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The Threat
Dripping with voice, The Threat is a hilariously relatable story of self-doubt, aging, and frustration. Literary yet accessible, Stein’s story explores what happens when the only way you can live is by feeling like you might die.
Melvin Levin is dissatisfied—with his job, with life, with it all. He’s too polite and too boring, and the monotony of his days is only broken when he has to clean up after his neighbor’s frequently vomiting cat. That is, until he receives a mysterious death threat in the mail. Under the thrill of potentially getting murdered, Melvin begins to feel truly alive again. The threat gives Melvin a sense of self-importance—someone wants him dead—and, ironically, a new lease on life. However, soon, Melvin becomes obsessed with the threat, increasingly forming the basis of his new, unstable identity. But as his obsession with maintaining this identity becomes all-consuming, he risks blinding himself to the twin dangers of the threat itself and—perhaps worse—his own deranged mind.
At once absurdist, moving, and savagely funny, The Threat is a timeless parable of the comic lengths to which people go to protect the delusions that validate them.
Melvin Levin is dissatisfied—with his job, with life, with it all. He’s too polite and too boring, and the monotony of his days is only broken when he has to clean up after his neighbor’s frequently vomiting cat. That is, until he receives a mysterious death threat in the mail. Under the thrill of potentially getting murdered, Melvin begins to feel truly alive again. The threat gives Melvin a sense of self-importance—someone wants him dead—and, ironically, a new lease on life. However, soon, Melvin becomes obsessed with the threat, increasingly forming the basis of his new, unstable identity. But as his obsession with maintaining this identity becomes all-consuming, he risks blinding himself to the twin dangers of the threat itself and—perhaps worse—his own deranged mind.
At once absurdist, moving, and savagely funny, The Threat is a timeless parable of the comic lengths to which people go to protect the delusions that validate them.
192 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2024
5 people are currently reading
2802 people want to read
About the author
Nathaniel Stein
3 books15 followersNATHANIEL STEIN has written humor and nonfiction for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and The Daily Beast, among other publications. He lives in Los Angeles where he works as a television writer. This is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 17, 2024
"Mr. Melvin Levin, I'm going to kill you . . ."
Since receiving that note in the mail, Levin's life has been turned upside down. Now every person he encounters could be his own personal assassin. What's even worse is that Melvin's coworkers aren't suitably impressed by his death threat. If it's not enough to get you out of buying napkins for a stupid office party, then what's the point of being "under threat of death"?
Stein is a television writer, and this reminds me quite a bit of an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." (In fact, I couldn't stop picturing Larry David as the main character.) There is some decent humor here, and I chuckled plenty. However, even for a short novel, this seems to drag on too long. The writing is promising, though, and I'm more than willing to read (or watch) whatever Stein writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Keylight Books for the read.
Since receiving that note in the mail, Levin's life has been turned upside down. Now every person he encounters could be his own personal assassin. What's even worse is that Melvin's coworkers aren't suitably impressed by his death threat. If it's not enough to get you out of buying napkins for a stupid office party, then what's the point of being "under threat of death"?
Stein is a television writer, and this reminds me quite a bit of an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." (In fact, I couldn't stop picturing Larry David as the main character.) There is some decent humor here, and I chuckled plenty. However, even for a short novel, this seems to drag on too long. The writing is promising, though, and I'm more than willing to read (or watch) whatever Stein writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Keylight Books for the read.
December 27, 2023
3,5
A short, humorous novel about an extremely fussy and finicky man whose tedious life changes radically after he receives a death threat.
"The death threat arrived on a Monday. Levin was settling into his evening routine, warm with the satisfaction of having changed the pants that had been dampened by a passing car on the drizzly walk home from work, and of having finished his back exercises in less than twenty minutes, and of having placed his tea in its dignified corner opposite his to-do list—which today contained the all-important item of preparing the presentation that would clinch his promotion to Mr. Adderley’s former position—when from between a dental-appointment reminder and a catalogue for duffel bags tumbled the neatly addressed envelope that contained the plain little note telling him he was going to be murdered."
More than fear, the threat turns awakening unsuspected confidence in Levin, as now being a man 'under the threat of death' clearly lifts him above ordinary people and their petty worries.
I found it quite funny and liked how it plays with the idea of the twisted thinking we humans apply. It reminded me a bit of Mark Haber, but this was less hilarious.
Many thanks for the audio-ARC via Netgalley - the narrator does a great job conveying the humour.
A short, humorous novel about an extremely fussy and finicky man whose tedious life changes radically after he receives a death threat.
"The death threat arrived on a Monday. Levin was settling into his evening routine, warm with the satisfaction of having changed the pants that had been dampened by a passing car on the drizzly walk home from work, and of having finished his back exercises in less than twenty minutes, and of having placed his tea in its dignified corner opposite his to-do list—which today contained the all-important item of preparing the presentation that would clinch his promotion to Mr. Adderley’s former position—when from between a dental-appointment reminder and a catalogue for duffel bags tumbled the neatly addressed envelope that contained the plain little note telling him he was going to be murdered."
More than fear, the threat turns awakening unsuspected confidence in Levin, as now being a man 'under the threat of death' clearly lifts him above ordinary people and their petty worries.
I found it quite funny and liked how it plays with the idea of the twisted thinking we humans apply. It reminded me a bit of Mark Haber, but this was less hilarious.
Many thanks for the audio-ARC via Netgalley - the narrator does a great job conveying the humour.
