What do you think?
Rate this book
Revenge of the Cube Dweller
Tanzie Lewis used to have it all. The stylish wife of a successful oil exec- utive at the top of the Houston social scene, she used to spend her days playing scratch golf or lunching with friends at the club. That was before she was dumped in favor of a beautiful younger woman and the global financial crisis wreaked havoc on her divorce settlement. Now, at 52, Tanzie finds herself depressed and alone in Tulsa, watching her waist size grow and her professional opportunities shrink, working as a minion for clueless bosses in the internal audit department of the Bishop Group. So what’s a “girlie” to do? Snoop!
Taking advantage of Bishop Group’s security weaknesses, she begins to unravel the intricate warp and woof of corporate fraud, manipulation, and a cover-up that enrages her. Avenging the death of innocent Houstonians after a massive pipeline explosion, and uncovering her own hidden talents for sleuthing and cleverly tampering with the system, Tanzie dishes out her own justice to get even—and to get a little something for herself!
Taking advantage of Bishop Group’s security weaknesses, she begins to unravel the intricate warp and woof of corporate fraud, manipulation, and a cover-up that enrages her. Avenging the death of innocent Houstonians after a massive pipeline explosion, and uncovering her own hidden talents for sleuthing and cleverly tampering with the system, Tanzie dishes out her own justice to get even—and to get a little something for herself!
- GenresMystery
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2014
2 people are currently reading
768 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Fox Phillips
2 books25 followersJoanne Fox Phillips is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the director of internal audit for a midstream oil and gas company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is a CPA, certified internal auditor, and certified fraud examiner. This is her first attempt at writing something longer and hopefully more entertaining than an audit report. She thanks her friends, family, coworkers, and editorial team for suffering through early drafts and providing encouragement and advice throughout the process.
To learn more please visit www.tanzielewis.com
To learn more please visit www.tanzielewis.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 3, 2017
Ok, it's a bit childish but nevertherless a good take on the professional challenges of an auditor, and an internal one at that! As some people would say, being an internal auditor requires a special kind of crazy. And I say that expressing my respect for the general IA's tenacity.
Q:
I return to the Bishop building at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday to do the busywork Frank has given me. Once again, there is no security manning the desk, so I badge in and head for the elevator bank servicing the sixth floor. I log in and complete Frank’s request in less than an hour.
Frank is a guy who overcomplicates things, so for him even the most inconsequential task takes hours to think through, evaluate in every detail, and then execute and re-execute as new issues pop into his pea brain. I am usually able to isolate the core objective, make a decision, and then produce a workable result quickly and efficiently. Though not specifically identified by Dante, there is indeed a ring of hell where punishment involves being an underling to an idiot boss. I have no idea what I have done to deserve this punishment but I have lots of company, particularly at Bishop.
(c)
Q:
My second day on the job, Frank asked me to review some reports for him and give input. Trained in the old-fashioned way of Big Eight public accounting firms, I went through the report footing the columns and making sure everything was tip-top. As Frank walked by my cube, I asked him, “Do you want me to make a list of the errors I find and discuss them all at once, or go over each report separately?” I was pretty sure Frank was testing me to see if I could help with reports, and I was sure he would be impressed by my experience.
“What mistakes?” Frank asked sounding irritated.
“Well, the gross margin table in this report doesn’t calculate, for one thing,” I said. “I think there’s a typo in one of the numbers.”
Frank pursed his lips and tilted his head sideways as he looked down at where I was pointing on the report. I was a little surprised at his reaction and even more so when he grabbed the papers abruptly and stared at the numbers I had circled in red.
“Please step into my office, Tanzie,” he said.
I followed him in and he shut the door behind me.
I sat down, but Frank did not. His office was as utterly dull as its occupant. No framed jerseys on the wall or encased balls on this credenza. Just neat stacks of papers anchored with paperweights that I thought had been rendered obsolete with the onset of the technology age. There was a bookshelf, but so far Frank had not accumulated many materials worthy of display. Other than a framed photo of his bride on their wedding day, there were absolutely no personal items that might give insight into Frank’s interests or hobbies. From what I now know about Frank, it is entirely possible that he has none.
“First of all,” Frank said, “when you find something like that, you should never assume you’re right. You should have said, ‘Excuse me, Frank, but I am very confused about something in the report. I am not sure I understand how the gross margin table works.’ Rather than accusing me of making an error. I didn’t appreciate your tone.”
This really caught me off guard. There is nothing remotely confusing about a typo. This was male dominating bullshit as far as I was concerned, and all the more galling being delivered by a thirty-something kid.
“I’m so sorry, Frank,” I said. “I don’t think making a typo is any big deal. I didn’t mean to offend you.” Oh brother. Right then I knew it was going to be torture tiptoeing around Frank and his inability to be wrong. It turned out all the reports had already been issued, and Frank had just been giving me busy work. He was horrified, too, that I corrected his grammar. Midwesterners in particular have a problem when it comes to the past participle of the verb “to go.” They say, “I should have went there” or in Frank’s case in this report, “The auditor had went to the job site to observe the inventory.” I changed the “went” to “gone.”
“You know, Tanzie,” Frank pointed to my grammatical editing, “it’s perfectly acceptable to use ‘went’ in that sentence. People say it all the time here. They know what I mean. Don’t be acting like you’re a smarty-pants or something.”
At the time, I felt as though I had time traveled back to a middle school hallway. “Frank,” I said, getting up to leave, “I am very confused about the spelling of Mr. Bishop’s first name. I always thought there were two n’s in Bennet, but of course he might have made a change. I can’t be sure. I will be happy to follow up on that for you.” I smiled pleasantly as I waited for a response from Frank, who was frantically looking at the reports to find that particular misspelling. “That will be all,” he said finally, and I went back to my cube.
(c)
Q:
Mazie doesn’t keep her password in the usual places, but she does not lock her desk either. I go through her desk drawers one by one and come up empty. I notice a two-drawer file cabinet under her desk that is locked, and I am unable to find the key anywhere. I help myself to candy left in a bowl in a neighbor’s cube and stuff the wrappers into my back pocket so as not to create a trash trail exposing my unauthorized access to the Accounts Payable department. But search as I may, I cannot find Mazie’s password or any other personal details other than a couple of framed pictures of the grandkids. Leave it to the thief to take security seriously.
I continue my search in the Accounts Payable area, scoring big time at the candy lady’s cube. I suppose she thought it was clever to embed her password in a grocery list kept in a manila folder by her desk. But I knew that trick and noticed 6#sParsley immediately. Who would ever buy six pounds of parsley, anyway? I did give her partial credit; this was not the same as leaving it under a pen set. I hit a couple more floors on the lower levels, and by noon I have sixteen passwords, a list of Social Security numbers I discovered in an HR wastebasket, and a copy of a potential acquisition memo found at a printer in one of the Environmental Health and Safety work areas. I feel bored and decide I have enough information for one day; it is all too easy.
