The Agency

Kate Reading's capable narration lends credibility to this wacky novel about a sexy literary agent in London. Tess Drake's ambition to launch her own agency is bungled when her secret lover's wife becomes her boss and her star client is ruined by allegations of plagiarism. Reading tones down the over-the-top characters, especially Tess's cold-blooded but sharp-witted boss and Tess's desperately dark writer friend. Reading's narration lends an endearing note to Tess's aspirations in the fast-paced, glamorous world of international publishing as depicted in this novel. It's a world in which everyone sleeps with everyone else and success is based mostly on connections and ruthless drive. Listeners will root for Tess's success despite their doubts about whether she deserves it. N.M.C. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

November 24, 2008
In this disconnected debut from O'Brien (collaborative pseudonym for a media agent and a suspense novelist), driven London literary agent Tess Drake is an antihero so aggressive and egocentric that she repels friends (and perhaps readers). Steely Tess has the lonely top agent's spot at the Bartwright mega-agency, but pines for her own agency. When the head of Bartwright dies in a compromising position, the Miranda Priestly/Anna Wintour/Cruella DeVille–type who steps in is Cosima Tate, whose husband happens to be one of the men Tess is sleeping with. This spurs Tess's solo plans into action, but it's not long before her gravy train—a bestselling talking-panda children's book author—is derailed by plagiarism accusations. Tess's long shot is an underselling debut novel by 29-year-old Oliver Howard that may net a film deal with Tom Cruise (whose agent Tess has, of course, already burned). The whirlwind drama delves with vigor into reliably stimulating big-city pursuits—sex, power, scene-making, celebrity—but the sadly familiar media-world trappings and distant main character make caring about any of it a difficult proposal.

August 15, 2009
When the head of the Bartwright literary agency dies from autoerotic asphyxiation and villainous Cosima Tate takes the helm, top agent Tess Drake decides the time is right to break away from Bartwright's to start her own agency. Actress Kate Reading's ("The Widows of Eastwick") narration is entertaining, yet, despite all the glamorous fashions, hot sex, and tabloid drama, the pseudonymous authors have created a brusque protagonist who generates little empathy. The result is a chick-lit book that older listeners might initially enjoy but won't care enough about to remember long. [The St. Martin's hc was recommended for "readers who enjoyed "The Devil Wears Prada" or "Bridget Jones's Diary"," Xpress Reviews, "LJ" 3/2/09.Ed.]Valerie Piechocki, Prince George's Cty. Memorial Lib., Largo, MD

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