![]() In the first few dozen pages, it is possible you will get the impression the structure is perhaps a bit too ambitious for the sort of plot we are presented, at least this was my line of thinking. This makes it quite easy to follow the plot while constantly switching points of view, not to mention it opens the door to diversifying things for the reader’s sake. Each chapter is numbered and labelled with one of the three main characters to indicate whose perspective we are switching to now.Įvery chapter is a few pages long and focuses on developing the events in one way or another, with there nearly always being some character development thrown in as a side dish. One of the things I appreciated the most in The Bartender was the extremely simple structure O’Sullivan decided to go for. The Plot Twists, Thickens, and Folds on Itself I have to admit, I haven’t been this invested in seeing a character die for a long time. Her general success in life, combined with her sociopath tendencies and all the con artist slime she oozes did a good job at making me desperately wish throughout the whole thing she would get what’s coming to her. On the contrary, I hated her guts, and I say this in the most positive way possible, as a testament to the author’s ability to create a character we can actually despise without ever bringing her over-the-top or into ridiculous territory she is, all things considered, an excellently-written villain. While Olive and Austin definitely have some interesting nooks and crannies to explore in their minds, for me personally it was Becca who stole the show, which is not to say I actually liked her. The private eye Hector who eventually makes his way into the story is a great example of this, being largely shown to us through Olive’s eyes and his own actions, giving us more than enough materials for a comprehensive assessment of his character. Rather than dedicating entire chapters their description, O’Sullivan quite skillfully paints their portraits through the eyes of our main characters. Once I got to the point where the story began to take off, I already felt a sort of closeness to the characters, the villains and heroine alike.Īlong the way we naturally meet a few additional characters, and while the author understandably doesn’t want to dedicate as much to their development, they still end up being complex and nuanced enough for their role in the story. ![]() We get to learn about where each of them comes from, how their childhoods shaped them, what struggles they went through, and essentially-speaking, how they grew into the people they are today. ![]() The Memorable TrioĪt first, you might have the impression The Bartender starts off a bit slowly as O’Sullivan takes his time to introduce the three main characters we will be following in equal measure for the rest of the book. However, people can be unpredictable little things, and the moving pieces in her plan are bound to start developing plays of their own… in the end, only chaos can reign supreme. ![]() In her prognostications, Becca sees herself swimming in pools of money, and maybe a bit of blood, if necessary. Austin is just a cog in her great machine, a tool she is using to get closer to her goal. Becca has actually devised a play to rob Olivia’s very rich boss, Barry Gant, who as luck would have it, has a bit of a crush on his barmaid. While Olivia might believe her encounter with Austin to be pure chance, there is a sinister plan at work. Finally, Becca is the evil mastermind about to paint all of their lives with the colour of suffering. Austin is a charismatic, professionally-capable, and seemingly free-going man, one who just happened to have crossed Olive’s path. Olivia is a young and attractive barmaid, if a tad naive, with aspirations of finding love and a career as a writer. The story begins by introducing us to our three main characters: Olivia Fairbanks, Jared Austin Jenkins, and Becca Poe. In Brian O’Sullivan‘s The Bartender, we make the acquaintance of a certain lady who might just have what it takes to find her place in the great pantheon of con artists. Coopers and Charles Ponzi‘s of this world have driven countless people to try their own hands at becoming con artists… and as it happens, many of them fail because they realize just how much effort goes into the craft. Brian O’Sullivan Introduces the Flawed ConĬon artists have captured our collective attention since the days of the earliest scams, and I don’t think there is much mystery to this one after all, who wouldn’t dream of a way to be handed riches with little effort? Tales about the infamous D.B.
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