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Follow the Money
"MOVE OVER JOHN GRISHAM!" -- Debbi Mack, NY Times Bestselling Author of Identity Crisis and Least WantedFOR FANS OF JOHN GRISHAM, STEVE MARTINI, JOHN LESCROART, AND JAMES GRIPPANDO COMES A GRIPPING AND GRITTY NEW VOICE IN LEGAL THRILLERS. GET READY TO LOSE SOME SLEEP!"ALWAYS ASSUME PEOPLE ARE LYING, BUT NEVER ASSUME YOU KNOW WHY."Oliver Olson went to law school to help people.But when one of the world’s most prominent law firms offers him a high paying summer job, he thinks he’d be crazy not to take it. He soon finds himself enthralled by a world of wealth, privilege, and power. Blinded by his gilded new world, Ollie is slow to see that something is not right with the case he is assigned to work on - a case with no chance of winning, given to a "summer associate" merely to keep him busy. Are people following him? Is he imagining things? Are they listening to his conversations? Why are people coming out of the woodwork with a sudden interest in a twelve year old murder case? And is it really possible that the wrong man went to prison?Ollie wants to succeed, but when he sacrifices his own moral standards for a shot at the big time, he winds up staring down the barrel of a gun.When you’ve sold out and can no longer follow your heart, you can only FOLLOW THE MONEY.This novel is 75,000 fast-paced words.About the Fingers Murphy is the pen name of a well known international criminal defense attorney.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 30, 2012
Everyone seems to really enjoy this debut novel, and while I enjoyed it, I also wanted to punch Ollie in the face. FOR THE ENTIRE BOOK. Seriously, there wasn't one moment where I didn't want to hunt this kid down and just slug him. Do you know how exhausting that is???
First, I get that money and power are seducing. And I get that its really easy to be seduced when you are still young. I'd have been all for that as a major theme if only it didn't seem, well, contrived. Ollie is the first in his class and has a huge chip on his shoulder and I understand being around people who have money and feeling inadequate. That was my childhood. I went to the rich school as a not rich kid. I get it, really. But you know what, I got the fuck over it long before I was 24. And he's been working so hard with the intention of doing all of this save the world type work, but he takes the internship at the evil law firm? Hmmm...shady But ok, he needs to make money, I get that too. But he flips a switch so quickly its like he's in a war zone going native. It's not a slow slide. It's not because he sees wonderful things happening at the firm that makes him change his mind. Frankly, its poorly developed and I found it grating.
Further, Ollie is a fucking idiot. I'm sorry, but he just is. It takes him a really long time to put some pretty obvious clues together. But ok, I can accept that. What I can't accept is that he can't remember the rules of evidence. REALLY? And he is working for a firm and a client and he decides not only to investigate his client after they won their case but then to share that information with the news? Without telling his boss? Get real. That would have gotten him fired at the least and disbarred (or at least blackballed) at the most. That is horribly unethical behavior from a lawyer and not someone who will ever find himself hired again. AND NO ONE MENTIONS THIS.
There was way too much WTF in this for me not to want to hit this kid. But the actual plot was interesting and serpentine. Read it for the hijinks, not the character.
First, I get that money and power are seducing. And I get that its really easy to be seduced when you are still young. I'd have been all for that as a major theme if only it didn't seem, well, contrived. Ollie is the first in his class and has a huge chip on his shoulder and I understand being around people who have money and feeling inadequate. That was my childhood. I went to the rich school as a not rich kid. I get it, really. But you know what, I got the fuck over it long before I was 24. And he's been working so hard with the intention of doing all of this save the world type work, but he takes the internship at the evil law firm? Hmmm...shady But ok, he needs to make money, I get that too. But he flips a switch so quickly its like he's in a war zone going native. It's not a slow slide. It's not because he sees wonderful things happening at the firm that makes him change his mind. Frankly, its poorly developed and I found it grating.
Further, Ollie is a fucking idiot. I'm sorry, but he just is. It takes him a really long time to put some pretty obvious clues together. But ok, I can accept that. What I can't accept is that he can't remember the rules of evidence. REALLY? And he is working for a firm and a client and he decides not only to investigate his client after they won their case but then to share that information with the news? Without telling his boss? Get real. That would have gotten him fired at the least and disbarred (or at least blackballed) at the most. That is horribly unethical behavior from a lawyer and not someone who will ever find himself hired again. AND NO ONE MENTIONS THIS.
There was way too much WTF in this for me not to want to hit this kid. But the actual plot was interesting and serpentine. Read it for the hijinks, not the character.