(c)
Q:
Mazie’s behavior piques my interest. It is fairly common for fraudsters to work after hours and on weekends. Maybe I can find something incriminating in her desk this time. So, instead of getting off on six, I decide to get off on nine and walk directly to Mazie’s cube. I cannot believe my luck when instead of a blank screen or the three grandchildren, I see the blue Windows screen staring back at me. Computers left unattended usually revert to a screen saver after about five or ten minutes of inactivity and require an ID and password to log back in. It is best to manually log out every time you leave your computer, but hardly anyone ever does.
(с)
Q: The Monday morning executive meeting is scheduled for 8:00 a.m., an hour and a half before our weekly Internal Audit update in Hal’s office. I dial the conference number at five minutes till from my cube, using an earbud to ensure my privacy. If someone walks by, that person will think I am listening to music while I work. After yesterday, I am committed to planning everything I do and figuring out plausible explanations for my behavior just in case. I don’t want to find myself crammed under another desk any time soon.
(с)
Q:
I think that deep down every one of us auditor types wants to uncover a fraud. Not that we want fraud to occur—we just want to be the ones to discover it. After all, so much of internal audit work is tedious and mind numbing, and the notion that you might identify something worthy of a Law & Order episode provides enough incentive to prevent heavy drinking or suicide.
(c)
Q:
Often auditors test just a small sample rather than look for anomalies via data analytics, the preferred method. The technique takes more skill, but it is regarded in the profession as superior, particularly when looking for fraudulent transactions. I find it so frustrating to work for bottom-feeders who do not understand the technical side of auditing enough to appreciate someone who does.
(c)
Q:
I don’t want Lucy to know I smoke, so I had decided not to while she is staying with me. I know it’s lame, but I’m private about my character flaws.
(c)
Q:
so replaying the tape, making notes on the times at which the most damaging conversations took place. It is that fraud triangle all over again. The extreme pressure of possibly losing their company and the personal humiliation for having let all those people die; the opportunity to make it all go away by greasing the palm of a Houston sewer contracting firm president; and the rationalization that it isn’t really the Bishops’ fault but in fact the nitwit in EH&S who dropped the ball.
(c)
Q:
There is just something about people who cannot admit mistakes or defeat. Urging them to be reasonable is like trying to teach a pig to sing: They are just incapable.
I once attended a business ethics seminar where it was suggested that when struggling to decide what to do, always imagine your mother or some other loved one is reading about your decision in the newspaper. A company that lets a maintenance project fall through the cracks is just incompetent and possibly criminally negligent. But one that commits fraud by destroying evidence or bribing is in another category. What would Mama Bishop think of these boys now? I wonder.
(c)
Q:
Dan chimes in, trying to squelch the hostility. He must be from a small family, I surmise from his desire to become the peacemaker. Big families in general, and big Greek families in particular, tend to argue to the death. It can seem mean to outsiders who grew up in more polite households. But it really just demonstrates how close Lucy and I are: We can yell at each other and neither of us takes it personally. And honestly, the truth is that Lucy and I agree that Bishop has done wrong and should be brought to justice. We just disagree on the methodology, timing, and whether my going to jail should be part of the process.
(c)
Q:
I return to the Bishop building at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday to do the busywork Frank has given me. Once again, there is no security manning the desk, so I badge in and head for the elevator bank servicing the sixth floor. I log in and complete Frank’s request in less than an hour.
Frank is a guy who overcomplicates things, so for him even the most inconsequential task takes hours to think through, evaluate in every detail, and then execute and re-execute as new issues pop into his pea brain. I am usually able to isolate the core objective, make a decision, and then produce a workable result quickly and efficiently. Though not specifically identified by Dante, there is indeed a ring of hell where punishment involves being an underling to an idiot boss. I have no idea what I have done to deserve this punishment but I have lots of company, particularly at Bishop.
(c)
Q:
My second day on the job, Frank asked me to review some reports for him and give input. Trained in the old-fashioned way of Big Eight public accounting firms, I went through the report footing the columns and making sure everything was tip-top. As Frank walked by my cube, I asked him, “Do you want me to make a list of the errors I find and discuss them all at once, or go over each report separately?” I was pretty sure Frank was testing me to see if I could help with reports, and I was sure he would be impressed by my experience.
“What mistakes?” Frank asked sounding irritated.
“Well, the gross margin table in this report doesn’t calculate, for one thing,” I said. “I think there’s a typo in one of the numbers.”
Frank pursed his lips and tilted his head sideways as he looked down at where I was pointing on the report. I was a little surprised at his reaction and even more so when he grabbed the papers abruptly and stared at the numbers I had circled in red.
“Please step into my office, Tanzie,” he said.
I followed him in and he shut the door behind me.
I sat down, but Frank did not. His office was as utterly dull as its occupant. No framed jerseys on the wall or encased balls on this credenza. Just neat stacks of papers anchored with paperweights that I thought had been rendered obsolete with the onset of the technology age. There was a bookshelf, but so far Frank had not accumulated many materials worthy of display. Other than a framed photo of his bride on their wedding day, there were absolutely no personal items that might give insight into Frank’s interests or hobbies. From what I now know about Frank, it is entirely possible that he has none.
“First of all,” Frank said, “when you find something like that, you should never assume you’re right. You should have said, ‘Excuse me, Frank, but I am very confused about something in the report. I am not sure I understand how the gross margin table works.’ Rather than accusing me of making an error. I didn’t appreciate your tone.”
This really caught me off guard. There is nothing remotely confusing about a typo. This was male dominating bullshit as far as I was concerned, and all the more galling being delivered by a thirty-something kid.
“I’m so sorry, Frank,” I said. “I don’t think making a typo is any big deal. I didn’t mean to offend you.” Oh brother. Right then I knew it was going to be torture tiptoeing around Frank and his inability to be wrong. It turned out all the reports had already been issued, and Frank had just been giving me busy work. He was horrified, too, that I corrected his grammar. Midwesterners in particular have a problem when it comes to the past participle of the verb “to go.” They say, “I should have went there” or in Frank’s case in this report, “The auditor had went to the job site to observe the inventory.” I changed the “went” to “gone.”
“You know, Tanzie,” Frank pointed to my grammatical editing, “it’s perfectly acceptable to use ‘went’ in that sentence. People say it all the time here. They know what I mean. Don’t be acting like you’re a smarty-pants or something.”
At the time, I felt as though I had time traveled back to a middle school hallway. “Frank,” I said, getting up to leave, “I am very confused about the spelling of Mr. Bishop’s first name. I always thought there were two n’s in Bennet, but of course he might have made a change. I can’t be sure. I will be happy to follow up on that for you.” I smiled pleasantly as I waited for a response from Frank, who was frantically looking at the reports to find that particular misspelling. “That will be all,” he said finally, and I went back to my cube.
(c)
Q:
Mazie doesn’t keep her password in the usual places, but she does not lock her desk either. I go through her desk drawers one by one and come up empty. I notice a two-drawer file cabinet under her desk that is locked, and I am unable to find the key anywhere. I help myself to candy left in a bowl in a neighbor’s cube and stuff the wrappers into my back pocket so as not to create a trash trail exposing my unauthorized access to the Accounts Payable department. But search as I may, I cannot find Mazie’s password or any other personal details other than a couple of framed pictures of the grandkids. Leave it to the thief to take security seriously.
I continue my search in the Accounts Payable area, scoring big time at the candy lady’s cube. I suppose she thought it was clever to embed her password in a grocery list kept in a manila folder by her desk. But I knew that trick and noticed 6#sParsley immediately. Who would ever buy six pounds of parsley, anyway? I did give her partial credit; this was not the same as leaving it under a pen set. I hit a couple more floors on the lower levels, and by noon I have sixteen passwords, a list of Social Security numbers I discovered in an HR wastebasket, and a copy of a potential acquisition memo found at a printer in one of the Environmental Health and Safety work areas. I feel bored and decide I have enough information for one day; it is all too easy.
(c)
Q:
Mazie’s behavior piques my interest. It is fairly common for fraudsters to work after hours and on weekends. Maybe I can find something incriminating in her desk this time. So, instead of getting off on six, I decide to get off on nine and walk directly to Mazie’s cube. I cannot believe my luck when instead of a blank screen or the three grandchildren, I see the blue Windows screen staring back at me. Computers left unattended usually revert to a screen saver after about five or ten minutes of inactivity and require an ID and password to log back in. It is best to manually log out every time you leave your computer, but hardly anyone ever does.
(с)
Q: The Monday morning executive meeting is scheduled for 8:00 a.m., an hour and a half before our weekly Internal Audit update in Hal’s office. I dial the conference number at five minutes till from my cube, using an earbud to ensure my privacy. If someone walks by, that person will think I am listening to music while I work. After yesterday, I am committed to planning everything I do and figuring out plausible explanations for my behavior just in case. I don’t want to find myself crammed under another desk any time soon.
(с)
Q:
I think that deep down every one of us auditor types wants to uncover a fraud. Not that we want fraud to occur—we just want to be the ones to discover it. After all, so much of internal audit work is tedious and mind numbing, and the notion that you might identify something worthy of a Law & Order episode provides enough incentive to prevent heavy drinking or suicide.
(c)
Q:
Often auditors test just a small sample rather than look for anomalies via data analytics, the preferred method. The technique takes more skill, but it is regarded in the profession as superior, particularly when looking for fraudulent transactions. I find it so frustrating to work for bottom-feeders who do not understand the technical side of auditing enough to appreciate someone who does.
(c)
Q:
I don’t want Lucy to know I smoke, so I had decided not to while she is staying with me. I know it’s lame, but I’m private about my character flaws.
(c)
Q:
so replaying the tape, making notes on the times at which the most damaging conversations took place. It is that fraud triangle all over again. The extreme pressure of possibly losing their company and the personal humiliation for having let all those people die; the opportunity to make it all go away by greasing the palm of a Houston sewer contracting firm president; and the rationalization that it isn’t really the Bishops’ fault but in fact the nitwit in EH&S who dropped the ball.
(c)
Q:
There is just something about people who cannot admit mistakes or defeat. Urging them to be reasonable is like trying to teach a pig to sing: They are just incapable.
I once attended a business ethics seminar where it was suggested that when struggling to decide what to do, always imagine your mother or some other loved one is reading about your decision in the newspaper. A company that lets a maintenance project fall through the cracks is just incompetent and possibly criminally negligent. But one that commits fraud by destroying evidence or bribing is in another category. What would Mama Bishop think of these boys now? I wonder.
(c)
Q:
Dan chimes in, trying to squelch the hostility. He must be from a small family, I surmise from his desire to become the peacemaker. Big families in general, and big Greek families in particular, tend to argue to the death. It can seem mean to outsiders who grew up in more polite households. But it really just demonstrates how close Lucy and I are: We can yell at each other and neither of us takes it personally. And honestly, the truth is that Lucy and I agree that Bishop has done wrong and should be brought to justice. We just disagree on the methodology, timing, and whether my going to jail should be part of the process.
(c)
January 17, 2015
Being CAE & CFE myself I totally enjoyed this book from start to finish! What a refreshment it is for main heroine to be Internal Auditor.
My favorite quote :
"Not that we want fraud to occur - we just want to be the ones to discover it. After all, so much of internal audit work is tedious and mind numbing, and the notion that you might identify something worthy of a Law & Order episode provides enough incentive to prevent heavy drinking or suicide."
Can not wait for follow-up.
My favorite quote :
"Not that we want fraud to occur - we just want to be the ones to discover it. After all, so much of internal audit work is tedious and mind numbing, and the notion that you might identify something worthy of a Law & Order episode provides enough incentive to prevent heavy drinking or suicide."
Can not wait for follow-up.
June 30, 2014
A special thank you to River Grove Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Joanne Fox Phillips’ REVENGE OF THE CUBE DWELLER, is an engaging tale of one tenacious middle aged woman’s adventure in the corrupt corporate world, a whistleblower uncovering misdeeds of fraud; packed with humor, drama, sass, wit, and delicious revenge!
Tanzie Lewis was living the life of everything Houston glitz and glamour has to offer, as the wife of a successful oil executive, with the highlight of her days—competing in the country club golf championship, or lunching with her rich friends.
When her cheating husband threw her aside for a younger woman and the stock market took a dive, Tanzie was left at age 52, menopausal, and jobless. (minus her beloved dog, and left with a used Lexus, and able to fit all her worldly possessions in said car).
Escaping her friends and former life (of course they now are her husband’s friends with his new wife), she escapes to Tulsa, OK and takes a job in the internal audit department of The Bishop Group, an oil and gas company. She is not on the management team, a nobody, (if you ask her boss), residing in a cube (razor sharp, good at her job, and a plus- a great detective). Taking care of her personal appearance is last on her list, thus weight gain and some lonely nights (with of course the help of nightly cigarettes and wine).
However, she receives an adrenaline rush from uncovering misdeeds and accounting irregularities within the company, with a purpose—as the suspense heats up. She is obsessed with getting to the bottom of the fraud, as she needs to be promoted and accepted to demonstrate her worth; in order to get her life back, while working with these men who are worthless and clueless.
From sneaking into offices after hours and weekends, uncover as housekeeping staff, to snatching computer passwords to privileged information—she uncovers corporate fraud, manipulation, accounting irregularities, and a cover-up! With the lack of security within the company, she manages to worm her way into their nasty company secrets by getting into emails and private conferences. (Loved it!)
After her former friends from Houston are killed in a massive pipeline explosion, due to her employer’s mistakes—she recruits her sidekick sister, Lucy (miss organic and bohemian who wants to save the earth). Tanzie learns to outsmart them all, and wins in her own brilliant way!
