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Working Stiffs

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WORKING STIFFS by Simon Wood
Review by Nickolas Cook

Crime anthologies have enjoyed a great tradition in American literature. For a genre fiction, they get a heck of a lot less grief from publishing than horror or science fiction, and don't suffer from the ghetto slap from critics. Some of crime literature's best anthologies were the old Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery. Well, Simon Wood has single handedly channeled the ghosts of that fine old series of books with his newest collection, WORKING STIFFS.
The stories are quick and mean, edited down to the bone, like the best noir fiction. His characters are believable, work-a-day (pun definitely intended) types who find themselves facing shifts in their simple lives as violence intrudes. The prose is tight, clean, and gives that sense of balance that only damn good writing can provide. Wood's humor comes through in the most peculiar ways, in dialogue and descriptive passages akin to the Mathesons, Blochs, or Hunters of old. His style will seem effortless to the reader and turn every writer green with envy. Wood's years of writing tirelessly for the short story markets can be seen in this new collection.
Each of the stories has to do with the work we do- the thing that takes up a significant portion of each of our lives. But Wood examines the idea of a job as something more than punching the clock for our daily bread. There are jobs we love and jobs we hate; jobs we never see as work, and those that grind chunks of our souls away each day. He knows this and digs under the surface of his characters to expose their worn souls and lost dreams.
"Old Flames Burn the Brightest" is something MacDonald would have loved. Femme fateles can never be trusted, can they?
"My Father's Secret" could easily have been an episode of "The Sopranos", it's that good.
"A Break in the Old Routine" had me all the way to the end slap in the face.
"Parental Control" examines the desperation of the parenting gig in modern society, and just how far a father is willing to go to keep his son alive and safe. Some people have the taste for violence and learn its power.
"The Real Deal" has a nice twist ending, even if you can see it coming from a few miles away.
"Officer Down" is a peculiar revenge story that leaves the reader unsure how to feel about the protagonist; but this is yet another example of Wood's brilliant craftsmanship.
While the whole collection is great reading, the novella, "Fall Guy", is its best offering. It all starts innocuously enough with a minor fender bender misdeed, but quickly spirals out of control for the intrepid protagonist. Todd just can't seem to stay out of trouble, and the harder he tries to wriggle out of his new life of crime the worse it gets. Wood writes this tale with a sense of fun and humor, but don't let that fool you into thinking the danger isn't real. It's an examination, as the best crime fiction usually is, of the criminal mind. Todd has no direction or aptitude for the straight life, and only finds satisfaction and vigor in being a criminal. Before long he's as comfortable with his new role as a seasoned pro. The supporting characters he meets along the way are as quirky as those found in a Tarantino film. While Wood leaves plenty of ambiguity about a life of crime compared to a life of dead end jobs and weekly paychecks that don't stretch nearly far enough, he helps Todd seek redemption by tale's end. The denouement is very satisfying meat upon which to chew.
For a novice reader of Wood's work, this is an excellent place to start.

--Nickolas Cook

WORKING STIFFS is a riveting collection of six short stories (and one novella) about workplace dangers. Not chemical spills or falling beams, but the dangers of greedy and unscrupulous people looking to gain advantage over their co-workers (or even their bosses).

The protagonists range from people like the business owner taking drastic steps to hold onto his company in "The Real Deal" to the beat cop whose reputation is compromised when a street punk shoots him with his own weapon in "Officer Down" to average Joes placed in circumstances in which events spin out of control, such as the adman in the story "A Break in the Old Routine".

In the novella, called "The Fall Guy," there's a never a dull moment as protagonist-on-the-run Todd Collins is driven from one dire situation to the next while seeking revenge on a man who tried to set him up.

Wood is a master of dry humor and taut prose that builds suspense and tension to the breaking point. Plus he ends his stories with twists you'll never see coming. If you love thrillers, this anthology will more than satisfy.

On average each of us spends 200 of 365 days a year earning an income. That leaves 165 days a year to what most of us would actually consider living. In the Anthony Award winning anthology Working Stiffs, talented author Simon Wood examines the darker side of those 200 days in a collection where nefarious employees and murderous entrepreneurs make their living, well, making a killing. From Old Flames Burn The Brightest where a bestselling crime author takes researching his novels a bit too seriously, to the morally challenged protagonist of the novella length The Fall Guy who gets more than he bargained for after a fender bender with a murderous gangster, Wood shines a harsh revealing light not only on our tyrannical bosses and backstabbing co-workers, but also ourselves and our own deep, dark work-a-day secrets.

