I Eat Men Like Air

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$34.95


The new Audible Original, I Eat Men Like Air, could be a murder mystery; however, the angst-filled musings of a disparate cast of thirty-somethings place it clearly in another genre, if there’s a genre devoted to the second guessing and misery of wealthy, self-important people. The title of this book, a quote from the poem “Lady Lazarus” by Sylvia Plath, is a signal to the reader that contemplation of life and death lies ahead.

The book opens with a prologue featuring Tyler, a well-known podcaster, and Sean, a local detective, who are at the scene of a death, possibly a suicide. Members of a wedding party at a New England mansion have found the body of Alex, a billionaire’s son. Prior to calling the police, members of the wedding party pulled his bloated body from a bathtub full of his blood, wrapped it in a silk carpet, and placed it in the adjacent bedroom. Sean wants this death to be a suicide, which would be far simpler to deal with than a murder. Tyler, famous for his podcasts featuring cold cases that he has solved, is skeptical of Sean’s quick assumption.

The story segues into parts that are subdivided into the thoughts and actions of Ms. Berman’s characters. There are three main events within the year 2017: a get-to-know-you retreat for members of an upcoming wedding, the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding weekend. The reader must pay attention to the date and the character whose point-of-view is featured in each section because the tale bounces in time around the East Coast.

Author Berman provides atmospheric, timely, and cultural references connecting the reader to parts of society that few, if any, have ever glimpsed. Also, she mentions car cup holders and an Amazon purchase, for a touch of the everyday. Ms. Berman knows the best – a Patek Philippe watch and schools for her characters – the Dalton School, USC, and Dartmouth. Alas, these characters can navigate life but not the consequences of overindulgence, parental enabling, and their cruelty.

I Eat Men Like Air feels like an homage to writers Sylvia Plath, Patricia Highsmith, and William Faulkner. This book is not a true mystery; instead, it is a study of complex, troubled people. As such, it is recommended for readers who want to feel like they are sitting in the room with individuals searching for a life reset button.


Reviewed By:

Author
Star Count 3.5/5
Format eBook
Page Count 298 pages
Publisher Audible Originals
Publish Date 26-Sep-2019
ISBN 0000000000001
Bookshop.org Buy this Book
Issue October 2019
Category Mystery, Crime, Thriller
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