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Power and Money #1
Free to Trade
Relishing his life as a bond trader for a multi-million-dollar London financial house, former Olympic runner Paul Murray is shocked when his lover, Debbie, is murdered and uncovers a series of shady double deals. Reprint.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
137 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Michael Ridpath
70 books311 followersBefore becoming a writer, Michael Ridpath used to work as a bond trader in the City of London. After writing several financial thrillers, which were published in over 30 languages, he began a crime series featuring the Icelandic detective Magnus Jonson. He has also written five stand-alone thrillers, the latest of which is The Diplomat’s Wife, published in February 2021. He lives in London.
And if you want a free copy of his novella, The Polar Bear Killing, and to sign up to his quarterly newsletter, just click this link: http://eepurl.com/dlzgFH
And if you want a free copy of his novella, The Polar Bear Killing, and to sign up to his quarterly newsletter, just click this link: http://eepurl.com/dlzgFH
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
November 25, 2011
Paul Murray really like to move fast. When he decided to resign from athletic after got a Bronze Medal in Olympic, he tried some new world, which is fast too. Debt Analyst in a bank, and finally he chose to be a trader.
However, everything is looked like bullshit for him. Debbie, his best friend is suddenly dead; his investigation to a doubtful investment met a road-block; his mother's house is likely to be sold by its owner; rejected by a girl that he loved.
Obviously, this book make me can't resist from trading world. It is an interesting world, although you need to really read the book to understand how the story changing. I really feel hard to get away from this book.
Lesson for a trader-wanna-be : Don't trust anyone, even he looked like an Angel.
:D
However, everything is looked like bullshit for him. Debbie, his best friend is suddenly dead; his investigation to a doubtful investment met a road-block; his mother's house is likely to be sold by its owner; rejected by a girl that he loved.
Obviously, this book make me can't resist from trading world. It is an interesting world, although you need to really read the book to understand how the story changing. I really feel hard to get away from this book.
Lesson for a trader-wanna-be : Don't trust anyone, even he looked like an Angel.
:D
January 14, 2018
A well written financial novel is one of my favourite types of book, so I usually find Paul Erdman's books very enjoyable. Awhile ago I saw this one by Michael Ridpath and it seemed to fill a similiar niche so I picked it up, now 2 years later I've finally read it and can say I am a little annoyed with myself for not doing so sooner as it was excellent.
The story is based around a bond trader, Paul Murray, who is learning the ropes and stumbles into a complicated scam being run against his firm, this coupled with some questionable trading, a dead co-worker and another co-worker who turns out to be a Nice Guy (aka crazy creeper) makes for a very compelling read. The result of which is not so easy to foretell with the plot leading you down paths which seem like the answer but turn out not to be.
I found it to be well structured and whilst based in the trading world there's enough there that it would be accessible and enjoyable to those not familiar with or interested by that side of finance.
The story is based around a bond trader, Paul Murray, who is learning the ropes and stumbles into a complicated scam being run against his firm, this coupled with some questionable trading, a dead co-worker and another co-worker who turns out to be a Nice Guy (aka crazy creeper) makes for a very compelling read. The result of which is not so easy to foretell with the plot leading you down paths which seem like the answer but turn out not to be.
I found it to be well structured and whilst based in the trading world there's enough there that it would be accessible and enjoyable to those not familiar with or interested by that side of finance.
May 29, 2022
I need to admit I'm a bit biased whet it comes to financial thrillers. With almost ten years of working for an international investment bank under my belt, I just LOVE all the financial talk which would sound totally incomprehensible to most people. Therefore, I enjoyed tremendously the small details concerning private placements, bond issuances and the financial fraud. What I lacked, perhaps, was the development of the characters. As a result the story turned out to be a bit like a detective story, with all the action and almost zero psychology. We learn about the characters' feelings only because the author specifically tells us that: Paul was depressed, Cathy was falling in love with him, etc. I would just prefer it if the author could be more subtle and let us draw the conclusion ourself.
Apart from that, the book is really captivating. It's a page-turner, I've read it in just two days.
Apart from that, the book is really captivating. It's a page-turner, I've read it in just two days.
October 23, 2018
Maybe 3.5 stars. A little slow and dry to start. Too much financial information, but somewhat necessary for the setting. The pace picks up by the ending. Still recommended.
June 3, 2024
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author. It was an interesting story about trading in bonds & shares, insider trading and murder. Might have to check out some more by him.
September 13, 2025
A murder mystery set in an investment firm.
I quite enjoyed this read. I don't know much about bond trading and I found it interesting. The book also had a lot of twists and turns and kept me guessing until the end.
I quite enjoyed this read. I don't know much about bond trading and I found it interesting. The book also had a lot of twists and turns and kept me guessing until the end.
January 14, 2019
In het begin wat saai, maar naderhand wordt het spannender. Misschien als je van beleggen e.d. houdt dat het meer boeit.
March 11, 2021
This novel was Michael Ridpath’s debut, and one can easily see why he has had such success as an author. I’ve long been a fan of his books, but I had not read his first financial thriller. This work is top-notch all the way: complex plot; well-developed characters; surprising twists and turns; vivid descriptions that place you in the scene, side by side w/ the protagonist - all the elements one has come to expect from a Ridpath thriller.
Paul Murray is a newly-minted bond trader, learning the ropes from one of the best, Hamilton MacKenzie - Murray’s mentor as well as his boss. When an opportunity to score big professionally and personally comes along, Murray and a colleague seize it and realize a huge profit. But the fleeting high of success leads to tragedy, as Murray’s co-worker and friend dies under suspicious circumstances. Soon Murray finds himself ostracized due to allegations of unethical, even illegal conduct. And then someone accuses him of murder. His once promising life spins out of control as he tries to establish his innocence and catch the culprit.
(Mild spoiler alert) Though I identified the true culprit before the reveal, I did not do so through any weakness or “tell” in the author’s narrative. The identification fit logically. It was a strong storyline that did not detract from the overall suspense. In fact the climax still had unexpected twists and reversals that literally left my heart pounding. SUCH good storytelling!
Michael Ridpath remains my favorite author. If anyone unfamiliar w/ his work wants to see why, this book would be a great introduction to an author that stands alone atop this genre.
Paul Murray is a newly-minted bond trader, learning the ropes from one of the best, Hamilton MacKenzie - Murray’s mentor as well as his boss. When an opportunity to score big professionally and personally comes along, Murray and a colleague seize it and realize a huge profit. But the fleeting high of success leads to tragedy, as Murray’s co-worker and friend dies under suspicious circumstances. Soon Murray finds himself ostracized due to allegations of unethical, even illegal conduct. And then someone accuses him of murder. His once promising life spins out of control as he tries to establish his innocence and catch the culprit.
(Mild spoiler alert) Though I identified the true culprit before the reveal, I did not do so through any weakness or “tell” in the author’s narrative. The identification fit logically. It was a strong storyline that did not detract from the overall suspense. In fact the climax still had unexpected twists and reversals that literally left my heart pounding. SUCH good storytelling!
Michael Ridpath remains my favorite author. If anyone unfamiliar w/ his work wants to see why, this book would be a great introduction to an author that stands alone atop this genre.
May 5, 2018
Hat mir gut gefallen. Die Geschichte eines Angestellten in einem Investmentbüro, der in eine komplexe Geschichte von Finanzbetrug und Mord verwickelt wird.
Der Erzählstil ist locker und gut lesbar, die Geschichte interessant und die Figuren zwar nicht besonders stark ausgebaut, aber ausreichend, um lebendig zu wirken.
Auch die obligatorischen Wendungen und, Überraschungen wurden gut eingebracht.
Das Ende kommt dann im Vergleich eher unspektakulär daher (was nicht heißt, das es nicht auch eine Überraschung beinhaltet), liest sich aber auch angenehm.
Und am Ende hat man das Gefühl, dass es, sich gut so abgespielt haben könnte.
Der Erzählstil ist locker und gut lesbar, die Geschichte interessant und die Figuren zwar nicht besonders stark ausgebaut, aber ausreichend, um lebendig zu wirken.
Auch die obligatorischen Wendungen und, Überraschungen wurden gut eingebracht.
Das Ende kommt dann im Vergleich eher unspektakulär daher (was nicht heißt, das es nicht auch eine Überraschung beinhaltet), liest sich aber auch angenehm.
Und am Ende hat man das Gefühl, dass es, sich gut so abgespielt haben könnte.
April 6, 2015
Fantastic story.
Finally a believable story and well written. Kept my attention from chapter to chapter. Kept me guessing right up to the end. A very good well written book. Will definitely read more books from this author.
Finally a believable story and well written. Kept my attention from chapter to chapter. Kept me guessing right up to the end. A very good well written book. Will definitely read more books from this author.