Of course, like most whistleblowers (I speak from experience), a company really doesn’t want to hear about the misdeeds, and accounting irregularities, as most of the executives are a part of the cover up, or they decide the brave ones coming forward with such information are labeled-problematic, and ultimately the hero or whistleblower is fired for some other bogus reason. The whistleblower has to gather as much information as possible in order to build a case while they have inside access, before they get caned, harassment begins, or the company begins deleting files, to cover their tracks.
Thank goodness The Bishop Group was a private company, not publicly traded, as I could definitely step in and help Tanzie. I find whistleblowing novels and corporate fraud (fiction or non-fiction), fascinating! I am about the underdog.
Even though this novel was leaning on the humorous side, due to the funky front cover, appealing to a wider audience; however, with a different more mysterious cover, this novel could really be an intense suspense drama and corporate scandalous novel, as has much depth. I for one, love the details as a very analytical thinker.
Joanne Fox Phillips’ is an ideal author for this topic with an intensive background, as the director of internal audit for a midstream oil and gas company in Tulsa, Oklahoma; a CPA, certified internal auditor, and certified fraud examiner—offering great insights into the dynamics and internal tactics of corporate fraud.
I definitely look forward to more scandalous corporate suspense novels in the future from this talented author. Maybe a SOX one next? Highly Recommend!
Joanne Fox Phillips’ REVENGE OF THE CUBE DWELLER, is an engaging tale of one tenacious middle aged woman’s adventure in the corrupt corporate world, a whistleblower uncovering misdeeds of fraud; packed with humor, drama, sass, wit, and delicious revenge!
Tanzie Lewis was living the life of everything Houston glitz and glamour has to offer, as the wife of a successful oil executive, with the highlight of her days—competing in the country club golf championship, or lunching with her rich friends.
When her cheating husband threw her aside for a younger woman and the stock market took a dive, Tanzie was left at age 52, menopausal, and jobless. (minus her beloved dog, and left with a used Lexus, and able to fit all her worldly possessions in said car).
Escaping her friends and former life (of course they now are her husband’s friends with his new wife), she escapes to Tulsa, OK and takes a job in the internal audit department of The Bishop Group, an oil and gas company. She is not on the management team, a nobody, (if you ask her boss), residing in a cube (razor sharp, good at her job, and a plus- a great detective). Taking care of her personal appearance is last on her list, thus weight gain and some lonely nights (with of course the help of nightly cigarettes and wine).
However, she receives an adrenaline rush from uncovering misdeeds and accounting irregularities within the company, with a purpose—as the suspense heats up. She is obsessed with getting to the bottom of the fraud, as she needs to be promoted and accepted to demonstrate her worth; in order to get her life back, while working with these men who are worthless and clueless.
From sneaking into offices after hours and weekends, uncover as housekeeping staff, to snatching computer passwords to privileged information—she uncovers corporate fraud, manipulation, accounting irregularities, and a cover-up! With the lack of security within the company, she manages to worm her way into their nasty company secrets by getting into emails and private conferences. (Loved it!)
After her former friends from Houston are killed in a massive pipeline explosion, due to her employer’s mistakes—she recruits her sidekick sister, Lucy (miss organic and bohemian who wants to save the earth). Tanzie learns to outsmart them all, and wins in her own brilliant way!
Of course, like most whistleblowers (I speak from experience), a company really doesn’t want to hear about the misdeeds, and accounting irregularities, as most of the executives are a part of the cover up, or they decide the brave ones coming forward with such information are labeled-problematic, and ultimately the hero or whistleblower is fired for some other bogus reason. The whistleblower has to gather as much information as possible in order to build a case while they have inside access, before they get caned, harassment begins, or the company begins deleting files, to cover their tracks.
Thank goodness The Bishop Group was a private company, not publicly traded, as I could definitely step in and help Tanzie. I find whistleblowing novels and corporate fraud (fiction or non-fiction), fascinating! I am about the underdog.
Even though this novel was leaning on the humorous side, due to the funky front cover, appealing to a wider audience; however, with a different more mysterious cover, this novel could really be an intense suspense drama and corporate scandalous novel, as has much depth. I for one, love the details as a very analytical thinker.
Joanne Fox Phillips’ is an ideal author for this topic with an intensive background, as the director of internal audit for a midstream oil and gas company in Tulsa, Oklahoma; a CPA, certified internal auditor, and certified fraud examiner—offering great insights into the dynamics and internal tactics of corporate fraud.
I definitely look forward to more scandalous corporate suspense novels in the future from this talented author. Maybe a SOX one next? Highly Recommend!
April 21, 2016
I received this book as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Overall it was good. It's the story of how after a pipeline explosion in Houston Tanzie investigates her present employer's involvement. She does this because apparently corporate security is really lax at her company (and she claims everywhere else) and she has a job as an internal auditor so it's literally her job to snoop around.
I will note how unlikable everyone is. Tanzie's coworkers are incompetent sexists (though we're not intended to like them). Her friends are shallow and obsessed by golf and calorie intakes. And Tanzie herself? She's on the good guys side but personally she's vapid, vain, shallow and arrogant. And the fact that she sees being Christian or conservative as a damning character flaw. And she's just as bad as some of the minor villains (stealing is stealing, regardless of what you think of the target).
This is somewhat forgivable in that I can't quite tell what the author thinks of Tanzie. At some points, Tanzie's hypocrisy and vanity are highlighted other times she gets more of a selfless crusader treatment.
Like I said. I enjoyed this book. The plot was intriguing, I learned a lot about corporate security and the characters were engaging if not likable. My biggest beef is that thing about dissing conservatives and Christians but that's only sporadic.
Overall it was good. It's the story of how after a pipeline explosion in Houston Tanzie investigates her present employer's involvement. She does this because apparently corporate security is really lax at her company (and she claims everywhere else) and she has a job as an internal auditor so it's literally her job to snoop around.
I will note how unlikable everyone is. Tanzie's coworkers are incompetent sexists (though we're not intended to like them). Her friends are shallow and obsessed by golf and calorie intakes. And Tanzie herself? She's on the good guys side but personally she's vapid, vain, shallow and arrogant. And the fact that she sees being Christian or conservative as a damning character flaw. And she's just as bad as some of the minor villains (stealing is stealing, regardless of what you think of the target).
This is somewhat forgivable in that I can't quite tell what the author thinks of Tanzie. At some points, Tanzie's hypocrisy and vanity are highlighted other times she gets more of a selfless crusader treatment.
Like I said. I enjoyed this book. The plot was intriguing, I learned a lot about corporate security and the characters were engaging if not likable. My biggest beef is that thing about dissing conservatives and Christians but that's only sporadic.
June 19, 2014
First I would like to thank Net Galley and River Grove Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed every part of this book! The action started from the beginning and had me coming back for more till the end.
Tanzie Lewis had recently been left and divorced by her rich husband Winston and went from a Country Club life to living pay check to paycheck supporting herself and trying to get her life turned around all at the age of 52!
She not only has been gain weight with her lifestyle upheaval but she can't seem to get her professional in line with her standards of what she thinks it should be at this point in her life.
She is being forced to work for man who aren't nearly as smart and are only half her age!
