Joseph Finder is the author of several previous thrillers, most notably the "New York Times" bestsellers "Paranoia," "Company Man," and "High Crimes." He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
Finder's (Company Man) latest corporate thriller takes place in an electronic company's Massachusetts sales office. Sales executive Jason Steadman faces problems at home and on the job. His pregnant wife wants him to become more ambitious, but Jason's boss doesn't think he's aggressive enough to become district sales manager. An automobile accident brings former special forces officer Kurt Semko into Jason's life. Kurt was once part of the Detroit Tigers' farm system, so Jason soon recruits him for the company softball team, then lands him a job with the firm's security department. Suddenly Jason's coworkers suffer a series of mishaps that hands the manager's position to Jason, placing him in the middle of a messy re-organization. Jason suspects his new friend is ruthlessly assisting in his advancement, forcing a confrontation that endangers Jason, his wife, and their unborn child. Finder follows the basic plot line of his previous book, but his settings and characters provide an excellent feel for the high-pressured corporate world. Narrated excellently by Scott Brick, this book is recommended for all audio collections, especially those with fans of corporate thrillers.-Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Lib., Parkersburg Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
In Finder's newest business thriller (after Company Man), Jason Steadman, a middle-management salesman for an international electronics firm, befriends mysteriously well-connected tow-truck driver Kurt Semko and suddenly finds himself on the fast track to the executive suite, thanks mainly to the misfortunes of others. When a suspicious Steadman confronts Semko, his benefactor turns into a deadly foe who threatens to kill him, his wife and newborn baby. Finder's informed view of the dark side of the corporate world is deliciously devious and he is shrewd and witty enough to provide his likable hero with a particularly credible weapon against the seemingly omnipotent opponent: his salesmanship. Steadman, the narrator of this terrifying tale, is blessed with the gift of gab, and Scott Brick, one of the busier audio book performers, smoothly adjusts his delivery to the novel's carefully crafted patter and pacing. This includes quick shifts of tenor and tone to give voice to the self-confident sociopath Semko, Steadman's level-headed but needy wife, and his disgruntled and pink-slip-prone co-workers. Finder has created first-class material, but here it's Brick's impressive pitch that makes the sale. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's hardcover. (Reviews, Mar. 13). (May.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
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