Tools of the Trade

By: Philip B. Persinger

Narrated by: Daniel McColly

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Sex can be the means to an end, but what happens at the end of the means?

A heart-warming tale of alpha males facing a precipitous slide - for beta or for worse. Woody Steele is one of the richest men on the planet. Sadly one of his greatest assets has been recently downsized - sorry Casanova. Ivan Greenbriar, his fellow billionaire nemesis and creep extraordinaire, turns every activity into a pissing contest even when he’s alone. Sargent Scanlon, a hero cop solely on the merits of getting shot in the nuts, doesn’t know what fear is until he must match wits with his odious 14-year-old stepdaughter - she’s a crime against humanity. Meanwhile, looking down from above is Colonel Pavlenko, the world’s oldest practicing Stalinist (mutually assured destruction anyone?).

This is a real-time, real-world story about manly men - and their women, women who are ready to break through the glass ceiling, even if they have to use their mates as battering rams.

©2016 Philip B. Persinger (P)2018 Philip B. Persinger

Such delicious bad behavior

This book is a satirical look at the "1 percenters" and while it is very definitely men behaving badly, the women get in the best licks. Ruthless!!!!!!

I loved this author so much! He had a habit of turning a phrase with such mixed metaphors that I found myself smiling all the time. For instance: "Third century Greco-Roman kiddie porn", or "Surrounded by the detritus of an aphrodisiac mind field." (I know, right!!!!) It was great.

The story itself flips from POV to POV and you need to pay attention but man, is it worth it!!

I loved the narration as well. McColly was challenged on all fronts but he delivered.

This listen is not for everyone but if you like a "how the mighty falls" listen, you will love this.

Whip-smart, funny, and all the best similes

In addition to this being a pure joy to listen to - Philip Persinger writes as if his words are meant to be performed rather than read silently, and Daniel McColly performs brilliantly - Tools of the Trade features characters who do and say atrocious things, but in such a way that their behavior, questionable as it may be, is hard not to love. Every character has a soft spot, a tender moment, and we come across those spots and moments in unexpected ways (usually couched in imaginative phrases and sharp humor). This is a must-hear book by a wildly clever writer.