January 22, 2024
This book was a wonderful life story using humor and satire. We follow Melvin Levine whose life is one of passiveness and living under the radar. Then one day he gets a threatening letter warning him of his demise. The initial jolt of being threatened and the thought of being killed causes Melvin to look at life differently. I loved watching Melvin go through different emotions and marvel at how his brain ticks. The ending was very funny and as I listened to the last sentence I had a smile on my face.
I want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a copy of the audiobook. Pete Cross was the perfect narrator for this book. I voluntarily give this review and freely share my opinions.
I want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a copy of the audiobook. Pete Cross was the perfect narrator for this book. I voluntarily give this review and freely share my opinions.
June 29, 2024
The cringiest main character of all time.
November 28, 2023
Absurdist novel that would have worked better as a short story. This is about a man named Marvin Levin who generally dislikes his life. He works in an unnamed office and dislikes his coworkers and he appears to have no family or friends. One night when he is supposed to be working on a presentation to get a promotion, Marvin receives a death threat in the mail. He has no idea who sent the threat, but for some reason it makes him feel important. The rest of the book is a stream of consciousness type story where Marvin considers whether various things like his walk, his expressions, etc. are all fitting for a man who receives a death threat.
This is the type of story that used to appear in the New Yorker in the 1980's and felt dated to me. There is very little dialogue and Marvin's thoughts are repetitive and not very interesting. The book was under 200 pages which was good as I was getting bored with Marvin and his story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.
This is the type of story that used to appear in the New Yorker in the 1980's and felt dated to me. There is very little dialogue and Marvin's thoughts are repetitive and not very interesting. The book was under 200 pages which was good as I was getting bored with Marvin and his story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.
February 16, 2024
The threat by Nathaniel Stein is light humorous take on a serious situation like a death threat.
I was really enjoying it for sometime in the start when I dismissed it as ramblings of a man who has nothing in life and suddenly was centre of the world. But then that's what the book is about and it just got dull and boring to listen to his self indulgence and importance.
It's quite funny at points but I felt it was dragging as well as repetitive. This rather should have been a short story and it would have a glowing reviews and ratings on my personal opinion.
Narration is good but when the content doesn't catch your attention, audiobook doesn't really matter at that point. I will rate audiobook 3.5 stars and the book itself 2.5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I was really enjoying it for sometime in the start when I dismissed it as ramblings of a man who has nothing in life and suddenly was centre of the world. But then that's what the book is about and it just got dull and boring to listen to his self indulgence and importance.
It's quite funny at points but I felt it was dragging as well as repetitive. This rather should have been a short story and it would have a glowing reviews and ratings on my personal opinion.
Narration is good but when the content doesn't catch your attention, audiobook doesn't really matter at that point. I will rate audiobook 3.5 stars and the book itself 2.5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.
August 28, 2024
Finally finished this. It wasn't bad but I will say it was annoying in a New Yorker-y intellectual comic writing type of way. So if you find that grating then it's definitely not for you. 3.5/5
February 17, 2024
Okay, the premise of this one was funny. How does one live when one’s life is threatened? However, it didn’t hold my interest. There just wasn’t enough excitement to keep it going. Pretty funny little ending though.
🌀Synopsis
Melvin receives a threat that says he is going to be killed. It’s the most exciting and terrifying thing that’s ever happened to him. He lives a mediocre life, until now. Everyone at his office is intrigued and worried. Melvin starts to do things he doesn’t normally do. He starts to live better and more carefree.
The threatener isn’t very good at his job though and to keep the excitement going Melvin has to keep pushing him to take the next step. In the end, it turns into a big misunderstanding.
🌀Synopsis
Melvin receives a threat that says he is going to be killed. It’s the most exciting and terrifying thing that’s ever happened to him. He lives a mediocre life, until now. Everyone at his office is intrigued and worried. Melvin starts to do things he doesn’t normally do. He starts to live better and more carefree.
The threatener isn’t very good at his job though and to keep the excitement going Melvin has to keep pushing him to take the next step. In the end, it turns into a big misunderstanding.
December 10, 2024
Melvin Levin is an ordinary office worker, but one who, despite living a relatively comfortable life, is intensely discontent with his circumstances and accomplishments. So much so that he lives in a solipsistic haze of detachment from everyone around him. He's miserable in his isolation until the day he receives the Threat: a carelessly scrawled note describing in gruesome, if poorly spelled, detail, an anonymous sender's intentions to murder Melvin. The implied hatred behind the message gives Melvin a sense of purpose he's sorely been lacking, as well as an opportunity to fill the void in his life with fantasy significance (and a little paranoia). The ensuing delusions of grandeur are quietly hilarious and frustratingly endearing, as Melvin struggles to adapt to a life suddenly imbued with meaning.
The Threat is a challenging novel, and it's not for everyone, as it offers little in the way of developing characters beyond the protagonist. The action of the novel takes place primarily in Melvin’s emotionally turbulent mind, which is also where the story derives almost all its tension and drama. He’s narcissistic, self-deceptive, and in many ways, pathetic. If we’re honest with ourselves, though, I think a lot of readers will find a little of themselves in Melvin Levin. From altering his gait to affect an air of gravity to smashing a desktop scene populated by a menagerie of porcelain animals, there's a poignant humanity in almost everything he does. I've rarely read any book that so sincerely captures a tragically skewed perspective, and if I'm tempted to say the reading experience is less than 100% pleasant, that might be because it hits so close to home.
A thoroughly self-deluded thank you to Edelweiss and Ingram Publisher Services for the ARC.
Will Levin ever get the purple and gold cat napkins?
And if so, will his colleagues finally afford him the respect a man under-the-threat-of-death deserves?
How did the penguin survive the smashing?
The answer to none of these questions and less, in Nathaniel Stein's The Threat.
The Threat is a challenging novel, and it's not for everyone, as it offers little in the way of developing characters beyond the protagonist. The action of the novel takes place primarily in Melvin’s emotionally turbulent mind, which is also where the story derives almost all its tension and drama. He’s narcissistic, self-deceptive, and in many ways, pathetic. If we’re honest with ourselves, though, I think a lot of readers will find a little of themselves in Melvin Levin. From altering his gait to affect an air of gravity to smashing a desktop scene populated by a menagerie of porcelain animals, there's a poignant humanity in almost everything he does. I've rarely read any book that so sincerely captures a tragically skewed perspective, and if I'm tempted to say the reading experience is less than 100% pleasant, that might be because it hits so close to home.
A thoroughly self-deluded thank you to Edelweiss and Ingram Publisher Services for the ARC.
Will Levin ever get the purple and gold cat napkins?
And if so, will his colleagues finally afford him the respect a man under-the-threat-of-death deserves?
How did the penguin survive the smashing?
The answer to none of these questions and less, in Nathaniel Stein's The Threat.
January 16, 2024
Marvin Leven is in his late middle-age and lives a basic life where everything is scheduled and the only thing he hopes for is a promotion at his job that is why on this night we find him going through his emails due to having done his exercise faster than normal he has a few minutes to dally when he comes across an email that says he is going to die and someone wants to kill him… This is not verbatim essentially he gets a threat. At first needless to say he is shocked but once Marvin thinks about it it bolsters his self worth. He even treats himself out to a fancy dinner. Where he even believes he has a witty exchange with the coat check attendant which was so funny and throughout the book he will think about the coach at girl time and time again. However when he shares the threat with others he realizes it isn’t the most legitimate threat and almost seems like it was sent by an amateur. This really bothers Marvin but no worries because eventually he will find out the truth about the threat and then learn there’s something even better than being threatened. Although this book is funny and so entertaining beware they do talk about suicide so if you have a trigger then maybe give this one a pass but if not you should definitely read it! I found this book funny smartly done the narrator was just awesome he did such a great job with this character Marvin Levin and brought such a precise tone to the short read this was just an all-around really clever and humorous listen. Due to the clever narration and witty narrative I can only give this book 5 stars I truly truly enjoyed it. Marvins train of thought is just hilarious and that really was captured in Pete crosses performance this is a great book and if you love humorous commentary and laugh out loud books you definitely will enjoy The Threat by Nathaniel Stein it’s a quick entertaining listen. I want to thank dreamscape media and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
January 8, 2024
The Threat by Nathaniel Stein is a clever and witty look into the machinations of the mind of a man who has received a very unexpected death threat.
At first middle-aged Mervin Levin is horrified at what he reads in a threatening letter (spelling errors and all) but the idea of self importance grows on him. He views problems differently now...what could possibly compare to what he is facing? His otherwise tedious life takes on a new jaunty energy. He grows more confident. While aware of risks involved in going about his daily life, he also grows immune to them in his focus on grabbing a bit of attention which is out of character. He is consumed with the idea of the threat and ignores other areas of his life.
Office politics and Mervin's interactions with others such as the threatener and the coat-check girl are whacky and almost deranged. Humorous bits had me chuckling several times. Yet Mervin's quirky thought processes are strangely relatable. Human nature is a funny thing.
If you're in the mood for dark satire written in a lighthearted manner, this may be for you. It is very niche and would appeal to those willing to settle in and lose themselves in pure quirkiness for a couple of hours.
My sincere thank you to Turner Publishing Company and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this amusingly unconventional novel.
At first middle-aged Mervin Levin is horrified at what he reads in a threatening letter (spelling errors and all) but the idea of self importance grows on him. He views problems differently now...what could possibly compare to what he is facing? His otherwise tedious life takes on a new jaunty energy. He grows more confident. While aware of risks involved in going about his daily life, he also grows immune to them in his focus on grabbing a bit of attention which is out of character. He is consumed with the idea of the threat and ignores other areas of his life.
Office politics and Mervin's interactions with others such as the threatener and the coat-check girl are whacky and almost deranged. Humorous bits had me chuckling several times. Yet Mervin's quirky thought processes are strangely relatable. Human nature is a funny thing.
If you're in the mood for dark satire written in a lighthearted manner, this may be for you. It is very niche and would appeal to those willing to settle in and lose themselves in pure quirkiness for a couple of hours.
My sincere thank you to Turner Publishing Company and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this amusingly unconventional novel.
January 11, 2024
The Threat had me laughing right away, as the MC described the sheer inconvenience of the timing of receiving his first death threat. I loved his journey through finding his identity as a "a man under the threat of death" all while critiquing the techniques of his threatener. The twist at the end had me cracking up and I am dying to know more about Melvin Levin the geologist. I listened to this book on audio and the narrator was excellent - the voice and tone were perfectly aligned to the story and brought Melvin to life. All that said, this is definitely a DARK humor and should be published with content warnings for mental health and thoughts of suicide.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media via NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media via NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2026
“The threat had proved a false promise, it’s window onto the vista of a new life merely a mirage”
TW: suicidal ideation
The Threat follows Melvin Levin, painted as an insecure character who tracks all Levins in America to ensure he remains the highest achiever. With his illusions of grandeur juxtaposing his very average existence, his life, previously chugging along a pre-defined path is thrown off kilter when he mysteriously receives a threatening letter in the post.
