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Trilemma
An Asian-American career woman, Lin has followed her father's trail to New Zealand to try to establish a relationship with her father's estranged family and solve the mystery of why they want nothing to do with her… and while in New Zealand, she's intent on rekindling a romance. When danger secretly enters Lin's life from an unexpected source, she has to face an ordeal even more challenging than the battles in the boardroom. The question becomes not so much whether Lin will succeed in the corporate world, but whether she will survive at all.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2014
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 26, 2014
“Trilemma” is a unique read, spinning a tale of life Down Under and giving readers a peek into Kiwi thoughts, lives, and their way of doing things.
Read full review in the 2014 May issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2014 May issue of InD’tale Magazine.
April 8, 2015
Set in Wellington New Zealand, Jennifer Mortimer's book TRILEMMA brings her main character - Linnet Mere to a new city in search of lost family connections and love.
Setting this character up with a completely new start gives Mortimer a chance to put her narrator at a loss on a number of levels - no job (at the outset), no connections, no home and no support means Lin is under pressure and out-of-step from the beginning. Although born in New Zealand, she moved away as a young child leaving a fractured family background. The complications of her family are going to require the reader to pay attention, made more difficult in the earlier part of the book where it concentrates on the goings on in the business environment. Obviously this author knows a lot about the demands of project management, and the telecommunications world. Much of that knowledge, unfortunately, has led to a narrative that is too detailed, borderline boring and definitely in the way too much information camp. Interspersed within are Linnet's attempts to rekindle her relationship with Ben, now living in remote NZ, whilst also finding her sisters and reconnecting the shattered family.
Given that we're looking at all the action in TRILEMMA from Lin's point of view, it's hard not to wonder about the veracity of much here. You're going to have to accept accept the motivations for the move, and that the high-powered, highly regarded Project Manager can lob in town, get a job with a new broadband startup, find the old boyfriend, find the sisters, rekindle the familial connection, take over the company and sort out the political machinations of the Board (when she realises they are there). All done, it seems, without breaking a fingernail or even into a sweat, whilst simultaneously failing to notice some of the weirdness going on around her.
Along the way there's some points being made about glass-ceilings, sexism and the none-too-subtle bullying that occurs when the outsider woman steps into the position of power. Of the many aspects of this book, these are the things that were possibly most worthwhile, clouded and somewhat watered down by the narrative form which means that the reader, seeing everything through Lin's eyes, could be finding Lin a difficult character to connect with, or worse still, somebody whose motivations seem a bit dodgy.
Stick with TRILEMMA though, and once you get through the first half of the book, things do pick up. The project management / company management 101 shifts to the background and the mystery and (hefty) romantic elements get more of a run as the pace improves. The resolution, however, might make you think less broadband and more high-rise construction. (It's going to take a big dose of suspension of disbelief for many readers).
Undoubtedly TRILEMMA is trying to build into a thriller, but the lack of menace (probably because it's nearly all over before Lin realises it's there) means it's a bit hard to notice / believe whilst reading. Worth a look though if you're interested in somebody making some points about the problems for women in the corporate world.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
Setting this character up with a completely new start gives Mortimer a chance to put her narrator at a loss on a number of levels - no job (at the outset), no connections, no home and no support means Lin is under pressure and out-of-step from the beginning. Although born in New Zealand, she moved away as a young child leaving a fractured family background. The complications of her family are going to require the reader to pay attention, made more difficult in the earlier part of the book where it concentrates on the goings on in the business environment. Obviously this author knows a lot about the demands of project management, and the telecommunications world. Much of that knowledge, unfortunately, has led to a narrative that is too detailed, borderline boring and definitely in the way too much information camp. Interspersed within are Linnet's attempts to rekindle her relationship with Ben, now living in remote NZ, whilst also finding her sisters and reconnecting the shattered family.
Given that we're looking at all the action in TRILEMMA from Lin's point of view, it's hard not to wonder about the veracity of much here. You're going to have to accept accept the motivations for the move, and that the high-powered, highly regarded Project Manager can lob in town, get a job with a new broadband startup, find the old boyfriend, find the sisters, rekindle the familial connection, take over the company and sort out the political machinations of the Board (when she realises they are there). All done, it seems, without breaking a fingernail or even into a sweat, whilst simultaneously failing to notice some of the weirdness going on around her.
Along the way there's some points being made about glass-ceilings, sexism and the none-too-subtle bullying that occurs when the outsider woman steps into the position of power. Of the many aspects of this book, these are the things that were possibly most worthwhile, clouded and somewhat watered down by the narrative form which means that the reader, seeing everything through Lin's eyes, could be finding Lin a difficult character to connect with, or worse still, somebody whose motivations seem a bit dodgy.
Stick with TRILEMMA though, and once you get through the first half of the book, things do pick up. The project management / company management 101 shifts to the background and the mystery and (hefty) romantic elements get more of a run as the pace improves. The resolution, however, might make you think less broadband and more high-rise construction. (It's going to take a big dose of suspension of disbelief for many readers).
Undoubtedly TRILEMMA is trying to build into a thriller, but the lack of menace (probably because it's nearly all over before Lin realises it's there) means it's a bit hard to notice / believe whilst reading. Worth a look though if you're interested in somebody making some points about the problems for women in the corporate world.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
December 16, 2015
With "Trilemma," Jennifer Mortimer has written an interesting novel featuring boardroom drama and family dysfunction. Protagonist Lin Mere wants to find a place for herself in a new home - New Zealand - and re-establish ties with her estranged and extended family. The plot builds slowly, introducing readers to the IT industry that draws so many young professionals these days. The slow build also gives time for the suspense to build into an unexpected climax. This is the author's debut novel, and I hope that she will continue honing her writing skills for Lin Mere's next adventure.
ARC provided by NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
February 1, 2015
A trilemma is a three way decision where none of the options are good. The author tries very hard to make this a gripping story but the main character gets into too much detail about her work (which is also the authros line of work) and it distracts from the plot. The plot was pretty far-fetched but I could go with it. I loved some of the references to the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie actors running around New Zealand. I will try some of the author's other work when she finishes any as this is her first.
January 9, 2014
This is a fascinating book exploring the problems of sexism in the corporate world and the pitfalls in contacting a branch of the family you have not seen for years.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2014/0...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2014/0...
failed-to-finish
May 8, 2014I did not like the writing style, it seemed very unpolished. The dialogue was awkward and unnatural feeling. I did not like the main character at all.
June 11, 2014
The bloody glass ceiling ... and being an outsider. Excellent view from of business as seen from a startup company in an insular society.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews