Rating: 
Summary: Readers will be hooked after the first few paragraphs!
Review: "The computer beeped softly, indicating the arrival of a new e-mail. [He] rose from the bed, sat down behind the desk, and clicked the icon. He didn't recognize the sender's address, but scrolled down and began reading anyway.Victor,
Update on Project Delphi ... we've got a problem. They're pumping up earnings per share with the phantom income from headquarters ... there are insider dealings with the board and the senior execs. If all this gets out, the stock tanks and people lose a ton of jingle-juice. We'd be hauled up in front of Congress ... [oh and] the Minneapolis operation is way out of hand. So far the Washington office hasn't gotten dragged into what's going on out there in corporate America ... but Delphi could be the one that screws us.
What do you want me to do?
Rusty Before he can decide what to do about this misrouted message, Liz asks him to run out and get her some cigarettes. He has been having an affair with her, even though she claims to be engaged to another man; she wears a three-carat ring on her left hand and is able to twist him around her finger. Yet, he doesn't completely trust her ... he knows she is manipulative and wonders why she doesn't break it off with her fiancée, since she claims to love him. When he gets back to his apartment, "the door [is] ajar ... he pushed it open, and his pulse spiked. The apartment had been destroyed. His computer was on the floor ... hard drive removed." What happened? Who could or would do this to him? Where was Liz ... he spots "something on the far side of the bed. He scrambled onto the mattress, then froze. Liz lay sprawled on her back in the corner of the room near the desk, her neck and chest a spattered mess. As his fingers touched her still warm skin, he heard something over his shoulder and spun around. A man stood in the middle of the room, staring at him" ... a gun at the ready. He "lunged for the window and tumbled onto the fire escape ... just as gunshots crackled in his ear." "He" is Conner Ashby, a young, eager and very ambitious man. He works for Gavin Smith, an investment banker who owns Phenix Capitol. "The old man was the nearest thing to a father he's had in a long time. And Gavin was paying him $175,000 a year plus bonus." Thus, when Gavin said, "jump," Conner asked "how high?" Under Gavin's wing, Conner feels that his career is cemented and his personal wealth guaranteed. Paul Stone also works closely with Gavin. He has a secret agenda that necessitates ruining Conner any way he can. Conner is very aware of Paul's hatred toward him, but it all comes to a head at Gavin's house one night when Conner accuses Paul of breaking into his computer, and Gavin tells him: "Right off the bat there are problems, pal ... there are lots [of] mistakes ... throughout the presentation. Paul printed out two copies and brought them [to me."] Conner knows that Paul "inputted the typos before he printed it out ... to make [him] look bad." He is furious and appalled, and can't believe that Gavin is on Paul's side. "Lucas Avery was loyal to the president only by extension. His passion was chess, [he was] a grinder, who methodically forced his opponents into a corner. Then and only then did he attack. Lucas had followed the same kind of long-term strategy in his career." He was patient "until he saw an opening, then acting decisively when the opportunity presented itself." Now, "after two ... Congressional staff tours and an administrative management position at party headquarters, Lucas had come to the West Wing to serve as deputy assistant political director to the president." Blinded by his ambition and unrealistic goals, he is duped into a scheme that is supposed to change the course of American history but it puts his life in danger. Stephen Frey is a consummate writer of financial thrillers. And in SHADOW ACCOUNT he reaches beyond anything he has composed yet. The reader is hooked after the first few paragraphs and may be astounded at the level of suspense that builds and is sustained throughout this timely peek into how corrupt investment bankers work; how a traitorous Vice President of the United States can turn against the powers who put him in office; and a glimpse of people who will do anything to fill their need for power and feed their greed. Fans of Frey expect him to offer them the same kind of thrills they would find on a roller coaster. His ability to mix red herrings with real clues is a challenge to those who enjoy solving the mystery at the heart of all of his books. For those who want to just go along with him for the ride, he ties up all of the loose ends at the end of his stories regardless of how complicated the plot may be. Frey's writing style is easy to read and his ear for dialogue is pitch perfect. SHADOW ACCOUNT is a good, fast read that shines a light onto the financial and political secrets we see everyday in the national news. --- Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
Rating:
Summary: Readers will be hooked after the first few paragraphs!
Review: "The computer beeped softly, indicating the arrival of a new e-mail. [He] rose from the bed, sat down behind the desk, and clicked the icon. He didn't recognize the sender's address, but scrolled down and began reading anyway. Victor,
Update on Project Delphi ... we've got a problem. They're pumping up earnings per share with the phantom income from headquarters ... there are insider dealings with the board and the senior execs. If all this gets out, the stock tanks and people lose a ton of jingle-juice. We'd be hauled up in front of Congress ... [oh and] the Minneapolis operation is way out of hand. So far the Washington office hasn't gotten dragged into what's going on out there in corporate America ... but Delphi could be the one that screws us.
What do you want me to do?
Rusty Before he can decide what to do about this misrouted message, Liz asks him to run out and get her some cigarettes. He has been having an affair with her, even though she claims to be engaged to another man; she wears a three-carat ring on her left hand and is able to twist him around her finger. Yet, he doesn't completely trust her ... he knows she is manipulative and wonders why she doesn't break it off with her fiancée, since she claims to love him. When he gets back to his apartment, "the door [is] ajar ... he pushed it open, and his pulse spiked. The apartment had been destroyed. His computer was on the floor ... hard drive removed." What happened? Who could or would do this to him? Where was Liz ... he spots "something on the far side of the bed. He scrambled onto the mattress, then froze. Liz lay sprawled on her back in the corner of the room near the desk, her neck and chest a spattered mess. As his fingers touched her still warm skin, he heard something over his shoulder and spun around. A man stood in the middle of the room, staring at him" ... a gun at the ready. He "lunged for the window and tumbled onto the fire escape ... just as gunshots crackled in his ear." "He" is Conner Ashby, a young, eager and very ambitious man. He works for Gavin Smith, an investment banker who owns Phenix Capitol. "The old man was the nearest thing to a father he's had in a long time. And Gavin was paying him $175,000 a year plus bonus." Thus, when Gavin said, "jump," Conner asked "how high?" Under Gavin's wing, Conner feels that his career is cemented and his personal wealth guaranteed. Paul Stone also works closely with Gavin. He has a secret agenda that necessitates ruining Conner any way he can. Conner is very aware of Paul's hatred toward him, but it all comes to a head at Gavin's house one night when Conner accuses Paul of breaking into his computer, and Gavin tells him: "Right off the bat there are problems, pal ... there are lots [of] mistakes ... throughout the presentation. Paul printed out two copies and brought them [to me."] Conner knows that Paul "inputted the typos before he printed it out ... to make [him] look bad." He is furious and appalled, and can't believe that Gavin is on Paul's side. "Lucas Avery was loyal to the president only by extension. His passion was chess, [he was] a grinder, who methodically forced his opponents into a corner. Then and only then did he attack. Lucas had followed the same kind of long-term strategy in his career." He was patient "until he saw an opening, then acting decisively when the opportunity presented itself." Now, "after two ... Congressional staff tours and an administrative management position at party headquarters, Lucas had come to the West Wing to serve as deputy assistant political director to the president." Blinded by his ambition and unrealistic goals, he is duped into a scheme that is supposed to change the course of American history but it puts his life in danger. Stephen Frey is a consummate writer of financial thrillers. And in SHADOW ACCOUNT he reaches beyond anything he has composed yet. The reader is hooked after the first few paragraphs and may be astounded at the level of suspense that builds and is sustained throughout this timely peek into how corrupt investment bankers work; how a traitorous Vice President of the United States can turn against the powers who put him in office; and a glimpse of people who will do anything to fill their need for power and feed their greed. Fans of Frey expect him to offer them the same kind of thrills they would find on a roller coaster. His ability to mix red herrings with real clues is a challenge to those who enjoy solving the mystery at the heart of all of his books. For those who want to just go along with him for the ride, he ties up all of the loose ends at the end of his stories regardless of how complicated the plot may be. Frey's writing style is easy to read and his ear for dialogue is pitch perfect. SHADOW ACCOUNT is a good, fast read that shines a light onto the financial and political secrets we see everyday in the national news. --- Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
Rating:
Summary: Good Conspiracy Read!
