Published by Anchor on July 11, 2023

Sucker is marketed as a satire, but it takes the form of a thriller that morphs into a horror novel. I suspect the horror is meant to be satirical, because vampires are only taken seriously by Bram Stoker fans and romance novelists. Unfortunately, the horror comes too late to distinguish Sucker from non-satirical thrillers that follow the same formula.

Sucker tells a story of corporate greed driven by a “secret society” that is controlling the world (or, at least, pulling the strings that matter to its members). Its members have an ability they describe as “the Gift.” Perhaps it is the concept of a secret cabal (common in thriller literature and far-right blogs) that Daniel Hornsby meant to satirize. Or perhaps he meant to mock Elizabeth Holmes, who famously bilked investors with promises of technical advances in medicine that they probably should have recognized as unachievable. Regardless of Hornsby’s intent, Sucker hews too tightly to the conventions and content of a traditional thriller to satirize effectively.

The story is apparently set in an alternate universe where the tech industry is centered in San Narcisco and Facebook is called GetTogether. Perhaps the changes were intended to assure that Holmes wouldn’t sue Hornsby. At the heart of the story is a young man named Charlie. Charlie is not a virtuous thriller hero. He’s a bit of a slacker. He’s self-centered and often self-pitying. He’s nevertheless interesting because his faults give him enormous room for growth. The plot of Sucker creates an incentive for Charlie to become a better person. Circumstances also give him the opportunity to remain self-centered. What choice Charlie will make fuels the story’s minimal dramatic tension. Given the artificial nature of the choice, I’m not sure many readers will care what Charlie does.

Charlie calls himself Chuck Gross but he was born Charles Grossheart, the son of a wealthy businessman. His father made a fortune in the oil industry by being evil. He pays lobbyists to disparage global warming so that his fossil fuel investments are not threatened by trivial concerns like destroying the planet.

Charlie uses a different working name so that he will not be disparaged as a music producer. He started his own label devoted to the rebirth of punk rock, appropriately named Obnoxious. His “noisy vanity project” is bleeding money, but he hopes a newly released album called Sucker by Pro Laps will improve its revenues. It helps that Thane, the band’s lead male vocalist, made the news by dying under mysterious circumstances. His girlfriend, the band’s drummer, now sings Pro Laps songs with the kind of grief that punk fans regard as authentic. Thanks to Thane’s suspicious death, Obnoxious might make money after all.

Before Thane dies, Charlie worries about paying his artists without going to his family for help. He accepts an invitation from his college friend, Olivia Watts, to join her business as a creative consultant. Mostly Olivia wants to exploit Charlie’s family name to attract investors to her business. The company claims it is engineering biological nanobots that will monitor and eventually cure medical problems as they arise, dramatically extending lifespans. Olivia’s true goal is less humanitarian. Olivia is the Elizabeth Holmes character in that her promised technological advances are untethered to reality. Perhaps Holmes, like Olivia, had “the Gift” in the sense that she had an unusual talent for persuading investors to follow her. I’m not sure that appealing to greed actually requires any persuasive talent, but the Gift is a key element of Olivia’s success.

Charlie is eventually approached by a whistleblower who has evidence that Olivia’s company is scamming investors by making overblown claims of success in its research. Charlie doesn’t know whether to believe the whistleblower or his old friend Olivia, although he eventually recognizes obvious signs that Olivia is manipulating him. The novel finally shifts into second gear when the whistleblower arrives, but it travels a long road in first before it reaches that point.

To foreshadow the conspiracy plot, Charlie encounters a symbol — an infinity sign with teeth — at odd locations on Olivia’s company property. Why is the symbol carved into a table leg? Who knows. Eventually we learn about “an ancient society of the world’s most intelligent and talented individuals, all working to bring about the evolution of humanity to something better, stronger.” Secret societies are ubiquitous in thrillers. I wish they existed so they could do something useful, although in most thrillers they are only interested in advancing the interests of their members. A society doesn’t need to be secret to advance that goal. The Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation, among many others, operate in the open to achieve their nefarious ends.