“It was as though the greatest soprano in Vienna had never been allowed to sing Mozart”
The story is down-right bizarre, and splits into two key themes - Levin’s lack of self awareness and his tendency to alternative between absolute nihilism to the narcissism you hear about as soon as you open TikTok. The book leans heavily into the absurdism, with Levin almost directing the oncoming odyssey and trying to predict his doom but ultimately… the final twist cinches the story as worthwhile.
Thank you Netgalley for the Arc.
TW: suicidal ideation
The Threat follows Melvin Levin, painted as an insecure character who tracks all Levins in America to ensure he remains the highest achiever. With his illusions of grandeur juxtaposing his very average existence, his life, previously chugging along a pre-defined path is thrown off kilter when he mysteriously receives a threatening letter in the post.
“It was as though the greatest soprano in Vienna had never been allowed to sing Mozart”
The story is down-right bizarre, and splits into two key themes - Levin’s lack of self awareness and his tendency to alternative between absolute nihilism to the narcissism you hear about as soon as you open TikTok. The book leans heavily into the absurdism, with Levin almost directing the oncoming odyssey and trying to predict his doom but ultimately… the final twist cinches the story as worthwhile.
Thank you Netgalley for the Arc.
January 22, 2024
Not really my kind of book.
Don't get me wrong. Nathaniel Stein really hit the nail on the head with the intent of this novel, however I just felt pretty unenthused while reading it. Levin's internal monologue was fairly funny at times and the journey he goes on is truly absurd. This would have been great if was the type of story I wanted to read, but personally it just didn't do much in ways of making me feel like I loved it or hated it. It was just a funny little book I read and then swiftly moved onto the next read.
Don't get me wrong. Nathaniel Stein really hit the nail on the head with the intent of this novel, however I just felt pretty unenthused while reading it. Levin's internal monologue was fairly funny at times and the journey he goes on is truly absurd. This would have been great if was the type of story I wanted to read, but personally it just didn't do much in ways of making me feel like I loved it or hated it. It was just a funny little book I read and then swiftly moved onto the next read.
January 13, 2024
*****I received this free audiobook from NetGalley and Dreamscapes Audio in exchange for my honest review.
I found this book very interesting. I liked the idea of how someone who is typically overlooked in life could gain confidence after receiving a death threat. Essentially giving them the ability to do things they wouldn’t have otherwise thought possible.
I found this book very interesting. I liked the idea of how someone who is typically overlooked in life could gain confidence after receiving a death threat. Essentially giving them the ability to do things they wouldn’t have otherwise thought possible.
January 19, 2025
A short quick read. Very funny story about a fussy man that envisions his own importance and fake scenarios that never go his way. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and we all know someone like Levin.
January 28, 2024
Dark, silly. Delightful.
December 23, 2023
*Audiobook
3.5
This one sort of reminded me of Fredrik Backman books.
The main character is relatable at times and and also annoying but I kinda liked following him along.
He never wants to upset anybody, but often goes unnoticed and unfulfilled. Anyone ever feel like that!?! Yeah, same.
The monotony of his life is literally driving him crazy.
This was a strange and quirky book, overall a decent read.
I also really enjoyed the audio narrator.
3.5
This one sort of reminded me of Fredrik Backman books.
The main character is relatable at times and and also annoying but I kinda liked following him along.
He never wants to upset anybody, but often goes unnoticed and unfulfilled. Anyone ever feel like that!?! Yeah, same.
The monotony of his life is literally driving him crazy.
This was a strange and quirky book, overall a decent read.
I also really enjoyed the audio narrator.
December 12, 2024
I unfortunately found this book so boring. There were so many things I didn’t get.. the main character’s desires, the threatener’s intentions.. and none of this really got answered throughout the novel. For me, the characters and plot lacked depth and intrigue. Not funny enough for a comedy, insightful enough for a satire, nor exciting enough for a thriller.
October 16, 2023
Let me start by saying that I love the cover. It's what drew me to the book in the first place, and I had high hopes for this book that is described as 'absurdist (true), moving (didn't get there), and savagely funny (were we reading the same book?)
The story revolves around Melvin Levin, a middle-aged man living a dull and uneventful life, until he receives a mysterious death threat in the mail. It shocks him a bit at first, but gradually, he almost starts enjoying the fact that he is 'under threat of death' (a phrase that is quite possibly repeated throughout the book about 137 times or thereabouts-just a wild guess).
He turns into a bit of a d*ck actually, because he now sees himself as superior and above everyone else because his life is being threatened, while the others around him are so inconsequential that nobody would even bother sending them a death threat-they're simply not that important.
I suppose I can see what the author was trying to accomplish. But try and imagine J. Alfred Prufrock trying to portray one of the old endearing characters from a Fredrik Backman novel, but this whole story being written by Salman Rushdie. I disliked the end result SO MUCH.
There were WALLS of text, with a smattering of dialogue just to break it up now and again. It was just a meandering stream of consciousness that sparkled with self-indulgent pomposity of language, using too many words to say precious little. Case in point-there are TWO PAGES of text dedicated to the act of checking his coat in at a restaurant. Sorry, but life's too short for this.
Oh, and did I already mention that I came across the term 'under threat of death' enough times in the 33% of the book that I did read, to make me want to fling the book across the room (except that I couldn't because I was reading it on my Kindle)? Arrrrgh!!!!
