Mallory Meets His Match

by Thomas Keech

Kevin Mallory's self-centered mindset and utter lack of knowledge of the world don't keep him from being picked as a vice presidential candidate, but they may keep him from converting his friendship with no-nonsense Kathie into anything resembling a romance.

His career as a grudging Customer Support Representative at the UniCast Cable Company is in jeopardy, his car has been repossessed, his finances are in the dumpster, his co-worker in the next cubicle hates him, and he's failed at every romantic quest he ever started.

His disenchanted young friend, Spike, recreates him as a cartoonish internet avatar of outrage, fulminating against the Woke and LGBTQ and other movements which he imagines are responsible for his below-average life. Mallory's brand of outrage is phenomenally successful, but his skyrocketing career is pulling him out of the orbit of the only woman in whom he has ever taken a mature interest.

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2024

About the author

Mr. Keech has written seven well-reviewed novels based on his experiences as a juvenile counselor, a legal aid attorney, an administrative law judge, and an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland as well as his time spent as a father and a former teenager himself. Besides writing, he has worked as a volunteer attorney and is a member of the ethics review panel of his local board of education.

Reviews

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Mallory book and I just didn't quite enjoy the ending as much as the others. Whilst Mallory continues to be a buffoon of the highest order he now seems to have duped one of the loves of his life, Cathy, into falling for him. It us definitely this part that I struggled with in what is otherwise a funny and outrageous episode in Mallory's life.

This time Mallory finds himself (while still at Unicast) being forced to take a second, equally dodgy job at a car dealership where he cons old ladies into work they don't need for exorbitant costs. But he also becomes embroiled with Spike's influencer scheme (Spiro at the Dough and Go diner).

If you've read Mallory before (and if not, why not?) then you will be fully aware what a gullible moron he is. Spike's get rich quick scheme involves using Mallory as his mouthpiece to lie about contentious issues within America - schools, LGBTQI+, animal abuse, child abuse, gender reassignment etc etc.

As Spike's invective becomes ever more outrageous the pair catch the eye of Jake De Santos (and you'll recognise this very thinly disguised senator very quickly). De Santos and Mallory pair up and, you'll not be surprised to learn, that things go from bad to bat poop crazy.

I'm English. American politics astounds me. Constantly. It's way more vicious than ours. I certainly don't understand the way candidates are allowed to tell outrageous lies and get away with it. We "out" our lying politicians. The US seems to revere them. I guess once you've accepted this insanity then Mallory would actually be the perfect presidential contender.

That aside I simply didn't believe the ending. And yes I know it is all hyperbolic and unbelievable (albeit very funny at times) but surely no woman as sensible as Cathy would fall for someone who consistently lies/is duped/defends his stupidity. I just don't buy it. Sorry.

The end apart, I loved and was horrified by it as much as the other books. Horrified because there's way more than a kernel of truth in Keech's writing. Loved because it's utterly crazy. Mallory is maybe not Everyman but he's a representative of the nuttiness that goes on in Internet Land.

I listened to the audiobook which was extremely well read by James Brown (not that one but a beautifully spoken Englishman). I actually think this helped because you can be overwhelmed by the insanity and Mr Brown's measured tones, often stopped me yelling at the audio.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Real Nice Books for the audio advance review copy.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory Meets His Match by Thomas Keach is about Kevin Mallory a 31-year-old adult who is self focused and basically in the beginning of the story he’s a loser. He’s mainly in love with Kathy but can be persuaded by any other female who shows him positive attention. He gets swept up in a campaign of hate and agitation with his acquaintance Spike whose dad owns the Dough And Go, a fast food diner down the street from Malory‘s apartment. Mallory doesn’t even know what spike is putting on the website under his name and image but he mainly focuses on his coworker Nell, The school board and just whatever strikes spikes fancy. There is way to much to give a great review to convince you to read this book. Just know the website is something Donald Trump would be associated with and accuses nell of not only having sex with her pets but killing them as well. It’s soon is way beyond Mallorys control and he becomes a national symbol for the fight against indoctrinating our children something else spike made up on the website. There’s just way too much to give a good summary just know in the end anyone paying attention will know the real focus at this story none of it is this unbelievable crap spike is putting on the website. I found this book to be funny poignant and an absolute statement on the things people believe in will reiterate without investigating the facts. Also in my opinion if you get offended by the characters in this book you clearly have missed the bigger picture. I also want to say I had to keep reminding myself this was supposed to be set in America because the book is narrated by the great narrator James Brown who is I believe British either way this is still a funny book with a great message about those who read the headlines and not the articles and so much more I love the ending the Epilog.especially Anne and Kathy. #NetGalley, #IBPA, #ThomasKeech, #MalloryMeetsHisMatch,

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a political satire based on the absurdity of right wing American politics.

It follows Kevin Mallory, who by all accounts is a complete loser, but somehow finds himself as the vice presidential candidate. 👀🇺🇸

It’s certainly an interesting concept for a book series. I probably should have listened to the first 2 books in the series, but this one reads well as a stand alone.

Narrator for the audiobook was great.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy of the audiobook.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara’s rating: 3.3 out of 5 Stars
Series: Kevin Mallory #3
Publication Date: 5/30/24
Period: Contemporary
Narrator: James Brown

Kevin Mallory is an exceedingly self-centered, naïve, thirty-something who is stuck in a dead-end job he hates. Basically, a classic loser. His main love interest is Kathy, but he can easily be swayed by any female who shows interest in him. He’s extremely naïve and his ‘friend’ Spike takes advantage of him in ways that bring Kevin more trouble than he knows what to do with. Kevin is totally oblivious to what Spike is doing and just brushes off anything that is said negatively. As the story progresses, Kevin goes from bumbling loser to bumbling vice-presidential candidate and then back again.

For me, this just wasn’t the right book. I’m not even sure teenagers would enjoy it other than perhaps the small bits of titillation it contains. However, the narrator was excellent and made the book just light-hearted enough to keep me listening.

I voluntarily listened to an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Arathy]

Turns out I'd read the first book of this series and HATED it, because of the main character. The main character is one of the worst people I've read in a long time- he's horrendously self-centered and just abhorrent towards other people. A Jonah Ryan from Veep type. Of course, he has political aspirations in this book in the series.
It was funny (in an alarming sort of way), how cats featured prominently in his political tirades (in addition obviously to queer people and other marginalized people). It was pretty funny if you are in the right space to read about harmful people in politics. I didn't quite enjoy the way the ending tied a bow around this MC. I guess it shows that there are no consequences for some people?

You shouldn't read this book if you want a likeable MC for sure.

Thanks to the publisher (Real Nice Books) and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read one of the other Mallory books and was intrigued to see if he had changed for the better. Having listened to this audiobook, maybe not much. However now lived with Trump and Boris Johnson maybe the world is ready for Mallory who goes through the world with a major chip on his shoulder and as though he is to blame for nothing, and whose views are definitely not PC. So That said press play, and be satirically entertained. Thank you to Real Nice Books and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Julie Friar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining novel set in the world of internet influencers. Mallory becomes a sensation thanks to his friend Spike, but he cannot control what Spike post in his name. This causes problems and distress.

Well written and narrated (I listened to the audiobook). Mallory is weak and needs Kathie to inspire him to do better. Bit of fun.