About two-thirds of the novel has passed before we learn the truth about Olivia. That truth made me wonder why I’d been reading about Charles’ obsession with his family and his little music company, none of which has much to do with the story’s eventual focus. I suppose the revelation is where the satire begins, the point at which a mundane story about a rebellious rich kid begins to emulate a thriller, complete with murders and chase scenes. Olivia acknowledges that her scheme will do something awful to test subjects, something that might appear “unsavory” to the uninitiated. I suppose that’s satire, as is Olivia’s notion of wealthy people who have “the Gift” leading a cultural and biological evolution. Perhaps the intent is to blend white supremacy with wealthy entitlement while poking fun at both of them, but the satire never grabbed me, never exposed anything that hasn’t always been obvious. Swindlers are bad? Global warming deniers are evil? Greed isn’t good? Oh really? A better title for a novel making those points without developing them into an exciting story would be Obvious Observations.

Some paragraphs of Sucker feel like padding. A diatribe about zebras and a description/discussion of various family portraits in the Grossheart mansion add little beyond word count to the story. Yes, the zebra eventually becomes a symbol of Charlie’s true essence, but only in Charlie’s deluded mind. Hornsby’s smooth prose kept me reading even as I continued to wonder how he planned to make an interesting story out of a secret society and punk rock and vampires. As satire, a vampire story doesn’t have the bite (no pun intended) of a proposal to eat children. Even with the addition of mysterious deaths and an Elizabeth Holmes clone, Hornsby never developed an engrossing story, whether it is classified as a thriller or a horror novel or a satire. I was ultimately disappointed that some decent writing and characterization failed to serve a stronger story.

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS

I hate to admit I had to restart this one several times and I still had some trouble getting into it. It’s not that it was bad. I actually found the writing to be quite good and I have to say I found the character of Chuck to be quite intriguing (if not entirely likable). I think my issue was mainly that I went in expecting one thing and ended up getting something fairly different, though in the end still enjoyable.

Chuck has always wanted to get out from his family’s shadow, to pursue his own passion/do his own thing, so he started a record label. Unfortunately it’s not as successful as he’d like and thus in order to keep receiving money from his family he needs to have a normal/ ‘respectable’ job, so when his old college friend Olivia offers him what is basically a do-nothing job with her startup biotech company (mostly to get some funding from his family) he doesn’t hesitate. But then he discovers things at the company aren’t exactly what they seem, leading him down quite the rabbit hole. I probably would have enjoyed it a bit more had I gone in with different expectations. But that’s on me. 3.5 stars. I’d like to thank Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Sucker.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RUZ7ARB5P42UO/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Charles Grossheart Jr. is masquerading as Chuck Gross. He is the owner of Obnoxious Records, an indie punk label without success or notable acts. He’s been coasting because his father is one of the wealthiest and most evil (according to Chuck) people alive. When his funds are threatened and he’s forced to get a real job, he seeks out his college friend Olivia who owns a biotech startup named “Kenosis”. It's pretty similar to Elizabeth Holmes’ infamous scam. Chuck becomes suspicious of Olivia’s mission, then this falls a bit off the deep end. Somehow this book managed to be infuriating and boring to me. Chuck drones on and on about how evil his upbringing was and sounds more entitled as the work goes on. He’s simultaneously disdainful and jealous of the people around him in a way that gives off the stink of his own inadequacies. I’m sure this book was supposed to be a satire with some elements of horror and normally that’s something I really enjoy. I just don’t think this was the book for me.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for permitting me to read this work prior to its release.

What's the deal with Olivia and Kenosis? Charles- aka Chuck- needs to prove to his father that he's got some business smarts even though his record company is flailing around so he aligns himself with Olivia, an old college pal who has a burgeoning start up. The situation might well remind the reader of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes but there's something darker here, Chuck is not a likable character and I never found myself rooting for him. This is more than a little snarky and requires a knowledge of pop culture and Silicon Valley (at times it felt a bit too inside baseball). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, For fans of literary fiction,

I DNFed this book. I unfortunately did not vibe with the writing. I was so bored throughout and I did not like any of the characters. The main character was insufferable and I could not read any longer. I was 30% in and nothing even happened yet.

I wasn't sure what to make of this novel in the first 50 pages or so. It's the story of a billionaire's son who's trying to distance himself from the family name and reputation by running a punk record label, but is forced to take a more legitimate corporate job. The company he works for, however, isn't exactly what it seems. You need to get past the halfway mark for the plot to pick up and become more engrossing. There's definitely a "what the hell is going on?" feel for both the reader and protagonist. I'm not entirely satisfied with the ending; things were wrapped up pretty quickly without a real explanation as to how things happened. I don't regret reading this though, as there are some thought provoking elements regarding the control of the wealthy and biomedicine.

This book just didn't connect with me, which is a crying shame because I LOVED Daniel Hornsby's previous novel. His writing style felt different this time around. It's like a ghost writer wrote this for him instead. Also, the plot felt too on the nose. You can tell it's loosely based on Elizabeth Holmes and the cable series, Succession. There was nothing original or creative about this novel. He basically just borrowed from previous source material I listed above and called it a day. I have not given up on this writer because he is talented, but this book was a major letdown.

Sucker by Daniel Hornsby is a witty and thought-provoking novel that takes a sharp look at the corrupt and selfish nature of the ultra-wealthy. The protagonist, Chuck Gross, is a character that many readers will be able to relate to, as he struggles to define himself outside of his family’s immense wealth and influence.

Hornsby’s exploration of the biotech industry is fascinating, and the author does an excellent job of weaving science fiction elements into the narrative. The novel raises important questions about the ethical implications of scientific progress and human experimentation, and the consequences of unchecked corporate greed.

The book is well-written, with sharp dialogue and a fast-paced plot that keeps the reader engaged from the opening pages. Hornsby has a knack for creating memorable characters, and the supporting cast, including Chuck’s punk rock friends and the enigmatic Olivia Watts, are all well-drawn and interesting.

Overall, Sucker is a smart and entertaining read that is sure to appeal to fans of science fiction, satire, and social commentary. Hornsby’s writing is clever and insightful, and the novel is a timely reminder of the dangers of unchecked corporate power and greed. Highly recommended.

This is a story about what happens when the ultimate nepo baby crosses paths with startup culture.  Chuck Gross is the scion of one of the richest men in America, who made his billions from activities that Chuck would prefer not to think too much about.  Chuck is trying to make his own way in the world through a punk music label he founded -- albeit one that is funded largely by his family's money, not that he's let anyone who works for the label know that.  But when Chuck's father threatens to cut off funding for the label, Chuck must get a "real job" (read: a job that his parents respect).

Just in time, one of his closest friend's college reaches out and offers him a position at her company.  Olivia Watts is not just any friend -- she dropped out of Harvard to create a company called Kenosis that promises to revolutionize health care through a device that is implanted in people and can identify right away when someone is sick so they can seek immediate treatment.  The technology almost seems too good to be true, but Olivia has secured major investors, huge contracts, and a ton of publicity.  So when she asks Chuck to be a creative consultant, it seems perfect -- he'll have a job that will get his father off his back working for one of his good friends.

At first, everything goes smoothly -- Chuck does not have much to do, other than accompanying Olivia to some meetings and, as it turns out, getting his father to invest.  But as he spends more time on the Kenosis campus, he starts to get the sense that things are not quite as they appear, between secret labs, employees who vanish or end up dead under mysterious circumstances, and testing that seems to go awry.  Chuck begins to wonder if Olivia is just a scam artist or if there is something even more sinister going on -- and how far he is willing to go to find out and, if necessary, stop her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!  Chuck is hilarious, eager to mock his own circumstances and social set while also reluctant to give up the security that his family's wealth and status provide him.  This makes him a keen observer of the communities of which he is a part, and the book is a sharp examination of the 1 percent (or really the .1 percent), technology and tech companies, the cult of charismatic founders, and what it takes to succeed in a career in the arts.  The scenes between Chuck, his parents, and his brother and descriptions of their family life often had me laughing (including an unlikely but truly hysterical account of zebras, his father's pride-and-joy).  The book's slightly fictional world of "San Narcisco" and major tech companies were also an insightful and enjoyable skewering of their real-life counterparts.  And the mystery driving the story kept me guessing even as, based on parallels to real-life events, I thought I knew where it was going.

Strongly recommended!

