David Lender

Investment banking on Wall street is not something the average person is familiar with, so learning what goes on behind closed doors peaked my interest. Set right before and during the real estate bubble and subsequent recession, historical elements are seemlessly infused into the story.

Richard Blum, fresh out of grad school with the ink on his MBA still wet, wants more than anything to be an investment banker. What's more, he wants to work on Wall street. Not having the pedigree, personally or educationally, Richard has to work harder than the normal person. Walker and Company, one of the smaller and lessor known firms, was probably his last shot for realizing his dream. As Richard waits for his interview, Harold Milner walks into the office. Milner was the main reason Richard chose investment banking, and Richard had studied all of Milner's deals. They struck up a conversation and Richard was surprised that Harold, despite being one of the richest men in the world, was just a regular guy. Milner was equally impressed with Richard.

Richard was hired by Walker on a "probationary" basis, having six months to prove himself. One of his first duties was to help put together a deal for none other than Harold Milner. He also meets his cubicle mate, Kathy Cella, and romantic flames soon start. One of Richard's other duties was taking care of the communications room. It was on one of his trips there that he noticed some strange e-mails circulating. After discussing them with Kathy, they determine that someone in the firm is involved with insider trading. Richard, naive as he is, downloads the e-mails onto his laptop to study them more carefully at home. They dub the insider as the "mole," and since he is probationary, Richard wants to look the other way. It is too late, however, as the SEC is investigating and two people turn up dead.

Richard does not know who, besides Kathy, he can trust. With evidence piling up against him, going to prison was beginning to look like the best outcome to his predicament. With the Fed's chasing him and an assassin out for his blood, Richard is hiding from everyone. An unlikely ally emerges, but can Richard trust them? How can he escape with his skin and still keep his job? The answers can be found in the pages of this thrilling novel.

I enjoyed this book, although at times it became a little too technical for me, especially when describing the deals. However if you are familiar with the terminology, it probably was just right. I did learn a few things from this book while enjoying myself in the process, and that is never a bad thing.
… (mais)