Mallory's Manly Methods

Kevin Mallory is so good at lying he has convinced himself he has at least an average life. He tries to use his exceptional skill at prevarication to hang onto his job without doing any work, win the love of his co-worker without recognizing who she really is, take advantage of the young Black man who moves in next door, and manipulate the police and the courts into accepting his warped idea of justice.Mallory pursues his co-worker, Nell, even as his supervisor at the UniCast Cable...
More Description

Kevin Mallory is so good at lying he has convinced himself he has at least an average life. He tries to use his exceptional skill at prevarication to hang onto his job without doing any work, win the love of his co-worker without recognizing who she really is, take advantage of the young Black man who moves in next door, and manipulate the police and the courts into accepting his warped idea of justice.Mallory pursues his co-worker, Nell, even as his supervisor at the UniCast Cable Company begins the process of firing him for cutting off customers' calls. He joins Nell's dysfunctional Employee Cheer Committee as it tries to host a holiday party. He agrees to cat sit for Nell while she goes to a series of girls' nights out. He buys a rifle for protection from imaginary hoodlums, although he cannot get the box of ammunition open. When Thomas, his neighbor, is assaulted for Running While Black, Mallory impersonates a lawyer and represents him. When he is later criminally charged himself, he summons Nell as a witness, brings his rifle to court, and parks in a handicapped parking spot. Kirkus Reviews notes that "An exceedingly kooky protagonist drives this touching, silly adventure, " and predicts that "Love or hate Kevin (and the reader may find themselves doing both at the same time), this quest for maturity becomes oddly endearing."