Sucker is a satire following Chuck Gross - the son of an extremely evil billionaire. Chuck runs a music label, but is forced to get a job to avoid being cut off. He joins his old friend Olivia at her biotech company (extremely reminiscent of Elizabeth Holmes). Soon after, though, people start disappearing and Chuck finds many strange things in the large corporate campus.

This novel was a lot of fun. Chuck is a bit infuriating, and we hear his point of view, but I thought he had some pretty solid character development. The supernatural aspect ended up being actually a bit underwhelming - I wanted more! Overall though, I had a lot of fun with this one.

I just couldn't get into this. I apologise to the author and publishing house who sent me a copy. It just didn't seem real or believable, with the style written as if it was for a screenplay. I think all the characters seemed like pre-existing characters in other books/films, offering no new insights. There will be a mass audience for this sort of thing, I'm sure. Just not for me. I had to put it down and move on.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

I'm sure many people who are smarter and more patient than me will greatly enjoy this book. I had trouble staying focused on it, and the pace was very slow. I ended up DNF'ing at 22%.

Clever concept, however the main character was so unbelievable and unlikable that I just could not get into the actual story and had to force myself to pick it up. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Anchor for an ARC of this title.

This was such a fun romp once I realized what was coming down the road. The main character is the right kind of terrible, just oblivious enough to what's about to happen that it's delightful watching the dominoes fall into place until it's too late to stop them from falling.

If I had one complaint, it's that the start on this book is slow, and right when it feels like it's all systems go, abruptly stops when I wouldn't have minded things going a step further in terms of the plot. Leave them wanting more, yes, but at least give me a little more of a denouement!

As someone who grew up in Silicon Valley, I regard tech novels with a great degree of skepticism. So often, to me at least, they smack of young, starry-eyed believers who have come to California for the dream of changing the world or free snacks or company parties headlined by Katy Perry or 300k/year salaries. And then, when those novels turn to their inevitable conclusions: that the party in Menlo Park or Cupertino or San Francisco isn't all it's cracked up to be, there's a moral superiority to it all, a sense that they've done it, the author has finally pulled back the curtain.

The thing is, California has always been a mirage. And tech is one of its shiniest promises. Those books always make the mistake of believing the hype in the first place.

Daniel Hornsby's SUCKER, however, gets it right. He gets it so right, in fact, I found myself sending friends who still work in tech uncorrected proof quotes and laughing out loud. This novel is razor sharp, delightfully dark, and so funny you will find yourself snorting (I did). But most of all, Hornsby has crafted a wonderfully smart novel. With a brilliant voice and razor sharp tone, Hornsby does what so many have failed to do--he shows tech for what it is and he does it with force. I absolutely loved this book.

And the teeth on the cover? Perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the amazing publisher for the ARC of this title! I am so grateful to be auto-approved for this title!
I look forward to reading and reviewing. More to come!

I have a feeling this is going to be very popular. This manages to combine the family business/rich family drama of Succession with the trash fire/possible scam of Theranos, and yes, vampires. Getting to the actual vampire part takes a lot longer than I personally liked, but when Hornsby finally does get there, it ends up feeling a bit rushed/cramped because of how far back in the book it is, and it could've been more thoroughly explored in the context of the Silicon Valley metaphor. Chuck is an interesting main, though I will admit that the ending ended up surprising me with where it went. You will very quickly know if the writing/first person style is for you. Still a fun read to watch all come together, and a fun ride. Pick it up and read it by the pool this summer.

I wrote a review for this book for Library Journal, my full review will be published there. I think this was a story that had good ideas but the satire was too heavy handed and overwhelming. The main character was very unlikable and I'm not sure that I was rooting for Charles at all. It did have some excellent supernatural scenes, but they all came right at the end of the book and could have been sprinkled into the book more or earlier as that is where the author really shines.

This is my first-ever DNF of 2023. I've tried since February to get through it before finally giving up at the 32% mark. The writing style is just not for me and the main character was extraordinarily unlikeable and a complete knob. I understand the author was going for tongue-in-cheek and ironically it felt so out of touch it missed the mark. I tried giving this book several chances thinking perhaps I was in a book slump or simply not in the right frame of mind but I finally came to the conclusion this book just isn't for me.