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Held Hostage: A Serial Bank Robber's Road to Redemption
Author - Ken Cooper
ISBN-10: 0800794567
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Convicted serial bank robber Cooper steals the show in the road to redemption genre for 2009 with this gripping narrative about his slide from petty theft to hostage-taking bank heists. Shot down mid-robbery, captured and sentenced in 1982 to 99 years, the author takes readers into the prison with grotesque scenes of predators and brutality. In prison, Cooper reflects on the double life that led to his incarceration; he worked for a Christian college, but also robbed banks to medicate the loss of his wife. Finding freedom, even in lock down, and forgiveness for his crimes, including his disregard for God and his stepson, becomes a quest that will have readers hanging on till the end of this surprisingly well-narrated book. The power of God's love and of prayer for enemies leads to the transformation of an entire cell block from heinous rape and sex games to a place of peace and love of neighbor. This new voice will be a runaway favorite for fans of the redemption narrative. (Aug.)
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Review
"Ken Cooper can tell a story.... He does an amazing job of drawing the reader into his thought process." -- Gina Burgess, Bloggernews.net
Product Description
While Ken Cooper lived with his wife and two children and worked as publicity director for a Christian college, he was leading a double life--as a felon.
With a vivid, you-are-there style, this former gentleman bank robber takes readers on a journey through years of armed robberies, the dramatic shooting that ended his career, the horrors of prison, and a soul ultimately finding peace. Without fear or embellishment, Cooper openly shares the darkest moments in his life. Yet in these moments he finally meets God and ends up becoming a bright light in a horrendous prison system. From adrenaline-pumping true-life crime to an experience of God's gentle love, readers won't be able to put down this gripping memoir of transformation and God's grace.
From the Back Cover
Husband. Father. Esteemed Community Man. Armed Bank Robber. The unflinching story of one man's double life--and his ultimate transformation. To his friends and family, Ken Cooper was the epitome of the perfect citizen: he was devoted to his wife and kids, loved by all, and had a high-profile job for a well-known Christian college. Yet beneath this polished exterior lurked a man haunted by a broken past and fueled by a dangerous addiction. This man was known to the newspapers and public as the armed and mysterious "gentleman bank robber." With raw authenticity, Ken bares all--from his tragic past to his time in one of Florida's most notorious prisons--in this unforgettable story of one man's miraculous redemption.

Ken Cooper - author
About the Author
Ken Cooper, who served four years of a 99-year sentence, later worked with four others to found Prisoners of Christ, a faith-based reentry ministry for the transition of inmates plagued with addictions. Now he heads up Ken Cooper Prison Ministries, involved in prison ministry organization development, consulting work, and education on overcoming addictions. Ken and his wife, June, live in Jacksonville, Florida.
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