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STEPHEN FREY
I have placed "sizzler
ratings" next to books read, even if the review
hasn't been added at this time.
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THE
INNER SANCTUM (1997) |
Sub-category:
Investment Bank Thriller
The plot: David Mitchell
works for a quiet but successful Investment Bank in Baltimore.
Jesse Hayes is working for the IRS and completing her MBA
with a view to getting a well paid job in New York. Although
both come from poor backgrounds, there seems to be little
in common between the two until the ugly world of political
manipulation suddenly has them them fighting for trust and
their lives.
Comment: Did you hear that?
I believe it was the whistle of air as Frey fell off the Pedestal
of Excellent Writing... Yes indeedy, this is not the best
of books! In all fairness, it started out fine, but progressively
deteriorates until the final ending which is just a mess of
very weak 'plot twists' (to use the phrase loosely) which
leaves you with an overall bad taste in your mouth.
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THE
VULTURE FUND (1996) |
Sub-category:
Wall Street Banking thriller
The plot: Mace McLain is
a successful upcoming Wall Street Banker who suddenly suspects
things aren't as great as they seem when the Senior Partner
asks him to set up a Vulture Fund. However, our hero McLain
is a bright little spark and gradually begins to see through
the dollar signs being dangled in front of him and realise
things are really wrong with this deal. As th cards fall into
place for the Vulture Fund, McLain begins to investigate some
of the inconsistencies with the innocent of how high up the
pressure for these funds to suceeds goes - and how far the
instigators will go to protect their investment...
Comment: Full of gutsy 'power
names' it can be a little confusing initially as noone seems
to have a name that doesn't seem to destined to end up in
Hollywood Lights. However, that little nitpick aside, this
book is as well written as Frey's first - The Takeover. The
plot, although a little farfetched, is a little more complex
than the the first book and certainly has lots of twists before
pulling out all punches in the finale.
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THE
TAKEOVER (1995) |
Sub-category:
Wall Street Banking thriller
The plot: Andrew Falcon is
a young and successful partner with the prestigious Wall Street
Investment Banking firm of Winthrop, Hawkins & Company.
However, when he decides to use his talent to start a computer
company - using the money earned from Winthrop, Hawkins &
Co, he gets much more than he bargained for. The Chairman,
Granville Winthrop doesn't take to kindly to his prodigy defecting.
However, Falcon grossly undersestimated the lengths to which
Granville will go to in an attempt to crush Falcon. Thus begins
a battle of meglomaniac proportions which Falcon gradually
becomes aware of and finds he has to play the same game -
or die.
Comment: A nice little page
turner. Frey keeps you hooked with a story line which unfolds
swiftly and gets increasingly complex as the cards are played.
Maybe this book succeeds because it plays upon our own suspicions
about how a few high-placed men in the financial world are
really manipulating the rest of the world as mere pawns to
making themselves richer in a cold war on a scale not envisioned
before. Anyway, Frey writes a nice tight story here.
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[
TOP ]
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An absolute sizzler of a movie - A must
see! |
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A scorcher of a good movie; still capable
of riveting you to your seat |
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Low flame burner; a pleasant piece of mindless
brain candy |
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A fizzler of a movie which will have you
counting zzzzzz's... |
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