The Boys’ Club

The intriguing debut by Katz (a pseudonym) chronicles nine months of grueling work, politics, and harassment endured by Alex Vogel, an ambitious female associate at a top Manhattan law firm. Always up for a challenge, Alex is drawn to the department of mergers and acquisitions at Klasko & Fitch. Her game attitude and work ethic quickly earn her the respect of her male superiors. These include star lawyer Peter Dunn, whose client Gary Kaplan has a reputation for misogyny yet is the firm’s largest source of revenue. Alex soon becomes enamored with the money, prestige, and power at M&A, much to her live-in boyfriend’s chagrin. She begins an affair with Peter, and along the way becomes the subject of brutal gossip, develops a dependence on alcohol, and discovers the dark truth of what her colleagues will do to protect their financial interests. Interspersed with the main story are bits from a testimony given by Alex after the events of the book, as witness in a case brought against Kaplan by another woman. The author makes Alex a complicated protagonist, exploring how she navigates the hurdles of an abusive environment while trying to get ahead. Anyone who’s curious about the world of high-powered law firms will enjoy Katz’s engaging and brutal novel. Allison Hunter, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Aug.)