Working Stiffs, e-book edition by Simon Wood is a collection of short stories and a novella in five parts along with excerpts of two forthcoming publications.
Old Flames Burn the Brightest, the first short story is that of a crime novelist who specializes in stories where the protagonist is the criminal. His ability leads him to a most interesting encounter.
My Father's Secret, the second, is an interesting tale about a secretive father and one of his subservient sons and provides a totally surprising climax.
A Break in the Old Routine is the story of an unusual pick-up and its unexpected climax.
Parental Control is a tale relevant to every parent in today's society that provides a climax and projected sequel of action that, from a psychological standpoint, is most thought provoking.
The Real Deal is the tale of a man who established a successful business and in his waning years still wishes to remain in charge. The events that follow are fascinating.
Officer Down follows the life and thought processes of a police officer following his being bested by a punk he attempted to arrest. Again, a story loaded with psychological overtones.
The Fall Guy is of novella length and follows the activities of a born looser whose actions take him through a series of difficult and dangerous experiences.
Wood's stories, for the most part, provide interesting reading with unusual twists that bring to mind a prominent short story writer whose ability to weave similar tales I remember from my teens. Not having consciously thought of the man, or his writings, for some seventy years, the name, unfortunately escapes me. However, Simon Woods now seems to create the same level of fascinating tales with unusual and often unanticipated endings provided by a prominent author of a long gone generation who had impressed me greatly. Reviewed by John H. Manhold, award winning fiction/non-fiction author.

Wood's collection of six short stories and a novella will keep you turning pages and when you get to the end of the book, you will want more. The protagonists are, for the most part, ordinary guys with more than a touch of a dark side thrown in. Todd Collins, the main character of the novella Fall Guy, is for the most part his own worst enemy. His job isn't going all that great and then his attempt to evade responsibility after a fender bender gets him into trouble that should have left him dead at the hands of a vicious criminal. But Todd is smarter than his nemesis expects. Though he starts out short on street smarts, he learns as he goes along and soon it's the criminals who have something to fear. You can't help but root for him even when he crosses over to the wrong side of the law. The other stories are just as delightful. Wood's dry humor shines, especially in Parental Control--my personal favorite of the short stories.

... And you think YOUR worklife is the stuff of nightmares ... Simon Wood's WORKING STIFFS puts all that in perspective. I loved this collection of stories, and I'm not, in general, a fan of short stories. But Simon's a great writer: Read one short from this collection, and you'll just have to read another (rather like a box of chocolates... you can't stop after just one).

Wood can weave a tale. I am constantly amazed by his ability to make a short story feel like a novel. I have to admit, I was disturbed after reading the first couple of stories. One, because the characters were downright immoral. Two, because the shorts were so entertaining. It was very hard to guess what was going to happen in the stories, which is a plus. I've read a few of his books already and if you like his books then his short stories won't disappoint you.

Author of M.U.S.C.L.E. - The Beginning (The MUSCLE Firm Series)
M.U.S.C.L.E. - The Case of the Cheating Security Guard (The MUSCLE Firm Series)

This is one collection of short stories that doesn't disappoint! I tend to prefer anthologies rather than a selection from one author. To be honest, I get bored after one or two stories with a similar tone or premise. Not so with Working Stiffs! Every story is fresh, with twists you don't see coming. A perfect book for mystery fans, as the protagonists of Simon's stories are highly relatable, everyday people whose lives take a sudden Hitchcockian turn. As a bonus, Simon's novella "The Fall Guy" is the last in the book. Here again he breathes new life into a man's journey of self discovery -- with lots of fast paced action thrown in! I'm eager to see where he goes next with his newly-acquired skills -- I really hope to see more of Todd!

Working Stiffs by Simon Wood
Review by Melissa Ysais

A collection of short stories crafted to take you places you never thought you'd willingly go!

This book gives readers a full-bodied and savory taste for what's in-store; a dare...enticing you to begin reading other delectable full-length novels and other works penned by Simon Wood!

Working Stiffs is an excellent collection of short stories. I grew up reading Alfred Hitchcocks short stories and Simon's Working Stiffs are on the list with AH. This collection is an addictive read. You can't stop with one short story...