She begins to "audit" the Bishop Group on her own time and things start to come together and she compiles a mass of data and information that will take this company down in the end. From corporate fraud to cutting corners she learns it all!
She not only gets even with the company and gets justice for the victims, she also walks away with something for herself as well.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
I really enjoyed every part of this book! The action started from the beginning and had me coming back for more till the end.
Tanzie Lewis had recently been left and divorced by her rich husband Winston and went from a Country Club life to living pay check to paycheck supporting herself and trying to get her life turned around all at the age of 52!
She not only has been gain weight with her lifestyle upheaval but she can't seem to get her professional in line with her standards of what she thinks it should be at this point in her life.
She is being forced to work for man who aren't nearly as smart and are only half her age!
She begins to "audit" the Bishop Group on her own time and things start to come together and she compiles a mass of data and information that will take this company down in the end. From corporate fraud to cutting corners she learns it all!
She not only gets even with the company and gets justice for the victims, she also walks away with something for herself as well.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
July 7, 2014
Give it time. This book may be slow to get going but by the end you are right with Tanzie in her quest to take down her employer. This is a classic "bad guys get what's coming to them."
She has some extra motivation from the beginning. We get a glimpse of what her life was life when married into the rich and famous lifestyle. We are angry on her behalf when she is confronted with not only her past but her replacement. Tanzie's antics may be unethical but they produce positive results. She wades in with caution but remembers her purpose. Oh - the ending makes the book. She has found her place in the world.
She has some extra motivation from the beginning. We get a glimpse of what her life was life when married into the rich and famous lifestyle. We are angry on her behalf when she is confronted with not only her past but her replacement. Tanzie's antics may be unethical but they produce positive results. She wades in with caution but remembers her purpose. Oh - the ending makes the book. She has found her place in the world.
November 23, 2014
What a refreshing book to read! I found Tanzie to be easy to relate to - not because we share life experiences, but because she seemed so real. She was an average, flawed woman. Not flawed in drastic ways - just normal everyday ways. She was really honest with herself. This book was written in first person and sometimes I find that perspective to be .... shallow. Phillips writes very well and really drew me in to the story.
By the time I finished the book, I had forgotten there was a subtitle to the book. It was left open for there to be other Tanzie Lewis books and I certainly look forward to reading more! If you are a fan of Kinsey Milhone, you'll like Tanzie Lewis!
By the time I finished the book, I had forgotten there was a subtitle to the book. It was left open for there to be other Tanzie Lewis books and I certainly look forward to reading more! If you are a fan of Kinsey Milhone, you'll like Tanzie Lewis!
September 1, 2014
I thought this was a really fun read with an original plot. The main character is a middle aged woman trying to reinvent herself after a bad divorce. It is humorous as it addresses serious themes, such as sexism, environmental ethics and fraud. I thought the best theme throughout this book is how people rationalize their actions. The Bishop brothers rationalize their cover-up just as Tanzie rationalizes her unethical behavior. This book will have strong appeal to people who have worked in offices, particularly accountants and business executives.
July 5, 2014
Tanzie is an intriguing character that has courage and grit. She has suffered some serious setbacks in life yet rallies. Joanne Fox Phillips has created a gutsy character in Tanzie.
I found the plot interesting, although I would have preferred a bit less backstory and detail about the inner workings of the oil industry. Overall, I would recommend Revenge of the Cube Dweller to anyone who enjoys a strong female character who beats the odds in life.
I found the plot interesting, although I would have preferred a bit less backstory and detail about the inner workings of the oil industry. Overall, I would recommend Revenge of the Cube Dweller to anyone who enjoys a strong female character who beats the odds in life.
August 2, 2014
This was a great book it had wonderful character and a really twisted storyline. I really enjoy reading about this lady experiences. I recommend this book to everyone and thank the author for letting me reads this book. Thank you I won this book on Goodreads.
October 2, 2017
Title: Revenge of the Cube Dweller
Author: Joanne Fox Phillips
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Publish Date: 2014
Buy Link: https://goo.gl/SZkm6z
Rating: 4 ½ bookmarks
Book Blurb: “There is a worst-case scenario calculation that, to my horror, estimates the dollar value of each life potentially lost that could be netted for insurance recoveries should an explosion occur.” (74)
Review by Nicole Harmon
This book was a not so bad read full of information in certain aspects of environmental disasters and the side of one of the investigators, Tanzie Lewis, who was formerly married to her husband, Winston Lewis and who lived a life of luxury until he decided to turn her in for a younger model. Their married life was the norm for those in their set. Up and coming, nice house but no kids. Winston Lewis did not want any children with her, Tanzie Lewis but he did want one with his new wife. Tanzie Lewis found that to be a hard hitting fact and it didn’t help her out at the time she found it out.
As her whole life was her husband when she got divorced from him, she like so many other first wives had to re-enter the work force. Despite having a degree she hadn’t really worked in the field since her marriage to her husband and she had to re-enter as a first time employee on the ground floor.
She started working as a C.P.A., and a fraud investigator for Bishop Group. During the course of a requested assignment into the financial activities of the company she worked for, she finds some interesting discrepancies. At the same time in the city of Houston, Texas, a family of four whom she knew in her previous life as a socialite died in a pipe explosion. We later learn that the pipe that exploded which was located underground was the property or the responsibility of Bishop Group. She, Tanzie Lewis goes to the family’s funeral.
During the funeral and wake week she continued to investigate the company Bishop Group and their employees for fraudulent activities or requests. She, Tanzie Lewis, hit pay dirt when she found out about the investigation into completing a “pigging” study of the pipe line done by the company. For those who aren’t familiar with it like myself (and this is where the book comes in) they give an explanation of what it is. (I so love this.) “Pigging is a pipeline term…. A pig is an object that is run through the pipe to collect information about the integrity, as well as to identify obstructions or other problems that affect performance.” (74)
“Initial studies about potential corrosion on the Houston pipeline were inconclusive however and according to the accompanying report, the pipe would have to be excavated and examined to be absolutely certain. Apparently Galleria pipeline was different. Report further indicated that the whole residential area about it had to be knocked down. But first things first-where is it? No one could find maps.” (83) This began an investigation that could very well end the company. Not willing to give the information to someone with their own agenda she sent it to the agency who handles the company regulations and thus became a whistleblower.
As you read this novel, you will learn a little about the transportation industry via underground pipelines. You will also learn what a fraud investigator might look for in a company that handles pipeline distribution and has an environmental disaster. You the reader will also find out that an investigation may not start out as a whistleblower but a regular company employee who finds a gross misconduct in the company behavior towards its employees and the people that they serve in the community. You will also get a glimpse of the mindset of someone, such as Tanzie Lewis, who saw that misconduct that may never be righted and in her mind she could not let that happen. So she investigated her trail which originated from the requested assignment from her boss and followed it back to the root cause and ensured that something right might or will come out of it and that the company would pay somehow for its gross misconduct. And you may also find out the outcome of her original assignment.
