Whisper Network- Chandler Baker

A window into a male dominated corporate environment, where the women can play the game, be played or turn the tables on the players.

THE BARE BONES... (a brief overview)

From the outset it is clear that Whisper Network has an agenda. And it’s not a subtle whisper. Riding the wave of the MeToo explosion, this book probes the layers of the motivations and implications of women who chose to fight back against sexual abuse in the workplace.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book which is scheduled for publication in July. I found it difficult to engage with the story and characters until about 200 pages in… It was at that point- about half way through- when I agreed with the comparison to ‘Big Little Lies’. Up to that point I couldn’t relate to the corporate female characters and their world and struggled to remember which character was which. However, after the half way point, the narrative pierced through the outer layer of their identities and the narrative rapidly gained momentum.

The police interview transcript which begins each chapter makes it clear that a crime has taken place and the focus females are involved somehow. The reader tries to piece together the details while the author teasingly places violent ramblings throughout the key female’s thoughts. There are plenty of blind corners and surprise revelations. If other readers persist through the slow beginning chapters, I can sense that this book will make quite an impact when it hits the streets.

And that cover? Compelling.

#ChandlerBaker #hachetteau #whisperNetwork

FLAVOURS OF... (other books like this one)

The intertwining female characters, and their complicated back stories are reminiscent of 'Big Little Lies'. The physiological manipulation is also a little like 'The Wife Between Us'.

SNAGS ON THE BARBIE (rating out of 5)

3 out of 5 snags. This book is like Beef Eye Fillet. Possibility outside of the reach for some (the fillet in terms of cost, the book in terms of relatability). When handled correctly, this book (and its message) could be very precious and memorable. But it walks a fine line. Overdone and the whole thing is spoiled.

(after their primary aged daughter is teased by a boy about the colour of her underwear, then given a wedgie she hits him. This is the mother’s response when called to the principal’s office to discipline her daughter for violence…)

‘After she used her words to ask him to stop and then went to the person in authority who refused to help her. What was her course of action next? Because,’ she said, when no one offered a suggestion. ‘It seems like your preferred course of action would have been for her to, what, take it? Let him touch her? Let a boy push her, grab her, reach into her shorts because he thought it was funny, because no one would stop him, because he wanted to? And not fight back? Have I about got the plot of it?’ Wild blinking, nostrils flaring, thank the good lord there were no cameras recording her now…”