Customer Reviews

Mad Money (Madeline Carter Novels)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recieved Mad Money as a gift and found it to be an utter surprise. I don't know what I expected, but what I found was a tightly rendered and well executed mystery story with lots of dark elements and a solid core of humor. I was especially delighted with Madeline Carter as an amateur detective. There are many fictional non-professional detectives these days and Madeline is more believable than most. As a professional woman in my mid 30s, I found I could relate to Madeline completely. Though I wouldn't have thought the stock market would interest me in the least, the author handles this aspect in a way that interested and intrigued me.

Mad Money is the first in a series. Like other reviewers of this book, the second Madeline Carter book can't come quickly enough!

Taking on a too great load of guilt over the shooting of her friend and co worker, stock trader Madeline Carter pulls up stakes and moves from New York to LA, seeking peace and new start. What she finds is anything but that. Her new home is lovely, and she makes friends quickly with a young woman and her family. However, when she acts on a stock tip from an old flame, it turns out to be a bad move; the stock plummets when the flame disappears and Madeline is a suspect in his disappearance. Solving the case to clear her name brings her the chance for romance and the threat of danger, made more complex by a her new friend running away- or is it an abduction?

*** Multi layered and complex, this novel offers comedy, drama, and a rather unusual setting for a romance novel. If you are tired of the same old thing, then this will be what you are looking for. ***

When taking advice, always consider the source. This is an adage New York broker Madeline Carter should have followed before investing her money in stock based on a tip from her ex-boyfriend Ernest Carmichael Billings. The lure of an inside tip lured Madeline into overlooking ethics, and when the stock starts to nosedive as a result of Ernest's disappearance Madeline has no choice but to investigate in order to save her, and her family's, investment.

When a crazed shooter murders Madeline's friend Jackson in the middle of their office Madeline abandons New York for Los Angeles, where she ends up renting a room from the famous director Tyler Beckett. While Tyler hopes that Madeline will mentor his daughter Jennifer and keep her out of the Hollywood life, Madeline finds that she enjoys accompanying the young woman on visits to clubs. It's at one of these that she meets her old ex, and her involvement results in her becoming a suspect in his disappearance as she infiltrates the Langton Regional Group offices building and their parties. Along the way she meets an attractive but young LRG employee, gets tailed by a private eye, and discovers yet another kidnapping. And the move to California seemed to be so relaxing.

Richards excels at making the financial complexities of the stock market both understandable and exciting, with a plot that speeds right along to a very realistic and satisfying ending. The writing is sharp with a strong element of humor, making this a very enjoyable and fast read. The descriptions of California, from the wealthy mansions to the clubs and the cars are detailed and dead-on. Richards has created one of the most likeable, fully developed, and original characters this year, and we can hope that Madeline Carter will be making more appearances.

There are few wrong notes in MAD MONEY, Linda L. Richards' debut novel featuring ex-stockbroker Madeline Carter. The story is smart and funny, the characters real and the mystery pleasantly mysterious. I'm looking forward to future books by this author.

Well-written and suspenseful. A fun read with varied and interesting characters. Clear explanations of financial intricacies that might be intimidating to those unfamiliar with the stock market.

I was certainly surprised to love this book well beyond my expectations. I'm not sure what I expected exactly. Certainly something more dry and less satisfying than Mad Money turned out to be.

Madeline Carter's best friend is killed in the stock trading office they both work in in New York City. Madeline is heartbroken to lose him and emotionally shattered. She quits her job and moves to Los Angeles into the house of famous movie director with whom she has a mutual friend.

At first it looks as though she's finally found the easy life but then it turns out that trouble has followed her. Or maybe she's followed it? In any case, the ending is entirely unpredictable. Especially since there really isn't one ending. It's more like three. This turned out to be one of my very favorite reads of the year. I've just started the next book in the series, The Next Ex, and am liking it very much, as well.

Although the plot seems on the surface to be a little out there, after having spent the last 3+ years tied up in the bankruptcy of Washington Mutual (a bank which should never have been seized, and if you want to know why go to wamustory dot com) I liked the fact that this book tried to expose just a tiny bit of the craziness and all the scamming done in the financial world. It is much worse than the author exposes...

At any rate this interested me due to the fact that I learned so much in the last 3 years about just how dirty stock market games are played, and the every day person has absolutely no chance against these monsters...

This book hopefully will not be treated as wild fiction...the dirty games played are real...so very real.

I liked that the author brought this to the forefront through a novel, which will probably reach more people than a non fiction book about the stock market would...

Strictly from an entertainment level, the book was fun to read...

This book not only takes you on the journey of a grief stricken young stockbroker but brings in several other elements.

Madeline Carter goes west from new york to california and get involed in blackmail, security manipulation, the movie industry, romance, murder and lust.

I really enjoyed it- if you want a compelling book read it.

In Manhattan, a failed investor who rejected his broker's advice, enters the offices of Merriweather Bailey and kills thirty-five years old Jackson Shoenberger. Jackson's best friend, fellow broker, Madeline Carter witnessed the murder. Madeline takes a leave of absence and at Jackson's funeral, Madeline offers her condolences to her friend's wife and children, but blames herself unfairly for his death as her decision on a promotion opportunity influenced his.

Unable to cope, Madeline quits her job; her former boss Sal gets her a place to stay in Malibu, California at a friend's home. The friend turns out to be Hollywood director Tyler Beckett, his young wife, and his teenage daughter. To earn money, Madeline becomes a successful day trader until she meets former boyfriend Ernest Billings, who gives her insider information that he has been named as CEO of Langton Regional Group. Though questionable and perhaps illegal, Madeline invests in LRG and inadvertently persuades her mom to do so too only to see the price of the stock collapse and Ernest vanishes. As she searches for Ernest and the money she meets Steve Rundel, but her fiscal fiasco seems to keep the duo apart though they are attracted to one another.

MAD MONEY is an enjoyable financial contemporary romantic suspense starring a beleaguered heroine struggling with grief while trying to start over. The tale has several subplots besides the Billings deal that are well written such as a teen runaway, but take the reader away from the prime theme of Madeline's drowning in her professional life while flopping in her personal life. Readers will enjoy this madcap fiscal adventure starring a likeable cast especially the protagonist.

Harriet Klausner

Linda L. Richards does a fantastic job writing about character Madeline Carter she really gets you engaged in her world while providing insight into the city of LA. The book starts out slow with a death but along the say you are seemlessy pulled into a mystery that shakes Madeline's life and those around her. The realism portrayed in the book was remarkable as Madeline never did anything beyond her means that took you out the world. The only con of the bookwas the ending which I felt could have been more hands on in my view. However there is nothing in this book to deter you from it and I reccomend it for a nice good read.