Title: Revenge of the Cube Dweller
Author: Joanne Fox Phillips
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Publish Date: 2014
Buy Link: https://goo.gl/SZkm6z
Rating: 4 ½ bookmarks

Book Blurb: “There is a worst-case scenario calculation that, to my horror, estimates the dollar value of each life potentially lost that could be netted for insurance recoveries should an explosion occur.” (74)

Review by Nicole Harmon
This book was a not so bad read full of information in certain aspects of environmental disasters and the side of one of the investigators, Tanzie Lewis, who was formerly married to her husband, Winston Lewis and who lived a life of luxury until he decided to turn her in for a younger model. Their married life was the norm for those in their set. Up and coming, nice house but no kids. Winston Lewis did not want any children with her, Tanzie Lewis but he did want one with his new wife. Tanzie Lewis found that to be a hard hitting fact and it didn’t help her out at the time she found it out.
As her whole life was her husband when she got divorced from him, she like so many other first wives had to re-enter the work force. Despite having a degree she hadn’t really worked in the field since her marriage to her husband and she had to re-enter as a first time employee on the ground floor.
She started working as a C.P.A., and a fraud investigator for Bishop Group. During the course of a requested assignment into the financial activities of the company she worked for, she finds some interesting discrepancies. At the same time in the city of Houston, Texas, a family of four whom she knew in her previous life as a socialite died in a pipe explosion. We later learn that the pipe that exploded which was located underground was the property or the responsibility of Bishop Group. She, Tanzie Lewis goes to the family’s funeral.
During the funeral and wake week she continued to investigate the company Bishop Group and their employees for fraudulent activities or requests. She, Tanzie Lewis, hit pay dirt when she found out about the investigation into completing a “pigging” study of the pipe line done by the company. For those who aren’t familiar with it like myself (and this is where the book comes in) they give an explanation of what it is. (I so love this.) “Pigging is a pipeline term…. A pig is an object that is run through the pipe to collect information about the integrity, as well as to identify obstructions or other problems that affect performance.” (74)
“Initial studies about potential corrosion on the Houston pipeline were inconclusive however and according to the accompanying report, the pipe would have to be excavated and examined to be absolutely certain. Apparently Galleria pipeline was different. Report further indicated that the whole residential area about it had to be knocked down. But first things first-where is it? No one could find maps.” (83) This began an investigation that could very well end the company. Not willing to give the information to someone with their own agenda she sent it to the agency who handles the company regulations and thus became a whistleblower.
As you read this novel, you will learn a little about the transportation industry via underground pipelines. You will also learn what a fraud investigator might look for in a company that handles pipeline distribution and has an environmental disaster. You the reader will also find out that an investigation may not start out as a whistleblower but a regular company employee who finds a gross misconduct in the company behavior towards its employees and the people that they serve in the community. You will also get a glimpse of the mindset of someone, such as Tanzie Lewis, who saw that misconduct that may never be righted and in her mind she could not let that happen. So she investigated her trail which originated from the requested assignment from her boss and followed it back to the root cause and ensured that something right might or will come out of it and that the company would pay somehow for its gross misconduct. And you may also find out the outcome of her original assignment.
What you don’t see is the aftermath. Here is Tanzie Lewis, “…I’m a fifty-two. I need a job that comes with health insurance. It’s a busy market right now, especially for someone my age. I’m lucky to have anything. I’ll keep looking for something down here, but for now I’m stuck where I am.” (71). No longer able to stay where she was working due to the investigation and the possible results she now has to leave and start all over again. Seems a shame for her to have to do that but makes for a good read.
I liked this read but it was a slow one for me. I believe if you like novels about white collar crime or about environmental disasters or even investigators or all of the above then you will like this story. It also tells you how the socialite’s life is in the particular circumstances of the book. I think this is definitely a good gift for your friends. It might make their lives seem less stressful.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley.com for purposed of completing a book review. I have not received any compensation for this book review.