This is a one-note book and that one note is violence.

Part of the problem I had with it is that the book in no way matches the cover. I love the black humor of the cover -- "Ever want to kill your boss? Well guess what, the feeling is mutual." -- but that sense of humor doesn't ever show up in the book. There were occasional flashes, but they were between characters peripheral to the main plot and even so they weren't enough to deliver on the cover's promise. I was expecting something much more clever than what I got.

Make no mistake, Swierczynski's writing is tight. I've got no issue with his ability to put together sentences and paragraphs. My problem is with his ability to put together characters. None of these characters are appealing. None of them make you feel any great emotion. By page 50 or so, I would have been perfectly happy if the whole building had exploded. By page 100, I wanted to go in and set the bombs myself. ( )

I hate to write this kind of review b/c it's so unhelpful.

I absolutely could not get into this book. I tried and gave up at chapter 3 or so. I tried skipping to the end, I couldn't even read that.

I couldn't find myself caring one whit about anyone in the book, and leaving the book in the car for lunch hour or even in the bathroom at home still couldn't get me to pick it up.

My review, put guiltily up so late b/c I am an Early Reviewer of this book, is that the marketing (it came in an interoffice memo folder splattered with fake blood) was far, far more clever and enthralling than anything IN the book. ( )

Brutal. Violent. Relentless. Fun. This could be easily be a four-word review, as these particular words go a long way in preparing you for Bill Swierczynski third novel, out on the heels of The Blonde. Severance Package does a wonderful job of combining corporate office politics and the deadly world of nothing-is-as-it-seems espionage, raising the question of exactly which profession is more ruthless, cut throat, and soullessly ambitious. One would be tempting to describe it as a cross between The Office and Three Days of the Condor, but that would barely be doing it justice.

Bill Swierczynski’s writing style has one major asset that many authors tend to overlook these days: brevity. His descriptions are colorful and informative, yet they aren’t weighed down by their own poetic license. Characters and locations are set up and knocked down as quickly and efficiently as dominoes, without ever leaving the reader confused or unsatisfied.

Even the story itself, which takes place in the time frame of a few hours, is tight and compact, with all of the action and suspense layered delicately from beginning to end. Swierczynski’s storytelling style is as quick and hard hitting as a lead sap to the temple.

The comic book reminiscent illustrations scattered throughout the book are interesting and fun, even though some might find them a little distracting. Of course, considering that Swierczynski authored the Cable series for Marvel Comics, and is currently helming a six issue run of The Punisher in Garth Ennis’ absence, the presence of the silhouette artwork is understandable.

If you like your novels short, sweet, and chock full of balls-to-the-wall action, you should definitely not pass this one up. Just don’t forget to punch in. ( )

On his latest outing, Swierczynski plays in the same universe as The Blonde, but with less effective results. The plot is as thin as a Hollywood elevator pitch, and the execution is so fast that there isn't much time to get to know the characters (not to mention that the main male character is a one-note wallflower who is superfluous to the action, and the three female leads are nearly interchangeable in their background and motivation). And there's a couple of ludicrous situations that strain credibility. It feels like Swierzynski reached a little too far on this one, and there just isn't enough to hold it up. ( )

I really tried to like this book. It was my first Early Reviewer book, and I was SO excited! But I just could not get into it. The characterizations seemed thin, and I flat out didn't get the ending. What plot there was seemed to be designed to create the maximum amount of violence. I love a good shoot-'em-up but this one did not click for me. ( )