“The Coaster is a guilty pleasure.” Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author
Description
Bob Patterson considers himself an everyman—albeit an everyman with a rich, beautiful wife, two good kids, and a mail-it-in job that ignores his law degree. Despite his good fortune, Bob is idling through life, bored at work and at home. In short, he is the proverbial coaster.
Bob’s wife, Sarah, is the anointed heir to the empire built by her father, Sam, a kind of Kansas City, Missouri, Warren Buffet. Fine by Bob, the family soccer mom, but early one morning he and Sarah awake to terrible news.
Sam’s death reveals he appointed Bob to be the trustee of his personal fortune and, as the IRS currently has it, he’ll be in charge of his mother-in-law’s money. Even more terrifying, Bob realizes he faces the prospect of actually working all day, for stakes that matter.
Is the reappearance of Bob’s wildest fraternity brother from college and a proposal from a bland businessman with a plan that seems too good to be true mere coincidence? After a lifetime of choosing the path of least resistance, will Bob finally take a stand when his family needs him most? If so, where?
Bob peppers his story with sports and pop culture references and wry commentary on everything from the sex lives of married couples (such as they are) to the enormous cost of being “honored” at a charitable event. Bob knows what the hero should do in the situations he encounters (he’s read the books and seen the movies, too). He doesn’t have “a very particular set of skills” or a secret past in the special forces. He’s just a regular guy who handles extreme pressure and threats to his family about like you’d expect (not well). It’s going to take all he’s got (really, more than he’s got) to raise his game. Fortunately he’s got an ace-in-the-hole—at home.
Darkly comic, The Coaster turns the conventions of the mystery/suspense genre upside down.
Praise
“The Coaster is a guilty pleasure.” Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author
“Bob’s wry, self-deprecating, and hilarious musings offer keen observations on everything from sports to sex.” Library Journal (starred review)
“A tale of greed and mayhem, with an ironic and engaging commentary on the foibles of modern mankind.” Publishers Weekly
“With its fish-out-of-water plot and cartoonish characters, this would make a perfect beach read for account executives and unprepared heirs.” Kirkus Reviews
“Wurster spins a devious plot out of his hero’s bewilderment…The violent finale boils with surprises, all the while staying mordantly funny. A rumbustious read.” Booklist
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Dec 12, 2016 |
| Release Date | December 13, 2016 |
| Release Date Machine | 1481587200 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Bestselling Mystery, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Bestselling Mysteries, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
Erich Wurster lives in Prairie Village, Kansas, with his wife and teenage daughter. He also has three sons. It’s been a pretty long marriage. When he is not writing, Erich spends his time thinking of excuses to avoid writing and annoying his daughter by talking to her friends in the car. This is his first novel.
Narrator Bio
Johnny Heller, winner of numerous Earphones and Audie Awards, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has been a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award winner from 2008 through 2013 and he has been named a top voice of 2008 and 2009 and selected as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the Twentieth Century by AudioFile magazine.
Overview
Bob Patterson considers himself an everyman—albeit an everyman with a rich, beautiful wife, two good kids, and a mail-it-in job that ignores his law degree. Despite his good fortune, Bob is idling through life, bored at work and at home. In short, he is the proverbial coaster.
Bob’s wife, Sarah, is the anointed heir to the empire built by her father, Sam, a kind of Kansas City, Missouri, Warren Buffet. Fine by Bob, the family soccer mom, but early one morning he and Sarah awake to terrible news.
Sam’s death reveals he appointed Bob to be the trustee of his personal fortune and, as the IRS currently has it, he’ll be in charge of his mother-in-law’s money. Even more terrifying, Bob realizes he faces the prospect of actually working all day, for stakes that matter.
Is the reappearance of Bob’s wildest fraternity brother from college and a proposal from a bland businessman with a plan that seems too good to be true mere coincidence? After a lifetime of choosing the path of least resistance, will Bob finally take a stand when his family needs him most? If so, where?
Bob peppers his story with sports and pop culture references and wry commentary on everything from the sex lives of married couples (such as they are) to the enormous cost of being “honored” at a charitable event. Bob knows what the hero should do in the situations he encounters (he’s read the books and seen the movies, too). He doesn’t have “a very particular set of skills” or a secret past in the special forces. He’s just a regular guy who handles extreme pressure and threats to his family about like you’d expect (not well). It’s going to take all he’s got (really, more than he’s got) to raise his game. Fortunately he’s got an ace-in-the-hole—at home.
Darkly comic, The Coaster turns the conventions of the mystery/suspense genre upside down.
Reviews
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