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After Call Work: Gross Misconduct
"This needs to happen. He's everything that's standing between me and happiness."
Stevie Weller is a man with a lot of enemies. He's a bully and a sex pest who's only an opportunity away from destroying somebody's life forever. He must be stopped. Front runners in the race to end his reign of vulgar terror are John and Danielle.
One of them is a call centre Deputy Team Leader with designs on a full time position as Team Manager, harbouring pipe dreams of what the extra two grand a year could do for his pockets, bullied on a daily basis and wallowing alone in the friendzone of one of Stevie's past conquests, who can't get over her hatred of the boy.
The other is brand new, just coming out of her two weeks of training, but she has ambition to match anybody. She knows what she wants, and she knows how to get it. She's worked out her route to the top and would step on her own family if it meant a leg up on the career ladder. There are two things annoying her just now, though; the Deputy Team Leader who stands in her way, and the awful tanned boy who can't help himself from sending dick pics.
A tale of ambitious people in a place that eats up ambitious people and spits them out, the spiteful as hell second book in the acclaimed After Call Work series dishes up plenty of answers, but they're only going to lead to more questions.
Stevie Weller is a man with a lot of enemies. He's a bully and a sex pest who's only an opportunity away from destroying somebody's life forever. He must be stopped. Front runners in the race to end his reign of vulgar terror are John and Danielle.
One of them is a call centre Deputy Team Leader with designs on a full time position as Team Manager, harbouring pipe dreams of what the extra two grand a year could do for his pockets, bullied on a daily basis and wallowing alone in the friendzone of one of Stevie's past conquests, who can't get over her hatred of the boy.
The other is brand new, just coming out of her two weeks of training, but she has ambition to match anybody. She knows what she wants, and she knows how to get it. She's worked out her route to the top and would step on her own family if it meant a leg up on the career ladder. There are two things annoying her just now, though; the Deputy Team Leader who stands in her way, and the awful tanned boy who can't help himself from sending dick pics.
A tale of ambitious people in a place that eats up ambitious people and spits them out, the spiteful as hell second book in the acclaimed After Call Work series dishes up plenty of answers, but they're only going to lead to more questions.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2017
3 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Bracha
33 books37 followersRyan Bracha is the Amazon-bestselling author of eleven novels, a novella, and a collection of short stories. In his early twenties, he made a brief foray into independent filmmaking. At 24, he wrote and directed his debut feature Tales From Nowhere, a limited-release cult oddity he once described as “Pulp Fiction meets Kes.” Though the film’s lifespan was short, it ignited a passion for bold, unorthodox storytelling.
Ryan spent the next several years honing his voice as a novelist. His debut, Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven’t Killed Yet, took nearly four years to complete, and was followed by a relentless output of raw, genre-defying fiction. Over the course of his writing career, he’s self-published eleven novels, a novella, and a short story collection — each one taking risks and refusing to play it safe.
Though no longer writing fiction intensively, Ryan remains creatively active. He continues to write across other forms and channels his energy as frontman and lyricist for the electronic punk band Misery Prize, bringing the same edge and attitude to the stage as he did to the page. He lives and works in South Yorkshire, where the ideas never quite stop coming.
Visit www.miseryprizeband.co.uk to follow his musical endeavours.
Ryan spent the next several years honing his voice as a novelist. His debut, Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven’t Killed Yet, took nearly four years to complete, and was followed by a relentless output of raw, genre-defying fiction. Over the course of his writing career, he’s self-published eleven novels, a novella, and a short story collection — each one taking risks and refusing to play it safe.
Though no longer writing fiction intensively, Ryan remains creatively active. He continues to write across other forms and channels his energy as frontman and lyricist for the electronic punk band Misery Prize, bringing the same edge and attitude to the stage as he did to the page. He lives and works in South Yorkshire, where the ideas never quite stop coming.
Visit www.miseryprizeband.co.uk to follow his musical endeavours.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 21, 2019
An entertaining author
I found the book very relatable and its pacing is spot on. I've enjoyed a few of Ryan's other works and recommend him to anyone that listens. He wears his Irvine Welsh influence as a badge of pride, and as a fellow fan, I enjoy that aspect of his writing. I hope to see a follow-up soon.
I found the book very relatable and its pacing is spot on. I've enjoyed a few of Ryan's other works and recommend him to anyone that listens. He wears his Irvine Welsh influence as a badge of pride, and as a fellow fan, I enjoy that aspect of his writing. I hope to see a follow-up soon.
March 19, 2017
Bracha is at it again with yet another masterpiece. If you haven't read the first in the series, you should, then you should immediately read this one. And the rest of his stuff.
Set in the suffocating world of a call center, be prepared to experience the pain through the eyes of the bully Stevie, management wannabe John, and newcomer Danielle. Everyone trying to make it to the top, but it is difficult enough just trying to survive in one of these places. Plenty of surprises along the way, if you have read the first, this story picks up right where Verbal Warning left off, but with different viewpoint characters so it is still strong enough to stand alone (but why pass up the first? It is Bracha, so it's a damn good read).
Enough plot from me, read this book. If you have ever worked in a call center, read this. If you have ever wanted to work in a call center, read this. If neither of these apply to you, read this.
This being the author's tenth novel (not counting the anthology he has handled), his skills are top notch. He started good, and has moved to great. One of my favorite things about reading his writing are the characters. This author knows how to bring a character to life, sit him next to you whether you like it or not, and develop the story around you. The characters are complex and believable, and the ride you experience with them is enjoyable and always great entertainment. Fantastic characterization, an enjoyable plot with some nice twists and turns, you will likely experience every emotion on this trip.
Do yourself a favor, pick this one up. Give him a chance to show you why he is one of today's best. Invest some time in Bracha and you will not be disappointed. After Call Work: Gross Misconduct meets the standard he has set, and is well worth a read. Take a look.
Set in the suffocating world of a call center, be prepared to experience the pain through the eyes of the bully Stevie, management wannabe John, and newcomer Danielle. Everyone trying to make it to the top, but it is difficult enough just trying to survive in one of these places. Plenty of surprises along the way, if you have read the first, this story picks up right where Verbal Warning left off, but with different viewpoint characters so it is still strong enough to stand alone (but why pass up the first? It is Bracha, so it's a damn good read).
Enough plot from me, read this book. If you have ever worked in a call center, read this. If you have ever wanted to work in a call center, read this. If neither of these apply to you, read this.
This being the author's tenth novel (not counting the anthology he has handled), his skills are top notch. He started good, and has moved to great. One of my favorite things about reading his writing are the characters. This author knows how to bring a character to life, sit him next to you whether you like it or not, and develop the story around you. The characters are complex and believable, and the ride you experience with them is enjoyable and always great entertainment. Fantastic characterization, an enjoyable plot with some nice twists and turns, you will likely experience every emotion on this trip.
Do yourself a favor, pick this one up. Give him a chance to show you why he is one of today's best. Invest some time in Bracha and you will not be disappointed. After Call Work: Gross Misconduct meets the standard he has set, and is well worth a read. Take a look.
March 22, 2017
He's done it again! This story unfolds in such a way that you remember something similar from your own place of work, wherever it may be! It's like he's been there!
After Call Work: Gross Misconduct is an utterly hilarious example of the beautiful circle. Life imitates art imitates life.
The hapless John, desperate for love, not an altogether bad bloke finds himself caught up in a crappy baby mama relationship, at the end of a 'not quite sure what she wants to do with him' womans string and, the unexpected mouse in the new cats paws.
All the characters you loved to bear utter disdain for in your first exposure to them - After Call Work: Verbal Warning, are back and not to be forgotten.
Taking place in the same timeline as the Crab Girl situation, life through the eyes of a few new players gives a delectable view of the world in this far from professional establishment.
Keep an eye out for the people in this book that 'we all know one of' but be careful; you might just see yourself in there!
An absolute masterpiece that is definitely a little close to home.
You will not be disappointed.
After Call Work: Gross Misconduct is an utterly hilarious example of the beautiful circle. Life imitates art imitates life.
The hapless John, desperate for love, not an altogether bad bloke finds himself caught up in a crappy baby mama relationship, at the end of a 'not quite sure what she wants to do with him' womans string and, the unexpected mouse in the new cats paws.
All the characters you loved to bear utter disdain for in your first exposure to them - After Call Work: Verbal Warning, are back and not to be forgotten.
Taking place in the same timeline as the Crab Girl situation, life through the eyes of a few new players gives a delectable view of the world in this far from professional establishment.
Keep an eye out for the people in this book that 'we all know one of' but be careful; you might just see yourself in there!
An absolute masterpiece that is definitely a little close to home.
You will not be disappointed.
August 24, 2017
This is an absolute blast. I really enjoyed the first book in this series but the second one really got me and I flew threw reading it. A (usually) placid work environment is well known to most of us but this story really lifts the rug and exposes the mess underneath - I'll never look at the call centre in our office the same again. The real magic in Bracha's story is the change of perspective given throughout the book. This really gets you understanding the complex relationships, drivers and values each of the key characters has. With plenty of twists and turns this is a really fun read and I look forward to ripping into more of Ryan Bracha's work very soon.
February 13, 2020
Bracha always on top form...looking forward to the next installment of After Call Work..hopefully it comes soon
April 7, 2017
This novel is a sequel to After Call Work: Verbal Warning which was one of my favourite books of 2016.
In This follow-up, subtitled ‘Gross Misconduct’, we once again encounter the insipid call centre introduced in Book 1. Rather than simply continue the story, utilising the same characters, and expanding on the previous events, Bracha has chosen to introduce a handful of new characters for his readers to love, as well as build on some familiar players from Book 1.
As is Bracha’s custom, he avoids the easy route and avoids giving his readers a simple sequel to the previous work, choosing instead to tell a story that runs parallel to the events in Book 1, with the plotlines overlapping, converging and diverging. This decision is exactly the type of work ethic and tight plotting that makes Bracha the standout Indie writer on the UK scene.
Bracha continues to grow as a writer, utilising a simple, unflashy, first-person, present-tense narrative, but peppering it with some lovely technical quirks, my favourite of which is the odd occasion where he breaks the fourth wall, slyly making the reader complicit In his character’s choices and self-justifications.
Despite this choice of narrative style, Bracha’s precise characterisation lends each of his players a distinct and unmistakable voice. It’s quite a feat.
Another step forward in Bracha’s development, and quite simply a fantastically entertaining read.
In This follow-up, subtitled ‘Gross Misconduct’, we once again encounter the insipid call centre introduced in Book 1. Rather than simply continue the story, utilising the same characters, and expanding on the previous events, Bracha has chosen to introduce a handful of new characters for his readers to love, as well as build on some familiar players from Book 1.
As is Bracha’s custom, he avoids the easy route and avoids giving his readers a simple sequel to the previous work, choosing instead to tell a story that runs parallel to the events in Book 1, with the plotlines overlapping, converging and diverging. This decision is exactly the type of work ethic and tight plotting that makes Bracha the standout Indie writer on the UK scene.
Bracha continues to grow as a writer, utilising a simple, unflashy, first-person, present-tense narrative, but peppering it with some lovely technical quirks, my favourite of which is the odd occasion where he breaks the fourth wall, slyly making the reader complicit In his character’s choices and self-justifications.
Despite this choice of narrative style, Bracha’s precise characterisation lends each of his players a distinct and unmistakable voice. It’s quite a feat.
Another step forward in Bracha’s development, and quite simply a fantastically entertaining read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews