I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man constantly trying to play the system and those around him falls into a series of missteps through his work, his romantic pursuits, and even the law in author Thomas Keech’s “Mallory’s Manly Methods”.
The Synopsis
Kevin Mallory is so good at lying he has convinced himself he has almost an average life. He tries to use his exceptional skill at prevarication to hang onto his job without doing any work, win the love of his co-worker without recognizing who she really is, take advantage of the young Black man who moves in next door, and manipulate the police and the courts into accepting his warped idea of justice.
The Review
This was definitely one of the most interesting reads I’ve had so far this year. The author immediately flys in the face of traditional humor books out there by crafting a protagonist that is not very likable at all. That is a good thing for this read, for in my mind’s eye the author crafted the everyman’s version of a Larry David or George Costanza but in the era of the Trump age. The ignorance, obliviousness, and tone-deaf way Mallory goes through life as he pushes the buttons of his bosses, his coworker Nelly, and even his neighbors, a young Black family, are so cringy and yet so beyond ridiculousness you can’t help but laugh not with him or in agreement with his views, but at his ridiculous nature.
Yet when the humor is gone, it is easy to relate this character to someone we’ve all come into contact with at one point or another in our lives. Especially in the current political climate our society faces. Someone who is oblivious to the world around them. Someone who understands nothing about social interactions. Someone who believes themselves smarter than those around them, even though the situations they dig themselves into are beyond their grasp. The author captures this tone and atmosphere the character creates perfectly, creating the balance of humor and social tension that highlights the struggles many faces in this world, from sexual harassment to narcissistic tendencies and so much more.
The Verdict
Witty, shocking, and engaging, author Thomas Keech’s “Mallory’s Manly Methods” is a must-read satire and humor fictional read. The protagonist is unusual and easy to root against, and yet so fascinating to delve into his psyche in an effort to understand the decision-making process and how these situations arise in the world. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Mr. Keech has written seven well-reviewed novels based on his experiences as a juvenile counselor, a legal aid attorney, an administrative law judge, and an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland as well as his time spent as a father and a former teenager himself. Besides writing, he has worked as a volunteer attorney and is a member of the ethics review panel of his local board of education.
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