| Burke Devore was downsized from his middle management position with a paper manufacturing company in Connecticut almost two years before. In his desperation to earn a living he has devised a novel approach to getting a leg up on the competition in the pursuit of a job in his field of expertise. Devore has taken out ads in a trade publication for the type of position he is seeking and as the most qualified candidates respond with resumes he drives to their homes, sometimes several hours away in neighboring states, and kills them.
Devore is a married family man but lately his family has been victimized by his extended period of unemployment. His wife Marjorie announces she wants them to seek counseling for the extramarital affair she is having and their teenaged son Billy is arrested for burglarizing and stealing from a local computer software store. As his whole world is spiraling out of control around him Devore methodically snuffs out his industry rivals and the current jobholder of his ideal position with Arcadia Paper, Upton ‘Ralph' Fallon. His method of killing varies (never with an ax despite the title) and though meticulously planned several of his crimes go awry. He is visited by Detective Burton who is investigating the bizarre and seemingly random murders that have taken place in Connecticut with victims having an employment history in paper processing as their only connection. No link is made to the killings he has committed in New York or Massachusetts. Although riddled with guilt and remorse Devore carries out his plan to the end and anxiously awaits the call from Arcadia to fill their newly vacant position. Throughout the novel Devore ironically talks about the immorality of corporate downsizing, the squeeze on the middle class, and survivorship. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: The crook is.... - stalking/killing innocents descript. of violence and chases - 40 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Crime Thriller Yes Is MAIN CHARACTER an EVIL criminal? Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting United States Yes The US: - Northeast Small town? Yes Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee Misc setting - resort/hotel Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey references to deaths/dead bodies and torture Explicit sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - descript of kissing Unusual forms of death - run over Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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