There are a lot of heavyweights singing paeans of (advance)praise for this book, and it boggles the mind to think about the possibilities that could have brought that about. Is it possible that THEY ACTUALLY READ and LIKED the book???? It seems inconceivable.
This is all just to say that I would never subject myself (or anyone else) to this book, except as a sleep-aid, or a test of mental endurance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Turner Publishing Company/ Keylight Books for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
The story revolves around Melvin Levin, a middle-aged man living a dull and uneventful life, until he receives a mysterious death threat in the mail. It shocks him a bit at first, but gradually, he almost starts enjoying the fact that he is 'under threat of death' (a phrase that is quite possibly repeated throughout the book about 137 times or thereabouts-just a wild guess).
He turns into a bit of a d*ck actually, because he now sees himself as superior and above everyone else because his life is being threatened, while the others around him are so inconsequential that nobody would even bother sending them a death threat-they're simply not that important.
I suppose I can see what the author was trying to accomplish. But try and imagine J. Alfred Prufrock trying to portray one of the old endearing characters from a Fredrik Backman novel, but this whole story being written by Salman Rushdie. I disliked the end result SO MUCH.
There were WALLS of text, with a smattering of dialogue just to break it up now and again. It was just a meandering stream of consciousness that sparkled with self-indulgent pomposity of language, using too many words to say precious little. Case in point-there are TWO PAGES of text dedicated to the act of checking his coat in at a restaurant. Sorry, but life's too short for this.
Oh, and did I already mention that I came across the term 'under threat of death' enough times in the 33% of the book that I did read, to make me want to fling the book across the room (except that I couldn't because I was reading it on my Kindle)? Arrrrgh!!!!
There are a lot of heavyweights singing paeans of (advance)praise for this book, and it boggles the mind to think about the possibilities that could have brought that about. Is it possible that THEY ACTUALLY READ and LIKED the book???? It seems inconceivable.
This is all just to say that I would never subject myself (or anyone else) to this book, except as a sleep-aid, or a test of mental endurance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Turner Publishing Company/ Keylight Books for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
January 7, 2024
New Yorker contributing humor writer Stein delivers his debut, THE THREAT —a darkly funny comic tale of a man’s unraveling after he receives an unprovoked death threat.
Melvin Levin, 41, is bored with this life. Lives alone. Regarding his career, he has awaited a promotion to an office job that never comes.
Then, he receives an anonymously written letter with hilarious misspellings and mixed metaphors. A death threat!
Instead of worrying him, he finds himself with a new confidence and energy that someone has paid attention to him, worthy of threatening.
Then Levin receives photographs proving he is being watched. Then he grows impatient, waiting for the threatener to act and reveal himself/herself.
Who is the threatener? He may find the type of person he had envisioned is not what he thought. He is disappointed. Could he get a final request?
Does he think being murdered is better than his current existence? No promotion. But what if there is not a threat, then what?
THE THREAT is a strange, quirky satire about a man's neurotic man, sad life and insightful yet witty look into human nature. It is a parable with sarcastic humor of the comic lengths that people go to protect the delusions that validate.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Pete Cross, who was well-suited for the storyline and character. THE THREAT is for those who enjoyed Freida McFadden's The Coworker, Lou Berney's Dark Ride, and books by authors Dan Chaon, Terry Pratchett, and Fredrik Backman.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listening audio copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 16, 2024
My Rating: 3 Stars
Jan 2024 Must-Read Books
January Newsletter
Melvin Levin, 41, is bored with this life. Lives alone. Regarding his career, he has awaited a promotion to an office job that never comes.
Then, he receives an anonymously written letter with hilarious misspellings and mixed metaphors. A death threat!
Instead of worrying him, he finds himself with a new confidence and energy that someone has paid attention to him, worthy of threatening.
Then Levin receives photographs proving he is being watched. Then he grows impatient, waiting for the threatener to act and reveal himself/herself.
Who is the threatener? He may find the type of person he had envisioned is not what he thought. He is disappointed. Could he get a final request?
Does he think being murdered is better than his current existence? No promotion. But what if there is not a threat, then what?
THE THREAT is a strange, quirky satire about a man's neurotic man, sad life and insightful yet witty look into human nature. It is a parable with sarcastic humor of the comic lengths that people go to protect the delusions that validate.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Pete Cross, who was well-suited for the storyline and character. THE THREAT is for those who enjoyed Freida McFadden's The Coworker, Lou Berney's Dark Ride, and books by authors Dan Chaon, Terry Pratchett, and Fredrik Backman.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listening audio copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 16, 2024
My Rating: 3 Stars
Jan 2024 Must-Read Books
January Newsletter
October 23, 2023
I went in for the cover. I do that. Oftentimes, it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t. The Threat has more than a cute cover. The description makes it sound like an amusing satire. And it is, to be fair, for a while, before it gets tedious and stays tedious.
The plot revolves around Melvin Levin, a thoroughly mediocre man who spends most of his life being as decent and inoffensive as possible. It hasn’t brought him much outside of a thankless job and a challenging-at-best apartment situation. Nevertheless, Levin perseveres … until he gets the eponymous threat.
The threat, much like Levin as the protagonist, leaves a lot to be desired. It’s half-baked at most. But to Levin, it is by far the most exciting thing to have happened to him in pretty much ever, and thus he steadily proceeds to change his unexciting life into the life of someone existing under the threat of death.
This essentially involves a lot of performative behavior, so the readers end up spending the entire novel in Levin’s mind as he convolutes himself to be more interesting. But the thing is, he can only get so far with all of that—he is literally written that way, with a lot of limitations.
