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Paranoia Mass Market Paperback – December 28, 2004
| Joseph Finder (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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It was only a prank: diverting cash from Wyatt Telecom's executive slush fund to throw a retirement bash for a member of the loading dock crew. But when corporate security catches up with Adam Cassidy, a low ambition junior staffer at the high-tech behemoth, they call it something else: embezzlement, to the tune of nearly $80 grand.
Ruthless CEO Nick Wyatt is impressed by Adam's scheming, and offers him one way out-take on the role of a rising corporate hotshot and infiltrate Wyatt's rival, Trion Systems. His mission is to get close to Trion's legendary founder Jock Goddard, and his ultra-secret "Project Aurora," and report back to Wyatt.
With Wyatt pulling the strings and a dramatically improved identity, Adam is set up as Trion's new boy genius. Suddenly, he's got a sweet new Porsche, a closet full of $1,500 suits, and even a lovely lady who thinks he's a dream. But it's all just a mirage, because Adam is about to learn that nothing is what it seems and that it isn't paranoia...everyone is out to get him...
- Print length448 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSt. Martin's Paperbacks
- Publication dateDecember 28, 2004
- Dimensions4.04 x 1.28 x 6.78 inches
- ISBN-100312992289
- ISBN-13978-0312992286
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Jet-propelled...this twisting, stealthily plotted story...weaves a tangled and ingeniously enveloping web...[with a] killer twist for the end.” ―The New York Times
“Last year belonged to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code...this year's first contender for Page Turner of the Year is Joseph Finder's Paranoia.” ―USA Today
“Riveting...perhaps the finest of the contemporary thriller novelists, Finder is reminiscent of Michael Crichton, only with more character development and less slavish attention to detail...in the case of Paranoia, he's an expert on suspenseful storytelling that is at once slick and substantive...you may think you've read one mystery too many. Find Finder and you'll think again.” ―Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Kudos to Joseph Finder...in Finder's lively prose, even his thumbnail sketches come alive...it may go without saying that in a thriller of this quality, just about everyone has a story that's other than it first appears. What sets Paranoia apart from others of its genre is not only Finder's fun, chatty prose, but also his command of the setting. A former Sovietologist, the author knows his spy stuff-and has researched well the ins and outs of post-Enron corporate security...in a way, it's an intellectual puzzle that he has shaped into a thriller.” ―Boston Globe
“An exciting, breathless thriller that doesn't slow down until he has nailed that last, surprising twist in Paranoia...the premise is so well-executed, the action so exhausting and the characters so realistically shaped...in just his fourth novel, Finder firmly joins the elite group of today's outstanding thriller writers...Finder keeps the energy high and the situations plausible...just when Paranoia seems to be on a predictable path, Finder pulls a twist that is the perfect caper...a superior modern thriller.” ―Sun-Sentinel (Orlando)
“Combining nail-biting suspense with state-of-the-art technology, it's sure to become one of the hotter books this year...Finder excels in keeping the reader guessing until the last sentence, literally.” ―Dallas Morning News
“Paranoia is a cleverly nuanced suspense story. It builds slowly and relentlessly, developing character and plot, creating intrigue...fresh, original, and without cliché, this is a cerebral, contemporary thriller that ends with a wrenching twist followed by a supple extra turn.” ―Boston Herald
“A superbly edgy read...fraught action scenes worthy of the best heist movies...in Paranoia, Finder mines a rich vein of scary entertainment...grab[s] readers by their throats the way The Da Vinci Code did.” ―New York Daily News
“Page-turning perfection...dead-on dialogue...palpable tension...Finder has that rare knack for instantly pulling the reader into the story and then tops that with surprises within surprises.” ―Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Terrific...riveting...practically redefines the high-stakes, high-tech thriller. It's the best novel of its kind since Michael Crichton's Disclosure.” ―Providence Journal-Bulletin
“Fast, funny, and very, very topical.” ―Toronto Globe and Mail
“A terrific thriller...expertly paced and full of suspense and surprises.” ―San Jose Mercury-News
“Masterfully told and thoroughly engrossing.” ―People Magazine
“This novel is the real deal: a thriller that actually will keep readers up way past their bedtimes... relentless suspense...a first-rate surprise ending packs a wallop...the most entertaining thriller of 2004.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The archetype of the thriller in its contemporary form...late in the book we discover how completely we have been fooled, and with real escapist pleasure.” ―The New Yorker
“Edge of your seat action...you'll think twice about who's watching you at work!” ―Washington Post
“Fun...movie-ready...twists aplenty...the fear of seeing Cassidy exposed as a spy...provides more chills than any ghoul with a chain saw.” ―Entertainment Weekly
“Paranoia is a built-for-speed thrill ride. What raises it above...is its author's verbal and satirical flair.” ―Wall Street Journal
“Paranoia is an incredibly clever novel. I love Joseph Finder's writing, and this time, he surpasses himself with some of the best dialogue and characterizations I've read in a long time. The plot is reminiscent of a classic Cold War spy story, but it's set in a modern, high-tech corporation, complete with espionage, moles, double agents, and the spy who wants to come in from the cold. If there's such a thing as an instant classic, this is it.” ―Nelson DeMille, author of Up Country
“One of those all-too-rare but absolutely unforgettable books that rewrites the rules for contemporary thrillers. Finder's loyal fans have long known what a terrific writer he is, but with Paranoia he has written what is destined to be a classic of suspense fiction. Paranoia is a knockout-a fresh, original, and compelling novel that is impossible to put down.” ―Daniel Silva, author of The Confessor
“The real thing-a sleek, hip, and fast-paced thriller that gets its hooks in you from the very first page. It's a terrific combination of nail-biting suspense, great characters with depth and real heart, and a fresh, original voice.” ―Lisa Scottoline, author of Dead Ringer
“Combines a fresh voice, terrific characters, and high-octane suspense. Finder catapults himself into the front ranks of contemporary thriller writers.” ―Harlan Coben, author of No Second Chance
“Imaginative and original, this is a gripping thriller with three characteristics too rare in the genre: humor, heart, and good writing.” ―Detroit Free Press
From the Back Cover
"There's A New John Grisham In Town." -People magazine, "Critic's Choice"
It was only a prank: diverting cash from Wyatt Telecom's executive slush fund to throw a retirement bash for a member of the loading dock crew. But when corporate security catches up with Adam Cassidy, a low ambition junior staffer at the high-tech behemoth, they call it something else: embezzlement, to the tune of nearly $80 grand.
