Patrick C. Crowell, Hostile Environment

Hostile Environment

Patrick C. Crowell

Synergy, Feb 2007, $21.95

ISBN: 1933538600

In Orlando, Florida, Lou Scarlechek heads the legal department of the Western Town family-oriented theme park. However, he also enjoys using his powerful position to score with subordinate females throughout the company. Lou does not care what the women want as he harasses them to give him what he desires through real threats.

His current target for his sexual pleasure is a young secretary named DeeDee Lane. However, her rejection of his advances are ignored by him as he threatens her employment with the theme park and work anywhere else in Orlando if she does not play his game. DeeDee finds inner courage and sues under the state's sexual harassment law. Already doing legal work for Western Town, successful competitive rower (against males) Adel Blair is expected to defend the company from the latest charge. However, as she prepares her case, she finds her client, the firm, as well as Lou, have mistreated and sexually harassed women for years while also placing a gender ceiling that says men only can enter.

HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT is an exciting legal thriller that focuses on sexual harassment in the workplace, a demoralizer that hurts more than just the victim as data shows its negative impact on productivity. The storyline is fast-paced as Lou finds herself in a dilemma caused by her belief that the opponent is legally right while her side is hiding the facts that would look bad especially to the customers they covet. Though the final confrontation seems over the top, sub-genre fans will appreciate this synergetic look at a major cause of the workplace turning into a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT for those on the receiving end of harassment regardless of gender.

Harriet Klausner