R Bruce Walker

Jesters' Dance R Bruce Walker

Call it corporate intrigue. Call it black comedy. Think Tom Wolfe meets John Grisham with the same du monde noir asTV's Mad Men. Advertising Manager Allan Corbett wants to fire his agency. On the eve of the most important product introduction in the history of pharmaceutical giant Carlton & Paxton -- the launch of a miraculous new anti-obesity drug -- he's decided for a variety of personal and professional reasons to put the billion-dollar assignment up for grabs. However, once he's asked the clowns to dance, his impulsive decision yields disastrous results. The story unfolds over twenty-eight days, propelled forward by the ridiculously tight timetable that the deeply troubled client has imposed on the process. Exploiting the experience of his twenty-five years in the industry, R. Bruce Walker treats his readers to a riveting insider's view as the colorful characters that inhabit the three competing agencies pull out all stops in pursuit of the coveted prize. As the novel's indelible characters and numerous cross currents surge together, the plot takes a series of unanticipated twists and turns -- all of which conspire to derail the promise of the amazing wonder drug and reshape the fates of everyone involved. Humorous, sexy and ghoulishly dark, JESTERS' DANCE is a playful study of the strong personalities, greedy impulses and cynical self-interest that drive the ad world. The themes explored are taken directly from headlines surrounding current problems with obesity in America and the perils of our society's obsession with weight control, dieting and body image.