Title: A Disappointing and Offensive Narrative: A Review of "The New Bad Thing" by Michael Ebner

Thank you NetGalley and Pen and Picture Publishing for providing an advance copy of the audio and ebook for review. All opinions are my own. 

"The New Bad Thing" by Michael Ebner has inexplicably garnered rave reviews, with many praising it as riveting, engaging, exciting, action-packed, a thriller, and a page-turner. I might have agreed if I could have stomached enough of it to see if these reviewers were correct. Unfortunately, I couldn’t.

The book starts off promisingly with a gripping terrorist attack at a Paris hotel, setting up what seems to be a thrilling rollercoaster ride. But then, Ebner makes the fatal mistake that too many authors do—resorting to lazy, harmful stereotypes. He dives headfirst into the tired trope of depicting Black characters as mere muscle for their "master's" whims.

One of the main characters, Roman, has Black bodyguards. Predictably, one is described as a hulking, slow, and dim-witted figure, untrustworthy enough that he must wear headphones with music blasting during sensitive conversations to prevent him from overhearing. In another demeaning scene, this same character is shown salivating at a cart of food delivered to the hotel room, prohibited from eating until the boss gives the nod. This grotesque portrayal harkens back to the dehumanizing treatment of slaves on plantations, who couldn't eat until their master allowed it. It's not just disgusting—it's offensive and inexcusable.

Why do authors continue to take this approach? It baffles me. Are they so tone-deaf to the sensitivities of people of color, who have been subjected to these servile, docile depictions for far too long? Or is it that they simply don’t care, knowing that the majority of their readers will not be people of color and thus won’t notice or mind these disparities? I can't fathom why Ebner would choose this path, but I can only surmise that he thinks it's acceptable. Well, it is not.

There are other stereotypes in the book that I won't delve into, but suffice it to say that Ebner seems intent on appealing to a certain audience, one that finds comfort in these outdated and offensive portrayals. That’s his prerogative, but I certainly won't be a part of it.

This was my first foray into Michael Ebner’s work, and based on this distasteful experience, it will be my last. He had one chance to win me over, and he utterly failed.

I rate this book as a non-starter, and it should be for anyone who is exhausted by authors who perpetuate demeaning stereotypes of certain races and ethnic groups. If you're looking for literature that respects and uplifts, steer clear of "The New Bad Thing."