June 15, 2011
It's a long time since I've read any Grisham-type lawyer novels. There's only one left in my bookcase although I've consumed many. They all started to read the same. Follow the Money was a breath of fresh air by comparison.
Fingers' first person narrator did a good job of placing me right within the story. Strong pace kept me turning the page. I also found his settings very evocative, in strong contrast to wet and windy Ireland. The sleazy bars, desert towns, palatial mansions, it was all very real. The main character is very human, makes mistakes, isn't always cool. He's lifelike. I was angry with him, sorry for him, urging him on.
If I have a complaint it's only that there wasn't more of it. I look forward to Ollie Olson's next adventure and trust Fingers not to fall into the Grisham repetition trap.
Fingers' first person narrator did a good job of placing me right within the story. Strong pace kept me turning the page. I also found his settings very evocative, in strong contrast to wet and windy Ireland. The sleazy bars, desert towns, palatial mansions, it was all very real. The main character is very human, makes mistakes, isn't always cool. He's lifelike. I was angry with him, sorry for him, urging him on.
If I have a complaint it's only that there wasn't more of it. I look forward to Ollie Olson's next adventure and trust Fingers not to fall into the Grisham repetition trap.
August 7, 2011
I have so many things from my day job that would be great openers to start this book review with, but... my day job prohibits the discussion. I could start with... we had this one case where this one guy did this one thing, and this book totally reminds me of that.
Or...
I could start with this boyfriend I had back when I was 18 that stole a bag of drug money worth 50 grand and then turned it into the police claiming he had found it on the street knowing that after so much time... he'd get the money back. And then some other stuff happened that wasn't very fun, and his friends found out that I knew about the money, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
But I won't.
Follow the Money by Fingers Murphy is a fast-paced legal thriller that easily draws you in from the opening page. "There was blood everywhere." Jim Carver leaned back in his chair, chewing a mussel cooked in saffron. "At least that's how the papers described it. Apparently he was covered with it when they found him, out in his front yard, stammering like an idiot about someone killing his wife."
24 year old Ollie Olsen is a third year law student that is spending his summer interning at a prestigious law firm. Ollie comes from a working class family and has his heart in the right place- his entire purpose for studying law was so he could give back to society. But his purpose and his direction soon change when he's enticed by the clothes, the cars, the jewelry, and just the unbelievably wealthy lifestyle of the people he works with.
Ollie's first assignment is to review the findings of a twelve year old murder case and write the petition to have the conviction overturned. Not too difficult of an assignment until Ollie starts to dig a little deeper into the case and finds himself stumbling upon more than one incident of deception by every witness involved.
In the story you'll read about a former U.S. Senator convicted of killing his wife, a defense attorney that screwed up the initial investigation that landed the Senator in prison, an old boyfriend or two, a reporter that loses his head, a secret stash of photos, a lost chest full of five million dollars (or was that three), and an affair that jeopardizes the one true constant in Ollie's life.
Follow the Money by Fingers Murphy is a terrific debut novel. The protagonist is young, broke, insecure, weak, and always eager to find the truth. He reminds me of my beagle, Dora... always digging; always wanting to know what lies below and behind the surface. Dora once dug up the carpet just to see what was underneath. Then she ripped up the leather sofa so she could look at the stuffing. She's currently in the process of digging holes in the sheet rock because she's under the impression something interesting lurks behind the wall.
Ollie is just like Dora... doesn't matter how many times you tell the guy not to do something, he's gonna do it anyway. And not only will he do the one thing you told him not to do, but he'll do a dozen other things just to prove that he can. And it's these decisions that Ollie makes, regardless of how immature they may be, that keep people turning the page. Follow the Money was a fun and entertaining read, and I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Or...
I could start with this boyfriend I had back when I was 18 that stole a bag of drug money worth 50 grand and then turned it into the police claiming he had found it on the street knowing that after so much time... he'd get the money back. And then some other stuff happened that wasn't very fun, and his friends found out that I knew about the money, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
But I won't.
Follow the Money by Fingers Murphy is a fast-paced legal thriller that easily draws you in from the opening page. "There was blood everywhere." Jim Carver leaned back in his chair, chewing a mussel cooked in saffron. "At least that's how the papers described it. Apparently he was covered with it when they found him, out in his front yard, stammering like an idiot about someone killing his wife."
24 year old Ollie Olsen is a third year law student that is spending his summer interning at a prestigious law firm. Ollie comes from a working class family and has his heart in the right place- his entire purpose for studying law was so he could give back to society. But his purpose and his direction soon change when he's enticed by the clothes, the cars, the jewelry, and just the unbelievably wealthy lifestyle of the people he works with.
Ollie's first assignment is to review the findings of a twelve year old murder case and write the petition to have the conviction overturned. Not too difficult of an assignment until Ollie starts to dig a little deeper into the case and finds himself stumbling upon more than one incident of deception by every witness involved.
In the story you'll read about a former U.S. Senator convicted of killing his wife, a defense attorney that screwed up the initial investigation that landed the Senator in prison, an old boyfriend or two, a reporter that loses his head, a secret stash of photos, a lost chest full of five million dollars (or was that three), and an affair that jeopardizes the one true constant in Ollie's life.
Follow the Money by Fingers Murphy is a terrific debut novel. The protagonist is young, broke, insecure, weak, and always eager to find the truth. He reminds me of my beagle, Dora... always digging; always wanting to know what lies below and behind the surface. Dora once dug up the carpet just to see what was underneath. Then she ripped up the leather sofa so she could look at the stuffing. She's currently in the process of digging holes in the sheet rock because she's under the impression something interesting lurks behind the wall.
Ollie is just like Dora... doesn't matter how many times you tell the guy not to do something, he's gonna do it anyway. And not only will he do the one thing you told him not to do, but he'll do a dozen other things just to prove that he can. And it's these decisions that Ollie makes, regardless of how immature they may be, that keep people turning the page. Follow the Money was a fun and entertaining read, and I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
June 3, 2011
In the debut novel from author Fingers Murphy - FOLLOW THE MONEY - a young protagonists searches for the truth about a twelve year old murder case, and struggles to find his place in a world of greed and conflicting ethics.
Oliver Olson is a law student from a working class family who lands a position working as a summer associate at a prestigious law firm. He went to law school because he wanted to help people, but quickly finds himself in a world of extreme opulence, power, and greed. The skillfully crafted narrative is reminiscent of classic hard-boiled mysteries, and like many pulp novels of the past the mystery plot is at times stilted and contrived, but the overall story is so well written we can forgive a few shaky elements.
Though hardcore mystery readers might find some mystery elements a little weak, the back story of a young man on the threshold of losing his soul to the corruption inherent in money and power makes the work a worthwhile and spellbinding read. The characterizations are rich and believable, the settings detailed and alluring, and the protagonist Oliver Olson is endearing even in his deepest plunges into the dark side. The reader easily sympathizes with his ethical battles and eagerly cheers and scolds him along the way.
The writing itself is one of the most stand out elements of this book. Fingers Murphy is a master of the well turned phrase and is able to speak volumes with only a few words. In one early scene the author describes the opulence of a party thrown at the law firm. A centerpiece is described as an ice sculpture of Lady Justice, the scales filled with caviar. Later, as Mr. Olson is torn by guilt over his conflicting desires and ideals he references the sculpture - "...the clear droplets running down the side of Lady Justice's icy face as she strained to hold those scales aloft."
Another beautiful example of the authors mastery of prose comes as Olson wakes after a drunken night - "My head pounded and I went frightfully still. I was only two more foolish moves from vomiting. Nearly checkmated by my own hangover, I paused and planned my next motions with care." The narrative is filled with such gems, keeping the reader joyfully engaged. Anyone who loves good literature will enjoy Mr. Murphy's writing, whether you are a fan of mysteries or not.
I heartily recommend FOLLOW THE MONEY to anyone who enjoys fine literature, young adult to senior citizen. It is a very well written and satisfying summer read. I look forward to future works by the author.
Oliver Olson is a law student from a working class family who lands a position working as a summer associate at a prestigious law firm. He went to law school because he wanted to help people, but quickly finds himself in a world of extreme opulence, power, and greed. The skillfully crafted narrative is reminiscent of classic hard-boiled mysteries, and like many pulp novels of the past the mystery plot is at times stilted and contrived, but the overall story is so well written we can forgive a few shaky elements.
Though hardcore mystery readers might find some mystery elements a little weak, the back story of a young man on the threshold of losing his soul to the corruption inherent in money and power makes the work a worthwhile and spellbinding read. The characterizations are rich and believable, the settings detailed and alluring, and the protagonist Oliver Olson is endearing even in his deepest plunges into the dark side. The reader easily sympathizes with his ethical battles and eagerly cheers and scolds him along the way.
The writing itself is one of the most stand out elements of this book. Fingers Murphy is a master of the well turned phrase and is able to speak volumes with only a few words. In one early scene the author describes the opulence of a party thrown at the law firm. A centerpiece is described as an ice sculpture of Lady Justice, the scales filled with caviar. Later, as Mr. Olson is torn by guilt over his conflicting desires and ideals he references the sculpture - "...the clear droplets running down the side of Lady Justice's icy face as she strained to hold those scales aloft."