"The Most Entertaining Thriller Of The Year."--Publishers Weekly
Ruthless CEO Nick Wyatt is impressed by Adam's scheming, and offers him one way out-take on the role of a rising corporate hotshot and infiltrate Wyatt's rival, Trion Systems. His mission is to get close to Trion's legendary founder Jock Goddard, and his ultra-secret "Project Aurora," and report back to Wyatt.
"A Terrific Tale...Riveting."-USA Today
With Wyatt pulling the strings and a dramatically improved identity, Adam is set up as Trion's new boy genius. Suddenly, he's got a sweet new Porsche, a closet full of $1,500 suits, and even a lovely lady who thinks he's a dream. But it's all just a mirage, because Adam is about to learn that nothing is what it seems and that it isn't paranoia...everyone is out to get him...
"Edge-of-your-seat action...you'll think twice about who's watching you at work!"-Washington Post
About the Author
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Product details
- Publisher : St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1st edition (December 28, 2004)
- Language : English
- Mass Market Paperback : 448 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0312992289
- ISBN-13 : 978-0312992286
- Item Weight : 8.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.04 x 1.28 x 6.78 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,077,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #16,559 in Espionage Thrillers (Books)
- #51,683 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Joseph Finder is the New York Times bestselling author of fifteen previous suspense novels, including JUDGMENT, THE SWITCH, THE FIXER and SUSPICION. He introduced “private spy” Nick Heller in VANISHED, an instant bestseller, and the continuing series includes BURIED SECRETS, GUILTY MINDS and HOUSE ON FIRE.
Joe’s novels HIGH CRIMES and PARANOIA have been adapted as major motion pictures. GUILTY MINDS and COMPANY MAN won the Barry Award for Best Thriller. An international bestseller, KILLER INSTINCT won the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for Best Novel. BURIED SECRETS won the Strand Critics Award for Best Novel.
A founding member of the International Thriller Writers, Joe is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He is a graduate of Yale College and the Harvard Russian Research Center, and lives in Boston.
Customer reviews
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"Nick Wyatt slept three hours a nigh, seemed to eat nothing but PowerBars for breakfast and lunch, was a nuclear reactor of nervous energy, perspired heavily. People called him 'The Exterminator.'"
"'Of course I'm paranoid,' Nick says. 'I want everyone who works for me to be paranoid. Success demands paranoia.'"
Adam's assignment is to secure a job at Trion Systems, Wyatt's biggest competitor. There, after intensive training in industrial espionage by Wyatt's chief of security, Adam is to ferret out information about a huge top-secret project at Trion that is rumored to be a game-changer. Adam is a slacker and has never applied himself, but it quickly becomes clear that he is highly intelligent, socially adept, and a slick talker. It doesn't take long for him to get himself hired, luck into a relationship with a gorgeous coworker, and eventually gain the attention of Trion's celebrated founder, Jock Goddard. The contrast between Goddard and Wyatt couldn't be greater. Complications quickly ensue.
Paranoia is fast-paced and devilishly clever. Even if, like me, you get an inkling of what's going on as Adam's spying progresses, you're unlikely to be prepared for the explosive ending.
Joseph Finder has been writing thrillers since 1983. Many of his books concern industrial espionage. Paranoia, which is set within the tech industry, displays considerable knowledge of technology and of the industry.
Adam Cassidy is your classic corporate slacker, more interested in late-night partying than grinding away in his cubicle at tech giant Wyatt Enterprises. Cassidy's happy-go-lucky lifestyle takes a hard turn when he's caught embezzling company money from Wyatt to fund an extravagant retirement party thrown as a prank for a loading dock worker. Facing the threat of a felony prosecution, Cassidy allows himself to be blackmailed into infiltrating Wyatt's chief competitor Trion Systems as a corporate spy. His mission: to ferret out the details of Trion's most secret research-and-development project.
Benefiting from coaching and inside information supplied by Wyatt's overbearing CEO, Cassidy passes himself off as a rising star and gains entry into the Trion CEO's inner circle. The tension and suspense mount as Wyatt forces Cassidy to take riskier and riskier actions to pilfer Trion's most coveted trade secrets. With his Trion coworkers growing increasingly suspicious of his actions, Cassidy's situation becomes unbearably dire.
I won't reveal anything more about the plot except to say that the ending of this book is as good as any I've experienced in the thriller genre. With "Paranoia," Joseph Finder has taken the basic plot arc of the spy thriller and transplanted it into the corporate setting, almost single handedly establishing the "corporate thriller" as an exciting new subgenre of suspense fiction. And for you technophiles out there, the gadgets discussed in the book couldn't be more timely, with Apple's iPhone and other multi-purpose handhelds headlining today's business pages.
-Kevin Joseph, author of "The Champion Maker"
This is why I was pleasantly surprised by Joseph Finder's "Paranoia." The main character, reluctant corporate spy Adam Cassidy, is quite well drawn, as is his relationships to other characters. Needless to say, the plot is very well thought out and well paced. (This is "needless to say" because I understand that this is typical of Finder's novels). While this very complex tale of corporate espionage and con-artistry could have become over-the-top and unbelievable, Finder straddles the line well between being intriguing and still staying plausible.
What I liked best about Paranoia was Finder's ability to convey the main character's struggle with the divided loyalty of espionage. Who is Cassidy working for: the "former" boss who is blackmailing him into being a mole, or the "new" employer who he is spying on (but growing to like)? And can Adam Cassidy keep his stories straight when telling different people different things in order to avoid detection? The ending, while not entirely unforeseeable, is quite marvelous and strangely satisfying.
Paranoia is a top-notch thriller with unbelievable intensity. For a 484 pager, it moves suprisingly well. Quite simply, this is a book that any thriller fan (especially those who frantasize about the business world beyond cubicles and spreadsheets) should not miss!
Top reviews from other countries
If I have anything I dislike, it's the ending. I didn't guess what was going to happen, but it finished so abruptly. It didn't feel like it should finish then, hence the four stars instead of five. Spoilt it for me-a lot!
The main character Adam is rumbled for misappropriating his employer's expense account to give a decent retirement party to a colleague, because he thinks it's a poor do that the boss is just letting him go after decades of loyal service.
The "big cheese" gives him an ultimatum - either face jail for embezzlement, or go undercover to work for a rival firm, to report back on a top-secret project. Obviously Adam goes with the second option - with a double-edged sword - if he fails his quest, he will go to jail for fraud, one way or another!!
He is not really qualified for the role he needs to secure at the rival company, which is all part of the challenge - he has to blag things at every turn. He is given all the material trappings (swanky new apartment, flash motor and designer threads) so that he "looks the part" and he is the envy of his friends, who are still stuck in more humble jobs. Before long he is bedding the beautiful woman, who is also involved in the secret project. The connotation is that he probably would never have been able to pull her in his previous incarnation, but she is falling for him under false pretences - he may be genuinely falling in love with her, but if she discovers what he is up to she will think he has just been using her. He also finds that he rather likes his new boss - who is a bitter business rival of his old boss. His father (who is an invalid and has always worked hard in an honest job, but never made any money) has his suspicions that Adam's new found career success is not all it seems. This all makes you think about the temptations people face, where status, wealth and success triumph over moral values.
I would like to interject that I lent this book to a friend who is an IT consultant and he said that some of the "techie" stuff in the book is not farfetched. But if you are not a techie, the story is interesting and compelling nevertheless.
The plot is gripping and keeps you on edge, rooting for Adam to get away with each challenge and obstacle he faces.
And there is a brilliant twist towards the end. Some people would say that the final conclusion to the story is a bit weak, and I cannot say any more about that without spoiling the plot, but it did not matter to me - it is like being on a really exciting journey and then finding the destination isn't that exciting but you have enjoyed getting there.
His story, told from Adam's viewpoint, almost takes a snapshot of modern, business environments - it's almost like standing, invisible, next to the water cooler listening to the juiciest office gossip. I thought that the style in which this was written was the real hook for me, I thought it was effortlessly written with a real gritty style that reminded me a little of Elmore Leonard. The characters are very well drawn and are consistent. I too found it predictable - but I honestly didn't care that much as I enjoyed reading it so much. Definitely a 'one more chapter' kind of book.
Another thing I liked about this book was that it gets cracking straight from the off and doesn't let up until the final line of the book. I could have read this if it were twice as long. I will be definitely reading more of Finder's work.
An excellent thriller, recommended!
It's a cleverly constructed thriller in the world of business, has enough edge of your seat moments, twists, and a great ending to satisfy most thriller fans.
It evolves around a young man who plays a prank and gets caught; but the penance is unexpected, a high flyer job in a rival company - but how long can he keep it up?
I don't know how plausible it is, but I was caught up in the character and his dilemna's and wanted to know how it ended.
An easy read. Recommended.










