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The Job
Douglas Kennedy's outstanding new novel, THE JOB, is a thrilling page-turner involving downsizing, blackmail and murder in the Manhattan business world.
Ned Allen is young, smart, and upwardly mobile. Several years into his career as an ad salesman for a successful computer magazine, Ned's finally left his small-town roots behind, and is certain that the sophisticated Manhattan world he covets is his forever. His wife Lizzie is also a rising star of a prestigious PR firm. It seems that Ned's made it. forced to make some tough calls, among them a question of ethics and the small matter of whether to lie to his wife - and when the tough calls just keep getting tougher he finds himself on the brink of losing everything ...
Cautionary tale, compelling thriller, portrait of a man on the edge, Douglas Kennedy's THE JOB is a ruthlessly entertaining exploration of the fragility of modern life and the depths we'll go to in our quest to preserve it.
Ned Allen is young, smart, and upwardly mobile. Several years into his career as an ad salesman for a successful computer magazine, Ned's finally left his small-town roots behind, and is certain that the sophisticated Manhattan world he covets is his forever. His wife Lizzie is also a rising star of a prestigious PR firm. It seems that Ned's made it. forced to make some tough calls, among them a question of ethics and the small matter of whether to lie to his wife - and when the tough calls just keep getting tougher he finds himself on the brink of losing everything ...
Cautionary tale, compelling thriller, portrait of a man on the edge, Douglas Kennedy's THE JOB is a ruthlessly entertaining exploration of the fragility of modern life and the depths we'll go to in our quest to preserve it.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
80 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Kennedy
133 books1,196 followersDouglas Kennedy was born in Manhattan in 1955. He studied at Bowdoin College, Maine and Trinity College, Dublin, returning to Dublin in 1977 with just a trenchcoat, backpack and $300. He co-founded a theatre company and sold his first play, Shakespeare on Five Dollars a Day, to Radio 4 in 1980. In 1988 he moved to London and published a travel book, Beyond the Pyramids. His debut novel The Dead Heart was published in 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
May 28, 2015
Eigentlich zweieinhalb Sterne, allerdings ist die Geschichte doch ziemlich roh gezimmert, schlecht ausbalanciert und der psychologische Wert gleich null, auch wenn das wirtschaftliche Umfeld der späten Neunziger ganz gut eingefangen ist.
Dabei war die Ausgangssituation gar nicht mal so schlecht, ein Riesenarschloch von einem Chefanzeigenverkäufer für eine aufstrebende Computerzeitschrift gerät während der Übernahme seines Blattes durch einen deutschen Medienkonzern in Loyalitätskonflikte und verliert am Ende alles, Karriere, Frau und beinahe auch seine Freiheit.
Den Job, weil sein praktisch schon abgesetzter Vorgesetzter und einstiger Entdecker beim großen Konkurrenten angeheuert hat, der den Krauts das Blatt abgekauft hat, um es dicht zu machen. Beim unverhofften Abschied am ersten Tag als Verlagsleiter trifft er zufällig den Deutschen im Aufzug und schlägt ihn krankenhausreif.
Da er beim Versuch die Quote seiner Abteilung und einen angeschlagenen Kollegen zu retten, zudem den Verantwortlichen eines großen Computerherstellers zur ursprünglich geschalteten Anzeige erpresst hat, wird Ned Allen in New York und drumherum keinen Job in seiner Branche mehr kriegen, denn der Miesling vom Marktführer droht eventuellen Arbeitgebern von Ned mit Entzung sämtlicher Anzeigen.
Der anschließende Zusammenbruch von Neds bisherigen Lebens und dem Karrieresprung seiner Frau an die Westküste hat was für sich, aber seine lästige Angewohnheit gleich jedem die Fresse polieren zu wollen, den er für ein Unglück in seinem Leben oder den Selbstmord des unrettbaren ehemaligen Kollegen verantwortlich macht, wecken bei mir nicht gerade Sympathien für den Tugendbolzen Ned, der seine Frau über alles liebt, aber nie Schwäche zeigen will.
Nach der Beerdigung des Kollegen kommt es zu einem besoffenen One-Night-Stand mit einer früheren Kollegin, die sich mehr davon verspricht, doch Ned dackelt noch mitten in der Nacht mit einem riesengroßen Knutschfleck nach Hause und natürlich ist seine Frau gerade aus LA eingetroffen, weil sie ihm doch noch eine Chance geben will. Ned sieht sich schon auf dem Weg zum Pappkarton als ihn sein früherer Schulfreund Jerry aufliest, der für einen Business-Guru arbeitet, der während der Reagen-Zeit viel Geld gemacht hat und nun von Motivations-Bestsellern lebt. Jerry lässt Ned bei sich wohnen, macht ihn wieder flüssig und macht ihn zum Chef- und einzigen Verkäufer eines windigen Fonds, der in erster Linie zur Geldwäsche genutzt wird.
Jerry sichert sich die Loyalität aber nicht nur durch Wohltaten, sondern auch dadurch, dass er Ned erst bei der Ermordung seines nachtragenden Erzrivalen zusehen lässt, ihn zuvor zum Hauptverdächtigen stempelt und ihm ein Alibi verschafft.