What you don’t see is the aftermath. Here is Tanzie Lewis, “…I’m a fifty-two. I need a job that comes with health insurance. It’s a busy market right now, especially for someone my age. I’m lucky to have anything. I’ll keep looking for something down here, but for now I’m stuck where I am.” (71). No longer able to stay where she was working due to the investigation and the possible results she now has to leave and start all over again. Seems a shame for her to have to do that but makes for a good read.
I liked this read but it was a slow one for me. I believe if you like novels about white collar crime or about environmental disasters or even investigators or all of the above then you will like this story. It also tells you how the socialite’s life is in the particular circumstances of the book. I think this is definitely a good gift for your friends. It might make their lives seem less stressful.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley.com for purposed of completing a book review. I have not received any compensation for this book review.
Author: Joanne Fox Phillips
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Publish Date: 2014
Buy Link: https://goo.gl/SZkm6z
Rating: 4 ½ bookmarks
Book Blurb: “There is a worst-case scenario calculation that, to my horror, estimates the dollar value of each life potentially lost that could be netted for insurance recoveries should an explosion occur.” (74)
Review by Nicole Harmon
This book was a not so bad read full of information in certain aspects of environmental disasters and the side of one of the investigators, Tanzie Lewis, who was formerly married to her husband, Winston Lewis and who lived a life of luxury until he decided to turn her in for a younger model. Their married life was the norm for those in their set. Up and coming, nice house but no kids. Winston Lewis did not want any children with her, Tanzie Lewis but he did want one with his new wife. Tanzie Lewis found that to be a hard hitting fact and it didn’t help her out at the time she found it out.
As her whole life was her husband when she got divorced from him, she like so many other first wives had to re-enter the work force. Despite having a degree she hadn’t really worked in the field since her marriage to her husband and she had to re-enter as a first time employee on the ground floor.
She started working as a C.P.A., and a fraud investigator for Bishop Group. During the course of a requested assignment into the financial activities of the company she worked for, she finds some interesting discrepancies. At the same time in the city of Houston, Texas, a family of four whom she knew in her previous life as a socialite died in a pipe explosion. We later learn that the pipe that exploded which was located underground was the property or the responsibility of Bishop Group. She, Tanzie Lewis goes to the family’s funeral.
During the funeral and wake week she continued to investigate the company Bishop Group and their employees for fraudulent activities or requests. She, Tanzie Lewis, hit pay dirt when she found out about the investigation into completing a “pigging” study of the pipe line done by the company. For those who aren’t familiar with it like myself (and this is where the book comes in) they give an explanation of what it is. (I so love this.) “Pigging is a pipeline term…. A pig is an object that is run through the pipe to collect information about the integrity, as well as to identify obstructions or other problems that affect performance.” (74)
“Initial studies about potential corrosion on the Houston pipeline were inconclusive however and according to the accompanying report, the pipe would have to be excavated and examined to be absolutely certain. Apparently Galleria pipeline was different. Report further indicated that the whole residential area about it had to be knocked down. But first things first-where is it? No one could find maps.” (83) This began an investigation that could very well end the company. Not willing to give the information to someone with their own agenda she sent it to the agency who handles the company regulations and thus became a whistleblower.
As you read this novel, you will learn a little about the transportation industry via underground pipelines. You will also learn what a fraud investigator might look for in a company that handles pipeline distribution and has an environmental disaster. You the reader will also find out that an investigation may not start out as a whistleblower but a regular company employee who finds a gross misconduct in the company behavior towards its employees and the people that they serve in the community. You will also get a glimpse of the mindset of someone, such as Tanzie Lewis, who saw that misconduct that may never be righted and in her mind she could not let that happen. So she investigated her trail which originated from the requested assignment from her boss and followed it back to the root cause and ensured that something right might or will come out of it and that the company would pay somehow for its gross misconduct. And you may also find out the outcome of her original assignment.
What you don’t see is the aftermath. Here is Tanzie Lewis, “…I’m a fifty-two. I need a job that comes with health insurance. It’s a busy market right now, especially for someone my age. I’m lucky to have anything. I’ll keep looking for something down here, but for now I’m stuck where I am.” (71). No longer able to stay where she was working due to the investigation and the possible results she now has to leave and start all over again. Seems a shame for her to have to do that but makes for a good read.
I liked this read but it was a slow one for me. I believe if you like novels about white collar crime or about environmental disasters or even investigators or all of the above then you will like this story. It also tells you how the socialite’s life is in the particular circumstances of the book. I think this is definitely a good gift for your friends. It might make their lives seem less stressful.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley.com for purposed of completing a book review. I have not received any compensation for this book review.
June 22, 2014
Great quick summer read! Enjoyed the office and menopause humor! Hope to see more of Tanzie and Mazie!
October 3, 2014
Cute quick read; first book by the author who works in corporate-Tulsa; story set in Tulsa so fun to recognize where everything is taking place
July 29, 2017
This is a very good debut. It is the first book I've found that provides a realistic view of internal auditing and makes it entertaining and enjoyable. It also provides insight into the lives of women of a certain age in the oil-rich states of Oklahoma and Texas. It creates good pace and introduces a female protagonist I can relate to without always liking or agreeing with her. It has a well-thought-out plot of discovering bad corporate behaviour and doing something about it - in an unconventional way.
I read the book nearly three years ago before I started writing reviews but the next book in the series is out and I spotted a really poor review of the first on Amazon and I want to add my voice to those who like it! In particular, it is worth remembering that this is a debut and I think it is head and shoulders above many debuts I've read.
I know the author and that actually gave me great trepidation when I read the book - what would I do if it was rubbish? Happily it wasn't and I'm looking forward to reading the second book, of which I read an early draft, as soon as the Kindle edition zaps its way to Amazon.co.uk.
I read the book nearly three years ago before I started writing reviews but the next book in the series is out and I spotted a really poor review of the first on Amazon and I want to add my voice to those who like it! In particular, it is worth remembering that this is a debut and I think it is head and shoulders above many debuts I've read.
I know the author and that actually gave me great trepidation when I read the book - what would I do if it was rubbish? Happily it wasn't and I'm looking forward to reading the second book, of which I read an early draft, as soon as the Kindle edition zaps its way to Amazon.co.uk.
September 19, 2017
Should be mandatory reading for every internal auditor!
September 14, 2014
Revenge of the Cube Dweller: A Tanzie Lewis Novel is by Joanne Fox Phillips. For a first attempt at a novel, this is a good book. She is a CPA, certified internal auditor, and certified fraud examiner for a company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her background gives her plenty of background information for Tanzie Lewis and her time in a company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Those details make it a realistic book.
Tanzie Lewis has just taken a job with Bishop Group in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She moved here from Houston, Texas after her divorce from Winston who also worked for an oil and gas company. From hearing him talk, Tanzie has a better grasp on their operation than most new employees. However, Tanzie has not worked for 20 years. She was hired in the audit department as an entry year person until she proved herself. Although she clearly knew more about accounting and investigation than did Hal who interviewed her, she accepted the job. She was paired with Frank and Moe and was to do what they told her to do. Within a week, she was definitely bored with the jobs they had her do.