Review: Conner Ashby is an investment banker employed by the investment
firm Phenix Capital.He is carrying on an affair with a woman who is engaged to someone else but likes his company.He receives an
e-mail that describes a project named Project Delphi.This e-mail
describes financial misdeeds and outright theivery taking place at a company. Conner goes out to buy his lady friend some cigarettes,When he returns his apartment has been ransacked and his girlfriend has been murdered.Conner is forced to flee.He
begins an investigation that becomes.He discovers individuals
who are part of the White House,members of his own firm,as well
as members of other firms involved in this financial and political conspiracy.Some of the secrets and conspirators that he uncovers are amazing as well. A well written story that you will enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Another great frey story "Action Packed"
Review: Conner Ashby is an up and comer things really seem to be going great and only getting better.Connor is working at Phenix capital a firm with a job of advising companys about mergers and acquisitions this company is just starting out and Conner seems to be on the groud floor he is just about Gavin Smith's right hand man (Gavin being the owner of Phenix Capital).Conner has a hot girlfriend the only problem with her is that she is engaged to be married to some wall street big shot and just seems to be using Conner for sex. Well during one of her's and Conners get togethers,conner gets on the computer and checks his emails always work and notices an email concerning a company that maybe inflating its profits and Conner knows he was not intended to get this email but he does not know what to do.Connor's girlfriend decides she needs some cigarettes and sends him out to get some and when he returns his apartment his trashed,computer is missing and his girlfriend his dead apparently murdered. While connor is looking around his place he notices someone in there and starts to run with this person in pursuit while the chase goes through the streets and down in the subway where conner gets shot but luckily it is just in the arm but he gets away and comes back up on the street where there just happen to be a cop. So he explains that he was chased and his apartment broken into so the cops take him back to his place and when they get there conners place is like nothing ever happened is conner losing it or what happen? This book is fast paced with quite a cast of characters there is a fair amount of business talk but easy to understand as is with all freys books
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps the Title Should Read Shallow Account
Review: I seem to remember reading and enjoying a few of Stephen Frey's previous books. That was not the case with his latest offering. Shallow characters, unbelievable coincidences and predictability mar Shadow Account. The reader would have been better served had Frey and his editors entitled this book "Shallow Account." Maybe be I have missed something during the past few years. Since when are all investment bankers, accountants, corporate executives driven solely by greed? Are not any of them conflicted? Why are white collar criminals lined up at the prosecutor's office seeking to be the first to rat out their former colleagues? I see a more complex financial world than Frey presents. To write a great book, an author needs to render complex characters in a complex setting. This creates a believable story. At the very least that requires drawing a character with at least two dimensions, preferably three. Frey failed. I finished the book, so it rates three stars. But, in the interest of full disclosure, I was glad I borrowed it from the library.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the Title Should Read Shallow Account
Review: I seem to remember reading and enjoying a few of Stephen Frey's previous books. That was not the case with his latest offering. Shallow characters, unbelievable coincidences and predictability mar Shadow Account. The reader would have been better served had Frey and his editors entitled this book "Shallow Account." Maybe be I have missed something during the past few years. Since when are all investment bankers, accountants, corporate executives driven solely by greed? Are not any of them conflicted? Why are white collar criminals lined up at the prosecutor's office seeking to be the first to rat out their former colleagues? I see a more complex financial world than Frey presents. To write a great book, an author needs to render complex characters in a complex setting. This creates a believable story. At the very least that requires drawing a character with at least two dimensions, preferably three. Frey failed. I finished the book, so it rates three stars. But, in the interest of full disclosure, I was glad I borrowed it from the library.
Rating:
Summary: A great read with surprising twists.
Review: Investment banker Connor Ashby has a great job at Phenix Capital. At twenty-seven, he has a loving girlfriend, a great boss and the opportunity to have a position at the top of his company. Everything is going good until he receives an email meant for someone else. In the email the sender warns of trouble and explains the "operation" is way out of hand. After reading the email, Connor runs to the store while his girlfriend remains in his apartment. Upon his return, Connor finds his girlfriend dead and the killer waiting to finish off Connor. Uncovering the truth will be a difficult task as Connor must unravel a mystery of lies and deceit while a killer tracks his every move. As he races to find answers, as well as save himself, Connor realizes he is a pawn in a dangerous game where money rules and the players are willing to kill to keep their secrets safe. `Shadow Account' is a complex financial thriller with plenty of twists and turns. Fast pacing, original plotting and well drawn characters are to be expected in a Stephen Frey novel, and his latest is no exception. The intricate plot may puzzle some readers at first, but Frey keeps things moving with surprising twists until the explosive ending where everything ties together. Stephen Frey has crafted another great thriller that will surely be a best-seller and please his legion of fans. Nick Gonnella
Rating:
Summary: (4 1/2) Financial Manipulation and Political Intrigue