Ned sitzt danach die meiste Zeit im Flieger auf die Bahamas, denn er ist in erster Linie Bagman des Syndikats und windet sich am Ende mit viel Glück, der Hilfe seiner Ex und alter Freunde, sowie etwas Finesse wieder heraus. Am Ende lässt der Autor gerade noch offen, ob Ned auch seine Frau wieder kriegt. Zwischendrin baggert Jerry auch noch die Ex von Ned an und bedroht ihr Leben, aber alles, was für Spannung gut wäre, wird in ein paar kurzen Sätzen abgehandelt, da Kennedy wohl nicht zulassen kann, dass seinen Helden ernsthaft etwas zustößt und schon gar nicht die aktive Verwicklung in kriminelle Machenschaften.
Abgesehen davon, dass Ned Geld auf ein Konto abzweigt, dass er unter dem Namen von Jerry eröffnet hat, um ihn bei passender Gelegenheit bei seinem Boss anzuschwärzen, begeht er während seiner Zeit im Business keine Straftat für die er belangt werden könnte, er protestiert beim Showdown mit dem großen Boss Ballantine sogar gegen Jerry Eliminierung und will nur, dass sein ehemaliger Kumpel für den Mord am lästigen Insider aus der Computerbranche vor Gericht gestellt wird. Als ob ein Zeuge mit diesem Vorwissen über die Unternehmensstrukturen eines Mob-Unternehmens nur den Hauch einer Überlebenschance hätte.
Vielleicht hat Kennedy sogar die komplette emotionale Bandbreite eines Typen wie Ned getroffen, aber mir war's zu wenig, den Mann führt nichts in Versuchung, immer nur dieses Rumgejammer wegen der Frau, die ihm davon gegangen ist, weil er sie nie an seinem Innenleben teilhaben lassen wollte. Die Exposition ist zwar realistisch, aber im Vergleich zur ziemlich knapp und lieblos abgehaspelten Spannung doch viel zu lang. Anderseits hätte ich mir bei einer vernünftigen Durchführung auch 150 Seiten mehr antun müssen. So entsteht der Eindruck, Kennedy war beim Ansnutzen seiner Seiten oder der ihm zur Verfügung stehenden Zeit nicht sehr effektiv.
Wollte man das auf dem Klappentext als Vergleichsgröße angeführte Fegefeuer der Eitelkeiten daneben stellen, müsste man dem Job sogar einen Stern geben.
Dabei war die Ausgangssituation gar nicht mal so schlecht, ein Riesenarschloch von einem Chefanzeigenverkäufer für eine aufstrebende Computerzeitschrift gerät während der Übernahme seines Blattes durch einen deutschen Medienkonzern in Loyalitätskonflikte und verliert am Ende alles, Karriere, Frau und beinahe auch seine Freiheit.
Den Job, weil sein praktisch schon abgesetzter Vorgesetzter und einstiger Entdecker beim großen Konkurrenten angeheuert hat, der den Krauts das Blatt abgekauft hat, um es dicht zu machen. Beim unverhofften Abschied am ersten Tag als Verlagsleiter trifft er zufällig den Deutschen im Aufzug und schlägt ihn krankenhausreif.
Da er beim Versuch die Quote seiner Abteilung und einen angeschlagenen Kollegen zu retten, zudem den Verantwortlichen eines großen Computerherstellers zur ursprünglich geschalteten Anzeige erpresst hat, wird Ned Allen in New York und drumherum keinen Job in seiner Branche mehr kriegen, denn der Miesling vom Marktführer droht eventuellen Arbeitgebern von Ned mit Entzung sämtlicher Anzeigen.
Der anschließende Zusammenbruch von Neds bisherigen Lebens und dem Karrieresprung seiner Frau an die Westküste hat was für sich, aber seine lästige Angewohnheit gleich jedem die Fresse polieren zu wollen, den er für ein Unglück in seinem Leben oder den Selbstmord des unrettbaren ehemaligen Kollegen verantwortlich macht, wecken bei mir nicht gerade Sympathien für den Tugendbolzen Ned, der seine Frau über alles liebt, aber nie Schwäche zeigen will.
Nach der Beerdigung des Kollegen kommt es zu einem besoffenen One-Night-Stand mit einer früheren Kollegin, die sich mehr davon verspricht, doch Ned dackelt noch mitten in der Nacht mit einem riesengroßen Knutschfleck nach Hause und natürlich ist seine Frau gerade aus LA eingetroffen, weil sie ihm doch noch eine Chance geben will. Ned sieht sich schon auf dem Weg zum Pappkarton als ihn sein früherer Schulfreund Jerry aufliest, der für einen Business-Guru arbeitet, der während der Reagen-Zeit viel Geld gemacht hat und nun von Motivations-Bestsellern lebt. Jerry lässt Ned bei sich wohnen, macht ihn wieder flüssig und macht ihn zum Chef- und einzigen Verkäufer eines windigen Fonds, der in erster Linie zur Geldwäsche genutzt wird.
Jerry sichert sich die Loyalität aber nicht nur durch Wohltaten, sondern auch dadurch, dass er Ned erst bei der Ermordung seines nachtragenden Erzrivalen zusehen lässt, ihn zuvor zum Hauptverdächtigen stempelt und ihm ein Alibi verschafft.
Ned sitzt danach die meiste Zeit im Flieger auf die Bahamas, denn er ist in erster Linie Bagman des Syndikats und windet sich am Ende mit viel Glück, der Hilfe seiner Ex und alter Freunde, sowie etwas Finesse wieder heraus. Am Ende lässt der Autor gerade noch offen, ob Ned auch seine Frau wieder kriegt. Zwischendrin baggert Jerry auch noch die Ex von Ned an und bedroht ihr Leben, aber alles, was für Spannung gut wäre, wird in ein paar kurzen Sätzen abgehandelt, da Kennedy wohl nicht zulassen kann, dass seinen Helden ernsthaft etwas zustößt und schon gar nicht die aktive Verwicklung in kriminelle Machenschaften.
