Customer Reviews

Free to Trade: A Novel of Suspense

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've read some overhyped novels in my time, but this one takes the biscuit. This man CANNOT WRITE, and in fact, from the evidence of this book cannot even punctuate.

Suspence? None. Particularly since the blurb on the back jacket of my copy says "his crusade for an explanation results in his being framed for murder, accused of insider trading and left to find twenty million by lunchtime." which 1, is in fact the entire plot, and 2, doesn't actually *happen* until page 330 (of 420)! (If you're interested, pages 1 to 330 are taken up by deadly explicatory bond meetings where people keep saying things like, "Okay. So, how exactly do you sell a junk bond?" and the characters say "okay, it's like this, blah blah blah- oh no! I've told you too much!")

Avoid. There are some brilliant stock market books out there, but this is not one of them. Oh, and note to the author: denoting one of your characters as Scottish by having them say 'Laddie' at the end of each sentence is not just completely inaccurate but shallow and demeaning, too. Okay, old chap?

There is a germ of a good book in here. It needs to be whittled down by 50% and the characters need more personality. It has some excitement in the trading scenes, but you have to slog through worthless stuff to get to them. For example, we go through a long, dull chapter describing a visit to the narrator's mum, hear a description of his father, his father's death, etc. and it really is all for naught. I hope his other books are better. Maybe if he read some Hammet or Hemmingway he can pick up some pointers on how to make the prose more efficient.

Michael Ridpath has brought to life the dull financial markets into a lively whodunnit. Paul Murray is perhaps a little too clean cut as a London bond trader hunting down the killer of a colleague in his company.

Ridpath has an elegant and easy style that carry along a sparky story. He carries an intelligent insight into his characters that lends the plot a little depth.

The writing is appealing, with a prose that is understated. This is a novel I will remember with some affection

This was the first Michael Ridpath novel that I have read and I am a fan. I got a clear picture of each character and got so caught up in the story that I hated to put it down. I was really disappointed when it ended because I wanted to immediately start a new adventure with Paul, Cathy, and Cash. Hope they make it into a movie.

Ridpath did an excellent job of weaving information about financial markets and trading into a mystery that spans the globe from London to Phoenix. He did a great job of portraying the people caught up in the bond and borrowing industry, and the ethical dilemmas they face. I would heartedly recommend the book.

I would put the book on par with Dick Francis and Grisham.

Ridpath weaves a thrilling and intricate tale of murder and high finance. Strong and intelligent prose send this author's debut over the fence. Home run!

It's a book in the line of the Grisham-alike bestsellers. Grisham's lawyer-affinity has been replaced by a trader-backgroundand it has the same speed in reading. Once you start reading, you just can't stop. The suspense really grows on you and you wonder how Paul Murray is going to survive the sheer inconceivable problems he is faced with. The british style is pleasant but a bit predictable after a while. At times the build-up seemes to lack thoroughness, but then again, it's not meant as a piece of literature. Great fun to read!

This is the type of book that is ideal if you need something easy to read commuting into London, New York or wherever. It is thoroughly researched, believable and does not swamp one with too much data. It has a travel element in it which allows the imagination to wander from London to New York to Phoenix amongst other places. If you ever wondered how the dealer world in exotic environments that surround the financial markets operate then this is the book for you. Having sustained yourself on a diet of non stop coffee and late nights with the light on, you will emerge with the satisfaction of yet another book well chosen!

Thrillers set in real worlds are often the best escapism, I find. But not this time. Why? Because Ridpath's leaden writing deprives his setting of any real blood or believability. The result is rather tedious, because you'll find it very hard to care what happens to any of the hollow characters involved. A very over-hyped thriller...

I was seduced by the hyperboles on the cover "... the thriller everyone has been waiting for", "Britain's most exciting new thriller writer", but I don't think the story lives up to these comments. Paul Murray is a junior bond trader in the City of London with ambition and drive to succeed. When his colleague is found dead in the River Thames, Paul becomes the police's chief suspect. As he investigates the circumstances to her death he uncovers a large-scale fraud, and is also accused on insider dealing. It soon becomes apparent that to solve the murder he will have to solve the fraud and clear his name.