to self-actualization at any cost. The blue-collar crime rings of the North Shore provide the backdrop as Derek seeks answers to questions about greed, guilt, friendship, and love.

Can Derek leave the past behind and become the person that he wants to be? Will his relationship with Vicki continue to grow or will the truth drive her away? Intricate plot lines and vivid character portrayals complement the montage of emotions that are explored by Daniel L. Gardner in this, his first work of fiction. Within his novel's framework, no doubt all readers will find some measure of themselves.