Abgesehen davon, dass Ned Geld auf ein Konto abzweigt, dass er unter dem Namen von Jerry eröffnet hat, um ihn bei passender Gelegenheit bei seinem Boss anzuschwärzen, begeht er während seiner Zeit im Business keine Straftat für die er belangt werden könnte, er protestiert beim Showdown mit dem großen Boss Ballantine sogar gegen Jerry Eliminierung und will nur, dass sein ehemaliger Kumpel für den Mord am lästigen Insider aus der Computerbranche vor Gericht gestellt wird. Als ob ein Zeuge mit diesem Vorwissen über die Unternehmensstrukturen eines Mob-Unternehmens nur den Hauch einer Überlebenschance hätte.
Vielleicht hat Kennedy sogar die komplette emotionale Bandbreite eines Typen wie Ned getroffen, aber mir war's zu wenig, den Mann führt nichts in Versuchung, immer nur dieses Rumgejammer wegen der Frau, die ihm davon gegangen ist, weil er sie nie an seinem Innenleben teilhaben lassen wollte. Die Exposition ist zwar realistisch, aber im Vergleich zur ziemlich knapp und lieblos abgehaspelten Spannung doch viel zu lang. Anderseits hätte ich mir bei einer vernünftigen Durchführung auch 150 Seiten mehr antun müssen. So entsteht der Eindruck, Kennedy war beim Ansnutzen seiner Seiten oder der ihm zur Verfügung stehenden Zeit nicht sehr effektiv.
Wollte man das auf dem Klappentext als Vergleichsgröße angeführte Fegefeuer der Eitelkeiten daneben stellen, müsste man dem Job sogar einen Stern geben.
June 24, 2012
I picked this book up from a local library. It was donated by a major oil and gas company. I have never read any book written by this author before. Once i started reading I couldn't stop. The story felt so real. It exposes the ugly side of outward success in the corporate world , the world of media advertisement to be exact. The characters are simple yet they appear so "alive". The other characters helps bring the story to life too even Mr.Jack Ballantine.
I love reading this book. It makes me wonder about where the author got his inspiration from. It reminds me of the ugly side of globalization i.e small struggling commercial media companies being usurped/sold off/bought over by large international conglomerate that has no hearts at all for struggling people who work days and nights trying to close deals for the company.
It opens my eyes to people who work in the culture of competitiveness, people who work outside their comfort zones.It reminds me of a city made of cold grey skyscrappers, all indifferent and cold to outsiders, to losers and non-performers. It makes me stand in awe of those who attempt to join the corporate world and manage to survive and succeed like Ned in this story and he did it all with his good old navvy compassionate steel toughness with a bit of ruthlessness.
This novel makes me appreciate what I have at the moment. It makes me feel grateful for my job, my family and what little blessings we have in our life at the moment.
This is a great book...I recommend it to any younger friends who are in journalism, mass communication, marketing , business and etc.
I love reading this book. It makes me wonder about where the author got his inspiration from. It reminds me of the ugly side of globalization i.e small struggling commercial media companies being usurped/sold off/bought over by large international conglomerate that has no hearts at all for struggling people who work days and nights trying to close deals for the company.
It opens my eyes to people who work in the culture of competitiveness, people who work outside their comfort zones.It reminds me of a city made of cold grey skyscrappers, all indifferent and cold to outsiders, to losers and non-performers. It makes me stand in awe of those who attempt to join the corporate world and manage to survive and succeed like Ned in this story and he did it all with his good old navvy compassionate steel toughness with a bit of ruthlessness.
This novel makes me appreciate what I have at the moment. It makes me feel grateful for my job, my family and what little blessings we have in our life at the moment.
This is a great book...I recommend it to any younger friends who are in journalism, mass communication, marketing , business and etc.
January 31, 2010
I think its a shame the cover of this book put me off reading it - it is actually a great holiday read, a really taut and edge of the seat thriller which I found very hard to put down and thoroughly enjoyed: I could imagine it on the big screen perhaps. I know the old adage about not judging the book by the cover is true but these days I think there are so many trashy (looking) covers in the shops it is hard not to put them into categories in your head based on their appearance (I am guilty - anything pink is out straightaway!). It's not a demanding read but it was well paced and had a few very unexpected twists and turns on the way. So I was proved wrong about this one and would look up some other of his books if I was lucky enough to have a week off in the sun sometime (not soon unfortunately)as it was hard to stop reading it, as tired as I was at the time.
January 12, 2019
Имах нужда нещо и някой да отмие лошия послевкус от последната прочетена книга.
И естествено се качих отново на "високоскоростния влак ", управляван от моя любимец Дъглас Кенеди.
Поверих му доверието си още с първия прочетен роман. И така и до последния издаден по нашите ширини.И без това се оказа , че е минало доста време откакто ги четох. Сега просто ще си ги припомням , докато продължавам търсенето, на поне равен на него майстор на словото.
7/02/16-Завладяваща история , която прочетох за един миг . Със сигурност ще продължа да чета този автор.
Ето това ми се заби в мислите :
- " Гордостта предшества провала".
И естествено се качих отново на "високоскоростния влак ", управляван от моя любимец Дъглас Кенеди.
Поверих му доверието си още с първия прочетен роман. И така и до последния издаден по нашите ширини.И без това се оказа , че е минало доста време откакто ги четох. Сега просто ще си ги припомням , докато продължавам търсенето, на поне равен на него майстор на словото.
7/02/16-Завладяваща история , която прочетох за един миг . Със сигурност ще продължа да чета този автор.
Ето това ми се заби в мислите :
- " Гордостта предшества провала".
October 10, 2012
When I started reading, I became a little irritated. After a while it got better. At the end I couldn't put it down.
March 27, 2014
Целият свят, целият човешки живот се движи от сделки. Има обаче сделки, които оставят човекът да бъде човек, но има и такива, които по мефистофелски отнемат душата му и той в името на парите е готов да купува, да продава, да измъчва, да лъже само и само за да има повече.
Именно такива са героите в книгата на Дъглас Кенеди. Модерното американско общество изисква всички човешки възможности за да може да си осигури отделната личност нормални условия за живот. Сюжетът е многопосочен, защото разкрива служебни, приятелски и семейни отношения, които се развиват скоростно. Човешките съдби се променят със страхотна бързина. Читателят вижда, че в това суперразвито общество най-слабите, най-уязвимите не издържат. Тези, които могат да се плъзгат върху житейския гребен на вълната оцеляват, макар и трудно, но има и такива, които са готови да се борят, да наказват, за да спасят не само себе си, но и обществото от онези, чийто бог е Златният телец.
Цялото ревю:
http://radiradev.blogspot.com/2014/03...
Именно такива са героите в книгата на Дъглас Кенеди. Модерното американско общество изисква всички човешки възможности за да може да си осигури отделната личност нормални условия за живот. Сюжетът е многопосочен, защото разкрива служебни, приятелски и семейни отношения, които се развиват скоростно. Човешките съдби се променят със страхотна бързина. Читателят вижда, че в това суперразвито общество най-слабите, най-уязвимите не издържат. Тези, които могат да се плъзгат върху житейския гребен на вълната оцеляват, макар и трудно, но има и такива, които са готови да се борят, да наказват, за да спасят не само себе си, но и обществото от онези, чийто бог е Златният телец.
Цялото ревю:
http://radiradev.blogspot.com/2014/03...
April 5, 2020
Review to follow
September 26, 2019
I've read 12 novels by Douglas Kennedy so far and can't wait for his new trilogy to be published in the US (so far "The Great Wide Open" is availably with two more sequels to follow which both were already published in France).
His master piece is without a doubt "Pursuit of Happiness" which I've reread 4 times over the past 20 years. I wish it had much more pages!!!
"State of the Union" is my second favorite DK novel followed by "The Big Picture", "The Moment" (a suspenseful story set in 1986 Cold War Berlin), "Leaving The World" (even though it's rather depressing I liked it very much) and "Five Days" (I used to live in ME and there was hardly a page going by where I didn't nod and thought, yes, that's exactly how it was).
"The Blue Hour" turned out to be quite interesting even though I didn't care for the location (Morocco). But it would definitely make a good movie!
The worst DK novels were for me "The Dead Heart" (awful language in the dialogues, even though he describes Australia very well), "A Special Relationship"(it contains too many hospital scenes) and "The Woman in the Fifth" (I really tried very hard to like it, after all it's located in my absolutely favorite city in Europe, but I didn't care for the plot and ultimately didn't care for the movie with Kristin Scott Thomas and Ethan Hawke either).
"The Job" started out rather slow. However, I was sure I would get into it, but it took me a while.
I have to admit that I'm not really interested in novels taking place in Manhattan in the business world (I was one of the very few people who got bored with Michael Douglas' part in the movie "Wall Street").
From page 220 on "The Job" becomes a page turner. Movie material!
As I was once forced to work at a call center for 2,5 years, I could relate to what Ned Allen was going through (I think only working in a factory or serving prison time could be worse).
Now I've started to read "Temptation" aka "Losing it". As a movie buff I'm sure this will be even more compelling for me to read than "The Job".
His master piece is without a doubt "Pursuit of Happiness" which I've reread 4 times over the past 20 years. I wish it had much more pages!!!
"State of the Union" is my second favorite DK novel followed by "The Big Picture", "The Moment" (a suspenseful story set in 1986 Cold War Berlin), "Leaving The World" (even though it's rather depressing I liked it very much) and "Five Days" (I used to live in ME and there was hardly a page going by where I didn't nod and thought, yes, that's exactly how it was).
"The Blue Hour" turned out to be quite interesting even though I didn't care for the location (Morocco). But it would definitely make a good movie!
The worst DK novels were for me "The Dead Heart" (awful language in the dialogues, even though he describes Australia very well), "A Special Relationship"(it contains too many hospital scenes) and "The Woman in the Fifth" (I really tried very hard to like it, after all it's located in my absolutely favorite city in Europe, but I didn't care for the plot and ultimately didn't care for the movie with Kristin Scott Thomas and Ethan Hawke either).
"The Job" started out rather slow. However, I was sure I would get into it, but it took me a while.
I have to admit that I'm not really interested in novels taking place in Manhattan in the business world (I was one of the very few people who got bored with Michael Douglas' part in the movie "Wall Street").
From page 220 on "The Job" becomes a page turner. Movie material!
As I was once forced to work at a call center for 2,5 years, I could relate to what Ned Allen was going through (I think only working in a factory or serving prison time could be worse).
Now I've started to read "Temptation" aka "Losing it". As a movie buff I'm sure this will be even more compelling for me to read than "The Job".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2017
A page-turning novel full of suspense, intrigue and one man's hope for landing on his feet.
Ned Allen has a good job as an Ad Salesman in a thriving company. When the company is bought by an eccentric German businessman it appears Ned's ship has arrived. The new boss has big plans for him, some of which include extramarital affairs with women paid by the hour for their services. It bothers Ned that for him to move forward, some (including his current boss), may find themselves out in the street and out of a job. Ned's good intentions are to 'take care' of them when he becomes the official 'direktor' of the company.
Then the unthinkable happens. Ned's boss keeps his job and exposes Ned as a turncoat, and it's Ned out on the street. His wife, Lizzie, travels a lot in her job and is supportive. When a friend offers Ned a less than attractive job, he takes it for there seems to be no one willing to hire him. When it becomes clear he's getting involved in a laundering scheme, Ned sinks to a new low and seeks solace in the arms of an appreciative former employee grateful for him putting in a good word for her to keep her job. Lizzie finds out, and the two split.
When Ned learns his new job as a launderer is about to get him arrested, he comes up with a daring scheme to turn the tables on the tycoon and his goons who are looking to have the noose tied around his neck.
I read this book immediately after reading the author's book 'The Big Picture.' That's one of my favorites and I've read it twice and still have it in my collection so I can read again. 'The Job' is similar in book flow and page-turning technique. The book explores relationships in the business world, marriage in good and bad times, as well as how not all people you think to be friends have your best interest in mind.
Ned Allen has a good job as an Ad Salesman in a thriving company. When the company is bought by an eccentric German businessman it appears Ned's ship has arrived. The new boss has big plans for him, some of which include extramarital affairs with women paid by the hour for their services. It bothers Ned that for him to move forward, some (including his current boss), may find themselves out in the street and out of a job. Ned's good intentions are to 'take care' of them when he becomes the official 'direktor' of the company.
Then the unthinkable happens. Ned's boss keeps his job and exposes Ned as a turncoat, and it's Ned out on the street. His wife, Lizzie, travels a lot in her job and is supportive. When a friend offers Ned a less than attractive job, he takes it for there seems to be no one willing to hire him. When it becomes clear he's getting involved in a laundering scheme, Ned sinks to a new low and seeks solace in the arms of an appreciative former employee grateful for him putting in a good word for her to keep her job. Lizzie finds out, and the two split.
When Ned learns his new job as a launderer is about to get him arrested, he comes up with a daring scheme to turn the tables on the tycoon and his goons who are looking to have the noose tied around his neck.
I read this book immediately after reading the author's book 'The Big Picture.' That's one of my favorites and I've read it twice and still have it in my collection so I can read again. 'The Job' is similar in book flow and page-turning technique. The book explores relationships in the business world, marriage in good and bad times, as well as how not all people you think to be friends have your best interest in mind.
November 24, 2018
Ned Allen is a rising star in the New York’s corporate advertising sales world, on the brink of achieving his dreams from when he was a kid in Maine. To be successful in New York City, married to an amazing wife, a member of the local tennis club, etc., these are his definitions of life success. Who cares if he is living just a bit beyond his means? His bonus is coming soon and that will more than cover it all. But when the computer magazine he works for is bought and then quickly sold again, the bottom falls out. Ned’s belief that his sales skills can rescue him will be put to the test but as events continue to spiral out of control, Ned’s desperation grows until he finds himself on the wrong side of the law, loses his marriage, and even becomes wanted for murder.
This is a “corporate thriller” style and comparisons to John Grisham’s “The Firm” are not without merit. The novel gets off to a pretty slow start but eventually picks up speed and comes to a fine conclusion. The protagonist and only POV character, Ned Allen, is a bit of a jerk and it can sometimes be difficult to root for him. I did feel for him though, especially as he tries to turn things around, become a better person, and still have bad things happen.
I’ve never been (or wanted to be) in advertising sales or in the upper echelons of the corporate world but I suspect many of the characters portrayed in this book are quite realistic. There is some stereotyping here, particularly with the character of Jack Ballantine, a former star NFL quarterback-turned real estate tycoon-turned motivational speaker, but I’ve run across enough corporate ladder-climber people in life to know that they do exist and so it was nice to see their final comeuppance at the end of this novel.
I’ve never read any other books by Douglas Kennedy but based on this one, I would certainly read another if it came my way.
This is a “corporate thriller” style and comparisons to John Grisham’s “The Firm” are not without merit. The novel gets off to a pretty slow start but eventually picks up speed and comes to a fine conclusion. The protagonist and only POV character, Ned Allen, is a bit of a jerk and it can sometimes be difficult to root for him. I did feel for him though, especially as he tries to turn things around, become a better person, and still have bad things happen.
I’ve never been (or wanted to be) in advertising sales or in the upper echelons of the corporate world but I suspect many of the characters portrayed in this book are quite realistic. There is some stereotyping here, particularly with the character of Jack Ballantine, a former star NFL quarterback-turned real estate tycoon-turned motivational speaker, but I’ve run across enough corporate ladder-climber people in life to know that they do exist and so it was nice to see their final comeuppance at the end of this novel.
I’ve never read any other books by Douglas Kennedy but based on this one, I would certainly read another if it came my way.
December 15, 2020
Je n'ai pas réussi à accrocher à l'histoire...
November 18, 2021
Probably the best book I read this year
April 8, 2023
Beaucoup trop de détails descriptifs pour moi, cela m'a vraiment gêné dans ma lecture
March 24, 2023
Very disappointing, I normally devour Douglas Kennedy book but this took for ever to get going and by the time it did I had lost the will
April 24, 2017
I wish this story never ends!
By this I have finished all the novels from Douglas Kennedy. Such a wonderful thriller, love love it!
By this I have finished all the novels from Douglas Kennedy. Such a wonderful thriller, love love it!
April 7, 2015
I quite enjoyed this book. It was addictive reading and I got through it quickly. And I didn't think something about an advertising space salesman would appeal so much! It didn't feel as though it got too glossy American blockbuster thriller when he got messed up in The Job and I wasn't disappointed by the ending - maybe that sounds like a stupid thing to say, but I am often disappointed by these mysterious thrillers, in that they build themselves up really well, and when you start to find out what's going on, they're really crap.
It was actually quite depressing at times as well - the whole getting screwed over by a job, being made redundant, job hunting and being unemployed. Usch. I've never had amazing jobs, but I have done all that on my own small scale and it is very depressing.
I would hate to work in that pressurised sales environment that he was in at the start. Or that awful telesales job he did for a couple of weeks later on. I did telesales for a couple of weeks once and left because it was an awful job that I was terrible at. Oh, and the carry on over selling advertising space I can believe. I worked for a little local through-the-letter-box advertising magazine once (just in admin thank god) and the carry on they had selling advertising space; and not just that but the slightly underhand means competitors would take as well - and that was all small potatoes to what is in this book.
I'll definately try more of Douglas Kennedy's books in the future now I've tried this one. And it's not his best? Well, even better.
2009 bookcrossing journal.
It was actually quite depressing at times as well - the whole getting screwed over by a job, being made redundant, job hunting and being unemployed. Usch. I've never had amazing jobs, but I have done all that on my own small scale and it is very depressing.
I would hate to work in that pressurised sales environment that he was in at the start. Or that awful telesales job he did for a couple of weeks later on. I did telesales for a couple of weeks once and left because it was an awful job that I was terrible at. Oh, and the carry on over selling advertising space I can believe. I worked for a little local through-the-letter-box advertising magazine once (just in admin thank god) and the carry on they had selling advertising space; and not just that but the slightly underhand means competitors would take as well - and that was all small potatoes to what is in this book.
I'll definately try more of Douglas Kennedy's books in the future now I've tried this one. And it's not his best? Well, even better.
2009 bookcrossing journal.
March 28, 2014
„Неговите интелигентни трилъри примиряват проникновения стил и комерсиалната литература. Той конструира сюжетите си около болезнени социални теми и абсурди на съвременното общество“
(„Ентъртейнмънт Уийкли“)
Със „Сделката" писателят Дъглас Кенеди остава верен на ключовата тема в романите си: драмите на средната класа и елитните социални прослойки, парадоксалната близост между ежедневното и бруталното, между патологията и здравия разум. Нед Алън e самоуверен рекламист в най-бързо растящото компютърно списание в Манхатън, а съпругата му е изгряваща звезда в престижна ПР компания. Идилията е завидна до момента, в който той губи работата си и попада в мрежите на безскрупулен строителен предприемач. Опитите на Нед да загърби подземния свят превръщат „Сделката" в трескава, пулсираща от адреналин история, заредена с размишления около нравствените компромиси, върху които функционира модерното общество.
Трилърите на Дъглас Кенеди са преведени на 16 езика и отдавна са му извоювали статут на един от най-продаваните автори на планетата. През април 2007 година той беше удостоен с най-високото френско професионално отличие - Кавалер на Ордена на литературата и изкуството. Със способността си да пише увлекателно и същевременно разтърсващо за необятната самота и безизходица на съвременния човек, с усета си за абсурдното, обогатен от сарказъм и умело боравене с езика, Кенеди гради сюжети, в които действието препуска шеметно, а характерите са комплексни, психологически обосновани и достоверни.
(„Ентъртейнмънт Уийкли“)
Със „Сделката" писателят Дъглас Кенеди остава верен на ключовата тема в романите си: драмите на средната класа и елитните социални прослойки, парадоксалната близост между ежедневното и бруталното, между патологията и здравия разум. Нед Алън e самоуверен рекламист в най-бързо растящото компютърно списание в Манхатън, а съпругата му е изгряваща звезда в престижна ПР компания. Идилията е завидна до момента, в който той губи работата си и попада в мрежите на безскрупулен строителен предприемач. Опитите на Нед да загърби подземния свят превръщат „Сделката" в трескава, пулсираща от адреналин история, заредена с размишления около нравствените компромиси, върху които функционира модерното общество.
Трилърите на Дъглас Кенеди са преведени на 16 езика и отдавна са му извоювали статут на един от най-продаваните автори на планетата. През април 2007 година той беше удостоен с най-високото френско професионално отличие - Кавалер на Ордена на литературата и изкуството. Със способността си да пише увлекателно и същевременно разтърсващо за необятната самота и безизходица на съвременния човек, с усета си за абсурдното, обогатен от сарказъм и умело боравене с езика, Кенеди гради сюжети, в които действието препуска шеметно, а характерите са комплексни, психологически обосновани и достоверни.
December 7, 2015
Книгата почва убийствено.
Момчето от село се е трудило много за израстването си, добър продавач на реклами е, без малко да стигне до много висок пост и ... там започва падението. Тази част е описана много добре, показани са състоянията, през които минава човек по бързия път надолу. До голяма степен ми е познато и затова четох с интерес.
Втората част обаче, с тия объркани финансови истории, приличаше на лек (олекотен) римейк на Фирмата... Даже накрая се оказа, че не главния антагонист е най-лошия, а едни междини геории. А така добре можеше да се навърже всичко, че нарочно са изпратили да му разрушат живота, за да няма друг избор, освен да нагази... в калта.
Авторът пише добре и смятам да прочета и други негови книги.
Момчето от село се е трудило много за израстването си, добър продавач на реклами е, без малко да стигне до много висок пост и ... там започва падението. Тази част е описана много добре, показани са състоянията, през които минава човек по бързия път надолу. До голяма степен ми е познато и затова четох с интерес.
Втората част обаче, с тия объркани финансови истории, приличаше на лек (олекотен) римейк на Фирмата... Даже накрая се оказа, че не главния антагонист е най-лошия, а едни междини геории. А така добре можеше да се навърже всичко, че нарочно са изпратили да му разрушат живота, за да няма друг избор, освен да нагази... в калта.
Авторът пише добре и смятам да прочета и други негови книги.
May 3, 2024
Décidément, avec Douglas Kennedy, on n'est pas à l'abri d'une bonne surprise. Le dernier titre de lui que j'ai lu m'a déçue, et celui-ci s'est révélé être un coup de cœur !
J'ai embarqué d'emblée dans ce récit hypnotique. On assiste entre incrédulité et horreur à la descente aux enfers d'un type qui nous semble proche et suscite une profonde empathie.
La spirale infernale et implacable dans laquelle Ned Allen se retrouve pris au piège est proprement effrayante, et en même temps elle a quelque chose de fascinant. On se demande quand et si cela va s'arrêter, comment Ned va rebondir et s'il va seulement s'en sortir.
L'écriture est ultra prenante et immersive, la lecture se fait en apnée.
Magistral.
Mon dernier coup de cœur de 2022.
J'ai embarqué d'emblée dans ce récit hypnotique. On assiste entre incrédulité et horreur à la descente aux enfers d'un type qui nous semble proche et suscite une profonde empathie.
La spirale infernale et implacable dans laquelle Ned Allen se retrouve pris au piège est proprement effrayante, et en même temps elle a quelque chose de fascinant. On se demande quand et si cela va s'arrêter, comment Ned va rebondir et s'il va seulement s'en sortir.
L'écriture est ultra prenante et immersive, la lecture se fait en apnée.
Magistral.
Mon dernier coup de cœur de 2022.
August 23, 2024
Okay, it is a big load of macho stuff, and it is a little far-fetched and not very credible, but it is very well written, and it is a pageturner, it is entertaining, it had me hooked from page one. And when a book does that for me, it is a good book. Not a great book, but there are not many of those in the world, anyway (in my humble opinion).
March 4, 2018
I would actually give this book 3.5 stars. I had a difficult time liking the main character at first and parts of the book were a little slow. The slow parts were definitely worth hanging in for however because there were also parts where I couldn’t put it down!
December 25, 2019
Enjoyable, if totally unrealistic, caper. After hitting rock bottom, an overly ambitious, and very 90s, salesman gets himself caught up in a money laundering scheme and high profile self-help gurus. Good summer reading.
November 14, 2016
I had no empathy with the characters who I thought were thinly drawn and ultimately, could not have cared less about what happened to them.Unconvincing plot.
August 22, 2022
Don't remember a thing about it. Just that it was a page-turner.
March 18, 2019
Intense, gripping and a roller coaster of a story. You just can’t put down the book until you finish it! Love it!
Selling, you see, all comes down to one word: persuasion.- Pg. 7
At the end of the day, selling is about just one thing: getting someome else to say yes. That’s the object of the exercise, the bottom fucking line. Yes. In fact, everything in life comes down to talking people into giving you a yes. You don’t get laid without a yes. You don’t get married without a yes. You don’t get a mortgage for a house without a yes. You don’t get a job without a yes. And you certainly don’t keep a job without a shit load of yeses. - Pg. 8
We may warship success in America but we are also riveted by failure. - Pg. 58
Everyone’s a victim of circumstance. And hindsight is just a convenient way of beating yourself up. - Pg. 208
That’s what selling teaches you: This is never an easy ride, and we spend most of our life scrambling. But once in a while, you can sit down with somebody and have a cup of coffee.
And when you sit down with somebody over a cup of coffee... well, it’s always the beginning. - Pg. 501
Selling, you see, all comes down to one word: persuasion.- Pg. 7
At the end of the day, selling is about just one thing: getting someome else to say yes. That’s the object of the exercise, the bottom fucking line. Yes. In fact, everything in life comes down to talking people into giving you a yes. You don’t get laid without a yes. You don’t get married without a yes. You don’t get a mortgage for a house without a yes. You don’t get a job without a yes. And you certainly don’t keep a job without a shit load of yeses. - Pg. 8
We may warship success in America but we are also riveted by failure. - Pg. 58
Everyone’s a victim of circumstance. And hindsight is just a convenient way of beating yourself up. - Pg. 208
That’s what selling teaches you: This is never an easy ride, and we spend most of our life scrambling. But once in a while, you can sit down with somebody and have a cup of coffee.