Another beautiful example of the authors mastery of prose comes as Olson wakes after a drunken night - "My head pounded and I went frightfully still. I was only two more foolish moves from vomiting. Nearly checkmated by my own hangover, I paused and planned my next motions with care." The narrative is filled with such gems, keeping the reader joyfully engaged. Anyone who loves good literature will enjoy Mr. Murphy's writing, whether you are a fan of mysteries or not.
I heartily recommend FOLLOW THE MONEY to anyone who enjoys fine literature, young adult to senior citizen. It is a very well written and satisfying summer read. I look forward to future works by the author.
May 27, 2011
Follow the Money is an exciting tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Ollie Olsen is a second year law student who has landed a golden opportunity. He has been invited by a high profile law office to work for them as a summer associate. His first assignment has him knee deep in a twelve year old murder case. Ollie's job is to find a way to get the convicted murderer, who just happens to be a former politician, off the hook.
As Ollie begins to uncover clues about the case, he finds himself in the middle of something that he soon wishes he had never been a part of.
The suspense will keep you turning pages, and the dramatic twists in the story will keep your heart racing as the story unfolds.
Fingers Murphy did an excellent job of keeping this chick-lit reader engrossed in a story outside of her norm. I found a whole new genre of books to love.
Ollie Olsen is a second year law student who has landed a golden opportunity. He has been invited by a high profile law office to work for them as a summer associate. His first assignment has him knee deep in a twelve year old murder case. Ollie's job is to find a way to get the convicted murderer, who just happens to be a former politician, off the hook.
As Ollie begins to uncover clues about the case, he finds himself in the middle of something that he soon wishes he had never been a part of.
The suspense will keep you turning pages, and the dramatic twists in the story will keep your heart racing as the story unfolds.
Fingers Murphy did an excellent job of keeping this chick-lit reader engrossed in a story outside of her norm. I found a whole new genre of books to love.
September 3, 2012
It is a strong debut novel. Having worked in law firms as both intern and analyst I found the story interesting. The main character is barely likable, but I was still rooting for him in the end.
Overall a quick and captivating read that gets pretty predictable in places.
Overall a quick and captivating read that gets pretty predictable in places.
April 24, 2012
This was a good mystery, although a little predictable. It definitely made me want to read the next book in the series, though!
March 17, 2019
Wants to be Grisham
Lawyer in trouble . It is what Grisham is famous for. Young lawyer from working class background. Check. Discovers something amiss. Check. Finds himself in danger. Check.
Spoiler alert.
There are two major plot holes. The first involves taxes, notably property tax. The deed may not have been recorded, but the seller would get notices during the twelve year stretch.
The second is the hope chest. It was moved twice. The first time isn’t an issue, but the second time Oliver doesn’t feel anything move inside it. However, five million dollars in hundreds would weigh over 100 pounds. It’s inconceivable he wouldn’t have figured out there was something in it.
Lawyer in trouble . It is what Grisham is famous for. Young lawyer from working class background. Check. Discovers something amiss. Check. Finds himself in danger. Check.
Spoiler alert.
There are two major plot holes. The first involves taxes, notably property tax. The deed may not have been recorded, but the seller would get notices during the twelve year stretch.
The second is the hope chest. It was moved twice. The first time isn’t an issue, but the second time Oliver doesn’t feel anything move inside it. However, five million dollars in hundreds would weigh over 100 pounds. It’s inconceivable he wouldn’t have figured out there was something in it.
June 21, 2024
This was a so-so mystery. A summer intern is asked to do some investigation into the conviction of a man accused of murdering his wife on the basis he didn't have the right representation. As the details begin to emerge, enough material is gathered to garner the man's release. From there, more information comes to light that leads to a deeper involvement of the guilty parties.
I can't say I loved this book and doubt I'd read any more of the series. I just couldn't get into any of the characters.
I can't say I loved this book and doubt I'd read any more of the series. I just couldn't get into any of the characters.
August 29, 2020
New lawyer involved in a pro bono case that gets mobs and the legal community putting his life in danger--a reporter he involved is beheaded. Good plot, weak characters. I rate this a 4.0.
December 13, 2020
Ridiculous finish
Repetitive scenarios especially in the final chapters. Obviously the author got tired and just wanted it all to end! I agree...done!
Repetitive scenarios especially in the final chapters. Obviously the author got tired and just wanted it all to end! I agree...done!
January 10, 2021
Good read!!
October 30, 2024
I struggled to get into this.
April 21, 2012
Yehhh for me! Kindle offered this book for free and I'm so glad I took their offer.
It was a fun, fun read with the main character, Oliver (Ollie) Olson more than just a likable fellow. Coming from a blue collar family, Ollie is among students who are just semesters away from taking the bar exam, but due to hard work, Ollie finds himself a summer intern in a hoity-toity L. A. law firm. His fellow interns are from east coast schools such as Harvard and Yale which makes him feel even more alienated. He's so likable though that you cheer for him all the wy.
His long time girlfriend who he loves and admires professionally, happily found her way to a non-profit investigating credit bureaus which have been placing erroneous information on consumer's credit reports. Work which involves helping the poor in contrast to Ollie's work at the prestigious law firm. She's worried he'll lose his soul along the way. He's sure that he's grounded enough to not let that happen.
His summer work involves obtaining information to present a federal habeous petition to the court based on ineffective assistance of counsel (12 years prior) of a man convicted of murdering his wife. If granted, the murderer would be released from prison. However, the attorney who represented the convicted murderer is one of the most respected and sought after defense lawyers in the state so it's almost laughable that Ollie will find anything strong to base the habeous petition on.
The firm doesn't expect Ollie to find anything. The only reason they agreed to represent the convicted murderer is because it was such a high profile case; the convicted murderer was a U. S. senator at the time of the murder.
Ollie works digently to turn over every stone looking through all past records and leads to assist the firm's attorney who will make the petition. As Ollie proceeds, he finds the only other suspect was the boyfriend of the senator's daughter and Ollie finds his first real solid clue which may help the firm win the case. As Ollie turns over more stones, he finds himself being followed and threatened as he digs deeper into the case.
The story moves easily from beginning to end with a surprise ending which comes pretty fast. I enjoyed the dialogue throughout and wondered how could this be a first time novelist? It was spot on for characterization and site description.
All the elements expected in a first rate mystery/thriller were in this book. That's one reason I'm so proud because I got a first rate book to read for free! I will definately read the other three but am not expecting a bargain.
Lastly, I am so curious about the author. I read (somewhere) that Fingers Murphy is a pen name, so who is this talented author who dislikes the publishing world so much? Under any name though, he's certainly talented. I hope he'll be around for a long time.
It was a fun, fun read with the main character, Oliver (Ollie) Olson more than just a likable fellow. Coming from a blue collar family, Ollie is among students who are just semesters away from taking the bar exam, but due to hard work, Ollie finds himself a summer intern in a hoity-toity L. A. law firm. His fellow interns are from east coast schools such as Harvard and Yale which makes him feel even more alienated. He's so likable though that you cheer for him all the wy.
His long time girlfriend who he loves and admires professionally, happily found her way to a non-profit investigating credit bureaus which have been placing erroneous information on consumer's credit reports. Work which involves helping the poor in contrast to Ollie's work at the prestigious law firm. She's worried he'll lose his soul along the way. He's sure that he's grounded enough to not let that happen.
His summer work involves obtaining information to present a federal habeous petition to the court based on ineffective assistance of counsel (12 years prior) of a man convicted of murdering his wife. If granted, the murderer would be released from prison. However, the attorney who represented the convicted murderer is one of the most respected and sought after defense lawyers in the state so it's almost laughable that Ollie will find anything strong to base the habeous petition on.
The firm doesn't expect Ollie to find anything. The only reason they agreed to represent the convicted murderer is because it was such a high profile case; the convicted murderer was a U. S. senator at the time of the murder.
Ollie works digently to turn over every stone looking through all past records and leads to assist the firm's attorney who will make the petition. As Ollie proceeds, he finds the only other suspect was the boyfriend of the senator's daughter and Ollie finds his first real solid clue which may help the firm win the case. As Ollie turns over more stones, he finds himself being followed and threatened as he digs deeper into the case.
The story moves easily from beginning to end with a surprise ending which comes pretty fast. I enjoyed the dialogue throughout and wondered how could this be a first time novelist? It was spot on for characterization and site description.
All the elements expected in a first rate mystery/thriller were in this book. That's one reason I'm so proud because I got a first rate book to read for free! I will definately read the other three but am not expecting a bargain.
Lastly, I am so curious about the author. I read (somewhere) that Fingers Murphy is a pen name, so who is this talented author who dislikes the publishing world so much? Under any name though, he's certainly talented. I hope he'll be around for a long time.
July 23, 2011
This is the story of Oliver (Ollie) Olson, a law student who's finished his second year of school. Now, allow me to translate the complete meaning of this sentence for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of attending law school. Ollie knows the law school drill now and can probably brief cases in his sleep. However, when it comes to dealing with the real world aspects of dealing with actual clients with genuine problems, Ollie's a nice guy, but about as clueless as they come.
This may be especially true given that Ollie comes from a working class background and he's participating as a summer associate, aka, intern, at Kohlberg & Crowley, a big deal international law firm in Los Angeles, where he fits in like a guppy in a shark tank.
However, Ollie isn't threatened by anyone at the firm. He's assigned to a case, in which the firm is trying to get a former U.S. senator James Steele released from prison, where they claim he's being wrongly held. Why? Because they say he was wrongfully convicted of killing his wife, Sharon, due to ineffective assistance of counsel. And his lawyer at the time was one of the greatest criminal defense attorneys around -- Garrett Andersen.
And when Ollie meets Steele in prison, he seems like a guy who really got screwed the hell over. So Ollie really wants to bust his ass for him and see that justice is done. Even though he sees his job as doing research to find support for "a legal technicality." But the law is the law. And lawyers uphold the law, don't they? Right!
Oh, and did I mention that the firm is paying Ollie three grand a week to do this? THREE GRAND? Every freaking week? And he's NOT. EVEN. A LAWYER!
The worst part is, I didn't have to suspend my disbelief about this part at all. :)
Anyhow, so Ollie starts investigating doing research. I don't want talk too much about what he finds, because it'll spoil the whole thing for you.
Just know this: Ollie has a girlfriend, Liz. She works for Legal Aid and serves as a kind of reminder of the real reason he decided to be a lawyer ... at least, maybe. If he thought about it. The question is, will he? You see there's also this other girl (another summer associate who goes to Yale or some muckety-muck school) named Morgan. Clearly, she's no good. She's a metaphor, if there ever was one. And it's a metaphor of something awful.
The dialogue is spot on and very funny.
To read the entire review, see http://thebookgrrl.blogspot.com/2011/...
This may be especially true given that Ollie comes from a working class background and he's participating as a summer associate, aka, intern, at Kohlberg & Crowley, a big deal international law firm in Los Angeles, where he fits in like a guppy in a shark tank.
However, Ollie isn't threatened by anyone at the firm. He's assigned to a case, in which the firm is trying to get a former U.S. senator James Steele released from prison, where they claim he's being wrongly held. Why? Because they say he was wrongfully convicted of killing his wife, Sharon, due to ineffective assistance of counsel. And his lawyer at the time was one of the greatest criminal defense attorneys around -- Garrett Andersen.
And when Ollie meets Steele in prison, he seems like a guy who really got screwed the hell over. So Ollie really wants to bust his ass for him and see that justice is done. Even though he sees his job as doing research to find support for "a legal technicality." But the law is the law. And lawyers uphold the law, don't they? Right!
Oh, and did I mention that the firm is paying Ollie three grand a week to do this? THREE GRAND? Every freaking week? And he's NOT. EVEN. A LAWYER!
The worst part is, I didn't have to suspend my disbelief about this part at all. :)
Anyhow, so Ollie starts investigating doing research. I don't want talk too much about what he finds, because it'll spoil the whole thing for you.
Just know this: Ollie has a girlfriend, Liz. She works for Legal Aid and serves as a kind of reminder of the real reason he decided to be a lawyer ... at least, maybe. If he thought about it. The question is, will he? You see there's also this other girl (another summer associate who goes to Yale or some muckety-muck school) named Morgan. Clearly, she's no good. She's a metaphor, if there ever was one. And it's a metaphor of something awful.
The dialogue is spot on and very funny.
To read the entire review, see http://thebookgrrl.blogspot.com/2011/...
August 27, 2011
Technically 4.5, but alas...no 1/2 stars.
Follow the Money by Fingers Murphy was a fantastic and wild ride into the world of murder, mystery, mayhem and the men and women who’s job it is to prove their guilt or innocence.
Oliver comes from a working class family. He didn’t have everything handed to him on a silver platter, so he views the world with different eyes and that, in a way, is what gets him into trouble. I don’t want to say he is naive, but he tries to see the good in people and wants to do what is right and sometimes even the most innocent looking man is guilty. I like Ollie’s character, he’s a good guy who just got in over his head….way over his head. Although he does do a few things that bugged the hello out of me in regards to his girlfriend. (note: for those who have read Follow the Money, I am not talking about the obvious thing Oliver does to Liz, he does something else later that burns my buttons) Ollie’s girlfriend Liz, works for Legal Aide and is always teasing (or is she serious) Oliver about selling his soul, but she’s a fun character and I would love to know more about her and where she ends up. Of course, we have the man convicted of killing his wife, Steele, his attorney and various other nefarious individuals. All well written and interesting.