What’s curious is that there are a some genuinely clever and amusing things about this novel, but they fail to add up to a cohesive quality narrative. Instead, the novel reads like a cute but very much one note joke stretched out into nearly 200 pages, right down to the overwhelmingly underwhelming ending.
It seems that the author tried with this debut to go for European existentialism and fell short. So at least he had the decency to make the overall production short. It reads quickly, too, though a difficult one to recommend. Thanks Netgalley.
The plot revolves around Melvin Levin, a thoroughly mediocre man who spends most of his life being as decent and inoffensive as possible. It hasn’t brought him much outside of a thankless job and a challenging-at-best apartment situation. Nevertheless, Levin perseveres … until he gets the eponymous threat.
The threat, much like Levin as the protagonist, leaves a lot to be desired. It’s half-baked at most. But to Levin, it is by far the most exciting thing to have happened to him in pretty much ever, and thus he steadily proceeds to change his unexciting life into the life of someone existing under the threat of death.
This essentially involves a lot of performative behavior, so the readers end up spending the entire novel in Levin’s mind as he convolutes himself to be more interesting. But the thing is, he can only get so far with all of that—he is literally written that way, with a lot of limitations.
What’s curious is that there are a some genuinely clever and amusing things about this novel, but they fail to add up to a cohesive quality narrative. Instead, the novel reads like a cute but very much one note joke stretched out into nearly 200 pages, right down to the overwhelmingly underwhelming ending.
It seems that the author tried with this debut to go for European existentialism and fell short. So at least he had the decency to make the overall production short. It reads quickly, too, though a difficult one to recommend. Thanks Netgalley.
April 20, 2024
Read Completed 4/20/24 | 1.5 stars
This was so stupid. I found this title because I was looking for some funny reads for a pick-me-up and this had the total opposite effect. It was like Office Space meets Stephanie Plum, but stupider.
Melvin is a terrible person. He's unhappy with his job and has a boring life, and when he gets a death threat, he feels more important and more special. It starts off kind of nicely with Melvin going to a fancy restaurant, making an attempt to talk to the cute coat check girl, and it seems like this will be a nice book about Melvin making a better life for himself after receiving a death threat. But nope, he just becomes more self-involved, selfish, and needy as the book goes on. A co-worker gets mugged and Melvin is disappointed that his death threat is overlooked and he isn't the center of attention. And to top it all off, the threatener isn't even competent or scary.
I really just didn't like anything about this. It was supposed to be funny, but I was hoping for clever. This was just silly. I guess it's more absurdist which probably isn't my style, but it was a little too annoying and the ending didn't even have a good point. Melvin is still insufferable and self-centered. He has no character growth. The writing was annoying and repetitive. I honestly think the author used the phrase "man under the threat of death" at least 50 times if not more. This was just a bit fat nope for me.
I wouldn't have finished this if it wasn't so short, but I probably should have. It was easy to finish, though, and I was really hoping something good would come out of it in the end to at least redeem it a little bit. I just didn't like any part of it except the very beginning, which wasn't even a like but a potential. Oh well.
This was so stupid. I found this title because I was looking for some funny reads for a pick-me-up and this had the total opposite effect. It was like Office Space meets Stephanie Plum, but stupider.
Melvin is a terrible person. He's unhappy with his job and has a boring life, and when he gets a death threat, he feels more important and more special. It starts off kind of nicely with Melvin going to a fancy restaurant, making an attempt to talk to the cute coat check girl, and it seems like this will be a nice book about Melvin making a better life for himself after receiving a death threat. But nope, he just becomes more self-involved, selfish, and needy as the book goes on. A co-worker gets mugged and Melvin is disappointed that his death threat is overlooked and he isn't the center of attention. And to top it all off, the threatener isn't even competent or scary.
I really just didn't like anything about this. It was supposed to be funny, but I was hoping for clever. This was just silly. I guess it's more absurdist which probably isn't my style, but it was a little too annoying and the ending didn't even have a good point. Melvin is still insufferable and self-centered. He has no character growth. The writing was annoying and repetitive. I honestly think the author used the phrase "man under the threat of death" at least 50 times if not more. This was just a bit fat nope for me.
I wouldn't have finished this if it wasn't so short, but I probably should have. It was easy to finish, though, and I was really hoping something good would come out of it in the end to at least redeem it a little bit. I just didn't like any part of it except the very beginning, which wasn't even a like but a potential. Oh well.
December 19, 2023
Actual rating - 3.25 stars. But I feel bad that all the other ratings are low, so I rounded up.
Ha.
This book wasn't epic or incredible or moving and poignant.
But it gave me a lot of giggles on a night when I desperately needed giggles, and for that, it gets a rounded up four-star rating.
The premise is very amusing. A bored (and boring), pretty unhappy man in a mid-level, 'no one cares' career receives a death threat in the mail. And suddenly, his life is completely transformed.
Although, not quite in the way one might think. Instead of being terrified and having his life turned upside down, the man suddenly sees himself as SOMEONE ESTEEMED AND IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO RECEIVE DEATH THREATS!
Ha. He lives the next few days? Weeks? Of his life in what I can only call a Donald Trumpian level of self-importance and annoyance. Haha.
But his threatener quickly turns out to be less than he bargained for -- old, feeble, and very inexperienced at threatening people.
The Donald Trumpian man tries to guide and direct him (threatener) on ways to more effectively threaten himself. Haha.
It's absolutely absurd and had some genuinely funny moments. For that alone, it gets my grace.
