The Up and Comer

by Howard Roughan

Poised to become his Manhattan law firm's youngest partner, up-and-coming attorney Philip Randall takes risks and a mistress--his best friend's wife. Then the game changes and the stakes get higher. Someone begins following Philip's every move, waiting for the chance to strike--with a vengeance. Soon, Philip is at the center of a murder investigation that can end his career, his marriage, and his fabulous life.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 5, 2001

About the author

Howard Roughan (pronounced "Rowan") is the author of the critically acclaimed novels, THE UP AND COMER and THE PROMISE OF A LIE, as well as the co-author of multiple #1 bestsellers with James Patterson, including HONEYMOON, 2ND HONEYMOON, DON'T BLINK, and TRUTH OR DIE. Their collaboration, MURDER GAMES, was adapted into the CBS television show "Instinct" staring Alan Cumming as Dr. Dylan Reinhart. Reinhart has returned in KILLER INSTINCT, available now, and will do so again in a third installment of the INSTINCT series, coming soon.

Howard's latest short story, THE CABOTS & THE CROMWELLS, is available on Amazon Kindle and the Kindle app.

Howard is a graduate of Dartmouth and currently resides in Naples, Florida. He and his wife have one son together who is off at college and doesn't call his parents enough.

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good debut novel. I will definitely read more of his books. I read a book that he co-authored with James Patterson and decided to read some of his other stuff. Good call on my part. Must order more!

[Charmed37x · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Cleverly written, not your predictable thriller. Definitely an author I will read again.

[Sarah White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Fast and easy read but very satisfying. Great suspense/thriller...I promise that you won't be able to put it down! Highly recommend to my crime fiction pals.

[Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gonna be honest, I read this just so I’m prepared for the movie adaptation with Nate Mann and,, yeah I’m not in any way prepared to see that man do all this whew 🫠

[Shannon Merrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely gets you. Philip Randall lives quite an unreal life, yet it's somewhat realistic, so I got sucked into it! Fast read.

[Beckie Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 2nd time reading this book. I can't remember the 1st time (although marked showing I read it). It was a pleasure 2 reread it and understood why I kept it in my library. Sorry 2 say, some books are not worthy 2 be saved.
Phil, bottom line, had a good life going and then it was taken away from him. By his own doing. At the end, Jessica....I knew that was gonna happen (not from memory recall). Jack. Yup, of course that was gonna happen. His wife. Yup, ditto.
In the end, I was shocked by Sally.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was rough to get thru. The 50% mark had me pulled in for maybe 2-3 chapters but overall it wasn’t super exciting. I’m shocked this is being turned into a movie as there’s way better books out there that deserve a chance to become a movie.

It’s your typical bro book. Guy gets caught having an affair / is blackmailed. Some racial slurs in the book, was a semi hot mess. Hoping the movie ends up being better - but also explains why it’s a low cost movie being produced


I’m concerned for all the people rating this 5 stars. Theres better lawyer thriller books out there

[Sue Engels-Kern · Rating 2 out of 5]

No Redeemable Character - Like Watching a Train wreck!

If you want to read about people with no moral compass, you will like this book. I Did finish the book, but when I got to the end, I felt like I had just wasted several hours of my life that I would not get back. Very Same old same old plot. This Author is much better when combining his writing talents with James Patterson.

[PWA Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a few chapters wasn't sure I would continue but I really like the authors other books so I kept going-I'm glad I did. The main character is crass with no morals or redeeming characteristics. He puts himself and his wants and needs before anyone else, even his wife and best friend.
This author knows how to draw you in. This story wasn't comfortable for me but its one I needed to read. "Think or should I say read out of your normal".

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best first novels I can ever remember reading. It is clever and witty in both the writing and the plot. Young attorney Philip Randall is on his way to having it all - the perfect job, the perfect life, the perfect friends and a perfectly rich wife oh and he's sleeping with his best friend's wife. He's also one of the most likeable people I've ever met in a book. This is really a delightful read.