Moving from downtown LA to Palm Springs to sleazy taverns where a person just knows they don’t fit in, Follow the Money has an array of scenes and settings to keep the reader on their toes trying to figure out whodunnit. Expansive mansions and tiny offices of attorney’s heading out for a round of golf makes the world created by Fingers Murphy highly enjoyable.
Follow the Money by Fingers Murphy was a fantastic and wild ride into the world of murder, mystery, mayhem and the men and women who’s job it is to prove their guilt or innocence.
Oliver comes from a working class family. He didn’t have everything handed to him on a silver platter, so he views the world with different eyes and that, in a way, is what gets him into trouble. I don’t want to say he is naive, but he tries to see the good in people and wants to do what is right and sometimes even the most innocent looking man is guilty. I like Ollie’s character, he’s a good guy who just got in over his head….way over his head. Although he does do a few things that bugged the hello out of me in regards to his girlfriend. (note: for those who have read Follow the Money, I am not talking about the obvious thing Oliver does to Liz, he does something else later that burns my buttons) Ollie’s girlfriend Liz, works for Legal Aide and is always teasing (or is she serious) Oliver about selling his soul, but she’s a fun character and I would love to know more about her and where she ends up. Of course, we have the man convicted of killing his wife, Steele, his attorney and various other nefarious individuals. All well written and interesting.
Moving from downtown LA to Palm Springs to sleazy taverns where a person just knows they don’t fit in, Follow the Money has an array of scenes and settings to keep the reader on their toes trying to figure out whodunnit. Expansive mansions and tiny offices of attorney’s heading out for a round of golf makes the world created by Fingers Murphy highly enjoyable.
April 26, 2012
Follow the Money by Fingers Murphy is a delightful legal mystery/thriller featuring a law student whose first work assignment is to prepare an appeal for a senator who is serving time for a murder conviction.
The protagonist recounts his tale in the first person. The story begins with his first day on a summer job at a law firm and fittingly ends with his last day on the job. The plot flows smoothly and kept me engaged. Dramatic tension is effectively maintained for the duration.
I enjoyed Murphy's prose. His depiction of action is crisp and to the point and his descriptions are effective. His portrayal of the characters make them believable. The author has a knack for relating conversations and making dialogue seem real.
Overall, the plot is well put together and the book is a satisfying read. There are two scenes, where the protagonist visits his family, that didn't seem to fit well in an otherwise tightly-woven story. The finale also seemed a bit abrupt and contrived.
The protagonist recounts his tale in the first person. The story begins with his first day on a summer job at a law firm and fittingly ends with his last day on the job. The plot flows smoothly and kept me engaged. Dramatic tension is effectively maintained for the duration.
I enjoyed Murphy's prose. His depiction of action is crisp and to the point and his descriptions are effective. His portrayal of the characters make them believable. The author has a knack for relating conversations and making dialogue seem real.
Overall, the plot is well put together and the book is a satisfying read. There are two scenes, where the protagonist visits his family, that didn't seem to fit well in an otherwise tightly-woven story. The finale also seemed a bit abrupt and contrived.
May 10, 2012
This is my second Fingers Murphey book. The other, Everything I Tell You is a Lie, was only a novella, but very interesting. Follow the Money is the story of a second year law student playing detective on a pro bono case tor a big, big deal law firm his first summer working. The characters in the story know he is young and inexperienced, so they play him some. He works an appeal of a convicted murderer once a US senator. After being convicted of killing his wife, the senator spends twelve years in prison. He gets lucky catching this law student who tries to build a case for the senator while learning too fast how the game is played. This is a story of a bright kid a little out of his league who comes of age with a few very harsh realities. It is a thrilling ride with a great deal of intrigue and a view of the underbelly of the priviledged class.
July 19, 2013
I almost gave up on this book a few times as it didn't appeal but it got better and I liked it in the end and would take a look at the sequel too.
It's about a young, newly-qualifying lawyer and his summertime job at a prestigious law firm-all his dreams come true....or not........
Some lines I thought weren't needed-such as the lawyer not having guessed the guy he was interviewing to be a geologist or environmentalist....like he'd have met heaps !! Then it was mentioned there were varying spellings of Raymond Gee. I couldn't think of anymore !!
Twice the author used the word drug....as the past tense, I guess, of to drag. I read another book recently that used it, too. Maybe it's an Americanism because I'd use dragged.
Young Ollie seemed at a loss for words a few times.......maybe the law isn't for him !
It was nice to pick up a free book and it not be full of errors, though !!
It's about a young, newly-qualifying lawyer and his summertime job at a prestigious law firm-all his dreams come true....or not........
