First published 2006
Jason Steadman works as a sales executive for a major electronics company in Boston. At thirty, he has charm and likability but lacks the ruthless drive needed to climb the corporate hierarchy. His wife grows frustrated as his career stagnates. Everything changes when Jason meets Kurt Semko, a Special Forces veteran recently returned from Iraq. Jason recruits Kurt for the company softball team and helps him land a job in Corporate Security. Kurt was once drafted by major league baseball and proves his worth quickly. Soon Jason's fortunes reverse dramatically. His workplace rivals begin experiencing setbacks while Jason's career accelerates rapidly. He becomes an overnight success story within the company. Only gradually does Jason realize that Kurt has been systematically eliminating obstacles to Jason's advancement through increasingly violent methods. Kurt believes business operates like warfare and applies military tactics accordingly. When Jason attempts to stop Kurt's campaign, he discovers that his helpful friend has transformed into a lethal adversary. Jason must now fight for his survival, not just his career prospects.
Genres: crime, contemporary, action, mystery-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Boston, Iraq
Period: 21st-century
351 pages · Paperback · Luitingh
Content warnings: violence