Final Venture

Rating:
Summary: Quite good, yet not his best work yet
Review: Having read all Mr. Ridpath's previous books I was quite happy to find a new book of his being published. It was a very good read, I finished it in 3 nights and a short train ride. Once you start it's really hard to put down. The only negative part is that in the end I felt there was no way you could have found the guilty party by yourself. That's the reason I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I finished this book in three days time, most of it on sunday when I reached the second murder I knew I had to read to the end to find out who was causing havoc at Revere, the VC Company at the heart of Michael Ridpath's fourth novel.

Only one comment; when is Ridpath's next book being published?

Rating:
Summary: A mystery thriller that pleases...
Review: I sometimes rate a novel by its skip factor, meaning how many sentences, paragraphs, or even pages I skip over because the text is not worth reading (does not contribute to the story, rambles, badly written, etc.).

I'm happy to say this book had a very low skip factor as almost every word contributed to plot development and to a much lesser extent character development. A good who-done-it that keeps you involved in determining plot twists and culprits.

This is a very strong foundation for the author who hopefully will strengthen other aspects of his chosen craft. Overall, a quick and breezey read.

Rating:
Summary: Great Surprise
Review: It's my first Ridpath's book and it was a worderful surprise. His narrative is easy and very well organized, keeping the reader's attention on the focus of the thriller: Simon's innocence and the mass arround his life after his father in law's murder. The determination on keeping his marriage with his loved, but mistrustfull wife, is an important ingredient in the story. The end is unpredictable but is reasonable. I reccomend this book for those who like a good thriller and for venture capitalists, who will find a intersting reading.

Rating:
Summary: Michael looks like losing his touch
Review: Michael's Final Venture is not as exciting as I expected it to be. First, it lacks the thrill of a financial market background. While the whole story is built around the venture capital firm, but seriously, anyone can write such a story. I expect more on financial market story from Michael.

And how Simon solve the murder case seems to be too easy, with help just around the corner when he needs it. He seems to be able to rope in the person he needs to help him solved the murder case, which I think it is unlikely in real life (but this is a fiction anyway).

I hope that Michael will do better in his next book.

Rating:
Summary: Ridpath's best yet
Review: This is an excellent book. Well written, easy to read, and a good plot. Ridpath writes a compelling story, and his character portrayal is first rate.

Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining
Review: This is Michael Ridpath third thriller. Like the other two it is set in the financial world. A lot of writers have to use their intricate knowledge of a certain environment to hide the weakness of plot and character. Ridpath does not. The plot is tight, the characters are likeable and the story is told very well.

Basically, it is a simple story. In the venture capitol world there is always a lot of money at stake. Here it concerns investments in Bio One which stands to make a lot of money for the firm Simon works for.

Then, one of the senior partners is murdered and Simon has been the last to see him. More and more, people start to suspect Simon, including his wife.

So he is on his own to proof his innocence and he knows the more he discovers the more the real culprit is on his trail.

The classic ingredients for a good novel and that is all Ridpath produces; no complex characters, no moral highgrounds, just simple entertainment.