The Exit Strategy (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798234079992)

Tucker Rawlings is a seventy-three-year-old water industry mogul who has built his life on success, control, and momentum. But in less than six months time, he loses his wife in a tragic accident, his business is devastated by a drought, and to top it all off, he learns his days are numbered. Tucker refuses to accept the terms of the deal and go out like a houseplant, instead he demands a "good death"-something bold, cinematic, and completely on his terms.

Tucker's idea is born when he finds himself in the hospital with an eccentric roommate, Lenny Harper, who claims to have died twice, before being struck by lightning on his lawnmower. As Lenny's favorite movie comes to a dramatic end, Tucker's obsession with going out in style is born. He quickly recruits his estranged son Derrick-a lifelong dreamer who has always felt like a disappointment-to help them escape the hospital so he can die "A Good Death."

Derrick, eager for his father's approval, agrees. The two men flee the hospital with Lenny in tow, and embark on a quest to fulfill Tucker's desire to orchestrate his perfect death. His eldest son, David, accompanied by an over zealous social worker, is in hot pursuit-each trying to get Tucker to sign over his estate. Chaos erupts as Tucker and his entourage traipse across half the country only to discover there may be something Tucker is just not good at.

With his kick the bucket list in full swing, Tucker grows more frustrated with each failed attempt, "I ain't dead yet." He remains determined to prevent fate from robbing him of the epic ending he deserves. Way down deep, however, a resounding truth begins to stir: Tucker is terrified of losing control, of becoming helpless, and of dealing with the emotional wreckage he has left behind-especially his strained relationships with his sons, Derrick and David.

Something unexpected happens as father, son and oddball Lenny stumble through misadventure after misadventure. The walls between them crack, old wounds surface, and as Tucker's carefully calculated exit strategy unravels, he is forced to confront an inconvenient truth: maybe the only thing he hasn't mastered is living without a plan.

"Darkly funny, unexpectedly moving, and impossible not to root for if you like smart humor, big heart, and characters who refuse to go quietly."