(Reviewed by JD Jung)
#CommissionsEarned
Why would someone agree to participate in a clandestine operation in which they knew nothing about? Would it be for the excitement, money, or for a totally different reason?
This is the premise of the character-driven, off-beat novel, Seven Down. Not only did these people have no idea as to the purpose of the mission, but they agreed to work for years as hotel employees.
Seven individuals were recruited by the “Company” to work as assets in “Operation Fear and Trembling”. Their front was working as staff at the King William Hotel in Toronto. These people were to wait for a single word to drive the operation into motion.
It takes seven years from the onset when it finally goes down, but the mission fails. Someone from the Company debriefs those involved, attempting to figure out how it went wrong. This entertaining novel consists of a series of transcriptions of these interviews. We gradually learn the purpose of the operation, but that is not the focus. Through these debriefings, we not only discover why these people were recruited, but also obtain a glimpse of perhaps why they accepted this task.
While these “employees” were supposedly vetted prior to being hired, we learn that the Company didn’t do a very good job of it. Some are paranoid, some are just strange. Many digress into personal matters that don’t even pertain to the operation. Most are unaware that other employees were also part of the mission, but they divulge their relationships and opinions about them. Whatever they say, it shows their instability. This is contrasted with the calm, objective demeanor of the interviewer. Needless to say, this makes for a hilarious read.
If you are looking for a story that uses dark humor to expose our human frailties, then Seven Down is the book for you. Highly recommended.
