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96 Rocks
WKRX, 96 Rocks, is the modern workplace in Corporate America where management, empowered by non-compete agreements, holds the future of their employees in the palm of their hands and can crush them at any time. The employees sit back and worry about losing their jobs on a daily basis and wonder how they will earn a living in their chosen profession since they will be deprived of a living over the next 3 years due to their non-compete agreement. Now Private Detective Ozzie Rivera is hired to investigate the murder of the Herman Pearson, nicknamed Herman Monster, the general manager of the station. He has plenty of clues and a multitude of motives that lead him towards 4 suspects in the murder. As Rivera probes the suspects, he also learns the lessons of greed in Corporate America and hears of more people in other industries who lose their jobs and and can't work in their industry due to their non-compete agreements that never expire. In the end, Rivera follows the irresponsibility of management and its abuse of power which leads him to the answers he needs.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2011
3 people want to read
About the author
Ron Hummer
4 books47 followersCo-Moderator of the Goodreads Group Crime Detective Mystery Thriller Group
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 17, 2012
One of the gifts that come from authors of fiction is their ability to be able to take what are real-life situations and making them easier to discuss and in some cases expose through their craft. In 96 Rocks we see a perfect example of this. The author Ron Hummer is able to tackle a subject he is very passionate about--- non-compete agreements---and wrap it into a story that includes believable characters,real-life situations and a mystery that will keep your attention to the end.
The premise and backdrop of the story---a radio station---had my attention right away because of my own years as a radio host. WKRX 96 Rocks is not just any radio station, or is it? There we meet Herman Pearson, General Manager of the station who is not about anything but his own position and the good of the station. This is where the theme of non-compete agreements shows us. The employees are basically locked into a play full of harassment, verbal abuse and the threat of losing everything if they don't tow the line.
As we have seen around the country this is too much for everyone to bear and the result is a dead Herman Pearson and the search not just for his killer but a way to deal with the issues that shackle employees of 96 Rocks and others in Anywhere, USA. We are introduced to Private Detective Ozzie Rivera. He becomes the voice of reason for readers as he works to discover what happened to Pearson and how the work conditions at the station may have not only led to this murder but could actually be putting others in jeopardy as well.
There is an obvious motive for the writing of 96 Rocks, but as a reader who knew very little about the restraints of non-compete agreements and how they tie your hands in pursuing other opportunities, I saw this as a way to not only learn something but enjoy a well-written story as well.
If Ron Hummer's motive is to raise awareness and please readers along the way, he accomplished both in my opinion. 96 Rocks does just that: rocks! And I think by the end we will begin looking at things a little bit differently when offered opportunities that look too good to be true.
The premise and backdrop of the story---a radio station---had my attention right away because of my own years as a radio host. WKRX 96 Rocks is not just any radio station, or is it? There we meet Herman Pearson, General Manager of the station who is not about anything but his own position and the good of the station. This is where the theme of non-compete agreements shows us. The employees are basically locked into a play full of harassment, verbal abuse and the threat of losing everything if they don't tow the line.
As we have seen around the country this is too much for everyone to bear and the result is a dead Herman Pearson and the search not just for his killer but a way to deal with the issues that shackle employees of 96 Rocks and others in Anywhere, USA. We are introduced to Private Detective Ozzie Rivera. He becomes the voice of reason for readers as he works to discover what happened to Pearson and how the work conditions at the station may have not only led to this murder but could actually be putting others in jeopardy as well.
There is an obvious motive for the writing of 96 Rocks, but as a reader who knew very little about the restraints of non-compete agreements and how they tie your hands in pursuing other opportunities, I saw this as a way to not only learn something but enjoy a well-written story as well.
If Ron Hummer's motive is to raise awareness and please readers along the way, he accomplished both in my opinion. 96 Rocks does just that: rocks! And I think by the end we will begin looking at things a little bit differently when offered opportunities that look too good to be true.
May 18, 2012
Herman Pearson is a sexist, classless, jerk. He also runs a radio station and abuses every employee except one, his personal favorite, Tim, a serial sexual harasser. But that doesn't excuse murder, so Ozzie Rivera and the police must find the killer from among the numerous people who had very good reasons to kill Herman. And, of course, the culprit winds up being something of a surprise.
But that's not what 96 Rocks is about. This book is about non-compete contracts, specifically how non-compete contracts ruin peoples' lives and careers. And it's persuasive. I have to say, before reading it, I hadn't thought much about them. Now, I will certainly never sign one, at least not unless it comes with the mother of all severance packages to cover my 2 to 3 years of unemployment. And I certainly don't understand why hairdressers, ad reps, or radio disk jockeys would have to sign them. Neither does Ron Hummer, the author of 96 Rocks. He is on a mission to educate people about non-competes, and 96 Rocks does just that.
Although this is a persuasive book about the evils of non-competes, it is not a great detective novel, in my opinion. The rather stream-of-consciousness style makes it a challenging read in places. It is, however, a passionate work depicting employees who are victims of contracts that limit their freedom and leave them vulnerable to managers who chose to become serial abusers.
So, if you wonder why things don't seem to be getting any easier for the average Joe, read this book and you'll see at least part of the reason. Then find Ron and ask him how you can help address the problem.
But that's not what 96 Rocks is about. This book is about non-compete contracts, specifically how non-compete contracts ruin peoples' lives and careers. And it's persuasive. I have to say, before reading it, I hadn't thought much about them. Now, I will certainly never sign one, at least not unless it comes with the mother of all severance packages to cover my 2 to 3 years of unemployment. And I certainly don't understand why hairdressers, ad reps, or radio disk jockeys would have to sign them. Neither does Ron Hummer, the author of 96 Rocks. He is on a mission to educate people about non-competes, and 96 Rocks does just that.
Although this is a persuasive book about the evils of non-competes, it is not a great detective novel, in my opinion. The rather stream-of-consciousness style makes it a challenging read in places. It is, however, a passionate work depicting employees who are victims of contracts that limit their freedom and leave them vulnerable to managers who chose to become serial abusers.
So, if you wonder why things don't seem to be getting any easier for the average Joe, read this book and you'll see at least part of the reason. Then find Ron and ask him how you can help address the problem.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews