ANTISOCIAL: A Phil Allman, P.I. Novel, #11

by Brett Wallach

In ANTISOCIAL, Philly Private Eye Phil Allman is harassed by a social media troll in this, the eleventh installment in the award-winning series. Phil hires his best friend and tech expert Dan Lee to track down the elusive stalker as the troll’s comments turn into threats against Phil and his loved ones. and then the threats turn into violence. A cautionary tale for our digital age where virtually nothing and no one is real; also a hopeful tale about holding tight to family, friends, and relationships even as the world conspires to loosen your grip.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 22, 2024

About the author

My name is Brett Wallach, and I'm a father of two daughters from the Philadelphia area. The protagonist in my Phil Allman, P.I. series of mysteries is a misanthropic, sentimental, bitter, funny, romantic, lustful, tough, sometimes amoral, slightly (?) insane divorced father of two daughters from Philadelphia. Any resemblance to myself is highly coincidental. I've tried to create a character who often says and does the wrong things, after reading so many books in this genre where the main character, despite quirks, is usually unrealistically virtuous. Think Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver, only funnier. My favorite authors are John Steinbeck, Graham Greene, Raymond Chandler, Elmore Leonard, Dennis Lehane, and many others. I have no delusions that my novels are on that level, but as my reviews (please see them on Goodreads) show, most people seem to find them entertaining. After my former publisher recently went out of business, I decided to self-publish, and my six books (so far) in the series (Jesse Garon, And I Love Her, Young Blood, Freeze Out, Susceptible, and Torment) are all available on Amazon, and candid, objective reviews are always welcome. My seventh book, The Last MAN On Earth, is a sci-fi/social and sexual satire, and I hope you like that as well. My email address is wallachbrett@aol.com, and feedback is welcome.

Reviews

[Susie Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philadelphia Private Eye Phil Allman has a problem. He stupidly got into an online argument with a faceless, nameless jerk who ratcheted the altercation up into threats against Allman and his family. New to social media, Phil is clueless about how to stop the stalker and his threats.
Antisocial is standup comic wannabe Brett Wallach’s stinging indictment of the social media phenomenon. Using zippy dialog that drips sarcasm and a zany, fast-paced plot, Wallach gleefully spits in the eye of the absurdness of this aspect of society. Wallach cheerfully makes mincemeat of the hypocrisy of social mores, the foibles of everyday clowns, and the lengths they go for attention.
Phil’s comments aimed at the reader that Wallach has inserted into the story are reminiscent of the comedic genius of the late, great George Burns.
If you favor a no-holds-barred, unapologetic rip at a hugely popular aspect of society, then you’re going to relish every page of this book.

[Ellen Piltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning. This book is not for everyone. However, this reader gives this darkly entertaining book an enthusiastic 5 stars. The book's protagonist, Private Investigator Phil Allman, is a socially inept, lazy, unkempt, and overall deeply flawed yet somehow sympathetic pseudo tough guy who does his best to do his best in a world that has largely passed him by. Sometimes Phil's the tire but much more often he's just the roadkill. To Wallach's credit, the reader continues to care about Phil's plight even after he crosses line after line until there are no more lines to cross. It is Wallach's gift of storytelling in a simple yet subtly complex read about Phil's perilous deep dive into the vortex of social media that makes this book, and indeed this series, so engrossing. If you're looking for a good read and are not easily offended, I strongly recommend you give Wallach's Allman series a shot. You won't be disappointed.