Need You Now: A Novel [Hardcover]

James Grippando (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2012

The New York Times bestselling author returns with a gripping, new stand-alone novel ripped from the headlines, in which a young financial advisor and his girlfriend uncover a conspiracy that reaches from Wall Street deep into the halls of government.

Abe Cushman, the evil genius behind a $60 billion Ponzi scheme, has killed himself and taken his secrets to the grave.

For Patrick Lloyd, a young Wall Street advisor at the world’s largest Swiss bank, Cushman’s fall has unexpected—and deadly—repercussions. Lloyd’s girlfriend, Lilly, is directly tied to billions of dollars in losses suffered by Cushman’s most dangerous victims, a group of powerful investors whose identities and dirty finances are well hidden. What Lilly knows can get her and Patrick killed, and now the pair are in a run for their lives that leads to the heart of a clandestine operation, and to a cabal of powerful officials determined to keep their agenda hidden from the public.

With nowhere to turn and no one to trust, Patrick and Lilly must uncover the truth before they become collateral damage in a “financial war” in which casualties are no longer measured in dollars and cents.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Superb...Current events have proved that financial thrillers set against the background of Wall Street, banking and investments can be as exciting as any espionage drama, and Grippando makes the most of this backdrop in Need You Now while delivering a character-rich plot.” (Miami Herald on Need You Now )

“Grippando’s use of current events adds realism to his novels, and this ripped-from-the-headlines approach brings a sense of urgency to Need You Now. The action is nonstop but Grippando also brings the same sense of realism to his characters.” (Sun-Sentinel (South Florida) on Need You Now )

“A timely and solid plot-driven read....Another Grippando gripper.” (Booklist on Need You Now )

“A brilliant blend of financial chicanery and government conspiracy which yields a story that is all too believable.” (Iron Mountain News on Need You Now )

“Readers who enjoy a good thriller with a constantly twisting plot will appreciate this timely novel.” (Library Journal on Need You Now )

“Grippando has definitely reached a new level with this series entry. . . . One of his best.” (Booklist (starred review) )

“Superb plotting, high suspense, compelling timely issues, and finely honed characters make this crime novel/international thriller a great read.” (Library Journal (starred review) )

“Rousing. . . . An exciting tale of revenge.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Filled with twists and turns and edge-of-the-seat tension.” (Romantic Times )

“Readers looking for a great thriller will see a master at the top of his game in Need You Now.” (Associated Press on Need You Now )

“Winning....A steady supply of action...will leave readers wondering if the author has come up with a solution to the real-life Madoff mysteries that still remain.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Need You Now )

“A complex and dizzying shell game…entertaining. Grippando’s novel adds up the collateral damage when billions belonging to the wrong kind of people go missing.” (Kirkus Reviews on Need You Now )

About the Author

James Grippando is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen previous novels, including Afraid of the Dark, Money to Burn, Intent to Kill, Born to Run, Last Call, Lying with Strangers, When Darkness Falls, and Got the Look. He lives in Florida, where he was a trial lawyer.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Harper (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061840300
• ISBN-13: 978-0061840302
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "If I ever needed you, I need you now." Song lyrics, January 14, 2012

By 

michael a. draper (Guilford, CT) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Need You Now: A Novel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

The Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme has influenced this novel. In this case, Abe Cushman, a former chairman of the NASCAQ stock market, committed suicide when his Ponzi scheme was brought to light.

Patrick Lloyd is a young Wall Street advisor to the BOS (Bank of Switzerland). He's called to the corporate office and ordered to find Lilly Scanlon and the money she manipulated while an executive with the bank. This was in connection with the Cushman Ponzi scheme.

Lilly is Partick's girlfriend. She informs him that she's being set up and was fired unjustly. She tells Patrick that the money in question is from some of Cushman's investors who are criminals and will stop at nothing to get their money back.

Patrick and Lilly decide to work together. Soon after, each is threatened by criminals and then something about Patrick's past comes to light.

The maze of possibilities that these characters must negotiate makes the novel an interesting adventure to observe. There seem to be competing forces looking for the money and the two protagonists must go about their search for the missing money while not knowing who to trust and even if they can trust each other.

The setting is mostly in New York and is nicely described. At one point, a character tells of experiencing "...the old St. Paul' Churchyard...bathed in silence wile hearing the buzz of construction at the World's Trade Center across the street."

This is not only a financial thriller but deals with other important issues. There is a powerful message of a father's love for his children while also being a social commentary on the greed existing today and the desire to gain riches at any expense. It is also morality story of misplaced trust and the failures in the witness protection program.

The author has caputed the naivete of his two young protagonists and shows how innocence can be destroyed in a world of governmental ignorance and corruption at the highest levels.

I did feel the story was more complicated than it needed to be but did a nice job in showing Patrick and Lilly's struggles and made the reader want to see them succeed against seemingly impossible odds.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best!, December 6, 2011

By 

Duane Sparks "Duane" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Need You Now: A Novel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

This is the first novel of Grippando I have read, but it won't be the last. This story based on the Madoff ponzi scheme is enthralling. Even though it is a story of financial swindles and great losses by investors, it has little to tell in the way of the financial markets. It is devoted to the telling of the unwinding of the mysteries and characters involved in a fictional case.

There are more twists and turns than would be expected, but they are explained...not just all of a sudden shooting you off in a new direction. The characters are real, the drama heavy, and the writing superb.

If I had any criticism at all it would be the use of too many pronouns at times. There are many characters and occasionally a "he" would be better if replaced the characters name. That may well be done in the final printing along with a few other obvious proof reading errors that will be found.

I highly recommend this work.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Little Bit of Truth?, December 6, 2011

By 

Richard A. Mitchell "Rick Mitchell" (candia, new hampshire United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Need You Now: A Novel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

This is a thriller based upon a Ponzi scheme of the Madoff variety. A letter came with the pre-publication version from the author. He is of counsel to the law firm that filed the first class action suit against Madoff. There was some thinking that for such a scheme to go unnoticed there must have been some government involvement. This is the novelization of that conspiracy theory. Although the novel has some fairly over-the-top characters, the theory is not that unbelievable.

The plot is somewhat labyrithine as one might expect. A young investment banker hooks up with the FBI to do some inside sleuthing. Two billion dollars has gone missing from the Ponzi scheme money and everyone is looking for it including the bank, the good guys and the bad guys.

In addition to the somewhat over-the-top bad guys, there are a few tough top believe connections among the characters that are necessary to make the plot work. The good side of this, though, is that Mr. Grippando uses these connections to give the reader background so he can keep up with what is going on and what went on in the Ponzi scheme.

This was a page turner with the interesting background of knowing that the author was always thinking of Madoff's scheme. There were things that - one would think - could only happen in a novel and for that, it is down to a four star.