Murder of a Post Office Manager

How far can you push a man before he explodes?Postal worker-union steward Paul Farley has battled his sadistic manager for years. Sometimes he wins a grievance; too often he loses. Paul watches as Manager James Newton uses his power to destroy the lives of workers at The Plant. So when Newton is brutally gunned down outside the facility, it’s not a surprise when the police arrest the beleaguered union steward whose patience had worn out from losing so many battles with his cruel boss.Is Paul Farley guilty of the crime? Or is he an innocent man facing a life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit? Find out in this exciting legal thriller by veteran union steward Paul Felton.Paul Felton was a steward for the American Postal Workers Union in a Local that experienced two shooting incidents in an 18-month period.

I have a unique story to tell. I was a steward at the Post Office in a union local that experienced two workplace shootings in an 18-month period. As Editor of the union newspaper, I reported on those shootings. As a steward, I dealt with the same management team that created so much tension in the months leading up to the Royal Oak shooting. I also like reading mystery novels, especially those that involve courtroom scenes. So I wrote a mystery novel loosely based on my experience as a steward that ends with a courtroom drama. I have three goals in publishing this story. The first goal is to entertain with a murder mystery/courtroom drama. The second goal is to dramatize the role of a union steward; fighting for justice, defending employees’ rights, and putting a check on unbridled managerial authority. The third goal is to provide some background for the series of postal shootings that gave rise to the expression ＂going postal＂ in the early 1990s. None of the characters in this novel are real. The closest one is Paul Farley, who in some respects resembles me. But this is not an autobiography. The Paul Farley character is part fantasy, part nightmare, and part reality. None of the managers represent a real person in any fashion. I hope reading this novel gives the reader some insight into the daily life on the workroom floor at the post office, at the same time as it keeps you guessing about who killed James Newton. Enjoy.