You Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But it Helps

This is a follow-on from The Portable Door, but could probably be read on its own. Hapless Brit becomes involved with magic, gods, random heroes and bureaucracy, finds frustration, danger and love. I really should post a couple of the contract provisions for selling your soul to the Devil, which are all too plausible. It's a book that requires being read out loud to whoever else is around--not least because they'll be wanting to know what you're giggling at.

I'm not sure why I picked it up, and it's possible that there is some Christopher Moore-like paranormal stuff going on in the background that will eventually become interesting. I read for character, though, and there was nothing in the first few chapters to convince me that I wanted to get to know these guys.

With a title that is the literary equivalent to a Pink Floyd song, the full working name of this book by Tom Holt is You Don't Have To Be Evil To Work Here But It Helps.

Imagine a place, not unlike a lawyer's office or accountants where you could walk in and make pacts with the Devil, bank with the Undead, or simply buy a love potion. Well in Tom Holt's book this is possible and the way it is written, it almost sounds plausible. From a writer who puts a comic spin on the supernatural and trans-dimensional I am fast becoming a big fan of his but must admit I sometimes get lost in his gooble-de-gook explanations of how alternate dimensions and universes work although this is half the fun.

The story follows multiple characters caught up in a show more situation where Heaven, God forbid, has made a wee mistake somewhere in time and along with Hell try to set aside differences to put it right. Smack bang in the middle is J W Weir's, a sort of broker between the two based in London who somehow get mixed up in the cleanup right in the middle of signing a deal between the Director of a Widget manufacturer (no, I don't know what one is either) and a representative for Satan in allowing his business to weather hard financial times in exchange for his soul. Also somehow caught up is his hope;less case of a son, Colin, and the Weir's Acquistions and Mergers rep, Cassie who fall in love despite the fact that they find each other somewhat repulsive...

What the Hell could be going on?

This is not a bad read although I found it difficult at times trying to keep pace with flashbacks, multiple scenarios and to an extent, the ending was a little disappointing. But Holt has got a wicked sense of humour and is very good with puns and wise cracks and there is always a giggle or two in each chapter... show less

Interesting and fun book that is sort of a continuation of a series (but really closer to a shared world set of stories--think [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg] DiscWorld series). The humor is definitely British--meaning more subtle and some references don't parse for me. The plot is ultimately very dense and may not be completely consistent, but that's OK the story makes enough sense to be enjoyable.

This book occurs in the same environment, J.W. Wells, as the three Carpenter books. Frankly, the Carpenter books were much better. In this book, the main character is Colin, who is a star-crossed lover and had his soul sold to the devil by his father in order to make the family business profitable. It follows Colin and his attempt to unite with his true love, despite being forced into a romantic situation with another woman, through various means beyond his control. None of the characters are well fleshed out, and in the end, you just don't care about these people or their travails.

In the continuing saga of J.W. Wells & Co. Practical & Effective Magicians, Sorcerers and Supernatural Consultants Tom Holt has provided another very amusing tale. The previous stories of JW Wells (The Portable Door, In Your Dreams, and Earth, Air, Fire and Custard) all dealt with the same two main characters. Now that they've been safely married and retired, Holt has a couple of new characters to kick around.

You don't have to be evil... takes up with the old firm in dire straits. Quite a number of the senior partners were killed off in the previous books, and the company has been sold. At the same time, Cassie Clay, a new employee is caught up in a mangle of True Love, Star-Crossed Lovers, and a routine deal with the devil. In the show more middle of all of this is Collin Hollingshead, a fellow born into the brass widget making business and his fathers ambitions, just looking to get through life with a minimum of hassle.

Holt tells his tale with his usual wit, managing to skewer just about every modern business practice, and provide a number of laugh out loud moments along the way to the requisite happy ending, with lovers reunited, stars uncrossed, the company back on its feet, and management thwarted. show less

Colin Hollinghead works in his dad's factory and lives at home with mum and dad. There is a tree growing in the middle of the house but that is something that should not be mentioned. He dreams of getting a place of his own, and of leaving the factory. But then his dad is selling his soul to the Devil - or is he?
This was the second Tom Holt book I've read, and while I still liked it, I preferred Barking. Holt creates an interesting parallel universe in his books, with clever asides and nice quotable phrases that generate a smile every now and again. But the going was a bit slow at times, and the characters stayed rather onedimensional.
Still, if I come across another Holt book, I will not hesitate to buy it.