October 25, 2023
Toller, packender Thriller aus der Londoner Finanzwelt der 90er Jahre
July 16, 2020
The author, Michael Ridpath, is an Olympic bronze-medalist in track and a longtime fund manager for an international bank. Coincidentally, the main character of this novel, Paul Murray, is also an ex-Olympic runner and portfolio manager for a London financial house. The result is a realistic, and gripping, financial thriller.
The event at the center of this book is the death of a detail-oriented attorney, Debbie Chater. Why was Chater pushed into the river Thames? By page 150, it's easy to spot 2 suspects with a personal motive, and two with a business-motive.
Ridpath's plot is studded with unexpected twists and revelations--I was greatly entranced by the story.
And given Ridpath's background, his novel contains a number of realistic real-time portrayals of financial events and concepts. Here's a short list:
*A few days in the life of a bond-trader (pp. 1-50)
*How does the US unemployment rate impact interest rates and, in turn, US government bond prices? (pp. 149-154)
*What's it like to make a "shutout bid" for 10-year T-bills? (pp. 183-186)
The event at the center of this book is the death of a detail-oriented attorney, Debbie Chater. Why was Chater pushed into the river Thames? By page 150, it's easy to spot 2 suspects with a personal motive, and two with a business-motive.
Ridpath's plot is studded with unexpected twists and revelations--I was greatly entranced by the story.
And given Ridpath's background, his novel contains a number of realistic real-time portrayals of financial events and concepts. Here's a short list:
*A few days in the life of a bond-trader (pp. 1-50)
*How does the US unemployment rate impact interest rates and, in turn, US government bond prices? (pp. 149-154)
*What's it like to make a "shutout bid" for 10-year T-bills? (pp. 183-186)
August 31, 2022
A weak four, for sure. Seven out of ten, and only because I liked the book.
Note that I liked the setting / world, I really did. The main hook was also nice, it was probably the closest to narrating the bond trading experience among the books I've read. It was also nice that it simulated the main markets topics of the eighties, right up to junk bonds and S&Ls.
The characters were all right, I guess.
The plot and narrative choices are where the book broke down for me. The romantic angle was a bit suspicious, but fine. The problem was how it mixed in with the high finance parts. The narrative voice was a bit too breezy for me that I would have easily seen this as an Archie long-form story, and it didn't seem to fit the larger story it wanted to tell.
If I didn't like the topic, this would have landed at a solid three stars. But I have to give in to my amusement of the setting and add one more star.
Side note: the summary at the back was weird. It describes events happening in the last fourth of the book. Not the usual blurb, for sure.
Note that I liked the setting / world, I really did. The main hook was also nice, it was probably the closest to narrating the bond trading experience among the books I've read. It was also nice that it simulated the main markets topics of the eighties, right up to junk bonds and S&Ls.
The characters were all right, I guess.
The plot and narrative choices are where the book broke down for me. The romantic angle was a bit suspicious, but fine. The problem was how it mixed in with the high finance parts. The narrative voice was a bit too breezy for me that I would have easily seen this as an Archie long-form story, and it didn't seem to fit the larger story it wanted to tell.
If I didn't like the topic, this would have landed at a solid three stars. But I have to give in to my amusement of the setting and add one more star.
Side note: the summary at the back was weird. It describes events happening in the last fourth of the book. Not the usual blurb, for sure.
December 25, 2024
I am sorry to say, this is the first book I have stopped reading early. I read 156 out of 400 but eventually decided to stop. A key reason being the fact I had a shift at the pub I work at today... it was incredibly dead giving me the opportunity to read for a couple of hours or so - this should be one of my favourite shifts ever! Yet, it still went incredibly slowly.
I remember Matt Stone and Trey Parker (South Park writers) discussed 'how to tell a good story', citing a key rule: if the word "and then" happen between subsections, the story is bad. Instead, it should be filled with 'but', 'therefore' etc. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Ridpath did not follow this advice and I think that was the main thing that made this book a tough read. Ultimately, the book consisted of lots of filler text which did not make me want to read on.
I skimmed the final 50 pages or so and it did appear to be quite interesting towards the end but ultimately I read books for pleasure so if I had no pleasure reading it then I must give up (although I was over a third of the way through...
I remember Matt Stone and Trey Parker (South Park writers) discussed 'how to tell a good story', citing a key rule: if the word "and then" happen between subsections, the story is bad. Instead, it should be filled with 'but', 'therefore' etc. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Ridpath did not follow this advice and I think that was the main thing that made this book a tough read. Ultimately, the book consisted of lots of filler text which did not make me want to read on.
