The Up and Comer

April 30, 2001
The strain of living an excessive, brazen, lavishly upper-tier Manhattan life in an "incredibly self-centered, every-man-for-himself world" takes a disastrous toll on the narrator of Roughan's supremely hip, brazen debut. Right from the opening pages, married 30-something cutthroat attorney Philip Randall shamelessly admits to enjoying an extramarital affair with Jessica, his best friend Connor's girlfriend. He's definitely not a likable guy, especially when spewing smug commentary on just about every aspect of city life, and when socializing with wife Tracy's haughty Greenwich, Conn., family. But enter penniless "stoner" Tyler Mills, a prep school buddy of Philip's, who has unexpectedly blown into town, and this time Philip's arsenal of designer labels and street-smart manipulation fails him. Tyler, flashing his "Manson Family grin," has been busy spying on his school chum's secret rendezvous with Jessica and predictably proceeds to blackmail him. Outraged at his friend's audacity and escalating threats, Philip hatches a double-crossing scheme. As Roughan wraps his crafty plot around some impressively tense moments, the novel morphs into an engaging, cinematic page-turner. Auxiliary characters, particularly Philip's robust boss, Jack Devine, and Jack's kind, innocuous wife, Sally, are well-drawn and convincing, adding the depth and humanity necessary to counteract Philip's almost robotic duplicity. The novel's atypical conclusion, awash in wincing retrospection and a refreshing comeuppance, offers a satisfying and sentimental balance. Time-Warner audio book. (June 5)Forecast: Already optioned by USA Films, with the movie version slated to be produced by Michael Douglas, this derivative but slickly vibrant book will doubtless trade on the hype. Targeted marketing—transit advertising in the New York area and Wall Street giveaways—should help, and jacket blurbs by Bret Easton Ellis, among other yuppie dignitaries, will heighten the buzz.

February 15, 2001
Up and comer Philip Randall is about to be a down and outer; a prep school buddy has spotted him with his mistress and resorts to blackmail. Numerous foreign rights sales and a forthcoming film make this a debut to watch.

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2001
It's hard to like Philip Randall. He has a gorgeous, perfectly appointed Manhattan penthouse; a beautiful (and rich) wife; a partner-track position with a prestigious downtown law firm; and plenty of disposable income (thanks to the rich wife). But that's not enough for Philip. He doesn't merely want the good life, he wants the best life, and his cavalier affair with his wife's best friend adds just the right amount of danger--or "Risk Factor 5," as Philip calls it--to give his perfect life an extra kick. But when an unstable friend from his past shows up and threatens to blow the lid off of Philip's secret, the cocky attorney faces Risk Factor 10. Can he manage his personal crisis and successfully defend his boss' wife, who is charged with drunk driving? The somewhat shallow characters are a stumbling block, but Roughan's debut novel is fast moving and involving; mercifully, Philip emerges as at least partially sympathetic in the end.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)