The ending wasn't the best, but it was funny in an eye-rolling, groaning Monty Python type way. So I even enjoyed that.
It should be noted, though, that I listened to this on audiobook. (Other reviewers talk about hating the long, meandering writing style with few breaks.) I didn't have to deal with that. In audio format, (sped up to 2x speed) it was really an enjoyable listen.
Ha.
This book wasn't epic or incredible or moving and poignant.
But it gave me a lot of giggles on a night when I desperately needed giggles, and for that, it gets a rounded up four-star rating.
The premise is very amusing. A bored (and boring), pretty unhappy man in a mid-level, 'no one cares' career receives a death threat in the mail. And suddenly, his life is completely transformed.
Although, not quite in the way one might think. Instead of being terrified and having his life turned upside down, the man suddenly sees himself as SOMEONE ESTEEMED AND IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO RECEIVE DEATH THREATS!
Ha. He lives the next few days? Weeks? Of his life in what I can only call a Donald Trumpian level of self-importance and annoyance. Haha.
But his threatener quickly turns out to be less than he bargained for -- old, feeble, and very inexperienced at threatening people.
The Donald Trumpian man tries to guide and direct him (threatener) on ways to more effectively threaten himself. Haha.
It's absolutely absurd and had some genuinely funny moments. For that alone, it gets my grace.
The ending wasn't the best, but it was funny in an eye-rolling, groaning Monty Python type way. So I even enjoyed that.
It should be noted, though, that I listened to this on audiobook. (Other reviewers talk about hating the long, meandering writing style with few breaks.) I didn't have to deal with that. In audio format, (sped up to 2x speed) it was really an enjoyable listen.
March 14, 2025
Phew, this book. It’s less than 200 pages yet I almost couldn’t finish it because the main character is just so dang insufferable and cringe. Gah I don’t know if I’ve ever rooted for a main character’s death so much.
That isn’t to say the writing is bad. I think it’s objectively good writing. It’s hard for me to be objective though, considering how much I dislike ole Melvin lol He’s your most painfully socially unaware coworker, he’s creepy, and he’s outright weird in a “possible serial-killer” vibes kind of way. The way he makes these big gestures and imagines himself as a main character (ha) and on a “higher plane,” UGH I can’t stand him.
The book was short but somehow still felt overly drawn out. I feel like it could have been redone as a short story with some bits taken out (ex: the dinner, which wound up being sooo pointless) and maybe then it wouldn’t be so painful.
Also, a lot of people mention how funny it is and blurbs proclaim it “darkly comedic,” but I didn’t laugh at all. I rolled my eyes and sighed in exasperation a lot, but not once did I laugh. Honestly, I feel like it read more as a descent into madness than humor, and I think leaning into that could’ve been cool too - though that would be a totally different book.
I think ultimately it’s a 2.5 but I’m rounding up because I’ve never had such strong negative feelings for a main character as a reader and I feel like that’s an accomplishment in itself for an author haha
That isn’t to say the writing is bad. I think it’s objectively good writing. It’s hard for me to be objective though, considering how much I dislike ole Melvin lol He’s your most painfully socially unaware coworker, he’s creepy, and he’s outright weird in a “possible serial-killer” vibes kind of way. The way he makes these big gestures and imagines himself as a main character (ha) and on a “higher plane,” UGH I can’t stand him.
The book was short but somehow still felt overly drawn out. I feel like it could have been redone as a short story with some bits taken out (ex: the dinner, which wound up being sooo pointless) and maybe then it wouldn’t be so painful.
Also, a lot of people mention how funny it is and blurbs proclaim it “darkly comedic,” but I didn’t laugh at all. I rolled my eyes and sighed in exasperation a lot, but not once did I laugh. Honestly, I feel like it read more as a descent into madness than humor, and I think leaning into that could’ve been cool too - though that would be a totally different book.
I think ultimately it’s a 2.5 but I’m rounding up because I’ve never had such strong negative feelings for a main character as a reader and I feel like that’s an accomplishment in itself for an author haha
December 29, 2023
This was delightful! It’s absurdist, yes, but we knew that going in. I laughed out loud at points and groaned at many more. Definitely a rip roaring farce!
Premise - a neurotic man in an unexciting life receives a mysterious death threat. The threat drives him to walk through his life with more energy than before - including prodding his threatener along with guidance on how to be a convincing threatener.
This is perfect for fans of Woody Allen films (not the man, but the vibe). It’s a neurotic, self-important but deeply insecure man making much ado about nothing.
Some of the reviews complain that nothing happens, but to Levin *everything* happens. He’s grappling with hopelessness, loneliness, the prospect of living a wholly unremarkable life. It was another variation on the celebrity/influencer/fame who’re trope - how far will a person go to avoid futility? Levin seems to think even significance for being murdered is better than a quiet existence. Heartbreaking, really.
This was written in a light, accessible way and absolutely packed with absurdist humor, but it still really makes you think as well. If the love child of Woody Allen films and A Confederacy of Dunces sounds like a good time to you, you’ll enjoy this.
Thanks, NetGalley and Keylight, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Premise - a neurotic man in an unexciting life receives a mysterious death threat. The threat drives him to walk through his life with more energy than before - including prodding his threatener along with guidance on how to be a convincing threatener.
This is perfect for fans of Woody Allen films (not the man, but the vibe). It’s a neurotic, self-important but deeply insecure man making much ado about nothing.