I skimmed the final 50 pages or so and it did appear to be quite interesting towards the end but ultimately I read books for pleasure so if I had no pleasure reading it then I must give up (although I was over a third of the way through...
April 30, 2021
I’m fine with the idea of a book set in the financial sector and I wouldn’t mind being unfamiliar with shorts, longs, bonds and whatever, but I had to bail out at 7%. I usually have a book on in the background while I’m working but I just had to stop this one. The book opens with some tense deal about whether or not our hero is going to make or lose millions and I gradually realised that this is just a, frankly rather plonking, scene setter that has nothing to do with whatever the story is going to be about. Now I’m listening to him droning on about his running, presumably also a long winded way of getting the message across that he’s a former athlete. Another author who believes in “tell them don’t show them”. I prefer the show don’t tell method. It’s all sounding like a Craig Brown Private Eye spoof diary and I’ve had enough of it.
March 30, 2022
Kedysi dávno som prečítal 2-3 knihy od Michaela Ridpatha, ktorý píše skvelé finančné trilery.
teraz som naňho opäť dostal chuť:-) a narazil som na knihu (v češtine) Chladnokrevná kalkulace.
A bavil som sa.
Hoci sa veľmi nevyznám v akciách, dlhopisoch, bondoch...niektorým výrazom a finančnému žargónu som ani nerozumel, neprekážalo mi to. A hoci je to kniha z 90.rokov, užíval som si to. Ridpath píše svižne, dynamicky, pútavo. Bola to jeho prvá kniha, s ktorou hneď prerazil a okrem zápletky, zvratov a prekvapujúceho konca, ktorý som však už trochu tušil, vie tiež vykresliť postavy: plasticky, živo, stotožníte sa, čo sa nie každému autorovi darí.
Občas sú cítiť drobné nedostatky, ešte amatérsky začiatočnícky feeling, ale to vôbec neprekáža.
Mimochodom, kniha sa držala 8 týždňov v rebríčku bestsellerov na 2.mieste a následne ju prleožili do 32 jazykov.
teraz som naňho opäť dostal chuť:-) a narazil som na knihu (v češtine) Chladnokrevná kalkulace.
A bavil som sa.
Hoci sa veľmi nevyznám v akciách, dlhopisoch, bondoch...niektorým výrazom a finančnému žargónu som ani nerozumel, neprekážalo mi to. A hoci je to kniha z 90.rokov, užíval som si to. Ridpath píše svižne, dynamicky, pútavo. Bola to jeho prvá kniha, s ktorou hneď prerazil a okrem zápletky, zvratov a prekvapujúceho konca, ktorý som však už trochu tušil, vie tiež vykresliť postavy: plasticky, živo, stotožníte sa, čo sa nie každému autorovi darí.
Občas sú cítiť drobné nedostatky, ešte amatérsky začiatočnícky feeling, ale to vôbec neprekáža.
Mimochodom, kniha sa držala 8 týždňov v rebríčku bestsellerov na 2.mieste a následne ju prleožili do 32 jazykov.
September 14, 2021
I read this a long time ago, but picked it up again recently. In it's own way it feels almost as dated as a 1930's country house mystery - so an interesting relic of a bygone age. My lasting impression is of a book which tries rather too hard to be sophisticated, whilst actually being little more than an extremely conventional action thriller. But for all that, it's OK. I like the fact that it's written in the first person from the perspective of an "amateur sleuth", but suspect it was Michael Ridpath's first attempt at novel-writing, so it's difficult to escape the wish-fulfillment element. Not bad, though; just not very memorable.
April 7, 2018
Opening pages are a bit dull, but he puts a taster at front of the book, an extract from page 83. (seems a bit of a cheat to me) Maybe publisher suggested this? Chap 3 annoyed me, as it was a boring digression about him running. Chap 4 equally annoying with too much description of his Yorkshire village upbringing. Who cares? But then the pace picks up, and plenty of hooks, cliffhangers etc. So in the end worth persevering.
August 24, 2022
De schrijver van dit boek heeft zelf gewerkt in de financiële wereld; wat zich in het boek afspeelt is met andere woorden behoorlijk gedocumenteerd. Het boek is hoe dan ook spannend, ondanks de saaie kantoorbaan van de hoofdpersonen. Saai of niet saai, er vallen doden. De ontknoping is heel erg spannend. Het boek dateert van voor het jaar 2000 en toch wemelt het van de fouten, gaande van verkeerd meervoud of verkeerd enkelvoud tot en met dt. Daarom slechts drie sterren.
