This debut novel is a gripping and gritty tale staring San Francisco corporate attorney Will Connelly who becomes unwittingly ensnared in a complex scheme involving the Russian mafia and a terrorist plot to release Sarin nerve gas on the BART train system.
The story opens when Will is attracted to his office window by a body plummeting to his death; he soon discovers it is one of his close colleagues Ben Fisher. It turns out Ben was lead negotiator for a client's quest to merge with "Jupiter Software", a world leader in the development of encryption software. This important case cannot be held up and Will finds himself thrust into the prominent position replacing his fellow attorney. As he digs deeper and gets involved, he discovers that Jupiter has a secret deal with NSA and could be complicit in a covert spy operation.
His life changes drastically when the police consider him the prime suspect in Ben's murder and possibly guilty of insider trading. Framed and the new target, Ben realizes he must use all his smarts to stay alive and keep Jupiter and it's highly sought after technology from falling into the wrong hands.
I like this novel; it is quite a stellar debut. The threads are non- stop action expertly woven together to provide an interesting and timely story. The plot is tense, fast paced and unpredictable, never a dull moment. I like Mr. Hirsch's writing; it flows smoothly, it is titillating in its humour with clever twists here and there, his words are well chosen, I found it to be a refreshing read. Although most characters are vividly portrayed and believable, Will comes across as naïve and gullible falling for every scheme in the book, not the qualities we associate with a skilled negotiator but likeable just the same:)
Well done Mr. Hirsch, I am looking forward to your next novel
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