Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic Historical Novel
Review: Fantastic historical novel and timely, that is, the South Sea Bubble and the 2000 Bubble. In addition to the financial lessens of history, the story, characters and place, especially place are excellent. Liss has done a wonderful job evoking early 18th century London with all its squalor and stench. I enjoyed every aspect of the novel.
Rating:
Summary: The Next Best Thing to Time Travel
Review: If you've ever dreamed of visiting early 18th Century London, pick up a copy of David Liss's compelling A Conspiracy of Paper and climb on board. It's an unforgettable journey. You'll travel in the company of Benjamin Weaver, a Jewish ex-boxer turned "thief-taker" (an early private detective), who, bent on unraveling the mystery behind his father's death, ends up exposing a world-shaking financial scandal. Benjamin is an affable guy, smart, fallible, strong, obsessed, self-doubting, amorous, amusing, In other words, a full-fledged human being. He easily crosses class barriers, escorting you one moment into an elegant (though sinister) gentlemen's club and the next through the filth and squalor of Newgate Prison. You'll visit the homes of wealthy, powerful men and notorious (real life) criminals; take refreshment at a peculiar establishment combining the qualities of coffee-house and stock trading floor; dance at a masked ball; stand dangerously close to numerous violent scuffles; toss back a few at an assortment of rough alehouses and gin mills; and learn a great deal about the stock market in its infancy. This is a deeply satisfying and beautifully written novel that leaves you wanting more. More Benjamin Weaver and more action-packed adventures in compelling, dangerous and fascinating 18th Century London.
Rating:
Summary: A Conspiracy of Paper
Review: Well written, well-researched, and very lively. A reader can hardly ask for more!
Rating:
Summary: A South Seas Company Mystery
Review: I recently read "A conspiracy of Paper" by David Liss, and recommend it highly. A novel of London in the time of the South Seas Company, thre characters, background and story portray vividly the scheming and excitement of that period. A great read!
Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary novel!
Review: What an extraordinary novel. As a trial lawyer I try, as best I can to engage in "pleasure" reading. This book was an absolute pleasure to read. Candy for the mind! I read a great deal and rarely find myself so engaged in a book I find it hard to put down. Actually it's sort of annoying to read a book that is so well written that you don't want to put it down. So this review is a WARNING. If you don't like reading a book that is so good you can't put it down, Don't buy this book. Otherwise...ENJOY!
Rating:
Summary: awesome!
Review: I am an avid Grisham/Turow/Crichton reader and this man is right there with them. I am sad that I have finished this book b/c it was so intriguing. I have just finished my bachelor's in history, concentrating on Elizabethan England. This story takes place shortly there after is accurate in the historical mode. The character's are very interesting and continue to unfold. I would love another story from this character's point of view.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Historical Fiction
Review: The South Sea Bubble has long stood as one of the leading examples of how investors can be caught in the grips of a temporary buying frenzy only to see their "profits" eventually erode. Although I always mention the incident in my lectures--I'm a professor of finance--I never really knew much more than the basic facts. The beauty of Liss's novel is that makes the events leading up that market crash come alive; he certainly captures well the hubris of the involved parties. The author has a great eye for period detail and his dialogue transports the reader back in time. This is excellent reading with more than a few surprises!
Rating: 
Summary: Admirable but boring
Review: Mr. Liss's ability to write so authentically in this period piece is no small feat. Yet, inspite (or despite) of its technical brilliance, it fails to be an engaging story. I find myself checking the number of pages for a chapter before I begin one. After reading 120 pages, I am not sure I care enough to continue.
Rating:
Summary: Delightfully Engaging
Review: I found the book both highly entertaining and illuminating for all the positive reasons mentioned by so many of the reviewers here. The whodunit aspect kept me constantly guessing and regularly surprised. And the ending was just fine. Some other literate historical novels I've also enjoyed are "The Vast Memory of Love" (awful title) by Malcolm Bosse, "The Voyage of the Narwhal" by Andrea Barrett, "The Physician" by Noah Gordon, "Sacred Hunger" and "The Rage of the Vulture" by Barry Unsworth, and "Black Robe" and "The Magician's Wife" by Brian Moore. After you've gobbled up David Liss's book, you might take a gander at any of these you haven't yet read.
Rating:
Summary: A Conspiracy of Paper
Review: As an avid mystery reader I was hesitant to purchase this book. Page one put my fears aside and the intensity continued to grow throughout the book. The historical research and use of British dialogue made it feel like I was living in the early 18th century. The characters and plot twists were most enjoyable and the ending did not disappoint. David Liss is a bright young author whose future books I would not hesitate to purchase.
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