Some lines I thought weren't needed-such as the lawyer not having guessed the guy he was interviewing to be a geologist or environmentalist....like he'd have met heaps !! Then it was mentioned there were varying spellings of Raymond Gee. I couldn't think of anymore !!
Twice the author used the word drug....as the past tense, I guess, of to drag. I read another book recently that used it, too. Maybe it's an Americanism because I'd use dragged.
Young Ollie seemed at a loss for words a few times.......maybe the law isn't for him !
It was nice to pick up a free book and it not be full of errors, though !!
July 25, 2011
I haven’t read a good mystery, thriller in a long time and this was one of the best. The story was easy to follow, completely believable and left me definitely wanting more. The way the author wove the pieces together took a great deal of planning and thought. I tend to look for holes or flaws in reasoning and I just didn’t find any here.
I was completely surprised by the ending and even though I don’t think I would have done it that way, it fit in perfect with the rest of the book and made a great ending. I loved the elements of fear that were put in the story and how the main character dealt with it. Everything fit together nicely.
This is a page turner for sure. I liked reading it because I love mysteries and this was a good one. Definitely a must read.
I was completely surprised by the ending and even though I don’t think I would have done it that way, it fit in perfect with the rest of the book and made a great ending. I loved the elements of fear that were put in the story and how the main character dealt with it. Everything fit together nicely.
This is a page turner for sure. I liked reading it because I love mysteries and this was a good one. Definitely a must read.
June 25, 2013
I had a little problem with the ending, and I felt the story may have been shortened just a bit, but overall I really enjoyed this mystery-thriller about a young Southern California law student who gets in over his head after helping over-turn the murder conviction of a U.S. Senator. Fingers Murphy (isn't that a great name for a writer?) does a nice job with this story and avoids bogging the reader down with a lot of complex legal matter. It's easy to identify with the protagonist, who has his share of insecurities, while he gets his feet wet as a summer intern in a high-powered law firm and eventually comes up against some sinister elements.
August 9, 2011
Very enjoyable read. I found this writer through Twitter the other day. Bought his book on a whim & also because i love finding new writers and supporting writers on Twitter.
I love mysteries, too. And this was a good one! A really good, solid mystery, one that really kept you guessing. It's also a coming of age story as this young law student tries to find his feet amongst the temptations of wealth & privilege. Will he make it thru with his soul intact? I quite enjoyed the characters, both major and minor.
Good story, certainly well worth the 99 cent e book price!
I love mysteries, too. And this was a good one! A really good, solid mystery, one that really kept you guessing. It's also a coming of age story as this young law student tries to find his feet amongst the temptations of wealth & privilege. Will he make it thru with his soul intact? I quite enjoyed the characters, both major and minor.
Good story, certainly well worth the 99 cent e book price!
April 28, 2012
Excellent! In addition to being a good mystery, the book gives an interesting insight to the options a bright young lawyer has, how one can be swayed from personal values by the almighty dollar and what can happen in life to determine what path one takes.
So well written that you are drawn in and reading one page after another without realizing the passage of time.
As soon as I finished reading this first book, I ordered the next one in the series and continued reading!
So well written that you are drawn in and reading one page after another without realizing the passage of time.
As soon as I finished reading this first book, I ordered the next one in the series and continued reading!
May 29, 2012
At last I have found another indie author whom I really like. Ollie Olsen is a great character and I plan to read all of the books about him. Murphy knows how to write a page turner that kept me engaged on every page. I plan to write a detailed review on my website (robertpfrench.com) when I have finished his second book 'The Flaming Motel".
Keep it up Mr. Murphy.
P.S. the other indie author I really like is Rachel Abbott; I can't wait for her second book to come out.
Keep it up Mr. Murphy.
P.S. the other indie author I really like is Rachel Abbott; I can't wait for her second book to come out.
May 11, 2012
A solid debut novel by a rising indie talent. Murphy's strengths include his ability to introduce us to details about the legal profession without boring us with exposition, as well as characters who are solid and believable while still being dramatic enough to compel you on. I could have used a little more denouement at the end.
August 22, 2011
Really loved this book. The characters and action are great, but what I really liked was the Los Angeles setting. I've read a lot of books set in LA, but this was the first that made me think, "I want to live there."
April 14, 2012
A bona fide hat-trick for this debut novel from Fingers Murphy -- Follow the Money is intelligent, fast-paced, litiginous fun!
September 9, 2011
An engaging story, plenty of twists, turns, and surprises.
July 20, 2012
This book reminds me of a John Grisham book - I really liked it! There is some foul language, though.
June 9, 2012
I love this guy
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