Customer Reviews

Bait and Switch

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3 star:		(1)
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Mass market paperbacks --- the ones that you find on the revolving display at the drugstore, or on displays by the hundreds at your local big box department store --- lend themselves for impulse buying. Got something long and boring on the horizon, like a plane ride, afternoon at the beach, or court-ordered marriage counseling? Grab a paperback on your way to the chip aisle. Who can resist a paperback? The price of admission is relatively low, so if the book turns out to be a dud, you haven't invested much; they don't take up a lot of room; and they can be held with one hand and, if you're practiced and/or dexterous enough, you can turn the page with your thumb. And, once in a while, you take a chance and find a treasure, like BAIT AND SWITCH by Larry Brooks.

The opening gambit of BAIT AND SWITCH would be only mildly interesting in the hands of a writer with lesser ability than Brooks. Wolfgang Schmitt is a former model currently stuck in an advertising job that he has come by degrees to abhor, and he is still reeling from the abrupt end of the relationship with the love of his life. It is ironic that he is also a part-time relationship expert, being the author of a monthly column on the subject for a women's magazine.

Nelson Scott is a self-made millionaire who can buy anything except his personal freedom. His wife, Kelly, holds the keys to that kingdom and is set to make him pay heavily. Scott's only hope is a condition of his prenuptial agreement that will enable him to escape the matrimonial bonds with his considerable fortune more or less intact. For that to happen, however, Kelly has to cohabit with another man for 30 days. It doesn't look like that's going to happen. Scott's plan, therefore, is to have Schmitt seduce Kelly. Given that Schmitt is an expert on relationships, this should be a piece of cake, especially with Scott's ability to manufacture a new identity for Schmitt right down to the last nuance. Schmitt, in return for his time and trouble, gets to play with lots of new luxury toys and receives a significant amount of money. Of course, wooing and seducing a beautiful woman is nothing to sneeze at either. Schmitt sets to work --- that term is applied loosely here --- and appears to be well on his way to accomplishing his mission.

BAIT AND SWITCH would be a great book if it was only a subtle reworking of INDECENT PROPOSAL. But it's much more than that. Brooks, a little over a third of the way through, begins dropping hints that there may be much more involved than divorce settlement machinations. And, indeed, what seems to be a fairly straightforward storyline takes some curves and turns that leave you smiling, shaking your head in wonder, and, most importantly, reading. For a while Schmitt thinks that he is the violinist to Kelly's Stradivarius; he is, in fact, only the bow. Schmitt is getting played, big time. But he's not the only one.

BAIT AND SWITCH has a complex plot, but Brooks is such a masterful writer that it doesn't seem so involved. Brooks is in no hurry here; he takes his time guiding the reader through a few labyrinths, but does so with a sure-footed assurance that never permits the plot to drag or droop. Surprises abound, practically to the last page, which contains a surprisingly satisfying ending and a tantalizing promise of more to come. I, for one, will be waiting.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Larry Brooks has done it again. In the tradition of Darkeness Bound, Pressure Points, and Serpent's Dance, Mr. Brooks has created yet another intriguing and unique thriller, one with a guiltily likeable protagonist you can't help but root for.

Brooks has long been a must-read author for me. His plots are always unique (i.e., mayhem at a self-help seminar) and contain lots of fun twists and turns. But Bait and Switch isn't just summer fluff. Mr. Brooks knows how to write. He develops his characters, whose actions are not simply driven by the plot. He delves into the minds of male and female characters equally well. The dialogue crackles. This is Mr. Brooks's first attempt at first person narration (to my knowledge), and he handles it like a pro.

Bottom line: if you enjoy thrillers with well-written dialogue and page-turning suspense throughout, Brooks' novels are for you. This one is easily the equal of Brooks' prior three novels, which I also recommend you purchase and read immediately.

Wolfgang Schmitt is very disappointed with his job in a marketing company; he is a former model who attracts ladies by the thousands, but who has just been dumped by the love of his life. After a meeting with a client goes south, he is just about ready to quit. But that is exactly when he is faced with an astounding revelation; his assistant is working in the company just to determine if he is a good candidate for a very important mission.

Wolfgang does not have a lot to lose, so he jumps on a private plane that Nelson Scott, the real employer of Wolfgang's assistant, sends for him and starts an exciting journey. Nelson is separated from a wife that likes to sleep around and who will get a monthly alimony in the amount of $3 million for the rest of her life. Unless, of course, Nelson can provide proof of her adultery, in which case she gets nada. That is why Wolfgang receives an offer of one million dollars just for trying to seduce Kelly Scott; amount that will increase fourfold if he succeeds.

Brooks returns to the quality level he delivered in "Darkness Bound", providing the readers with an exciting plot full of twists and turns and that has a fair share of spicy moments too. Those of you who were somewhat disappointed with his second book, "Pressure Points", as I was, should give this author another opportunity. I am surely glad I did. Now I must go back and check "Serpent's Dance", which I hope is another page-turner that will keep me up all night as "Bait and Switch" did.

The author of three previous novels (DARKNESS BOUND, PRESSURE POINTS & SERPENT'S DANCE), Larry Brooks has surpassed himself with his newest book, BAIT AND SWITCH. This is the story of Wolfgang Schmitt, a man who's still recovering from the unexpected departure of his girlfriend and is ready to end his current career in advertising to start something new and exciting. As the old saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens. The door that suddenly opens for Schmitt involves billionaire software tycoon, Nelson Scott and the impending divorce from his wife, Kelly. Through a rather unusual set of circumstances, Scott has become aware of Wolfgang Schmitt and believes that this former model may be perfect for a job he has in mind. Nelson Scott (along with his lovely assistant, Lee Van Wyke) approaches Schmitt with the offer of five million dollars if he will seduce Kelly and live with her for a short period of time, thus setting off a prenuptial clause that will save Scott at least thirty-six million dollars a year in alimony payments. Schmitt is given twenty-four hours to think about it. What eventually pushes Schmitt to take the job against his better judgment are two federal agents putting pressure on him to do as Scott wants. It seems as thought the Federal Government has an interest in Scott and some of his financial dealings, and the two agents hope that Schmitt might be able to gain some valuable information by sleeping with the billionaire's angry wife. Of course, as in all of the novels by Larry Brooks, nothing is as it seems. Schmitt doesn't know that when he begrudgingly takes the job, he's entering a spider's web that is filled with beautiful deadly women, the ultra rich, untold lies, betrayal from every side, murder galore, and that his life may be the next one laid out on the chopping board. Before this deadly game of cat and mouse is over, Schmitt won't know whom to trust or where the next bullet is coming from. Unlike DARKNESS BOUND & SERPENT'S DANCE, the fourth novel by Larry Brooks is low on sex, but filled with high-tension eroticism. This book is abound with incredibly beautiful, sexy, intelligent, aggressive, dominant women who manipulate the main character as if he were a pawn in a chess match, carefully maneuvering him for the final kill. Brooks skillfully weaves an intricate structure of mistrust and deceit and unbelievable suspense that not only keeps our hero on his toes, but the reader as well. Nothing can prepare you for the ending. I never saw it coming. I thought with a smugness that I knew exactly what was going to happen in the last twenty or so pages (of course, this is after several startling surprises), but boy was I wrong! The author set me up and then pulled the rug out from under my feet with one swift movement. I'm still feeling the affect two days later, amazed at how it was done. BAIT AND SWITCH is definitely a novel that both men and women will love, but a warning to the guys out there. Like Larry Brooks' first novel, DARKNESS BOUND, this book is also a learning manual for women on how to control and manipulate the men in their lives. The male population won't have a chance after the ladies read this!! Read BAIT AND SWITCH, and then you'll see that the war between the sexes has never been so deadly and so delicious.

I won't get into the story - Wayne Rogers did a good job of that. Let me just say that Larry Brooks has outdone himself with BAIT AND SWITCH. He takes us on a first class roller coaster ride that we don't want to end. Wolf, the protagonist, is the proverbial king of smartasses - but he's a cute smartass - with a conscience. And, of course, there's that Brooks thing about keeping you hanging until the very last page. There is not a word out of place. The writing is crisp and the sex is hot. I read this book in record time - it was THAT good. Bravo, Larry - we want more!!

Make this book a must read for your summer entertainment. This book is fast, funny and a fantastic read. This book will keep you intrigued and interested. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read.

I just read that this book was named one of the 5 "best and most overlooked" books of 2004 by Publishers Weekly. They also gave the book a STARRED REVIEW and named it their lead "Editor's Choice" for July, ahead of such luminaries at Walter Mosley and Jeffrey Deaver. Serious props. Also, it's the only paperback on either of those lists. Maybe the first ever. Which is unfortunate, because the major magazines don't review paperback originals. Too bad, since this book should have been a hardcover smash bestseller, in the tradition of Nelson DeMille and Harlan Coben, lots of personality and plot. Brooks' other books were steamy thrillers, wonderful in their own right, but with this book he announces he's ready for a more mainstream audience. Every person who has read or reviewed the book seem to agree.

Larry Brooks, in addition to being an acclaimed and seasoned author, manages a website called Storyfix.com. He advocates a structured style to fiction writing with plot points and midpoint shifts, along with pinch points. I have followed Brooks for about a year, and have learned plenty. I had always struggled with the Midpoint Shift, that is until I read Bait and Switch, an intriguing novel of deception and corruption. The Midpoint Shift in this book hit me like a sledge hammer to the forehead. Now I get it!

I won't give you any spoilers, but if you love thrillers with a distinctive, edgy voice and want to see story structure in the purest form, read Bait and Switch. You won't be disappointed and if you are a writer, you will learn a thing or two.

Wow. This is SOO not the type of book I normally read, and had it not been for the fact that the Kindle version was on sale at Amazon, I probably would not have bothered. I was very pleasantly surprised. The central character, Wolfgang (Wolf for short) Schmitt is a very likeable part-time model who works full time in advertising. Just short of middle age, and still trying to get over a recent painful break-up, he comes to the conclusion that he hates what he does. When he is offered a life-changing opportunity, he finds himself embroiled in a complex plot involving billionaires, the IRS, the FBI, seduction, blackmail, murder and double-crosses. All in all, this book was a very satisfying thrill ride. The further I read, the harder it got to put the book down when pointless distractions, like preparing dinner for my kids, got in the way.

I just have two minor points to take issue with. First, all of the people in this book are described as incredibly gorgeous, poised, sexy, driven and self-confident. Someone like me (short, slightly overweight, not blonde, and basically completely average looking) would not exist in this world.

My second criticism is aimed specifically at the formatting of the Kindle version. There were frequent line breaks in the middle of sentences, making it look like a new paragraph was beginning which made me think I had missed something, and then I would have to go back and re-read the last couple of lines before realizing it was the formatting that was off. There were also a few words that were hyphenated midway through, as if they should have been at the end of a line to be continued on the next, except that they were located right smack dab in the middle of the line. Of course, I don't have a stand alone Kindle and had to make do with my Droid phone Kindle app. It may well be that these formatting glitches do not exist on an actual Kindle.

The author aims for a sharp, funny, sarcastic tone for Wolfgang Schmidt. He's a man who hides a broken heart behind a sharp wit and an easygoing attitude. He's secretly humble, insecure, can't believe that he really is as amazingly handsome as everyone says he is. He loves his mother,visits her in a nursing home, kisses the top of her head. His mother is the only woman in the whole book who isn't a drop-dead gorgeous, hard-hearted schemer who is double-crossing Wolf while lusting after his perfect body. One of the worlds richest men hires Wolf to seduce his lovely wife, supposedly to negate a pre-nuptial agreement and gives him a billionaire's life style complete with Mercedes, Harleys, private jets, huge villas, and oh, yes, more impossibly beautiful women waiting on him, shopping for him, measuring his inseam for him. .

In contrast to the bad, bad girls of this story, Wolf is practically a boy scout. He doesn't even smoke or drink. But he isn't stupid and there is never any real doubt that he will come out on top. Lots of plot twists and red herrings.

Bottom line: a male fantasy most men will love.