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trin's review against another edition
2.0
Mindless violence thinly disguised with a plot about spies or something. Basically: the boss of a financial company that’s actually the cover for a CIA splinter cell—paging Arvin Sloane—has been given orders to liquidate his branch, so he calls a group of employees—some agents and some not—into work on a Saturday, tells them the doors have all been rigged with sarin gas, and gives them the option of drinking poisoned champagne or being shot in the head. But there’s a rogue rogue agent in their midst, and soon everyone’s fighting and killing each other willy-nilly.
I’ll admit, I came to this wanting some mindless violence—it’s hard to mistake the book for anything but what it is—but this was still pretty blah. The top villain is—swear to god—a disgruntled former Olympic gymnast whose career was ruined by an injury, and since I just saw that exact same plot point in an episode of Chuck…ahahahahaha. Also, there’s a dumb “twist” ending that makes the book even more pointless than it would have been otherwise. Next time I’m in this mood, remind me just to reread [book: Battle Royale] or something.
I’ll admit, I came to this wanting some mindless violence—it’s hard to mistake the book for anything but what it is—but this was still pretty blah. The top villain is—swear to god—a disgruntled former Olympic gymnast whose career was ruined by an injury, and since I just saw that exact same plot point in an episode of Chuck…ahahahahaha. Also, there’s a dumb “twist” ending that makes the book even more pointless than it would have been otherwise. Next time I’m in this mood, remind me just to reread [book: Battle Royale] or something.
coleycole's review against another edition
3.0
Fast, funny suspense. Best cover quote ever: "Ever want to kill your boss? Well, the feeling is mutual."
sandygx260's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book damned funny but then again I am easy to please. Perhaps it is cheesy but it's so damned tongue in cheek cheesy that the plot and ridiculous action nonsense works, well, it did for me. Depending on how tight you hoist up your panties then your mileage may vary.
showell's review against another edition
2.0
Eh. Felt like a bit of a slog to get through (although to be fair this isn't really my type of book) and the constantly shifting POV made me feel like I was reading a writing project devised in an MFA class. Now that I know this guy is a comic book writer the book makes a bit more sense.
redinteeth's review against another edition
2.0
Lost a full star for cartwheeling down the stairs.
And also the parachute.
And also the parachute.
mikelchartier's review against another edition
2.0
Everything you need after finishing Harlot's Ghost. Something to erase your brain to because there's no substance here, but it does serve its purpose, I still can't believe this author is the editor of a newspaper, he writes like a child.
If Quinten Tarentino's absurd fondness of violence fucked Michael Bay's vapid 'artistry' and birthed a mutant book-baby, this would probably be it.
If Quinten Tarentino's absurd fondness of violence fucked Michael Bay's vapid 'artistry' and birthed a mutant book-baby, this would probably be it.
dee9401's review against another edition
1.0
Huge disappointment with author more showing off to readers than letting his characters speak for him. Good book for fans of Fox FakeNews and 24-like terror and shock writing.
lerat42's review against another edition
3.0
This one really deserves a 3.5, rather than just a 3. I didn't like it as much as The Blond, but it was still a rip-roaring read.
joeholmes's review against another edition
1.0
Severance Package doesn't work on so many levels that I lost track. As a parody of violent spy/terrorist thrillers, it's just not very funny or sharp. As a straight thriller, it never rises above the adolescent plot and writing. The author seems to be shooting for some kind of Chuck Palahniuk vibe, but can't achieve Palahniuk's fresh take on stomach-churning set pieces, settling instead for pandering to the Palahniuk male audience. We get a plot that goes around and around in the same circles page after page, lame twists that never convince, and prose that wants desperately to be snappy and funny, but just isn't.
kilcannon's review against another edition
2.0
This book is an outline for a better book in which the characters are interesting, the gags well-written, and the narrative voice more skillfully wrought.
I enjoyed several of the story elements, and the amusing way that the characters are put through the wringer, but there's an amateurish feel to the whole thing.
I could almost give it three stars just for the cartoonish, over the top violence and willful messiness of events, but ... nah.
I enjoyed several of the story elements, and the amusing way that the characters are put through the wringer, but there's an amateurish feel to the whole thing.
I could almost give it three stars just for the cartoonish, over the top violence and willful messiness of events, but ... nah.