[Bethany Tirpak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to read another book by Howard Roughan, as I've read The Promise of a Lie countless times!
The Up and Comer is another hit for me. I enjoy his writing style and the story kept moving without getting stale. The plot was pretty direct and straightforward, no cat and mouse or cryptic games to figure out. I don't see myself reading this one over and over, but I definitely recommend it and will add it to my shelf of books I would read again.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, given goodreads won't accept perfectly valid date finished dates..... which is getting old.

finished 12/25/2017.

[Vicki Justet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read ..I couldn’t put it down ...so enjoyed ...I never give five stars but ..why not ..it kept my rapt attention! It’s an older book that I just heard about but I highly recommend it!

[Manal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. Overall enjoyable.

[Anna Redway · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed it! many turns and written by a family friend - so that was fun!

[Janet Brandenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharp writing style, ingenious plot, complex characters, and a genuine page-turner!

[David Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reviewing the thriller novel The Up And Comer by Howard Roughan which is an excellent story which I bought from a local secondhand bookstore. Howard has co written various novels with James Patterson and does seem like a pretty good thriller writer. This novel isn't that different to the kind of thing Patterson writes. The book plays with your emotions quite skilfully and the key character who is an up and coming lawyer in a successful firm, hence the title, does starts off as not very likable but I did find myself feeling sorry for him by the end of the book although perhaps justifiably there is a bitter sweet ending. It's very skilfully written and it does seem a shame it hasn't reached a more mainstream audience. The plot is a lawyer in a successful firm who is married to the bosses daughter is having an affair with the bosses wife who he is meant to be defending on a driving whilst under the influence charge. Then an ex friend of his comes back in his life and has snaps of him and the bosses wife that incriminate him. He wants a $100,000 to keep quiet and threatens this bloke and refuses to pay up. In the meantime he joins a poker circle with some friends and cleans up with lots of money, he gets $3,000 alone when he joins the group but it makes sense to pay the ex friend to stay quiet especially when he discovers he knows his boss. Anyway by a twist of circumstances he ends up killing the ex friend more in manslaughter than murder but makes it look like a robbery gone wrong. At this point his whole starts to come apart and the police are hot on his trail. I really enjoyed this book and it definitely keeps your interest throughout.

[Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally rocccccccccckkkked! I loved it from the beginning to the end. This first book solely by Roughan was the best of the best! He wrote Honeymoon with James Patterson which got me hooked on Patterson! Now....I can't wait to read Promise of Lie the 2nd book by Roughan.

This book had many twists back and forth. Just when you thought you knew what the characters were going to do....you were WRONG! I guessed a few things but then they ended up twisting into a totally different way.

LOVE BITES and BITES HARD! This is an awesome read!!!!

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of trashy but surprisingly engaging...like a network TV legal show that's really all about the moral depravity of the lawyers, and in some vague way therefore a critique of American capitalist moral depravity. It's one of those books that you feel from page 1 you know the ending of and are waiting to see HOW and WHEN the chips fall, not if...no surprises, but a fun if guilty read.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't see the end from the beginning, or even the middle! I like books with characters who are both good and bad and certainly most of the characters in this book fell into that middle moral ground. The "bad" guy was so cleverly written that I was sure I'd known him in college. It didn't take me too long to blaze through this book; it was lots of fun to read.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular trashy book

[Kim Nowak · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good lawyer book, if you like them. Easy, light read but I liked it.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

you really can't help getting involved in this book. i didn't see the ending coming. loved the main character. a thrilling tightly written story.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and fast paced. Not anything too deep or special but very entertaining.

[Casi K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller with a sense of humor. This story had so many twists, I couldn't put it down. Loved Howard Roughan's writing style. Can't wait for his next novel.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came across him when reading James Patterson. They have shared a couple of titles.

[Doris Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character in this book was not exactly heartwarming. I was on his side but only moderately so. He was very self-centered. I did, however, enjoy the book. It held my attention.

[Mohamed Maumoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and gripping. One of the best books I've ever read.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me - At first I wondered where the story was going, but held my interest and couldn't put it down... a good read.

[Homegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!