Fiction / Drama
Date Published: May 22, 2025
The Perfect Ten is a gripping tale of friendship, betrayal, and the
lengths people will go to when pushed to the edge.
When three high school friends witness a disturbing event, they make a pact to
never speak of it again. Twenty-five years later, their high school reunion
reignites not only memories—but a dangerous new alliance. Two of the men
are facing personal crises: one is drowning in debt, the other desperate to
save his wife from a rare cancer. Their third friend, connected to a powerful
mafia family, may hold the key to their salvation—but at what cost?
As the trio ventures into the high-stakes world of counterfeiting, an
unexpected fourth member joins their scheme—a once-forgotten classmate
whose transformation is as stunning as it is surprising.
Spanning the coal mines of Pennsylvania to the glittering heights of
Manhattan’s finance and fashion districts, The Perfect Ten takes readers
on an international journey filled with twists, secrets, and moral gray areas.
With characters you’ll root for and a pace that never lets up, this
smart, fast-moving thriller asks: How far would you go for the people you
love?
EXCERPT
Preface
Years ago, during the Carter Administration when interest rates skyrocketed to twenty percent or more, I used to frequent a restaurant called Sebastian’s in Raleigh N.C. A group of us would show up after five to quaff a few beers and shoot the breeze. One night, as we bantered back and forth about the state of the economy, one of the guys made the comment, “I bet right now it costs more than ten dollars to make a ten-dollar bill.”
From that profound realization, we began to create a screenplay (at least in our minds it was destined to be a star-studded box-office success starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon) about two desperate men who embarked on a comedy filled journey into the world of counterfeit.
Each night when two or more of us would slide into our booth, we would kick around how Walter and Jack would accomplish their mission. I wish I had a tape recording of those sessions – they were brilliant and often led to alcohol laced cacophonous laughter. Those memories of the good times we had at Sebastian’s have given me cause for laughter for the past 45 years. Recovering from hip surgery back in 2012, I endeavored to record our screenplay on paper. But to my dismay, I realized that many of the funnier scenes had long since faded so I found myself creating a whole new story based upon the same premise. Upon retirement, I finally found the time to complete this project.
I’m sure some of the gang (Dick, Dave, Ben, and Glen) have died – but for those who remain, this book is a memorial to the good times we shared.
I wrote this book in three months. It took my wife, Beverly, countless hours over a six-month period to correct my grammar, and what she calls my “improper use of the English language” and make sense of my unorthodox sentence structure. She offered some great ideas, and I owe a great debt of gratitude to her for making this book possible. I would be remiss to not mention my friends Bert and RuthAnne Moss, who read the first versions and offered good advice and much encouragement. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And my friends Kenneth Pearson and Kathy Kresge who read the book and encouraged me to pursue having it published. Thank you all again.
It is important to note that this book is a complete work of fiction. None of this happened and none of the characters are real. While it is peppered with interesting facts that are true, it has a healthy dose of B.S. that enabled me to keep writing without getting bogged down by mundane things such as truth. Surely the artful merging of imagination and fact is the signature of any great storyteller. At least it is for my stories – as my wife so often reminds me.
God has richly blessed me throughout my life, and it is my desire to be a blessing to others. Having spent over 45 years in North Carolina, I have decided to donate all profits from the sale of this book to Samaritan’s Purse, earmarked for the victims of Hurricane Helene.
John R. Iredale DPM
About the Author
John R. Iredale was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, and earned his
doctorate in podiatric medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1967. He went on to
practice podiatry for nearly five decades in Durham, North Carolina. Known by
friends, family, and patients as a natural-born storyteller, John often found
inspiration in the lives of those around him. His deep curiosity and attentive
ear uncovered stories that spanned generations, cultures, and communities.
In retirement, John finally turned to the page, sharing the vivid tales that
have been living in his memory and imagination for years. The Perfect Ten is
his debut novel—a suspenseful blend of crime, loyalty, and the power of
old friends with unfinished business.
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