August 30, 2023
Ono kad skužiš da ti doma, nepročitana, godinama stoji knjiga koja je vjerojatno, prije ohoho godina prodavana kao prilog nekoj dnevnoj tiskovini pa odlučiš da je pročitaš, i fulaš. Dosadno, možda donekle zanimljivo onom tko se bavi prodajom vrijednosnica, ali ostatak priče toliko plitak da bi se i ameba u njoj nasukala. Nadam se samo da je pisac bio puno bolji kao broker, negoli je to njegovo prvo književno čedo.
February 10, 2024
Exciting insights into the murky world of bond trading
The book had me engaged and hooked from the start. It described some of the more unpleasant people I had met along the way in my business life who were totally driven to achieve their goals. I will definitely be reading more books from this author. Compelling, easy reading, apart from some of the descriptions of the various trades that were new territory to me. Highly recommended.
The book had me engaged and hooked from the start. It described some of the more unpleasant people I had met along the way in my business life who were totally driven to achieve their goals. I will definitely be reading more books from this author. Compelling, easy reading, apart from some of the descriptions of the various trades that were new territory to me. Highly recommended.
May 9, 2024
I don't know why the Audible audio format is not an available choice on #Goodreads
Sometimes when people talk about Trollope's 'Palliser' novels as being political, I get annoyed as politics is just the back story, the rest of the novel is pure escapism.
Michael Ridpath writes around financial goings on, and it's quite nice to get to know the terminology. Nevertheless his writing is engrossing, with jeopardy, and mystery .... all the things we like in a novel.
Sometimes when people talk about Trollope's 'Palliser' novels as being political, I get annoyed as politics is just the back story, the rest of the novel is pure escapism.
Michael Ridpath writes around financial goings on, and it's quite nice to get to know the terminology. Nevertheless his writing is engrossing, with jeopardy, and mystery .... all the things we like in a novel.
June 21, 2017
Very readable book - my first of his - won't be my last. Didn't understand all the trading but it was very interesting. Quite believeable with a few twists and turns. Interesting to read a book written before mobile phones were readily available making people instantly contactable and giving a camera facility. We are so used to modern technology.
October 15, 2021
A good thriller for lovers of the genre, but a great read for the financially astute
Free to Trade is a fine read for a general audience, but a great read for those who know the ins and outs of finance.
The technical details that made the plot so credible may be too much for everyone, but it made Free to Trade a gripping thriller for this former Wall Street professional.
Free to Trade is a fine read for a general audience, but a great read for those who know the ins and outs of finance.
The technical details that made the plot so credible may be too much for everyone, but it made Free to Trade a gripping thriller for this former Wall Street professional.
February 23, 2022
I don't expect all that much from a thriller, but this was just poorly written, and fairly obvious what was going to happen. What really set me off was the Neanderthal sensibility of the male characters: sexist, racist, and just plain stupid men who feel they have to save women with their fists. Maybe that's Ridpath's experience of bond traders, but it makes for a lame story.
April 16, 2023
Financial Thriller- My first Ridpath
If you are interested even remotely in finance with topsy turvy stock movement, bond issues, interest rate movement, insider trading, special purpose vehicles, killers and cruel people, this one is for you. But I guessed the best part of "who dunnit", ans rightly, which dampened the read a little bit.
If you are interested even remotely in finance with topsy turvy stock movement, bond issues, interest rate movement, insider trading, special purpose vehicles, killers and cruel people, this one is for you. But I guessed the best part of "who dunnit", ans rightly, which dampened the read a little bit.
March 25, 2018
English murder/mystery book I bought in Olympia, Greece. A bond trader has solve what he thinks is the murder of a colleague. Takes him to NY, Arizona and back to London. Story is about bonds bought by his company that were very suspect as to how they were offered.
August 11, 2020
I almost gave up on this book in the beginning, but it began to take off and was quite interesting at the end. A lot of juggling goes on in the trading world and reading minds would be a helpful asset.
September 10, 2023
Сменям жанра, макар че тази книга не е само криминале/трилър. Отново разгадах загадката още на около 20-30% от книгата, просто персонажът се държеше твърде неадекватно спрямо вече изградения му образ. Рязко ще сменя "посоката" с книги на историческа и научна тематика. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews