Human Resources

by Geoffrey Neil

Human Resources has been optioned for film or TV adaptation by Mace Neufeld Productions, producers of The Omen, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Invictus and a list of other titles.

Some things are much worse than getting fired. A beautiful business consultant swoops in to rescue a struggling company from financial disaster. She cancels layoffs and dazzles everyone with her killer looks and corporate savvy. Employee, Lonnie Raiford, becomes skeptical when he and the other staff notice unexplainable, over-the-top attention and affection she showers on his best friend, Hugh Berish. As curiosity mounts about the woman's intentions, Lonnie begins a frantic investigation that uncovers her true identity and a secret more bizarre than anyone at the company had imagined.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery

282 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Geoffrey Neil, his wife and talkative son live in Los Angeles with a useless, ungrateful fish that Geoffrey threatens at least once daily. Completing a novel is a grueling process for Geoffrey, but he can't break his writing obsession even though he likes sleep, TV and people more than keyboards. His stories use disturbing implications more than graphic depictions to provide a satisfying thrill with little blood--a tactic many readers find equally assaulting on the senses. Geoffrey's overactive imagination and genuine fear of almost everything (You'd be shocked.) are tools that help him write thrillers, but also get him wound tighter than an eight-day clock. His wife calls him the mayor of Stress Town. That scares him. See?
Geoffrey is busy finishing his fourth novel, "Prey for Us", which will be released in 2016. For advance notice and other coveted perks, join his private Reader Group on his website. Meanwhile, why not try one of his other books? You never know ... that could boost Geoffrey's spirits enough to save a pathetic fish. Do the right thing. Do it for the fish.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a strange book, not sure what I was expecting but I got a kind of mystery, thriller, horror ish type story. You need to get past the sexist and somewhat blokey narrative at the beginning and then you have a very intriguing story.

Despite my dislike of almost all the characters this was an interesting book which kept me guessing and even when the evil intent was revealed for what it was, it was a fast paced ride to see who would be victorious and be left alive! It did occasionally make for some uncomfortable reading but worth it overall - a good story of some seriously nefarious activities with some pretty intense characters that made for an exciting read.

Don’t be put off by the start fellow readers, I thought this was heading for a 3* but it really picked up as it went along so I am giving it a fair 4*/5.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although occasionally a bit laddish, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable, action packed "spoof noir-thriller" of a book which contained lots of great ideas and amusing/detailed dialogue that achieved bringing the silliness of it all to life - it even made me laugh out loud a few times (not easy to do!!). In fact, I could actually visualise certain characters such as "Morana" - Lana Croft, "Daft Hugh" - the Peter character from Family Guy and "Mack" - the department store boss from the films 'BIG' and 'ELF'. Strangely enough though, this didn't really happen for "Lonnie" and "The Dr" who were two of the other main central characters and still not sure why I found this to be the case. After reading it I was left thinking that if this was ever made into a film then animations (like "The Simpsons") or using highly technical computer graphics, may well produce the best completed version of the story...think "Johnny English" films...without the James Bond bit. Anyway, if all this appeals to you, then be sure to give it a read as I am sure that you will find its escapism simply great fun. 4.8 stars - but given it 5, for novelty value and originality of story - will definitely be reading more from this author!

[Millie Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geoff Neil has created a sinfully delectable read. The story flows across the mental palate, paced to perfection, allowing one to savor the different flavors of the story - humor, action, tension, shock, mystery. All prepared in a Chrichtonesque recipe. Take an unlikely hero, sprinkle in some technology and scientific zest to capture the imagination, spice it all up with a nemesis that sets your nerves afire with her ruthless cold-heartedness.

I mean to impart to you, my pleasure at having read this five star gourmet literary meal. Mr. Neil's first book Dire Means - a delightful appetizer. Human Resources - a well-rounded meal. I am hungering for dessert,with Wanton Disregard. I can only hope that there is a nightcap planned as well! I encourage you to feast on Human Resources, but let me give you caution, if your nerves get your stomach all tied up with butterflies, you may want a bottle of Tums close at hand.

[Deleyna Marr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful, especially since I know I've met Morana somewhere. As a former employer, I found the employee behavior and thinking to be a little too realistic. There were times when I was rooting for the villain and booing our hero. Couldn't put the book down, and I'm looking forward to reading anything else Geoffrey Neil writes. His books are full of reality and the warped way that people approach life, and yet they are also entertaining, gripping and compelling. Don't miss this exciting author's work!

[Selenis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a struggle to finish this one.
Lonnie is a jerk, Morana is a psychopath, Hugh is a big fellow with a big heart and a small brain.
It is interesting, I suppose, just not my style. Nonetheless, I kept going and in the end, there was the expected conclusion

[Tracy Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I kept thinking about it during times when I wasn't reading it, which I like.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like a graphic novel

HR tells the story of coming into a small business as an outside consultant. She manipulates everyone except the IT person into thinking she is wonderful and going to make the business a success. However, inch by inch, people begin to see through her. Violence and mayhem evolve. HR is much like a graphic novel but without the pictures. 2.5 stars raised r a 3. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.

[Patty U. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. The prologue was the best part of the book. The last few chapters were also good. The in between not so much. I wanted more detail on how they harvested and how the victim felt during the process. It built up to something great then fell flat. Sorry, but I won't be buying anymore books by this author.

[Gigi Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please

This was a thrilling ride! At first I was not liking the protagonist, really thought he was a jerk, but, he redeemed himself, but, the real bad guy? Whoa I hope she got her just desserts, Please!!!!

[JL Emerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not into it

It might be a good book, but I couldn't tell. To me, it had no hook. It was too vague. I suppose that's because the author wanted to unfold the story gradually. Didn't work for me. I abandoned it early on. Just not interested in that type of story telling.

[Cassandra Brenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralled

OK, the book has kind of a gruesome plot, but, somehow it was totally believable. We have people in this world who I'm sure would pay good money for some good ol' brown fat!

[Tina R Jolliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just learned that this one has been optioned for a movie...OH MY, this was a real page turner. Once I started reading I could not put it down...Loved the suspense that kept me wanting to know just what the heck was going on...

[Ginny Mendoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book kept my attention but was a bit freaky and I was scared on the edge of my seat. Still think about it and wonder...

[Michele Roosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little far fetched

Although at times the story pulls you in, mostly i just kept thinking how far fetched certain aspects were. Mostly enjoyed

[Cheryl Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

This is another one that was hard to get into but about half way thu it grabbed me so hard I had to put it down now and then to distract myself from the tension and emotion.

[paulette sarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller

This book kept you on your toes until the end. Lots of drama and intrigue. The main villain was really intense. Would definitely read more from this author.

[Emeline Pico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lonnie please save Hugh!

[David John Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real page Turner and you should read this I was so engrossed as I only read at night time in bed some times I have read till 3.30am the plot is so good that you start to believe that it is true you have to read it now

[Dan Absalonson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook of this novel was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast.com.

This was an interesting read with a unique plot. This author is very good at building tension. I felt nervous with the characters in many scenes. I also loved how he wrote in little details that the characters noticed. It added to the realism and made me feel like I was there in the story that much more with the character. The writer's style was great. He writes without much flourish so the story moves fast but like I said there is also little details added to really flesh out the scenes. A great combo of nice bare bones writing with dashes of detail made for a nice fast pace and vivid story.

Like I said, this was a unique book. I haven't read anything like it. I liked it and I'm glad I read it because it was an interesting tale. The author is a talented writer and he did a lot of things right in this book - there were just a few things that kept me from giving this one a 5 star review.

It's a thriller but sort starts and stops as far as pacing goes. Once it gets that sorted out there are little moments of intensity here and there followed by a very slow boil that eventually pays off. I can't say I was ever bored, I guess I'd say the author just really took his time establishing things with the characters and the situation. That said there were a lot of really cool scenes in this book. It's worth the slower parts to get to the exciting stuff and the slow parts are doing their job of adding depth to the characters and setting up what happens in the last act of the story. So I guess I'd say some parts were a little slow but I still wasn't bored in these parts so the author was doing something right there.

The book starts off with one story and it takes a crazy turn toward horror. Then before you quite understand what's going on, though I'm sure more discerning readers guessed, you are plunged straight into another story with a whole new setting and new characters with the villain from the first story eventually coming into the story. It took a while until she was there though and until she tied the two stories together it was a jolt and I felt like I was reading a completely new book. I know these kinds of books need to start with an exciting scene to hook the reader but I'm wondering if the author could have condensed the first story and told a little of it and then sprinkle the rest of it in little parts throughout the other story as flashbacks the villain has or something. It was kind of cool knowing who the villain was before the characters and seeing them all slowly come to realize just who she really was though. The villain is someone you feel is very dangerous, capable, and smooth as you read the book. Like she's capable of anything.

The character Hugh seemed like a bit of a rip off of Lennie Small from Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men but I liked him anyway. I liked the details about him liking whittling but felt his character could have been developed a little more. I'm not sure how this could have been accomplished but maybe if we could of had some scenes from his point of view it would have helped us readers feel like we knew him better.

Overall the author did a great job of taking a crazy very creepy idea and turning it into a believable full length novel. That would not have been easy to do but it all comes to live as you read the story. This story would make a great movie. Give it a try and see it as a movie in your mind as I did.

[Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

The novel was easy to read and follow. The pacing and plot development were consistent and fairly engaging--if somewhat mechanical-feeling. The narrative progress occasionally mires in narrative trivia. The novel introduces a whole host of minor characters that in time become somewhat confusing to track; major characters receive extensive characterization which sometimes becomes repetitive. The novel did contain more typographical errors than I would expect in published material, but they were not so extensive as to ruin the reading experience--I also understand they have been fixed in later editions.

Spoiler:
The basic tension of the novel centers around a cabal of ultra-wealthy sociopaths who engage in ritual cannibalism on an exclusive and private South Pacific island--a sort of gourmet club for cannibals. The major narrative pits the cannibal's procurement specialist against an IT geek. She tries to acquire his dim-witted friend and he tries to save his friend from the horrible fate of being slaughtered and eaten. The IT geek becomes slowly aware of the extent of the plot throughout the novel.

One aspect of the book that was particularly difficult focused on the protagonist, Lonnie, as he unravels the mystery. The problem with Lonnie is that he's a jerk, in nearly every way. Mean-spirited, selfish, petty, sexist, snotty... pees on his boss' desk because he thinks he might be getting fired for ripping off the company. That sort of thing. He's such an unlikable jerk that even when he triumphs it's difficult to be excited about it. His friend that gets saved is likable but stupid and doesn't play much of a role in the novel so there's not much of a fall-back protagonist to carry the burden of the narrative.

My main problem with the novel, though, concerns the mechanics of the club's process of getting a victim to the island where they pass a minor physical inspection (basically a "two arms, two legs" type of inspection) before being knackered and served. The club kidnaps a physician to perform the meaningless look-over--this seems silly and comes across merely as a plot device--why not hire an actor to put on a lab coat and do the same meaningless review? Then, the club uses an extensive, invasive, and ultra-costly method merely to convince a person to travel willingly to their island. The first victim takes a few months to recruit at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars. However, it's clear that he would have gone to the island after simply being invited on day one--so why the elaborate ruse? Why spend tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, why spend months of planning, why involve yourself in elaborate and fraudulent schemes that attract law-enforcement, to simply recruit what turn out to be average men with below-average intellect? Why doesn't the sexy Morana just flash her cleavage and invite a guy to a bikini paradise for a weekend romp? This aspect of the novel was so contrived that it strained my ability to suspend disbelief in the fiction. Your mileage may vary.

[Erick Worrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was and am a huge fan of Geoffrey Neil's first book, Dire Means. I've recommended it to friends and family who have all enjoyed it thoroughly. Unfortunately, Human Resources was a miss for me. While it was an easy, quick read with few lulls in plot, it just didn't do anything substantial to me as a reader. I found the plot and characters to be very mundane, predictable and one-dimensional, the arc of the story very flat and aimless, and I was disappointed in the direction of the story and its conclusion as well.

Three points that were especially disappointing:

1) Character development was very poor. Particularly, the antagonist - Morana - who was a very interesting character introduced in Dire Means, concluded Dire Means with depth, intrigue and potential. I was excited to hear from Geoffrey that Morana would be featured and developed in HR. however, what started as such an interesting character was a very flat, generic bad guy in this book.

2) The story begins by showing how this particular illegal operation works - what they do, how they do it, their industry and clientele. It's fascinating. Rather than show more about this operation, the perspective flips and the other 90% of the story showcases how a particular "mission" of this operation brings about its undoing. With such a fascinating setup, it seemed like a real miss to tell the story from a different perspective. It's difficult to explain all of this without a spoiler, so it's a vague critique. Geoffrey - if you still want feedback on future things, you can certainly message me.

3) The editing on this book was careless. Typos are few, but grammar and sentence structure are all over the place. The further into the book, the more frequent the errors - as though an editor lost interest further into the book and stopped proofing carefully, several sentences mix up pronouns, repeat words or have improper syntax. It made an already frustrating book all the more difficult to finish as each error pulled me out of the book to try to gather an understanding of what the author meant to say.

I was really rooting for Geoffrey's second book after how much I enjoyed Dire Means. While I'm glad I read it, I wouldn't recommend it. I'm hoping Geoffrey takes another risk with his next book; this one felt like a safe, though sometimes silly outing.

[Dick Reynolds · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nelson Dupar can’t believe his good luck. Stuck in an elevator with a gorgeous woman, this self-confessed slob with a protruding belly strikes up a conversation and gets her telephone number. Nelson and Morana “Mo” Mahker begin a torrid affair and two months later they’re on their way to an upscale lodge on a sparsely populated island. In the helicopter, Morana puts a fancy dog collar on Nelson’s neck which he thinks is some kind of sex toy. But once at the lodge, he discovers the horrible truth. The collar is a restraint, along with a gag in the mouth and other restraints, while staff members massage his corpulent body and force him to drink beer.
The scene shifts to Dr. Lawrence Pradin who feels haunted by the “processing” of Dupar more than two previous victims. What the heck is going on here? Is Pradin some kind of doctor conducting experiments on unwilling patients? What we do learn is that the good doctor has had enough of this “whatever.” He wants to get back to Denver and be with his wife and daughter, Trista.
But Dr. Pradin is not free to leave the island just yet; he knows too much. He concocts a desperate scheme to leave the island on the next available helicopter. His escape is both humorous and exciting as he dupes his captors and literally hurls himself into the helicopter. But Dr. Pradin’s departure takes a turn for the worse when the helicopter pilot receives instructions to alter course for . . .where?
A new scene begins when Trista is leaving school and a strange woman offers Trista a ride to the hospital in her car. The woman claims to be a friend of Trista’s mother and that Trista’s Aunt Ruthie has been in an auto accident. When Trista tries to call her mother on her cell phone, the mystery woman jams the call with an electronic device.
Pretty exciting stuff, right? And all of the above is contained in the book’s prologue which is thirty-three pages long. That’s the problem. After this much prose, I know enough about Ms. Mahker and don’t care to read the rest of this book. A shame, really, because it probably would be a decent enough read if all this back story had been revealed during the main portion of the book. Little by little, the tension and suspense could have increased gradually, just like peeling an onion one layer at a time.

[ChrissieD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting anxiously for the new book by Geoffrey Neil. I am a fan of his first novel and was hopeful he wasn’t a “one hit wonder”. Thankfully, his newest effort, Human Resources, did not disappoint me. In fact, I have to admit I read it faster and enjoyed it overall more than the first!

I was pleased to see the return of Morana, that kick a** female character from Dire Means. I had a love-hate relationship with her that developed, to well, hate-hate in this book, but her cold, calculating character is a real flip on the typically emotional, “soft” female character found even in thrillers. She doesn’t scream or shiver fearfully or cry out in terror. She just causes others to do so.

I also enjoyed the protagonist, Lonnie – a good guy with lots of moral flaws, but that’s why I liked him. No preachy hero with a superiority complex whose moral character is unattainably perfect. He’s real and I’d be happy to be his friend…in fact I think anyone would be lucky to have him on their side in a crisis.

If you can’t tell, I am crazy for character driven novels and Human Resources is just that. It is a tense read with only a few places to stop and catch your breath, but that adds to the atmosphere in the book. I found myself haunted by the subtle hints at Morana’s evil plan. (Also, Mr. Neil, I really appreciated the tip of your hat in few spots to the readers of your first novel.) I was aptly horrified to find out Morana’s ultimate goal, too. Yikes!

And I certainly don’t want to give away the ending, but it tightened my throat and made my eyes well up. I’m happy to say, I am a fan of book #2 by Geoffrey Neil and I’m not typically someone who rereads a book once I am done, so I’m already waiting for #3!

[Bookwyrm Speaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book by the Author for free in return for an honest review through Audiobookblast dot com. OK, Legalese over. This book is not normally in my wheelhouse, being more of a horror/thriller hybrid, But I am so glad I expanded my horizons. This book was so good! The prologue starts with a guy who hooks up a relationship with a woman way out of his league. She's perfect. In fact, she's so perfect, she takes him on a vacation to a private resort off Fiji.Well, Whings go badly there, and we are left to wonder about his fate until later in the book. For the rest of the book, we follow the main protagonist, Lonnie , who is the IT guy at a small Menu cover company that is struggling. Lonnie's best friend at work is Hugh, who is somewhat autistic and very childlike, but very nice. The company brings in a consultant, Miranda, who calls off layoffs, and seems to be making lots of changes for the better, at least at first. She also seems to be inexplicably attracted to Hugh, and becomes very possessive. She and Lonnie clash, and it becomes a running theme of the book. Who is Miranda, and what is she up to. A Private investigator is hired by Lonnie to find out, only to be found dead in Lonnies driveway later. Is Miranda more than she seems, and if so, what are her plans for Hugh? Well, the only way to find out is to read this thrill packed book, and follow the twists and turns until the final, epic conclusion! Corey Snow's narration makes that a lot easier, since he does a great job bringing the characters to life, making sure the narration is never flat, giving life to each individual character. I would recommend this book to any fan of psychological thrillers.

[Sheryl Dahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this on Kindle - I'd found it on a daily Bookbub listing. Even on sale, I almost passed it up because the description sounded like a horror novel, which I don't normally care for. Originally, I only downloaded a sample; but the sample grabbed my attention, and I ended up buying the book and reading it in 3 days. I'd classify it as a vacation-read/guilty-pleasure type of book - a suspense/mystery, with an underlying horror premise. I couldn't put it down, and didn't want it to end. After the last chapter, I wondered how the characters were faring. You can guess at the big, dirty secret that's going on behind the scenes, but the mystery doesn't become clear until nearer to the ending.

The main characters are a group of people who work together in a small office, and a few others who come into their circle. I really came to feel that I knew the main characters, and what drove them. I rooted for the hero and worried for the underdog.

There were few typos and grammatical errors to stumble upon, but even one irritates me. Aren't there decent proof readers in the literary world, who don't just use spell-check? Anyway, I liked the book; but it wasn't one that I'd save and re-read. That's the only reason that I didn't give it a 5-star rating. I looked up the author and have already added another of his books to my "to-read" list. Get this book for yourself and enjoy it for the escapism!

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, I have to tell you, I kept reading this book because I was determined to find something .... likable .... about at least one character. Seriously, about 1/3 of the way into the book I was ready to put it down, but I really don't like to quit something I start. My problem was that I require a true protagonist to actually care about a story and I wasn't sure I was going to find one, which makes this an interesting, if a little squeamish, read. To be honest, Hugh is the one truly likable character, but he is obviously slow, which gives him a likeability factor. His best friend, Lonnie, is not the most admirable of characters, but where his friend Hugh is concerned, he will do anything for his friend, including possibly sacrificing himself to keep him safe.

Let me just say that there are some people with some unsavory eating habits and certain individuals are highly desired to join them at mealtime. It wouldn't be fair to give anything away, and I feel that just about anything I say will be too much. The story is an interesting character study about what people will do to get ahead, get something over on others, and/or get rich.

If you like odd stories with unsavory characters, but an actually intense mystery, read this story. But be forewarned, there will be (I hope) parts of the story that leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.

[Shoshana Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the more original mystery/thrillers I’ve read, and I didn’t “get” the nature of the real mystery until it was revealed. Hint: you’ll know who did it almost from the beginning, but that isn’t the *real* mystery.

The writing is very good. At first I found the story a bit confusing, because, although I’m used to reading stories having more than one POV, usually, these are presented in shorter, alternating chapters. However, once the author tied things together, and I understood how certain characters introduced in the beginning of the book fit in, the book became a fast and fascinating thriller, with a twist that left me breathless.

The narrator gave a professional an very competent performance, too, so, all in all, this was an absorbing read, and by the last few chapters, one hard to put down, even for a minute.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review via the courtesy of AudioBookBlast dot com.

[M.D. Thalmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting and at the same time I felt like i was getting cancer from having to read it. I have been buying all these free kindle books and never finishing them, so I decided that nothing would stop me from finishing the next one.
The story was good, fast paced and kept me interested, but I have three complaints:
1) the entirety of Morana's persona was revealed in the prologue... It would have been much better to get her a bit at a time and leave some mystery.
2) the author spent way too much effort to explain what the characters were feeling... the story was clear enough to know when someone was embarrassed or mad or scared, and then to follow up the dialogue with an explanation of what that dialogue meant... it was condescending that the author doesn't trust the reader to be able to put two and to together.
3) the characters behaved in an unrealistic manner... they did dumb shit all the time and never looked after their own ass.

[T.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having worked in the HR office of a university for 5 years, this book caught my attention.
We start out at a tropical resort, where something isn't quit right.
Then the action shifts and we're in an office situation with Lonnie and Hugh. The company they work for introduces one Morana Mahker, who heads up a company who will transform the office's debt and potential lay offs, into no debt and raises and work stability for all. Morana is drop dead gorgeous and takes a shine to Hugh, a big lug of a guy with a heart of gold. Lonnie, his best friend smells a rat and boy. is it a big one.
I'll drop the word "cannibalism" right here...

HR keeps you on your toes and moves at a great pace.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride!! Thoroughly impossible story but Neil's writing makes it seem entirely possible. Excellent and consistent character development in the relationship of Lonnie and Hugh. I read the book as much for how that worked as I did for the plot. I liked how the minor characters grew a bit from background decoration into real people, and realistically, too. There were a few minor editing flaws, but nothing that detracted from my enjoyment of the story. So glad to find another author I can put on my 'worth reading' list.