Trust [Hardcover]

Charles Epping (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Alex Payton fixes code for a living. But a small line of code in a Swiss bank's computer propels her into a world of corruption and deceit as she uncovers a bank account opened for a Jewish family before World War II. From her basement cubicle in Zurich, she is drawn to Budapest, New York, and Brazil on a dangerous hunt for the truth.

The account Alex discovers is a Treuhand account, one of many set up to protect Jewish families' identities from Nazi persecutors. This one has been slowly accruing value in a Swiss bank for more than half a century and has remained unclaimed - and undisclosed.

As she searches for clues to the fate of the family, Alex becomes entangled in an international web of treachery and murder. With each step of her investigation, she unknowingly exposes herself - and the lost heirs - to the dangers of revealing secrets that some would kill to protect.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Readers looking for a thriller with the page-turning appeal of The Da Vinci Code need look no further. With this novel, Epping has become a major thriller writer."
- Frank M. Robinson, best-selling author of The Donor, Waiting, and The Towering Inferno

"Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a wild ride. Trust introduces us to a smart new hero willing to test her instincts in dangerous territory. And ultimately, it reminds us that justice is a destination well worth the detours."
—Thalia Zepatos, author of A Journey of One’s Own

"Once I started reading Trust I couldn’t stop. There are fascinating characters, high-tension suspense, and lightning-fast action. As a pure thriller, Charles Epping’s novel is absolutely top grade."
—Richard A. Lupoff, author of Terrors, Visions, and Dreams, literary commentator and national book reviewer for "Cover to Cover," KPFA, Berkeley, CA

About the Author

Charles Epping has worked in the world of Swiss banking and finance for more than twenty years. He has written several books on international economics, trade, and finance. This is his first novel.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press; First Edition edition (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929774389
• ISBN-13: 978-1929774388
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,323,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles Epping, an American citizen based in Zurich, Switzerland, is the author of A Beginner's Guide to the World Economy, published by Vintage Books, and is currently the managing director of a Swiss-based international consulting company. He is also the president of the Central Europe Foundation--which provides scholarships to students from Central and Eastern Europe. He has written several articles for Newsweek, and has been featured as a financial expert on CNN Television, CNN Espanol, and FOX 5 Good Day New York.

His most recent book, Trust, published by Greenleaf Book Group Press explores the use of a Swiss trustee account by the Hezbollah to move illegal money through the international financial system and into the hands of terrorists in the Middle East.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good First Effort, July 13, 2006

By 

Ben F. Small (Tucson, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Trust (Hardcover)

Little did computer tech Alex Payton realize that a simple Y2K project would sweep her into international intrigue when she found some strange transfer codes in a Swiss bank's computers. Following up her instincts that something may be awry, Alex risks Swiss bank secrecy to trace the manager of the account, and learns more than she wanted to. Seems the account was a trustee account, the trustee died in strange circumstances, and the account has been seeing some unusual activity. These circumstance alone might be enough to trigger the curiosity of someone fascinated with the inherent order and truth of numbers, but Alex is just at the beginning of this thrilling ride. The executor of the former trustee, too, commits suicide, but as Alex and the son of the former trustee probe, they learn the executor was likely murdered. Are they to be next? Why is everyone with knowledge of this account dying? The Swiss won't help; their bank secrecy laws prohibit information sharing. And Alex and the son of the trustee are shut out of the account. The only way they can solve this mystery, and perhaps save themselves, is to find the heirs of the trust's beneficiaries. But are there any? And if so, where are they? This bank account was established during World War II, by a Jewish family soon to be exterminated. Who besides the former trustee even knew about it? Alex and Ruedi, the son of the former trustee, are in a race against time. A race to find heirs, a race to save themselves from whatever organization is using this account for money laundering, and murdering anyone who knows about it.

The characters in this book are one-dimensional, for sure, perhaps because there's too much dialogue and not enough narrative. And Alex's portrayal reads as if it was written by a man who doesn't understand women. But this is an outstanding first effort, and the pace and thrills are abundant. Bravo! Hope there's another book coming.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A RIDE! I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN., June 5, 2006

By 

Texas Cousin (Dallas, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trust (Hardcover)

I am ecstatic about this book! It was so much fun to read, I was really stressed out through the whole thing, in a good way.

My husband and I were both racing each other to get through it, It was like watching a movie.

The characters in the book were great, and I love the relationships that were created throughout the story. All good books need a lot of lovers, and bad guys too.

The authors knowledge of the Swiss banking system was remarkable. I would love to learn more.

It's great to see a small town boy make it in this crazy world. Way to go Charles Epping!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doogle, June 5, 2006

By 

Mark "Doogle" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trust (Hardcover)

First novel nothing! This book, having read several of the latest best sellers lately, is nothing short of wonderful entertainment. Mr. Epping uses some obvious first hand knowledge of the Swiss Banking world to bring life to a new character and a new topic that we all will hear much about in the future. I hope he has left room for a sequel or two. Look out Mr. Turow, can you hear this man coming?