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Mike Byrne #1
The Set Up
The Set-up New York City - present day. Mike Byrne wants to know who framed him for murder. The NYPD want Byrne locked up. The US Secret Service want Byrne dead. Detective Jenni Martinez just wants her gun and her badge back. Mike Byrne has three days to stop a deadly game that will bring America to its knees - and he's just been set up. Full description
501 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 10, 2022
I have read a lot of books in this kind of genre and I have to say this was pretty disappointing. Very far fetched, lots of cliches and a real struggle to get through.
June 10, 2011
For me this is a book of two stories. The first is about Mike Byrne, ex Secret Service, framed for murder and trying to prove his innocence. The second is the slow unfolding of why Mike was framed which features Jerry Rankin, CEO of a big bank, with trouble brewing about his books and some dodgey practices alluded to.
Whilst I love the bits with Mike, the bits about banking bore me and are a total turn off. Mike is a great character, the action and the love interest are all well written and I really enjoyed these parts of the book. Five stars even. But if I'd known half the book was going to be focused on the financial sector with dialogue and plot pivoting on this I wouldn't have bothered. To be fair I don't enjoy the ins and outs of corporate law but someone like John Grisham can make that quite accessible. Here it's not really accessible enough in my opinion.
I don't get shares, trades, the market, "write downs", "capital requirements", "off balance items", derivatives, "downward bets", financial regulations with balance sheets, TARP, bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or the role of the SEC or the Treasury. I'm intelligent, I just find this kind of talk a turn off. Skimming through those sections again I think the banking plot is fairly straightforward but the author has demonstrated his thorough knowledge of the sector and left me rather in the cold. I see that he has a financial sector background before he started to write which would explain his knowledge. I just wish he'd used the same light touch with the finance bits as he did with the secret service and Mike Byrne bits. He's much better at making the other subject areas I don't know much about accessible than with the banking stuff.
So. It could have been a 5 star book and if you have an interest in the economy, the financial sector and the grubby side of banking then it will appeal to you. But for me personally those parts alienated me to the point half way through the book I couldn't stand to read anymore. i want to know what happens and understand exactly why the set up happened - but I can't cope with one more passage of banking.
Whilst I love the bits with Mike, the bits about banking bore me and are a total turn off. Mike is a great character, the action and the love interest are all well written and I really enjoyed these parts of the book. Five stars even. But if I'd known half the book was going to be focused on the financial sector with dialogue and plot pivoting on this I wouldn't have bothered. To be fair I don't enjoy the ins and outs of corporate law but someone like John Grisham can make that quite accessible. Here it's not really accessible enough in my opinion.
I don't get shares, trades, the market, "write downs", "capital requirements", "off balance items", derivatives, "downward bets", financial regulations with balance sheets, TARP, bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or the role of the SEC or the Treasury. I'm intelligent, I just find this kind of talk a turn off. Skimming through those sections again I think the banking plot is fairly straightforward but the author has demonstrated his thorough knowledge of the sector and left me rather in the cold. I see that he has a financial sector background before he started to write which would explain his knowledge. I just wish he'd used the same light touch with the finance bits as he did with the secret service and Mike Byrne bits. He's much better at making the other subject areas I don't know much about accessible than with the banking stuff.
So. It could have been a 5 star book and if you have an interest in the economy, the financial sector and the grubby side of banking then it will appeal to you. But for me personally those parts alienated me to the point half way through the book I couldn't stand to read anymore. i want to know what happens and understand exactly why the set up happened - but I can't cope with one more passage of banking.
May 12, 2011
The Set-Up is the debut novel of Felix Riley, and I'm giving it five stars. I really enjoyed the concept behind it. Unlike the stereotypical 'President in danger' plots, The Set-Up merely uses the presidential visit as a backdrop for the corrupted and twisted world of Wall Street. The story immediately turns you against one of the primary antagonists, and it progresses well. At no point did I feel the story was rushed or moving too slowly; everything in the story moved at a suitable pace.
The Set-Up uses the world of finance and the stock market as a primary part of its plot. When I first realised this I was skeptical that such an element would suit the book. I was proved wrong when I discovered I was interested in how Wall Street tied in with the plot. I won't give a spoiler, but I will say that it ties in extremely well towards the later part of the novel, when the story really picks up.
Considering that The Set-Up is Felix Riley's first publication, I am very impressed with it! It might not have had the same impact, had it not been a first book. Should Riley's future writings be of the same quality, I can see him becoming an extremely popular author. A must-read, if you enjoy action novels.
The Set-Up uses the world of finance and the stock market as a primary part of its plot. When I first realised this I was skeptical that such an element would suit the book. I was proved wrong when I discovered I was interested in how Wall Street tied in with the plot. I won't give a spoiler, but I will say that it ties in extremely well towards the later part of the novel, when the story really picks up.
Considering that The Set-Up is Felix Riley's first publication, I am very impressed with it! It might not have had the same impact, had it not been a first book. Should Riley's future writings be of the same quality, I can see him becoming an extremely popular author. A must-read, if you enjoy action novels.
January 17, 2022
I loved this fast paced, intelligent, action thriller. Who knew the world on investment banking could be exciting. The goodies in this book are principled righters of wrongs and the bodies are arrogant bullies who believe they are above the law. Based on the bailout of the banks in 2008, the author lacks a no holds barred approach to exposing the bind blowing arrogance of bankers (no names) and Ponzi schemes (Madoff gets a bashing). The inside dealings and information is mind-blowing to the point you may never trust a bank again! Mike Byrne is a bit too good to be true at times but I loved his over-the-topness. I read this book nearly a decade ago now and revisited it for a radio bookshop and I am so glad I did. The sequel is next on my list.
November 2, 2017
MIKE BYRNE
wants to know who framed him for murder.
THE N.Y.P.D.
want Byrne locked up.
THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE
want Byrne dead.
DETECTIVE JENNI MARTINEZ
just wants her gun & badge back.
Thing is you don't always get what you want.
Mike Byrne has just three days to stop a deadly game that will bring America to it's knees - & he's just been set up. Can he do it..... well, what do you think? A fast moving thriller that kept me entertained although some of the action at the end did defy belief a bit! Good fun - enjoy :o)
wants to know who framed him for murder.
THE N.Y.P.D.
want Byrne locked up.
THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE
want Byrne dead.
DETECTIVE JENNI MARTINEZ
just wants her gun & badge back.
Thing is you don't always get what you want.
Mike Byrne has just three days to stop a deadly game that will bring America to it's knees - & he's just been set up. Can he do it..... well, what do you think? A fast moving thriller that kept me entertained although some of the action at the end did defy belief a bit! Good fun - enjoy :o)
December 23, 2019
Really well written and pacy thriller. There are two parts to the story, the secret service action side and the property/financial market side. Would have preferred just the secret service stuff, to be honest. All the financial aspects were a bit bewildering and incongruous with the main plot. But Riley can write. If you have a head for financial markets and a taste for the cliche, this might well be your dream book!
October 7, 2019
dnf'd half way through (250pages)
July 27, 2024
I want to give this a 3.5. Easy read. Well thought out set in chapters. Bit of humour in it.
July 11, 2020
I loved this book, it was fast paced and although a little bit far fetched on occasions but very enjoyable. This book was based on the bail out of the banking sector and the protagonist is a strongly principled righter of wrongs.
June 1, 2011
It seems to me that only a few can pull off first person narrative without botching it. Riley's first attempt (?) is promising! The Set-up is his debut novel and not at all a bad one. In fact, I enjoyed the read and found the story to be something new and different. One could call it a financial thrilller. A conspiracy is to be uncovered by Mike Byrne a former USSS agent, who is being framed for murder by the very people behind the crime. "The NYPD want him locked up. The USSS want Byrne dead." Byrne somewhat reminded me of John Corey (Nelson DeMille series, which I love). Why only 3.5 stars instead of 4 or even 5?
As different from other books in terms of it's financial/Wall Street/crime theme it is, as average felt the rest of the storyline to me. More often than not it's over the top silly (a certain fight scene in the hotel kitchen - the good guy up against the bad Russians). The use of "same old same old" cliches such as the hero falling for the beautiful but tough NYPD detective Jenni Martinez, who of course believes his story and risks her job and life to help him fight for justice, make for an entertaining but not very plausible read. However, as it is Riley's debut thriller, I'd be interested in reading his next book. The Set-up is good, but far from great. 3.5 stars!
As different from other books in terms of it's financial/Wall Street/crime theme it is, as average felt the rest of the storyline to me. More often than not it's over the top silly (a certain fight scene in the hotel kitchen - the good guy up against the bad Russians). The use of "same old same old" cliches such as the hero falling for the beautiful but tough NYPD detective Jenni Martinez, who of course believes his story and risks her job and life to help him fight for justice, make for an entertaining but not very plausible read. However, as it is Riley's debut thriller, I'd be interested in reading his next book. The Set-up is good, but far from great. 3.5 stars!
May 27, 2011
I am loathe to say I couldn't put a book down - but I couldn't put this book down.
The premise is a simple one. A guy, Mike Byrne, wants his parents’ money back. But before the first chapter is over all hell has broken loose. The beginning feels like being winched up to the top of a roller-coaster. Because after that it’s a non-stop ride all the way to the end. Mike Byrne must prove his innocence but in so doing stop a devastating attack on America’s financial system.
The plot moves like a bullet with dialogue and set-pieces to match. I totally bought into Mike Byrne – but I totally loved Detective Jenni Martinez. And let me say this: It was great to find a thriller that doesn’t have the hero chewing up a woman and tossing her away in some BS alpha-male manner. I really, really enjoyed their fledgling relationship (more of that please!).
I finished it a day ago and at the time I thought it was the relentless action that kept me gripped but the bits that keep coming back to me are dialogue – very witty – and the terrific ballsy picture it painted of the titans of Wall Street and the machinations of the United States Secret Service.
One complaint: when’s the next one out?!
A great, great page-turner.
The premise is a simple one. A guy, Mike Byrne, wants his parents’ money back. But before the first chapter is over all hell has broken loose. The beginning feels like being winched up to the top of a roller-coaster. Because after that it’s a non-stop ride all the way to the end. Mike Byrne must prove his innocence but in so doing stop a devastating attack on America’s financial system.
The plot moves like a bullet with dialogue and set-pieces to match. I totally bought into Mike Byrne – but I totally loved Detective Jenni Martinez. And let me say this: It was great to find a thriller that doesn’t have the hero chewing up a woman and tossing her away in some BS alpha-male manner. I really, really enjoyed their fledgling relationship (more of that please!).
I finished it a day ago and at the time I thought it was the relentless action that kept me gripped but the bits that keep coming back to me are dialogue – very witty – and the terrific ballsy picture it painted of the titans of Wall Street and the machinations of the United States Secret Service.
One complaint: when’s the next one out?!
A great, great page-turner.
May 6, 2011
The US Secret Service was formed to battle counterfeiting and then evolved into the service it is today. Mike Byrne is a former Secret Service agent who worked on the financial side for the Service, and he is chasing the First Bank of America for money lost by his mother as part of the Bernard Madoff scam. When he is framed for the murder of top First Bank executives he ends up on the run from the Police, the Secret Service and Russian heavies. He realises that his framing is part of a massive conspiracy and the target may well be the President.
Here we have a very fast paced thriller blended with a financial overlay and a sense of fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously which allows the reader to also overlook minor inconsistencies and one or two caricature bad guys. But the light touch does not detract from some real messages here about how easy it is to manipulate the market and the regulators and is very much based on real events that are explained very well and are scary in their simplicity.
So it’s just a fun book and a welcome debut.
Here we have a very fast paced thriller blended with a financial overlay and a sense of fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously which allows the reader to also overlook minor inconsistencies and one or two caricature bad guys. But the light touch does not detract from some real messages here about how easy it is to manipulate the market and the regulators and is very much based on real events that are explained very well and are scary in their simplicity.
So it’s just a fun book and a welcome debut.
April 6, 2014
The thing I liked best about this book was that it knew when it needed to explain the different financial terms it was using and when the reader could work them out for themselves (or at least do a quick Google search). The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is that in the final chapters when it turns out almost every character's been enacting their own secret plans throughout the plot to get what they it does get a little confusing. I agree that it deserves a sequel.
June 4, 2012
Pretty standard thriller. But the pro is a treasury inspector/ninja (laughing at myself) retired from the secret service. Whatever. I take away a star because there are some long lectures about financial "products" in the dialogue.
July 17, 2012
it was a message wrapped in a story. the message was good the story was terrible. full of errors and plot holes. the story is as implausible as the show 24 that they keep talking about but not even close to being as good.
May 21, 2011
Gripping, loved it.
To be honest, already reviewed it here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/data/...
But I was sad when it ended!
To be honest, already reviewed it here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/data/...
But I was sad when it ended!
February 7, 2013
I thought this was interesting, only draw back was the swearing was over the top.
March 1, 2014
Good! (Y)
But I wouldn't recommend it to someone with ZERO knowledge in finance, economy, or bank-ish terms.
But I wouldn't recommend it to someone with ZERO knowledge in finance, economy, or bank-ish terms.
August 14, 2015
Tedious, obvious and cliched.
Skipped the last half and read the final couple of chapters - ended exactly as I thought it would do from about four chapters in.
Yawn.
Skipped the last half and read the final couple of chapters - ended exactly as I thought it would do from about four chapters in.
Yawn.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews