| The Program | |
| Author: | Gregg Hurwitz |
| Country: | USA |
| Language: | English |
| Series: | Tim Rackley Novels |
| Genre: | Novel |
| Publisher: | William Morrow |
| Release Date: | August 31, 2004 |
| Media Type: | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & AudioBook |
| Pages: | 368 pp |
| Isbn: | 0-06-053040-5 |
| Preceded By: | The Kill Clause |
| Followed By: | Troubleshooter |
The Program: A Novel is a novel by Gregg Hurwitz, first published in 2004. It has since been released as an Audio CD, an Audio Cassette, and was reprinted in paperback format, in 2005.[1] [2] [3] Hurwitz's prior book, The Kill Clause, will soon be made into a motion-picture.[4] The Program picks up where The Kill Clause left off, following a series of books by the author involving fictional Deputy U.S. Marshal, Tim Rackley.[5] [6] [7]
The work is part of a series following the character Tim Rackley, a member of the United States Marshals Service, and opens with a suicide in the La Brea Tar Pits. Rackley must rescue the daughter of a Hollywood producer from a dangerous mind control cult, by infiltrating the group.[8] Charismatic leader TD Betters had created his own society based on self-help tenets, and Rackley must navigate through it without getting pulled in himself.[9]
The novel describes a fictional large group awareness training called "The Program", and characters also use the term Large Group Awareness Training and "LGAT" to refer to the course.[10] In the novel, the seminar leader had "married two cult models", which one of the protagonists describes as a blend of the "psychotherapeutic cult", and the "self-improvement cult". The character then tells his friend that "The Program", is similar to a combination of the Sullivanians and Lifespring. Werner Erhard is quoted, prior to the opening of the prologue.
Publishers Weekly characterized the work as engaging, and grounded in character and detail.[9] Lukowsky of Booklist described the work as a "gripping read."[11] The Oakland Press described the work as a thriller and a good character study.[12] Oakland Press writer Mark Terry went on to state that the author had done his homework researching for the book, and that it was a fascinating and disturbing look at cults. The Chicago Sun-Times also gave a favorable review, noting that this was the author's fifth work at the age of 31.[13] The book also received favorable reviews in The Capital Times,[14] Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the San Jose Mercury News.[15]
In the Audio version, AudioFile cited narrator Dylan Baker's "strong performance", stating that he differentiated between the multitude of characters in the book well, making them easy to distinguish.[16] AudioFile went on to state that Baker's narration helped the listener comprehend how cults could manipulate those ignorant of their tactics.