LORDS VALLEY, Pa., May 14, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The fifth book of Dwight E. Foster's Shattered Covenants, an ambitious series of novels about the rise and fall of a global professional services firm, offers excitement and intrigue. In Book V: The Partner (now available through 1stBooks), Foster continues the story of the passing of CEOs in the global partnership McKenzie Barber. This series offers seven novels: Book I: Present & Past Imperfect, Book II: The Road to McKenzie Barber, Book III: The Consultant, Book IV: The Chairman, Book V: The Partner, Book VI: The House of Harwell and Book VII: Twilight & Endgame.
The story is told primarily through the eyes of Joe Baxter, who advances to the role of national practice director for McKenzie Barber's executive compensation practice.
In Book I the birth of this dominating business is disclosed. Spanning one week in 1987, this novel includes flashbacks of the company's founding in 1922. Book II follows Joe's own path to greatness, chronicling his journey from Iron Creek, Minn., to client liaison to McKenzie Barber. Relationships form that soon get him in the door. Book III covers Baxter's career from 1968 to 1972, when he accidentally lands himself in an executive compensation firm and in the New York office of McKenzie Barber.
In Book IV changes in top leadership begin. Ernie Grey, the chosen successor to the founder, announces his intention to retire. He picks his successor, Hamilton Burke III, a mentor to Baxter. Told from Ernie Grey's point of view, the chairman narrates the changing of hands on a global firm. That storyline continues in Book V, but in this novel, the regime change is far from smooth. A contested chairman election boots Burke, elects Ross "Buzzsaw" Pritchard and leaves Baxter with the burden of being aligned with the defeated nominee. A steep decline of the firm follows under Pritchard's leadership. Book VI, McKenzie Barber is crumbling, Ernie Grey is prospering in his new endeavors and Baxter is cultivating an alliance with one of his principal clients, Leon Harwell. In the concluding novel, Book VII the wounded McKenzie Barber joins a stronger animal through a merger, and the pack revolts against their leader, Pritchard. They merge with their competitor, Robson Allen Harbridge, ending the golden years of the company that had been prosperous since 1922.
Foster is a widely recognized name in the executive search industry. He is a retired consulting partner with an international accounting firm, who later formed an executive search firm in 1990. With 30 years in the business, his expertise provides an accurate representation of the cycles of chief executive officers. Foster graduated from the University of Minnesota and is the father of two adult children. He lives with his wife, Dorothy Choitz Foster, a recognized consultant to the cosmetic and fragrance industry, in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
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