Trials, Tribulations and Truths Based on True Events

STORY

Betrayal runs deep. Loyalty comes at a cost. Redemption isn’t free.

Meet Jack—raised in a world where poverty, drugs, and neglect were as common as broken promises. Abandoned by the people who were supposed to protect him—his mother Shelly, his brother Ben, even the women he tried to love—Jack learns early that trust is a weapon, and betrayal is a currency.

Growing up on the edge of chaos, Jack builds an empire with nothing but grit, nerve, and street smarts. He’s a product of his environment, but he’s not content to be a victim of it. Every move he makes is a calculated risk. Every relationship comes with a knife in the back. From business partners turned enemies to escorts doubling as informants, no one in Jack’s life is truly on his side.

Even the cops—desperate to pin something, anything, on him—watch from the shadows, waiting for him to slip.

But Jack doesn’t just survive.

He wins.

Every Scar Tells a Story.

Jack never wore a mask. He never tried to be anyone but who he was—tough, and brutally honest about the world he came from. What shaped him wasn’t ambition or greed—it was survival. And what haunts him isn’t guilt, but the constant sting of betrayal by the people who should’ve had his back.

This is the story of a man who was failed by his family, lied to by lovers, and hunted by police who couldn’t catch him clean. A man who rose from nothing and refused to fall—no matter how hard the world tried to break him.

In A Gangster’s Tale, truth hits like a sucker punch, and the line between pain and power is razor thin. If you’ve ever wanted to understand how someone becomes the person everyone fears—but no one really knows—this book will pull you in and keep you there.

Character profiles

Jack Image 2 Ben Image 4

Jack

Jack believes that a family bond should be unbreakable. He spends his entire childhood fighting for the survival of his family - stealing, begging, anything to keep food in his siblings’ bellies. But when they’re all grown up, will they have his back when he needs them the most?

LIZ - JACK’S SISTER

An aging party girl, Liz finds herself at a crossroads - does she take Jack’s help and clean up her act, or does she keep desperately hanging on to the past? As years of addiction start to catch up with her, will Liz accept Jack’s offer to help?

Ben - JACK’S Brother

Ben has never really stepped into the oldest brother role. Always less inhibited than Jack, Ben has needed someone to watch out for him, and bail him out, for most of his life. Will Jack keep showing up for his brother?

Shelly - JACK’S Mom

A single mom of three by the time she turned 18, Shelly’s dream of being a mom to many was shattered when her husband and the father of her children, Brian, cheated on her repeatedly. Then the house burned down. Defeated and destitute, Shelly turned away from her children and towards survival - even when it meant selling - and using - drugs.

Character profiles

about the author

randy Powers

Randy Powers doesn’t sugarcoat life—he writes it the way it is. With a voice that’s raw, real, and unapologetically honest, Randy brings readers into the streets, the struggle, and the mind of a man shaped by survival.

A Gangster’s Tale: Trials, Tribulations and Truths is his debut novel, but it reads like the work of someone who’s lived every scene. Drawing from hard truths and human experience, Randy writes with the kind of grit that can’t be faked.

He believes stories should hit hard, stay honest, and leave a mark.

This one will.

A Great Book, I couldn’t put it down

You can feel the level of emotions and tension rise as you move through the book. It’s a great testimony in trusting your intuition and over coming challenges that were almost certainly destined for your life. It was a great read, I don’t read too often and I couldn’t put it down! Truly inspiring.

 

A Captivating Read

This book was a great read. It had me turning the pages waiting for what was coming next. It shows how someone can go through challenges in life, but it’s never to late to change the outcome of your future.

 

couldn’t put it down!

I was given the gift of a great read this weekend. It’s so readable and gives a real insight into the lifestyles of drug dealers, escorts and their family situations. I’m sure one day it’ll make itself into a big-screen movie. Bravo, Randy Powers, on your first epic book!

 

Highly recommend the book

Im not a big reader,but i already read the book twice. Story really capture the reader attention throughout every chapters. Is a well writen book.

 

Best Book Ever.

An engaging and memorable read with great characters and a compelling story. Highly recommended!

 

Thumbs up

It was a great read, kinda wish there was a continuation of the story, hopefully the author has a second book in the works