And when you sit down with somebody over a cup of coffee... well, it’s always the beginning. - Pg. 501
December 13, 2019
Everyone of the books I have read by this author have been fantastic, and this one did not disappoint. Ned Allen is a salesman for a computer magazine. He is quite successful and anxiously awaits for the year end bonus that he has earned to help him catch up on a little...actually a lot of overextension. Right before the year end, however, the company is sold. At first, Ned is reassured he still has a job and the bonus is still going to be paid. But tables turn quickly when Ned is brutally fired.
Now starts a serious fall from grace and desperation takes over.
And this is when the story hooked me. I loved the business aspect of this book. It was really interesting and enlightening.
Even though Ned makes a lot of mistakes, I can’t help but like his character. He’s a regular guy who acted on his desperation and made some huge mistakes. But, later, he figures out a way to get out of the big mess he is in so everyone wins. Well, almost everyone.
Finishing this book and I want to read another by this author. These books are so action packed with suspense so you are hanging on the edge of your seat, I want more!
Now starts a serious fall from grace and desperation takes over.
And this is when the story hooked me. I loved the business aspect of this book. It was really interesting and enlightening.
Even though Ned makes a lot of mistakes, I can’t help but like his character. He’s a regular guy who acted on his desperation and made some huge mistakes. But, later, he figures out a way to get out of the big mess he is in so everyone wins. Well, almost everyone.
Finishing this book and I want to read another by this author. These books are so action packed with suspense so you are hanging on the edge of your seat, I want more!
July 22, 2020
Ned Allen has it all. He's a young, attractive, successful ad manager at a popular tech magazine, with a fast paced career on the rise, a beautiful wife, a great house, and lots of late night dinners with equally attractive people.
But, fearing the magazine is about to be shut down after it's purchased by a foreign publisher, Ned makes a fatal mistake that brings his world crashing down around him. He suddenly finds himself unemployed, his marriage on the rocks, and under the thumb of a shady tycoon looking for a fall guy.
I originally read this novel when it was first published in 1998. It's a bit dated now, but still one of my favorite corporate thriller reads. The writing is tight, the characters are well developed, and the action is smart. A great read if you're into this genre. 21 years later, and the core story about corporate backstabbing, is still a page turner.
Perhaps it was because of two hyped novels that didn't perform as well as expected, Kennedy stopped writing corporate thrillers after this. A shame. He was fantastic at it.
But, fearing the magazine is about to be shut down after it's purchased by a foreign publisher, Ned makes a fatal mistake that brings his world crashing down around him. He suddenly finds himself unemployed, his marriage on the rocks, and under the thumb of a shady tycoon looking for a fall guy.
I originally read this novel when it was first published in 1998. It's a bit dated now, but still one of my favorite corporate thriller reads. The writing is tight, the characters are well developed, and the action is smart. A great read if you're into this genre. 21 years later, and the core story about corporate backstabbing, is still a page turner.
Perhaps it was because of two hyped novels that didn't perform as well as expected, Kennedy stopped writing corporate thrillers after this. A shame. He was fantastic at it.
February 6, 2024
I’ve become quite a fan of Douglas Kennedy’s books. Initially, I thought I wasn’t going to like this one, as it’s not my usual genre of novel. However, rapidly I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
The story tells of the ugly side of the corporate world. Ned, a relatively successful New Yorker, gradually loses everything, including his wife. Against all adversities, he fights to restore an equilibrium in all aspects of his existence. A fast-paced thriller.
Kennedy’s writing techniques are superb. He knows how much descriptive detail to include; he really brings his characters to life and the plot really flows well. One negative though, I consider the cover to be awful. It gives an incorrect impression of what the book is about.
To be recommended.
The story tells of the ugly side of the corporate world. Ned, a relatively successful New Yorker, gradually loses everything, including his wife. Against all adversities, he fights to restore an equilibrium in all aspects of his existence. A fast-paced thriller.
Kennedy’s writing techniques are superb. He knows how much descriptive detail to include; he really brings his characters to life and the plot really flows well. One negative though, I consider the cover to be awful. It gives an incorrect impression of what the book is about.
To be recommended.
July 8, 2020
This is my 2nd Douglas Kennedy book and it was much less enjoyable than the first.Thought it was rather predictable once the plot began to unfold.. set in the cut throat business sector of Manhattan, a takeover of the company leaves Ned Allen unemployed and owing a lot of money due to his extravagant lifestyle and the promised bonus not coming through.. He finally gets a job, but it’s not all it seems. He is just a front man for money laundering. End of the book shows how he finally outwits his ruthless bosses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2025
Cis Het White Wet Rag of a Man cannot take "no" for an answer and ends up in the kind of trouble a Rich Man in Sales can get himself into.
The women in this book (except for Debbie) are the only reasonable characters in this book and Lizzie deserved to be the main character by how she was the ONLY WAY the plot moved towards its resolution.
People in the reviews said that this book had a "CRAZY TWIST !!1!" in the end and now that I've finished it, I'm still wondering what that twist was lmao I'm sorry
The women in this book (except for Debbie) are the only reasonable characters in this book and Lizzie deserved to be the main character by how she was the ONLY WAY the plot moved towards its resolution.
People in the reviews said that this book had a "CRAZY TWIST !!1!" in the end and now that I've finished it, I'm still wondering what that twist was lmao I'm sorry
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