The 500: A Novel [Unabridged] [Audible Audio Edition]

by Matthew Quirk (Author), Jay Snyder (Narrator)

Editorial Reviews

A gripping thriller debut, set deep in the heart of the world's most powerful political arena

A year ago, fresh out of Harvard Law School, Mike Ford landed his dream job at the Davies Group, Washington's most powerful consulting firm. Now, he's staring down the barrel of a gun, pursued by two of the world's most dangerous men. To get out, he'll have to do all the things he thought he'd never do again: lie, cheat, steal - and this time, maybe even kill.

Mike grew up in a world of small-stakes con men, learning lessons at his father's knee. His hard-won success in college and law school was his ticket out. As the Davies Group's rising star, he rubs shoulders with "The 500", the elite men and women who really run Washington - and the world. But peddling influence, he soon learns, is familiar work: even with a pedigree, a con is still a con.

Combining the best elements of political intrigue and heart-stopping action, The 500 is an explosive debut, one that calls to mind classic thrillers like The Firm and Presumed Innocent. In Mike Ford, listeners will discover a new hero who learns that the higher the climb, the harder - and deadlier - the fall.

Product Details

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 9 hours and 20 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Audible.com Release Date: June 5, 2012
• Whispersync for Voice: Ready
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0088UU2M0
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars poorly executed Grisham rip-off January 31, 2013

By bookloverFLA

Format:Hardcover

It takes a bad book for me not to finish reading it but in this case it was a relief. If Grisham wasn't so wealthy he could sue for copyright infringement because this book is an blatant ripoff of The Firm. Instead of Mitch having a brother in jail in the 500 it's the father. Too many similarities to overlook and poor writing, characters, plot, etc.
I did not read any reviews before taking this book out of the library so had no preconceptions.

I can understand why some people would like this book if they hadn't read any Grisham but once you've read good writing you will not be able to put up with a poor copy job. (I will stipulate that not all of Grisham novels are top notch, just the majority).

108 of 119 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Hard to believe the raves June 28, 2012

By katzzz

Format:Hardcover

I admit I didn't get past the first 50 pages because the author's style was not to my liking -- pedestrian thriller stuff and not very believable. But that's not why I'm writing. I looked over the Amazon reviews and I was struck by the similarity of the five star reviews, all gushing gee whiz-this-book-is-so-exciting-I-couldn't-put-it-down, with little else to say except for maybe a brief plot summary straight out of the press release. All of which makes these "reviews" seem suspicious, don't you think? I'm sure a few are from real readers who enjoyed the book, but most of them seem fake. Heck, even some of the three star reviews are glowing recommendations, as if they were planted on purpose so as not to make them appear like obvious put up jobs. I usually find Amazon reader reviews informative and entertaining, but what I smell is a disingenuous marketing campaign in a forum where it does not belong. Boo.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "Every Man Has A Price" June 29, 2012

By Ethan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Every man has a price". That seems to be the motivating factor in the debut novel, "The 500", by Matthew Quirk. In the book, Quirk depicts the inner workings of Washington D.C.'s five-hundred most influential people, through an imaginative and engaging thriller.

Mike Ford is an outsider. As a student at the prestigious Harvard Law, Mike works hard to live up to the societal standards of his affluent classmates. Unlike his peers, Mike, the son of a convicted felon, has grown up in a world of crime. After his disease stricken mother passed away, he was left with a jailed father, his mother's medical bills, and the choice to either make a better life for himself or meet the same fate as his father.

A standout at Harvard, Mike is given the opportunity to be an associate at The Davies Group, a powerful consulting firm in Washington. The group is paid by individuals, corporations, and special interest groups to influence the movers and shakers of Washington, the 500. Henry Davis, who formed the company, sees a spark of himself in Mike and quickly appoints him to a high profile deal that could lead to his partnership.

Essentially, The Davies Group uses the knowledge that "every man has a price" to find ways to "influence" the heavy players in the D.C. scene. Mikes street knowledge helps him to climb the ladder, providing more fortune, connections, and prestige than he could ever have dreamed of. When Davies pulls Mike off of his major deal, Mike immediately suspects foul play. He enters a conspiracy that threatens everything he has worked for and even his life.

Matthew Quirk has been compared to veteran legal thriller author John Grisham.... While I definitely see similarities between Quirk's fast pace, legal jargon, and characters with those in Grisham's earlier novels, Quirk writes with an urgency and contemporary structure that is uniquely his own. The novel begins with a tease from the climatic ending and then goes back the the chronological beginning, grabbing the reader from the start and providing immediate anticipation. I was reminded of the 2007 film "Michael Clayton" in which a corporate "fixer" gets involved in a similar web of corrupt power. Overall, "The 500" is a fast and contemporary legal thriller that is a fantastic debut. Read more ›

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Exciting June 7, 2012

By Stephen T. Hopkins VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Matthew Quirk's debut novel, The 500, has arrived just in time to please those summer readers who love a heart-pounding fast-paced plot. Protagonist Mike Ford has been recruited out of Harvard to work for the Davies Group, the most powerful consulting firm in D.C. Much of the action in the novel is so implausible that every reader's willing suspension of disbelief is severely tested. I can almost imagine Quirk's strain in deciding how to place Ford into a particular sticky situation, and then struggling to get him out. I kept reading because I found the excitement to become fun as the novel progressed, and once I gave in, it was easy to reach the end. I'm always willing to overlook a few clunky elements in a debut novel, and I was entertained by this one. Readers willing to give a first-time novelist a try should consider reading this novel.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Preposterous October 2, 2012

By Two Wheels

Format:Hardcover

Read this because of the good reviews. Poorly written, not believable, cardboard characters. Stuck with it half way through and realized that I didn't really care what happened. Don't waste your time.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Well it "ain't" Grisham June 30, 2012

By Lost In Kansas VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The use of the name The Firm is used a lot in the promotiom for this book and I guess that is an okay thing. However don't think this is as good as The Firm. The 500 relies on the basic idea from The Firm, but differs in its hero. The hero[hmmm not sure if he is really the hero type] is a self made student and a con man. This last part is very convient for this story. He can pick locks and does B.E. with the greatest of ease. He comes from a con man family and has his father's old contacts to fall back on when needed.

One of the reviewers stated that this would make a better movie than a book. You can bet that it is already being optioned as we speak. The ending action is not bad and will look good on the screen.

Now the reason for the 3 stars. The characters are what is called in literature as flat characters. There is no rounding or attempt to really flesh out the characters. The girlfriend is is not very developed and The villians are given just enough to make them really bad and that is all.

I remember reading The Firm and for some reason the openning of the book I found so ominous that I was hooked from the begining. There are no such passages that stand out in this book.

I enjoyed the book the but I have already begun to forget parts of this book.