Review: Populists, Cynics, and Conspiracy Theorists will love this new book by Stephen Frey. It continues his tradition of thrillers which combine some complex financial chicanery with the frequent human desires for wealth, love (and on occasion sex as well) and power. It also provides the usual dose of enlightment for his readers through (perhaps overly) detailed explanations of some arcane financial methodologies and corporate structures essential to the storyline. Thus, despite the mild criticisms detailed at the end of this review, I recommend SHADOW ACCOUNT both for readers who have enjoyed the author's previous books and also new readers who are searching for a thriller where the financial manipulations seem ripped from today's headlines, especially those individuals outraged by recent revelations of corporate greed. (All of the author's books are written as standalone stories, so no knowledge of his previous work is necessary and there are no characters who have appeared in those books.) Conner Ashby is a twenty-seven year old investment banker at Phenix Capital, a boutique firm recently founded by Gavin Smith that is trying to land its first headline grabbing assignment. He is USC graduate with the physique and conditioning common to the surfer world in which he grew up. For the previous three months Conner has had a relationship with the gorgeous LIz Shaw; his frustration has steadily increased due to the fact that although she seems to genuinely enjoy his company she has refused to return the three carat diamond engagement ring (from an investment banker at the bulge bracket firm Morgan Sayers) which is prominently displayed on her left hand. Thus, since their their relationship has to remain very low profile and discreet, Conner and Liz are spending their usual evening together at his apartment while her fiance is away on a business trip. Little does Conner realize how completely disrupted his life will be by the end of the first chapter (i.e. the same evening that we first meet him). He receives an email intended for someone else and sent to him in errorby someone who he doesn't recognize; the message apparently outlines a massive accounting fraud codenamed Project Delphi that apparently involves a major publicly traded company. When Conner leaves his apartment briefly to go to the deli for cigarettes for Liz, he is delayed by a chance meeting with a former girlfriend; when he returns he finds that his apartment has been ransacked and his whole existence turned upside down; he is at the start of a race against time to unravel the mystery surrounding that email before he loses everything that he holds dear. We are subsequently introduced to Lucas Avery, a thirty-four year old chess fanatic, avid student of baseball statistics, and summa cum laude graduate of Northwestern University who seems the opposite of Conner in practically every way imaginable. He is a slight, prematurely balding individual who still has a crush on his lost college sweetheart and after failing to land a job on Wall Street is on a slow track to political oblivion. After a dozen years in DC, Lucas has only managed to climb to the level of a small office in the West Wing of the White House as Deputy Assistant Political Director to the President. But as befits a chess player, Lucas is extremely patient and believes that the opportunity to become "a player" and insider in the political game will eventually come his way. Voila! Unexpectedly Lucas is approached by Franklin Bennett, the President's Chief of Staff, to head up a top secret operation for the tough reelection campaign that is about to begin. The storyline consists of the constantjuxtaposition of the two parallel heartstopping adventures involving Avery and Conner, which the reader knows will eventually intersect with potentially career destroying (and increasingly life threatening) consequences for both of them. As they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding the circumstances into which they have been thrust, no one can be trusted and nothing can be taken at face value. The plot is quite intricate and relatively realistic; however the author apparently felt that it would raise the stakes for Lucas and Conner if some deaths actually occurred and more violence was threatened. While the sensationalism created increases the tension, it is actually the source of one of my major criticisms; namely that it is almost impossible to believe that corporate malfeasance and political intrigue of the type involved in this story would have resulted in the level of violence commited by the malefactors (the beliefs of conspiracy theorists notwithstanding). In fact, the author also uses these deaths to avoid further complications that would arise if the individuals remained alive. On occasion he also uses a similar technique of allowing the protagonists to engage in acts that are somewhere between highly improbable and impossible in order to achieve the insights which are required at that point in the story. (I cannot provide details without including a spoiler.) My last criticism is that on occasion he provides such overwhelmingly detailed explanations concerning the rationale and methodology of the financial shenanigans that it seems that his goal is to furnish his readers with a textbook on accounting malfeasance and the problems of corporate governance rather than further the narrative. And on one occasion he does it by having Conner listen to a long explanation from a friend about subjects which he should have fully understood given their importance to his profession. While my criticisms and a few inconsistencies were sufficent to keep me from giving a five star rating to SHADOW ACCOUNT, I want to emphasize that this is a highly recommended read and real page turner. The characters are interesting and there are several times when they manage to surprise us with their insights. So just don't expect realism - accept the author's shortcuts, and be glad that your problems are less threatening than those Conner and Lucas confront. Tucker Andersen
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 stars
Review: See storyline above. Along with being educated about how companies manipulate their earnings and making financial statements look better than they are (think auditors), Frey will take you on a twisty turny run through smoke and mirrors. With its intricate plotting, this novel is best read in a day or two.
Stephen Frey does a good job explaining big business and accounting, giving you an inkling of an idea how companies like Enron and Worldcom eroded.
A suspenseful and fast-moving novel I found very entertaining. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: A fun financial thriller
Review: Shadow Account is yet another winner from Stephen Frey. In my experience, Frey has never failed to craft an enjoyable financial thriller that, at worst, easily holds your attention and at best, leaves you with no choice but to stay up late at night to find out "what happens next."
Others have said that Shadow Account is filled with far too many "coincidences" and shallow characters to be believable and, thus, enjoyable. While I don't think that Shadow found it to be quite good. If you're looking for a financial story that is entirely true-to-life, stop wasting your time in the fiction section and go buy the biography of Carly Fiornia (or that of any other intriguing business behemoth). On the other hand, if you're looking for an enjoyable, hard-to-put-down read that weaves its way through the more elite levels of New York's financial world and Washington's political maze, Shadow Account (and many of Frey's other books) are for you.
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