Warren Lutz has everything a man could want: a lovely wife, two healthy children and a job in a charitable field. Unfortunately, Warren doesn't see it that way. His chosen line of work frustrates him. There's no money in non-profit management. He moves his family from town to town always in search of a better opportunity.
His latest job has brought his wife, Megan, and the kids to Charlotte. The new job doesn't go as planned. It seems everyone in Charlotte is successful, but the Lutz family can't get a piece of the wealth. The quest for the elusive six-figure salary gives the book its title.
Warren looks back on his life with regret and anger. His children drain the life out of him. He resents Megan for tricking him into having a second child. It seems nothing in Warren's life has gone as he planned.
When Megan is violently attacked at work, Warren is accused of the crime. His family doubts his innocence as Megan's life hangs in the balance. Warner confronts his own inner rages in an effort to understand how he could be considered capable of such a heinous crime. This struggle is the subject of Fred G. Leebron's haunting novel, Six Figures.
This is a very cold, dark tale. The characters are unhappy and unsatisfied. Through all of the gloom though, Leebron shines in his creation of an intriguing story.
Distance is a big theme here. Readers are kept away from the characters, never getting a chance to fully understand them. There is an urge to see Warner as a victim, but his behavior conflicts with the role. On the flip side, it's hard to fully support Megan when her past actions are revealed.
The entire story is kept at arm's length as well. Leebron offers bits and pieces of his disturbing plot to readers. He never gives the full story, forcing us to struggle right beside the characters.
Could Warner really attack his wife? How much blame should Megan take for her husband's present state of mind? What role do the other characters play in the Lutz's realization that the world can be a very cruel place?
Six Figures is ripe with discussion points. Leebron never provides clear answers, making readers draw their own conclusions.
Don't count on this book to get the royal book club treatment with the coveted golden "O" stamped on the cover. The subject matter is too complex. The characters are too dark. Such a shame, too. Leebron has provided a year's worth of discussion topics for even the most active book clubs.
Though I enjoyed Six Figures, it's hard to recommend it to others. There's no romance or sense of escape that the majority of leisure readers crave today. This book is suited for those who prefer a deeper story. Leebron doesn't paint a happy picture and he forces readers to look into themselves to choose what is right and wrong. The result is not a happy novel, but a complex works that challenges the mind.
Fred Leebron is an award-winning author with an impressive set of honors. He's a thought-provoking writer who has a gift for detail. Even if Six Figures isn't the feel good novel of the year, it is still worth your time. The folks at the New York Times think so as well. They declared Six Figures a Notable Book of the Year.
