The Net Present Value of Life

It can't get any worse for Charles.   Tired of his career, fed up with his routine existence, and going through a supposed mid-life crisis, Charles has a need – a longing – for something more. His current job, while financially attractive, doesn't cut it anymore, and it leaves Charles moving through his long days overpowered by a double shot of anger and restlessness. What Charles needs is purpose, that elusive something that will give him a sense of accomplishment, excitement, reward.   Charles's only joy is his iPod and a park near his office. There, he meets an elderly Englishwoman with a peculiar view of the world. After a difficult first encounter, she becomes Charles's mentor, revealing to him her awe-inspiring secrets for living a rewarding and meaningful life.   Charles is well on his way to enlightenment until, one day, he discovers a secret of his own. His mysterious park friend is an impostor with an even more mysterious past. Charles now has a new and more troubling problem; who is this woman and what is she up to?   Often poignant, at times hilarious, yet always thought-provoking, The Net Present Value of Life is supported by a cast of offbeat characters that includes a brown-nosing co-worker with a heart of gold, an institutional investor jailed for raiding corporate coffers, and a private investigator who first raises doubts about Charles's enigmatic lady friend.