Publisher's Synopsis
John Holiday has never been a man who put too much thought into his decisions. However, while his rash actions usually only result in a few black eyes or a couple of forgotten nights, an intoxicated John is about to make the worst mistake of his life. Because when he calls in a favour from an old criminal associate to frighten off a love rival, the plan quickly spirals out of control leaving the young man dead and John an accomplice to the murder. Further complicating matters, John finds himself drawn to the mother of the young victim, beginning an illicit romance while trying his best to keep his secret hidden. Burdened with guilt and with the knowledge of his criminal involvement being threatened by outside forces, John becomes embroiled in more crime as the body count rises in a misguided attempt to keep his dark past from getting out. However, in a desperate last ditch effort to maintain his relationship and keep out of suspicion, John agrees to help investigate the spring of murders that he has been directly involved with. Playing both sides and with his grip on the situation slipping, John's attempts to cover up his mess spirals more and more out of control, and the life of crime he so desperately wanted to escape keeps catching up with him. A tale of deceit and self-preservation is told over the brutal pages of Martin Read's new novel, As Many People Live. As John's life unravels so do many others, and in the end the safety of everyone he holds dear could change forever all because of one drunken mistake.
