Mad Money (Madeline Carter Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Linda L Richards (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

White-collar crime turns nasty when stockbroker Madeline Carter's best friend, Jack, is shot to death right at the New York Stock Exchange. Unnerved by his murder, Madeline quits her job and moves to Los Angeles, where she rents an apartment on the Malibu property of a famous movie director. An insider's tip from Ernie, her former lover, causes Madeline to lose her money, something that shouldn't have happened. Unfortunately, she had passed the tip on to her mother, who also passed the tip on. Feeling responsible for several people's investments, Madeline goes to Langton Regional Group, the company in question, to find out for herself what's happening. She discovers that Ernie, their CEO, has been kidnapped, and the more Madeline investigates, the deeper into the whole mess she gets. On the upside, she finds unexpected love with Steve, a young Langton salesman. On the downside, someone uses her for target practice. Murder, mayhem, humor, romance, and great characters make this first book in the Madeline Carter series hard to put down. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"... does what many have tried and few have managed -- to turn ... corporate crime into a fun, roller-coaster read." -- Alafair Burke -- author of Missing Justice

"...a fun, roller-coaster read. The key is Richards' strong, witty, and likeable heroine, recovering stock broker Madeline Carter." -- Alafair Burke author of Missing Justice

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (December 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778321037
• ISBN-13: 978-0778321033
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #958,208 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the right notes, March 5, 2005

By	Monica (Tacoma, Washington) - See all my reviews

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful surprise, January 4, 2005

By	Sandra Smith (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

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!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Financial Intrigue and Murder, November 29, 2004

By	Cynthia Chow (Kaneohe, Hawaii) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.