Disclosure by Michael Crichton

Title:  Disclosure
Author:  Michael Crichton
Pages:  496
Genre:  Thriller
Publisher:  Ballantine, 1993
Series:  Stand Alone

Synopsis:  Tom Sanders is an up-and-coming executive at the computer firm DigiCom. When his new boss turns out to be a woman who is both his former lover and a business rival, Sanders determines to be professional. But after a closed-door meeting, the woman accuses him of sexual harassment. It's her word against his, and suddenly Sanders finds himself caught in a nightmarish web of deceit in which he is branded as the villain. As he scrambles to save his career and his reputation, Sanders uncovers an electronic trail into DigiCom's secrets . . . and the cynical scheme devised to bring him down.

Review:  This book takes a hard, long look at sexual harassment in the work place and forces you to really think about it.  This time it's a man whose life has been changed beyond all recognition by his female supervisor.

The story was fast paced and ended with a bang, but sometimes it felt a little like the author had an ax to grind on the subject matter -- men and women in the workforce and harassment.  Somehow, it came out as a little cliche, where men simply cannot be expected to help themselves and women should be viewed as an underdog and somehow deserving of special treatment.  I'm sure when this story was written, that's exactly how things were.  But today, I'm hoping we're past many of these ideas.

The characters' attitudes and the technology described gave this novel a dated feeling.  It was still a good story and certainly worth the time.  What made it especially interesting is that it's based on a true story.

Rating:  7 / 10