Review of An Indispensable Man

[Steinkar]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "An Indispensable Man" by Bob Ford.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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Bob Ford’s An Indispensable Man is filled with rogues, rascals, and reprobates who spend their days scamming and scheming and their nights cavorting and carousing. The story starts with a tragic car accident that kills the driver and his paramour, both of whose attentions were elsewhere at the time the car sailed off the road. The narrative chronicles the repercussions of that accident through multiple storylines. Jack Poor, the owner of the car dealership, is worried about being sued by the dead driver’s widow, but he knows a secret that could get him out of that predicament. Charlie Fair, the president of the car manufacturer, is worried that the accident might trigger an investigation into the cost-saving measures he authorized that may have contributed to the fatal crash. Popper Poppenhaus, technically the VP of Marketing but nothing more than an errand boy for Charlie Fair, devises a way to swindle both the grieving widow and Charlie Fair out of millions of dollars. And finally, the protagonist, Preston Waddington, a plebeian among aristocrats, uncovers all the scams and is forced to strategize a course of action well beyond his pay grade to save the company.

This was a fun read. Ford’s sardonic humor sets just the right tone to lighten the perversions in this story. Although most of the major characters are despicable, if not totally evil, I couldn’t help wanting to follow each of their devilish schemes as the story moved along. I can’t say I was actually rooting for these scoundrels, but I was certainly intrigued by them. The details of their machinations are brilliant, and I was often surprised at the zigzags in each storyline.

Unfortunately, the book is not flawless. All the major players are men, whose characters are richly drawn. However, they all seem to be mooching off of the family riches of their wives. This thread becomes repetitive and makes the men seem powerless, without any agency of their own. Conversely, the female characters are so one-dimensional that they could be interchangeable, and the lines between their different side plots sometimes blur together.

I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. It is fast-paced with very clever storylines. Unfortunately, the way Ford draws the relationships between the male and female characters weakens the overall enjoyment. There are also several editing errors, some of which are obvious and distracting.

The target audience for this book is very specifically adults. It contains multiple examples of sexual innuendo and profanity. These are completely appropriate in the context of the book, but they are definitely not for an immature audience.

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An Indispensable Man
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Amy Luman]

Everyone, from Poor to Waddington, seems to have some sorts of agenda regarding the accident. I hope everyone gets their fair share. Thanks for the review!

[peace_m]

Great review. I appreciate your honesty.

[Afrochild7]

This book to me sounds like dark humour. Secret agendas and deceit, I love it

[Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu]

I wouldn't have been shocked if this book were based on a true story. A lot corruption in today's market leads to poor quality products making their way to the buyer. Thanks for the candor in your review.

[Amenrodion]

A book full of humour. Seems like an easy read. Thanks for the review

[Mbenma Esther 080]

Indeed, some men are indispensable. Thanks for the review.