Some of the reviews complain that nothing happens, but to Levin *everything* happens. He’s grappling with hopelessness, loneliness, the prospect of living a wholly unremarkable life. It was another variation on the celebrity/influencer/fame who’re trope - how far will a person go to avoid futility? Levin seems to think even significance for being murdered is better than a quiet existence. Heartbreaking, really.
This was written in a light, accessible way and absolutely packed with absurdist humor, but it still really makes you think as well. If the love child of Woody Allen films and A Confederacy of Dunces sounds like a good time to you, you’ll enjoy this.
Thanks, NetGalley and Keylight, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2023
This book was very boring. There was a nice flow to it so it was an easy and quick read, but ultimately it felt like a waste of time. The main character is so annoying, but unrealistically so. I can't imagine someone who is so delusional and drunk on their own self-importance that they would believe the nonsensical things he does where he thinks that every action of others is confirmation of his arrival on a higher plane of life. The story just didn't make any sense to me. He is threatened in a ridiculous way by someone who could not possible illicit any actual fear for his life and suddenly he thinks that makes him better and more interesting than everyone else. It all just felt so pointless. And unsurprisingly in the end nothing comes of it. The plot was very shallow and uninteresting to me and there was nothing about this story that encouraged me to read on. I had no particular desire to keep reading to find out what would happen because even before I got to the conclusion I knew it would be pointless and anticlimactic which it was. It isn't the worst book I have ever read but it was so throughly uneventful that I long for the time spent reading it back. This book was not worth the vision used to read it.
November 16, 2023
It's an intriguing premise and there are glimpses of execution that are very well done. The MC, Levin has grandiose ideas of what a death threat says about him, how he feels it changes the world's perception of him, as well as his perception of others. It becomes his entire personality. I liked following Levin's steady descent into delusion, almost a parallel to how a serial killer escalates, but from the side of the victim. The interactions with the threatener were absurd nuggets of fun and the final confrontation was a rather hilarious surprise as well.
But all of this is overshadowed by repetition and wordiness. It's a 192 page book that already feels too long. Almost like an excellent short story that was filled in with repeated phrases to make it longer...'under threat of death' this, 'higher plane' that, it was just too much. Maybe it is meant to be a 'stream of consciousness' style prose, but it didn't work for me in this particular case.
I'd want to give it a 4⭐ for the idea, but a 2⭐ for the execution. So let's average out to a 3⭐.
Thank you to Turner Publishing Company, Keylight Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review.
But all of this is overshadowed by repetition and wordiness. It's a 192 page book that already feels too long. Almost like an excellent short story that was filled in with repeated phrases to make it longer...'under threat of death' this, 'higher plane' that, it was just too much. Maybe it is meant to be a 'stream of consciousness' style prose, but it didn't work for me in this particular case.
I'd want to give it a 4⭐ for the idea, but a 2⭐ for the execution. So let's average out to a 3⭐.
Thank you to Turner Publishing Company, Keylight Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review.
March 5, 2024
"The Threat" by Nathaniel Stein is a story about Melvin Levin, a man discontented with his job and the direction his life is taking. He feels trapped in a cycle of monotony and spends his days being overly polite and uninteresting. He lives alone and is so accommodating that he has arranged his rugs in his apartment not to bother his downstairs neighbour, who doesn't like how he walks. One day, Levin receives a death threat in the mail. This threat breaks the monotony of his life and surprisingly brings a newfound energy to his being. Instead of being scared, he feels as if someone cares enough to want to end his life. The threat catalyzes change in Levin, motivating him to break free from his lacklustre life.
Levin's voice is very strong; he is hypochondriac-obsessed with being threatened. Going in, I knew that this book would be absurd. What I didn't expect would also be heartbreaking; Levin seems to think that even the significance of being murdered is better than a quiet existence. I enjoyed this insightful look into human nature.
Thanks, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Levin's voice is very strong; he is hypochondriac-obsessed with being threatened. Going in, I knew that this book would be absurd. What I didn't expect would also be heartbreaking; Levin seems to think that even the significance of being murdered is better than a quiet existence. I enjoyed this insightful look into human nature.
Thanks, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2023
Very strong flavor. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse, the author really sticks to his shtick. I'd recommend reading a 'taste of the first page', if possible, to see if you're into the humor because that will really make or break the story for you.
Levin's behavior felt like a play on Munchausen syndrome - except he's obsessed with maintaining a 'threatened' state, instead of a sick state. He is unlikeable and irritating. But also, I think, a fair representation of human nature (at least the parts we try to hide). I'll admit that 200 pages was a lot to spend in such a ridiculous headspace, but I found it more funny, than not, so was able to soldier through.
As one who enjoys office politics, my favorite parts were Levin's interactions with his coworkers. If you're into cubicle anecdotes, there are definitely some good workplace moments.
Overall, this was different, funny, easy to read in a day. Somewhere in the 3ish star range, but I'm rounding up because I think the book really accomplished what it set out to do.
Levin's behavior felt like a play on Munchausen syndrome - except he's obsessed with maintaining a 'threatened' state, instead of a sick state. He is unlikeable and irritating. But also, I think, a fair representation of human nature (at least the parts we try to hide). I'll admit that 200 pages was a lot to spend in such a ridiculous headspace, but I found it more funny, than not, so was able to soldier through.
As one who enjoys office politics, my favorite parts were Levin's interactions with his coworkers. If you're into cubicle anecdotes, there are definitely some good workplace moments.
Overall, this was different, funny, easy to read in a day. Somewhere in the 3ish star range, but I'm rounding up because I think the book really accomplished what it set out to do.
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