Inhuman Resources by Pierre Lemaitre
Alain Delambre is a fifty-seven-year-old former HR executive, drained by four years of hopeless unemployment. The only job offers he gets are for low-level, demoralizing positions. He has reached rock bottom and can see no way out.
So when a major company finally invites him in for an interview, Alain is ready to do anything–borrow money, shame his wife and his daughters, and even participate in the ultimate recruitment test: a role-playing game that involves taking hostages.
Alain vows to commit body and soul in this struggle to regain his dignity. But if he had realized that the odds were stacked against him from the beginning, he never would have tried to land the position. Now, his fury is limitless. And what began as a role-playing game could quickly become a bloodbath.
Amazon Barnes and Noble Goodreads
Praise
When Alain Delambre lost his job four years ago, he lost everything. Now he’s breaking all the rules for one last shot at the life he thinks he deserves.
“a pulsating serio-comic thriller” The Sunday Times
“A really excellent suspense novelist.” Stephen King
Author’s Bio
Pierre Lemaitre (born 19 April 1951 in Paris) is a Prix Goncourt-winning French author and a screenwriter, internationally renowned for the crime novels featuring the fictional character Commandant Camille Verhœven.
His first novel to be translated into English, Alex, is a translation of the French book of the same title, it won the CWA International Dagger for best crime novel of 2013.
In November 2013, he was awarded the Prix Goncourt, France’s top literary prize, for Au revoir là-haut, an epic about World War I. The translation of another of his French novels, Camille won the CWA International Dagger in 2015.
My Review
4 stars
Alain Delambra is 57 years old and was a former HR executive that has lost his job. He has been working odd jobs in the last four years to barely make ends meet. But then he is given the opportunity to work at his idea job and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get this job. Even if this means an odd hostage role-playing game. But things quickly go wrong and Alain is going to do whatever it takes to win.
I couldn’t help but feel bad for Alain, to have this career and then to be fired late in life then not being able to find anything else besides menial jobs. I understood where he can from and his drive to get this job. But things go wrong quickly and Alain just doesn’t seem to see it, he is that focused on getting the job. He neglects his wife, hits his son in law, essential robs his daughter, and so much more.
This is different from the other stories from Pierre Lemaitre. It has lots of surprises as you follow Alain in his crazy fervor for a job. Mind you there are a couple places that the story seems to slow and gets a little unbelievable. But it is still a wild ride as you come crashing to the conclusion. It’s definitely a good read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
I would like to thank Quercus for the opportunity to read and share this book.