The Accident

"The Accident" starts an investigation that leads David Deschanel into a romantic triangle with its victim and her attorney whom he believes is the brains behind a Russian mafia fraud ring. But the attorneys's no criminal. Desperately pursuing Gia, he's equally desperate to wrestle his practice from the hands of the mafia. But David single-mindedly stumbles on with his investigation, leading to Bennet's eventual arrest, his unexpected release, and to a confrontation that will challenge the validity of their closely guarded values and send their lives in unforeseeable directions.

While investigating a suspicious auto accident, insurance adjuster David Deschanel trips head over heels for its victim, Gia Carnaggio, throwing their lives into chaos. His humdrum life shattered, he learns that Gia, a beautiful but insecure wannabe actress, is involved with the attorney he believes is behind the accident and the brains behind a ruthless Russian fraud ring. Bennet may be arrogant, better known for his TV commercials than his courtroom acumen, but he’s no criminal. Desperately pursuing Gia, he’s been equally desperate to wrestle his practice from the hands of the Russian mafia. But David is just as desperate. Shaken by threats and attacks, desperate to protect his young daughter, and driven by his feelings for Gia, he single-mindedly stumbles on with his investigation, leading to Bennet’s eventual arrest, his unexpected release, and to a confrontation that will challenge the validity of their closely guarded values and send their lives in unforeseeable directions.

After years of writing plays and film scripts, Mr. Mattingly decided to take his agent's advice and try his hand at the novel by adapting one of his film scripts. It soon became his primary interest, and he combined it with his years of experience as an auto insurance claims adjuster to produce this latest work, "The Accident." A long-time resident of Baltimore, he now enjoys warm winters in Houston, where he is currently writing his next novel while researching and making copious notes on another.