Then Frank put her on a project to audit the vendors. Seeing something fishy oh her preliminary pass, she ended up investigating closer only to discover two of the employees were embezzling. She brings this to Frank’s attention and he takes it on up the ladder but takes credit for it.
As the story continues, Tanzie takes many chances to discover whatever she can about Bishop Group and possible fraud. When a pipeline blows up in Houston killing one of her best friends, her husband and two sons, Tanzie starts investigating harder. Will she find something? How will she get this information to the authorities when she gets it illegally? What will happen to her?
Tanzie Lewis has just taken a job with Bishop Group in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She moved here from Houston, Texas after her divorce from Winston who also worked for an oil and gas company. From hearing him talk, Tanzie has a better grasp on their operation than most new employees. However, Tanzie has not worked for 20 years. She was hired in the audit department as an entry year person until she proved herself. Although she clearly knew more about accounting and investigation than did Hal who interviewed her, she accepted the job. She was paired with Frank and Moe and was to do what they told her to do. Within a week, she was definitely bored with the jobs they had her do.
Then Frank put her on a project to audit the vendors. Seeing something fishy oh her preliminary pass, she ended up investigating closer only to discover two of the employees were embezzling. She brings this to Frank’s attention and he takes it on up the ladder but takes credit for it.
As the story continues, Tanzie takes many chances to discover whatever she can about Bishop Group and possible fraud. When a pipeline blows up in Houston killing one of her best friends, her husband and two sons, Tanzie starts investigating harder. Will she find something? How will she get this information to the authorities when she gets it illegally? What will happen to her?
June 20, 2014
I'm Not on the Tanzie Train
Revenge of the Cube Dweller is very much the debut book of a new author.
There are some great things about it. You have an unusual main character. Tanzie is older, heavier, and brighter than a lot of characters we meet these days. She's also kind of funny - her comments relating to menopause had me laughing out loud.
In addition, the author has the amazing ability to make an auditor job sound exciting! I'm in the insurance industry and my opinion of auditors has always been - ahem - uncomplimentary. I now need to rethink that. Tanzie's investigation was fascinating and I loved reading about all the business machinations that she uncovers.
Now the things that didn't work so well:
Sometimes, when I read a book, I find myself saying, "If I were the author, I'd…".
I'd remove the almost every flashback. These are long, long backstories and would be better presented in simply a paragraph of memory, rather than pages of flashback.
I'd make Tanzie not worry so much about her weight. A woman's worth is not measured by her waist size.
I'd give some explanation for Tanzie's unusual ethical choices. I was with her. I liked her. And then she made some choices that were highly unethical. Is Tanzie a heroine for justice? Or a criminal who uses the bad deeds of others to justify her own behavior?
As of right now, I wouldn't read further in this series. While I like the idea of such an unusual main character, Tanzie does a complete 180 towards the end of the book and becomes someone I don't really want to read about.
3 Stars
* ARC provided by NetGalley for Review Purposes
Revenge of the Cube Dweller is very much the debut book of a new author.
There are some great things about it. You have an unusual main character. Tanzie is older, heavier, and brighter than a lot of characters we meet these days. She's also kind of funny - her comments relating to menopause had me laughing out loud.
In addition, the author has the amazing ability to make an auditor job sound exciting! I'm in the insurance industry and my opinion of auditors has always been - ahem - uncomplimentary. I now need to rethink that. Tanzie's investigation was fascinating and I loved reading about all the business machinations that she uncovers.
Now the things that didn't work so well:
Sometimes, when I read a book, I find myself saying, "If I were the author, I'd…".
I'd remove the almost every flashback. These are long, long backstories and would be better presented in simply a paragraph of memory, rather than pages of flashback.
I'd make Tanzie not worry so much about her weight. A woman's worth is not measured by her waist size.
I'd give some explanation for Tanzie's unusual ethical choices. I was with her. I liked her. And then she made some choices that were highly unethical. Is Tanzie a heroine for justice? Or a criminal who uses the bad deeds of others to justify her own behavior?
As of right now, I wouldn't read further in this series. While I like the idea of such an unusual main character, Tanzie does a complete 180 towards the end of the book and becomes someone I don't really want to read about.
3 Stars
* ARC provided by NetGalley for Review Purposes
January 21, 2015
Here is a great book to read for you number people (or anyone looking for a fun book to read). Tanzie is an Internal Auditor and she knows her numbers so well she can detect it in any company! Who is cooking the books? Who is embezzling in the company? Also, how the bigwigs in a company make the minions pay for their big mistakes, but Tanzie make sure that they pay for all their misdeeds before she is through with them. The CPA's, accountants and bookkeepers, will enjoy all the lingo in the story. Also, the author knows what she is writing about and how the corporate world works with her CPA background. Tanzie is a crime fighting woman who is battling for justice in the corrupt world of dollars and cents. She was married to a corporate giant and knows how they think. She exacting her revenge after being divorced for the trophy wife. As Tanzie starts getting back on her feet she starts to realize the potential she has with her age and wisdom on her side and that will help her rebuild a new life. Nothing makes Tanzie feel more alive is the high stake adventure going after corruption in big business today. I look forward to reading more books on Tanzie, who is today's new heroine that displays a mature competent woman who can bring down fraudulent, underhanded big business in the land of giant America.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2014
Reading this book, I thought of all of the people who have worked hard for a company and then been done dirty by their employers. Tanzie Lewis is working at a family owned corporation after being dumped and divorced. Her new company has a bunch of misogynist bosses who don't appreciate her abilities or intelligence. Tanzie is in her 50's and knows she needs to keep her job so she will just put up with their old boy attitude. However, in the process of trying to prove her capabilities, she discovers damaging information about the company. After a deadly accident which kills good friends of hers, she decides to discover the company's true liability for the accident.
There is a lot of very interesting snooping and computer hacking which occurs in this book and helps Tanzie with her ultimate revenge. Anyone who has worked in a bureaucracy will appreciate some of the ridiculous ways that things are done. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of explanation about office procedure which sometime slows down the pace of the story. Overall, this is a good story about how one person can cause a huge change if they know how to get the right information. It is a nicely done tale of revenge for the common good and maybe a little helping of oneself at the same time.
There is a lot of very interesting snooping and computer hacking which occurs in this book and helps Tanzie with her ultimate revenge. Anyone who has worked in a bureaucracy will appreciate some of the ridiculous ways that things are done. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of explanation about office procedure which sometime slows down the pace of the story. Overall, this is a good story about how one person can cause a huge change if they know how to get the right information. It is a nicely done tale of revenge for the common good and maybe a little helping of oneself at the same time.
February 25, 2015
A sign of the times! The author introduces us to Tanzie Lewis, who discovers a cover-up by one of the most powerful companies in the nation. The Bishop Group was founded by brothers, Baldwin and Bennet Bishop. The companies’ main profits come from pipelines, tanks, and gas-processing plants in oil and gas operations.
The Bishop Group puts profit before people and security. This is a company that is the very example of corporate greed. After a recent divorce, Tanzie finds herself having to re-enter the workforce. She works for a sexist boss and reports to younger, egotistical men who dismiss her at every turn at The Bishop Group. Clearly, Tanzie is smarter and more experienced, and her skills will help her uncover the dirty truth within the company.
There is a strong bond between Tanzie and her sister, Lucy that carries her through difficult days. Flashbacks to their childhood, made me ponder about my own as well. Although Tanzie has to deal with a nauseating ex-husband and fake friends, she comes out stronger. I learned to always bet on Tanzie!
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The Bishop Group puts profit before people and security. This is a company that is the very example of corporate greed. After a recent divorce, Tanzie finds herself having to re-enter the workforce. She works for a sexist boss and reports to younger, egotistical men who dismiss her at every turn at The Bishop Group. Clearly, Tanzie is smarter and more experienced, and her skills will help her uncover the dirty truth within the company.
There is a strong bond between Tanzie and her sister, Lucy that carries her through difficult days. Flashbacks to their childhood, made me ponder about my own as well. Although Tanzie has to deal with a nauseating ex-husband and fake friends, she comes out stronger. I learned to always bet on Tanzie!
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2016
I tried really hard on this one, but just could not trudge through it. The first chapter was interesting enough, but after that the tone slipped into a monotone dissertation that I really struggled with. My other main frustration was the presentation of three stereotypical sexist male characters within one chapter.
There was one point in time that I traveled and worked in Oklahoma for two years and I never met someone like the individuals portrayed. If the intention was to have a single character with bad stereotypes, that would be one thing, but portraying all men in the area to be the same way I found distracting and unrealistic. Perhaps my experiences were not the norm, but these were the last straw for me and I finally gave up on the book.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of the publisher.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
There was one point in time that I traveled and worked in Oklahoma for two years and I never met someone like the individuals portrayed. If the intention was to have a single character with bad stereotypes, that would be one thing, but portraying all men in the area to be the same way I found distracting and unrealistic. Perhaps my experiences were not the norm, but these were the last straw for me and I finally gave up on the book.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of the publisher.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
June 13, 2016
I won this book as a goodreads firstreads book, the title sounded absolutely fantastic. Revenge of the cube dweller just sounds like an employee finally getting back at her job, co workers, bosses etc. Well it starts off kind of slow, we don't know alot about the lead character other than her husband left her which forced her to get a job. The new employer treats her like she's new, or inexperienced so she decides to do what she can to prove her worth. In doing so she finds one heck of a secret. But then she uses it in a way that makes her just as bad as everyone else, if not worse. I didn't have a whole lot of respect for her in the end, all she did was prove they were justified in treating her like they did. I think the story line could have been fantastic if it wasn't for ouR lead going rogue.
February 21, 2015
I really liked the protagonist of this book. Tanzie has had to go back to work after her marriage has ended, and while trying to be proactive and help show weak spots in the company security, she finds that the company may have something to hide. After her company is tied to an explosion that killed innocent people, Tanzie is motivated to uncover the true involvement of the company. What I really liked about Tanzie is that she is really wonderfully and completely written. Her thoughts on her divorce, having to go back into the workforce, and how she handles situations all seem very real. The author takes the time to flesh out the character, and I think this really made the book enjoyable. Tanzie is such a strong, believable character, that you find yourself rooting for her really quickly.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2014
Joanne Fox Phillips manages to make her main character sexy and middle aged and overweight instead of sexy in spite of, which I found very refreshing. The premise of the story was good and the plotlines were well woven. There were some pacing issues, but I thought it might be due to the possibility of this book spinning into a series; with lots of back story to relate and characters to introduce. If you are not used to the technique of using flashbacks, you will be by the time you finish RotCD. Our heroine is at times sympathetic and at times on the outskirts of ethical behavior, which can be a bit unsettling, but again I think she will even out as the series evolves. I look forward to more from the author.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2014
What a refreshing book to read! I found Tanzie to be easy to relate to - not because we share life experiences, but because she seemed so real. She was an average, flawed woman. Not flawed in drastic ways - just normal everyday ways. She was really honest with herself. This book was written in first person and sometimes I find that perspective to be .... shallow. Phillips writes very well and really drew me in to the story.
By the time I finished the book, I had forgotten there was a subtitle to the book. It was left open for there to be other Tanzie Lewis books and I certainly look forward to reading more! If you are a fan of Kinsey Milhone, you'll like Tanzie Lewis!
By the time I finished the book, I had forgotten there was a subtitle to the book. It was left open for there to be other Tanzie Lewis books and I certainly look forward to reading more! If you are a fan of Kinsey Milhone, you'll like Tanzie Lewis!
December 12, 2014
I would rate this novel a 3/5. For the most part I did enjoy reading about Tanzie and her life after her divorce and how she faces it along with her job. I found her character lovable but often very vain. I was thoroughly disappointed by the ending of the book. After leading up to the thrilling conclusion one can't help but feel like it lacked the attention to detail that the rest of the novel has. The ending was abrupt and did not bring the story together. There was just something missing, maybe a bit of suspense or a little bit more drama. Over all not a bad read. I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
July 18, 2014
Life starts at the age of 52, well for Tanzie, that is.Joanne Fox Phillips is one heck of a writer!
Being left by your husband for a much younger woman is hard, but hell the menopausal jokes, the antics, everything that makes Tanzie is beyond amazing! This story is unpredictably one heck of nail biter.
though there are moments that you would think: "maybe if she(author) did this" or "that" it would be better, but nevertheless! Joanne's author voice should be heard by many!
IRC via Netgalley
December 9, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Good character development and easy to relate to. Fun to read, sassy, drama, suspense, a little bit of everything. This is a great story about corporate espionage. A highly skilled aging divorced female entering the work force as an internal auditor at the lowest level discovering fraud and much more. Keep your head down, do your job and look what you can find; be the employee that no one notices. Love how it ended. Finished in one sitting couldn’t put the book down.
“I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.”
“I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.”
May 27, 2015
I hate to be defeated but this book was a DNF (did not finish). First chapter was fine, seeing Tanzie Lewis manage to get passed security in the building to the executive floors had me intrigued. Then chapter 2 onwards felt flat, monotone. It was as if I was reading a list of facts or an academic essay about the oil business. It was dry and with nothing that made me want to read on. I picked it up and put it down over the course of a week but now have sadly given up.
December 6, 2014
Very entertaining book. Found the characters to be relatable and fun! Definitely a page turner with interesting lessons to learn. Having worked in the corporate world that was not on the up and up, I can say this definitely hit the nail on the head. Falling in love with the main character Tanzie, you can't help but root for the good guy! Definitely a page turner! I definitely can't wait for another book with Tanzie.
**I received a free copy for an honest review**
**I received a free copy for an honest review**
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews