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Power Play
It was the perfect retreat for a troubled company. No cell phones. No BlackBerrys. No cars. Just a luxurious, remote lodge surrounded by thousands of miles of wilderness.
All the top officers of the Hammond Aerospace Corporation are there. And one last-minute substitute -- a junior executive named Jake Landry. He's a steady, modest, and taciturn guy with a gift for keeping his head down and a turbulent past he's trying to put behind him.
Jake's uncomfortable with all the power players he's been thrown in with, with all the swaggering and the posturing. The only person there he knows is the female CEO's assistant--his ex-girlfriend, Ali.
When a band of backwoods hunters crash the opening-night dinner, the executives suddenly find themselves held hostage by armed men who will do anything, to anyone, to get their hands on the largest ransom in history. Now, terrified and desperate and cut off from the rest of the world, the captives are at the mercy of hard men with guns who may not be what they seem.
The corporate big shots hadn't wanted Jake there. But now he's the only one who can save them.
Power Play is a non-stop, pulse-pounding, high-stakes thriller that will hold the reader riveted until the very last page.
All the top officers of the Hammond Aerospace Corporation are there. And one last-minute substitute -- a junior executive named Jake Landry. He's a steady, modest, and taciturn guy with a gift for keeping his head down and a turbulent past he's trying to put behind him.
Jake's uncomfortable with all the power players he's been thrown in with, with all the swaggering and the posturing. The only person there he knows is the female CEO's assistant--his ex-girlfriend, Ali.
When a band of backwoods hunters crash the opening-night dinner, the executives suddenly find themselves held hostage by armed men who will do anything, to anyone, to get their hands on the largest ransom in history. Now, terrified and desperate and cut off from the rest of the world, the captives are at the mercy of hard men with guns who may not be what they seem.
The corporate big shots hadn't wanted Jake there. But now he's the only one who can save them.
Power Play is a non-stop, pulse-pounding, high-stakes thriller that will hold the reader riveted until the very last page.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2007
291 people are currently reading
2133 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Finder
70 books2,655 followersJoseph Finder is the author of the forthcoming novel JUDGMENT and fourteen other novels, many of them New York Times bestsellers, published in 35 countries around the world. His book HIGH CRIMES was adapted into a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd; PARANOIA was made into the Harrison Ford/Gary Oldman film.
He was born in Chicago, lived in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Washington State, and upstate New York. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics award, the Barry Award, and the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for best novel. His first novel, THE MOSCOW CLUB, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 10 best spy novels of all time.
He lives with his wife in Boston and Cape Cod, where he roots for the Red Sox and mourns his Golden Retriever rescue dog, Mia. He’s currently trying to convince his wife to get another dog.
He was born in Chicago, lived in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Washington State, and upstate New York. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics award, the Barry Award, and the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for best novel. His first novel, THE MOSCOW CLUB, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 10 best spy novels of all time.
He lives with his wife in Boston and Cape Cod, where he roots for the Red Sox and mourns his Golden Retriever rescue dog, Mia. He’s currently trying to convince his wife to get another dog.
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February 11, 2022
Scriitoarea Tess Gerritsen ("Chirurgul", "Ucenicul") spunea despre roman: "Va provoc sa cititi prima pagina. N-o sa reusiti sa mai lasati cartea din mana." Aceasta afirmatie m-a pus pe ganduri - daca un scriitor poate sa cucereasca cititorul de la prima pagina si am ajuns la concluzia ca de foarte putine ori reusesti sa captezi atentia din prima, un roman fiind atat de complex are nevoie de spatiu de desfasurare si constructie. Recunosc ca eu mai degraba incep cu ultima pagina la majoritatea romanelor, neputand niciodata sa-mi stapanesc curiozitatea. :D
Dupa un prolog incitant cartea debuteaza cu o ampla descriere tehnica a modului de fabricare a componentelor avioanelor si ni se povesteste despre suruburi, adezive si alte lucruri teribile care se pot defecta la un avion aflat in aer sau chiar si la sol. Pentru cei pasionati de aeronave aceste descrieri vor fi foarte educative, asta si pentru ca autorul a facut serioase cercetari, iar pentru ceilalti, fragilitatea unor asemenea aparate va fi inspaimantatoare. Practic in primele 3 capitole mi-am ros toate unghiile.
Se face aceasta introducere tehnica pentru ca personajul principal Jake Landry lucreaza la Hammond Aerospace, o intreprindere care produce componente de avioane. Expert fiind in modelul 880 este trimis impreuna cu membrii conducerii intr-o delegatie. Aceasta are loc la o cabana izolata din British Columbia. Ajunsi acolo, in timp ce discuta problemele spinoase ala companiei sunt atacati si luati ostatici de niste banditi salbatici care cer rascumparare pentru ei. Insa Jake Landry este genul de erou care are si inteligenta dar si puterea de a salva situatia.
Parcurgand romanul putem sa invatam cele 5 reguli ale "jocului puterii":
1 - Gaseste-ti tinta.
2 - Izoleaza ostaticii.
3 - Cere rascumparare.
4 - Foloseste violenta daca e necesar.
5 - Ia banii si fugi (cu mentiunea sa te asiguri ca Jake Landry nu este unul dintre ostatici).
De asemenea m-a amuzat foarte mult faptul ca la pagina 27 ne este prezentat avantajul imens de a avea un caine si nu o iubita: cainele nu se plange niciodata cand vii acasa tarziu de la serviciu, de fapt e cel mai fericit sa te vada. Nu il deranjeaza sa manance acelasi lucru in fiecare zi. Nu insista sa te uiti la "Neveste disperate" atunci cand vrei sa te uiti la fotbal. Si nu te intreaba niciodata daca ti se pare ca s-a ingrasat.
Mi-a placut si faptul ca la un moment dat se face referire la melodia "Bleeding Me" de la Metallica.
In incheiere am selectat cateva citate, unele amuzante, altele pline de invataminte:
"Cineva a spus odata ca cea mai mare tragedie a acestui secol este ca un barbat poate sa isi traiasca intreaga viata fara sa stie vreodata sigur daca e un las sau nu."
"E ca si cum legea lui Darwin a fost abrogata. Am ajuns sub domnia celor slabi."
"Am considerat intotdeauna ca traiul impreuna cu o femeie se aseamana cu vizitarea unei tari straine unde nimeni nu vorbeste limba ta iar toate indicatoarele sunt intr-un alfabet ciudat care seamana vag cu ceea ce cunosti tu."
"Am descoperit ca poti justifica oricand orice lux obscen pe motiv ca este folositor productivitatii."
"Tatal meu avea ceea ce el numea "cutia cu jucarii" formata din trofee de razboi si grenade de antrenament dezactivate, pe care le adusese cu el din Vietnam. Cand aveam vreo 6 ani, mi-a explicat ce era o grenada incendiara. Un pic mai tarziu in acea dupa-amiaza, in timp ce alergam in jurul lui incercand sa-l conving sa ne jucam de-a v-ati ascunselea, a aruncat una spre mine. Ca sa ma invete minte. Abia dupa ce m-am oprit din plans, mi-a explicat, printre hohote de ras, ca mai intai trebuie sa tragi acul, altfel nu o sa se detoneze."
Dupa un prolog incitant cartea debuteaza cu o ampla descriere tehnica a modului de fabricare a componentelor avioanelor si ni se povesteste despre suruburi, adezive si alte lucruri teribile care se pot defecta la un avion aflat in aer sau chiar si la sol. Pentru cei pasionati de aeronave aceste descrieri vor fi foarte educative, asta si pentru ca autorul a facut serioase cercetari, iar pentru ceilalti, fragilitatea unor asemenea aparate va fi inspaimantatoare. Practic in primele 3 capitole mi-am ros toate unghiile.
Se face aceasta introducere tehnica pentru ca personajul principal Jake Landry lucreaza la Hammond Aerospace, o intreprindere care produce componente de avioane. Expert fiind in modelul 880 este trimis impreuna cu membrii conducerii intr-o delegatie. Aceasta are loc la o cabana izolata din British Columbia. Ajunsi acolo, in timp ce discuta problemele spinoase ala companiei sunt atacati si luati ostatici de niste banditi salbatici care cer rascumparare pentru ei. Insa Jake Landry este genul de erou care are si inteligenta dar si puterea de a salva situatia.
Parcurgand romanul putem sa invatam cele 5 reguli ale "jocului puterii":
1 - Gaseste-ti tinta.
2 - Izoleaza ostaticii.
3 - Cere rascumparare.
4 - Foloseste violenta daca e necesar.
5 - Ia banii si fugi (cu mentiunea sa te asiguri ca Jake Landry nu este unul dintre ostatici).
De asemenea m-a amuzat foarte mult faptul ca la pagina 27 ne este prezentat avantajul imens de a avea un caine si nu o iubita: cainele nu se plange niciodata cand vii acasa tarziu de la serviciu, de fapt e cel mai fericit sa te vada. Nu il deranjeaza sa manance acelasi lucru in fiecare zi. Nu insista sa te uiti la "Neveste disperate" atunci cand vrei sa te uiti la fotbal. Si nu te intreaba niciodata daca ti se pare ca s-a ingrasat.
Mi-a placut si faptul ca la un moment dat se face referire la melodia "Bleeding Me" de la Metallica.
In incheiere am selectat cateva citate, unele amuzante, altele pline de invataminte:
"Cineva a spus odata ca cea mai mare tragedie a acestui secol este ca un barbat poate sa isi traiasca intreaga viata fara sa stie vreodata sigur daca e un las sau nu."
"E ca si cum legea lui Darwin a fost abrogata. Am ajuns sub domnia celor slabi."
"Am considerat intotdeauna ca traiul impreuna cu o femeie se aseamana cu vizitarea unei tari straine unde nimeni nu vorbeste limba ta iar toate indicatoarele sunt intr-un alfabet ciudat care seamana vag cu ceea ce cunosti tu."
"Am descoperit ca poti justifica oricand orice lux obscen pe motiv ca este folositor productivitatii."
"Tatal meu avea ceea ce el numea "cutia cu jucarii" formata din trofee de razboi si grenade de antrenament dezactivate, pe care le adusese cu el din Vietnam. Cand aveam vreo 6 ani, mi-a explicat ce era o grenada incendiara. Un pic mai tarziu in acea dupa-amiaza, in timp ce alergam in jurul lui incercand sa-l conving sa ne jucam de-a v-ati ascunselea, a aruncat una spre mine. Ca sa ma invete minte. Abia dupa ce m-am oprit din plans, mi-a explicat, printre hohote de ras, ca mai intai trebuie sa tragi acul, altfel nu o sa se detoneze."
September 22, 2024
A very good four stars first part. The story is promising, with an interesting second plan action in jack's past.
The last fifty pages seem to be written in a hurry: too much violence, some stupid bad guys who do not kill Jack (our main hero, who looks to be the un-born twin of John Corey) when at ease, not too many explanations in the end. Quite a pity, but from time to time I like to read such types of thrillers.
Hence, the four stars, even if they are little ones...
The last fifty pages seem to be written in a hurry: too much violence, some stupid bad guys who do not kill Jack (our main hero, who looks to be the un-born twin of John Corey) when at ease, not too many explanations in the end. Quite a pity, but from time to time I like to read such types of thrillers.
Hence, the four stars, even if they are little ones...
June 24, 2018
After bouncing amongst types of thrillers in his earlier books – several of which I enjoyed - this author has settled into the “corporate thriller” genre, which means more than just “office politics” and usually includes guns and violence. This author’s formula – introduce a regular guy protagonist, blow up his everyday work-a-day world and abracadabra – our hero - in this moment of great need and danger - discovers strengths and skills heretofore unbeknownst to both him and his peers. I believe I’ve read all of Finder’s books, but I’m not sure – which is part of the problem – Finder’s recent books read very much the same to me and are flat and predictable. Power Play is no exception.
The premise of Power Play is intriguing. High-level executives from the fictional firm Hammond Aerospace take their annual off-site meeting – at an impossibly remote location - and it turns into the company retreat from Hell. Our hero, Jake Landry, is a mid-level staffer who, when his boss is detained overseas, is invited at the last minute to attend the executive soirée. In the midst of the first night’s dinner – complete with plenty of booze and extravagant dishes - several unexpected guests show up at the door and things turn ugly - very ugly. And voila, “average guy” Jake becomes the go-to guy and needs to save the day.
There are several poignant and at times funny scenes in Power Play. Early on in the book Jake has a run-in with Human Resources which rings all too true. There is also an old-boys club at Hammond Aerospace which is doubly entertaining because the new CEO is a woman. But once the trouble begins at the retreat, less than a third of the way into the book, this thriller becomes straight vanilla fare and reminiscent of the old TV show “The A-Team”. The “bad guys” are one-dimensional, Jake’s co-workers – all type-A’s – become cowering imbeciles once there’s trouble and Jake morphs into a Jack Reacher, (from Lee Child’s books), wannabe. To explain and/or justify Jake’s hidden talents the author relies on flash-backs to his B-movie troubled youth – which quickly becomes even less interesting than Jake’s current dilemma.
But have no fear, Jake may be tough but he’s not heartless – he misses his dog terribly – a Golden Retriever he rescued from the shelter. And surprise, surprise, Jake’s ex-girlfriend is also on the trip and well, there still may be a spark – so there’s your romance.
Not a whole lot of depth or anything new here - Pass on this one.
The premise of Power Play is intriguing. High-level executives from the fictional firm Hammond Aerospace take their annual off-site meeting – at an impossibly remote location - and it turns into the company retreat from Hell. Our hero, Jake Landry, is a mid-level staffer who, when his boss is detained overseas, is invited at the last minute to attend the executive soirée. In the midst of the first night’s dinner – complete with plenty of booze and extravagant dishes - several unexpected guests show up at the door and things turn ugly - very ugly. And voila, “average guy” Jake becomes the go-to guy and needs to save the day.
There are several poignant and at times funny scenes in Power Play. Early on in the book Jake has a run-in with Human Resources which rings all too true. There is also an old-boys club at Hammond Aerospace which is doubly entertaining because the new CEO is a woman. But once the trouble begins at the retreat, less than a third of the way into the book, this thriller becomes straight vanilla fare and reminiscent of the old TV show “The A-Team”. The “bad guys” are one-dimensional, Jake’s co-workers – all type-A’s – become cowering imbeciles once there’s trouble and Jake morphs into a Jack Reacher, (from Lee Child’s books), wannabe. To explain and/or justify Jake’s hidden talents the author relies on flash-backs to his B-movie troubled youth – which quickly becomes even less interesting than Jake’s current dilemma.
But have no fear, Jake may be tough but he’s not heartless – he misses his dog terribly – a Golden Retriever he rescued from the shelter. And surprise, surprise, Jake’s ex-girlfriend is also on the trip and well, there still may be a spark – so there’s your romance.
Not a whole lot of depth or anything new here - Pass on this one.
January 9, 2019
4.5 Stars, rounded up to 5
What a great book! Jake Landry is a junior executive at the Hammond Aerospace Corporation. He's also a steady, modest guy (with a sense of humor 😄) who has a turbulent past he wants to keep in the past. Ordered to fill in for his boss at the annual offsite, he’s out of his element. He’s uncomfortable with the lavish accommodations ... and especially with the arrogant, swaggering men who run the company. Then a band of hunters crashes the opening night festivities. Yet, why are they carrying army weapons rather than hunting guns?
Landry’s past is told through flashbacks built in throughout the story, which was my least favorite part of the book. The chapters didn't have headings so many times, when I thought I was reading about the present, I found I was reading about Jakes's past. It was a bit jarring. At any rate, in a strange way, Jake's past experiences have prepared him as the most likely candidate to rescue them from their impossible situation.
I loved the end of the book, which featured my favorite character - a rescue dog named Gert! 💕
What a great book! Jake Landry is a junior executive at the Hammond Aerospace Corporation. He's also a steady, modest guy (with a sense of humor 😄) who has a turbulent past he wants to keep in the past. Ordered to fill in for his boss at the annual offsite, he’s out of his element. He’s uncomfortable with the lavish accommodations ... and especially with the arrogant, swaggering men who run the company. Then a band of hunters crashes the opening night festivities. Yet, why are they carrying army weapons rather than hunting guns?
Landry’s past is told through flashbacks built in throughout the story, which was my least favorite part of the book. The chapters didn't have headings so many times, when I thought I was reading about the present, I found I was reading about Jakes's past. It was a bit jarring. At any rate, in a strange way, Jake's past experiences have prepared him as the most likely candidate to rescue them from their impossible situation.
I loved the end of the book, which featured my favorite character - a rescue dog named Gert! 💕
January 31, 2015
Executives having a corporate retreat in a Canadian hunting lodge - that's the begining of what looks like a corporate thriller. But then the executives are taken hostage by a group of armed men who appear to be redneck hunters looking for a big pay day. Nothing is as it seems.
Some have called Joseph Finder the John Grisham of the corporate thriller. I disagree. Joseph Finder is well-versed on the corporate world. His protagonist, Jake Landry, may start out looking like a suit but he becomes the kick-ass hero of the story.
This was a fast paced, greatly entertaining story.
Some have called Joseph Finder the John Grisham of the corporate thriller. I disagree. Joseph Finder is well-versed on the corporate world. His protagonist, Jake Landry, may start out looking like a suit but he becomes the kick-ass hero of the story.
This was a fast paced, greatly entertaining story.
August 2, 2014
Well done and exciting mystery suspense thriller.
The beginning reminded me of Die Hard and Deliverance. A group of top executives are held hostage by five military types with guns in a remote location. Ordinary guy Jake is willing to take risks to do things against the hostage takers. He does unexpected things. Jake is not the military type. What he does have comes partly from surviving 18 months in jail as a teenager. The characters and plot are well developed. Dialogue is good. A couple lines I liked follow.
He: “I owe you one.”
She (Zoe): “One? One squared more like.”
He: “That’s still one Zoe.”
A judge tells Jake he has a good wolf and a bad wolf inside him. He asks which one will win. She says the one you feed.
There is a happy ending for the good guys which I liked.
I have a few complaints, which are minor.
1. I don’t like first person books. But this is one of the better ones.
2. There were many interruptions in the current story to tell Jake’s back story – about his time in juvenile prison and his abusive father. I would have preferred it done in fewer larger pieces – not many small pieces.
3. The back stories needed an intro/title or something. One sentence is the last sentence of the current scene. The next sentence is in the back story and I was confused – not knowing we had moved to the back story. If there was a line or symbol in the book, the audiobook narrator did not say so.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Dennis Boutsikaris was very good, except he should have paused longer between the back stories and the current story.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1ST person. Unabridged audiobook length: 8 hrs and 29 mins. Swearing language: strong but rarely used. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day mostly British Columbia, Canada with a little southern California. Book copyright: 2007. Genre: mystery suspense thriller.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my ratings of other Joseph Finder books see my 5 star review of Paranoia.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The beginning reminded me of Die Hard and Deliverance. A group of top executives are held hostage by five military types with guns in a remote location. Ordinary guy Jake is willing to take risks to do things against the hostage takers. He does unexpected things. Jake is not the military type. What he does have comes partly from surviving 18 months in jail as a teenager. The characters and plot are well developed. Dialogue is good. A couple lines I liked follow.
He: “I owe you one.”
She (Zoe): “One? One squared more like.”
He: “That’s still one Zoe.”
A judge tells Jake he has a good wolf and a bad wolf inside him. He asks which one will win. She says the one you feed.
There is a happy ending for the good guys which I liked.
I have a few complaints, which are minor.
1. I don’t like first person books. But this is one of the better ones.
2. There were many interruptions in the current story to tell Jake’s back story – about his time in juvenile prison and his abusive father. I would have preferred it done in fewer larger pieces – not many small pieces.
3. The back stories needed an intro/title or something. One sentence is the last sentence of the current scene. The next sentence is in the back story and I was confused – not knowing we had moved to the back story. If there was a line or symbol in the book, the audiobook narrator did not say so.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Dennis Boutsikaris was very good, except he should have paused longer between the back stories and the current story.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1ST person. Unabridged audiobook length: 8 hrs and 29 mins. Swearing language: strong but rarely used. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day mostly British Columbia, Canada with a little southern California. Book copyright: 2007. Genre: mystery suspense thriller.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my ratings of other Joseph Finder books see my 5 star review of Paranoia.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 6, 2014
Never judge a book by its cover and never read the blurb on the back if you want a surprise. However, on occasion both of these are useful tools when trying to figure out what the book is actually about. For the first half ‘Power Play’ by Joseph Finder appears to be a character study of Jake Landry, a young engineer who finds himself on an executive retreat. If it was not for the fact that I browsed the back cover I would not have suspected the thriller that happened later.
There is certainly a major issue with pacing in ‘Power Play’. It starts as an interesting book about the aviation industry, but this is meant to be a thriller. A relatively small space is given over to the actual action in the book, so when things do kick off they are rushed. There is little reason that Finder could not have interspersed some of the character development into the action sections, giving the book a far better balance for the thriller lover.
Despite the issues with the structure, I still enjoyed the book. The character of Jake is likable and interesting; more about his troubled past is revealed as the book progresses. When the action does start it feels like ‘Die Hard in a Cabin’ and any fan of nonsense action is going to like that. I just feel that Finder should have chosen one genre or the other; character piece or action piece. The book ends up somewhere in the middle and does justice to neither.
There is certainly a major issue with pacing in ‘Power Play’. It starts as an interesting book about the aviation industry, but this is meant to be a thriller. A relatively small space is given over to the actual action in the book, so when things do kick off they are rushed. There is little reason that Finder could not have interspersed some of the character development into the action sections, giving the book a far better balance for the thriller lover.
Despite the issues with the structure, I still enjoyed the book. The character of Jake is likable and interesting; more about his troubled past is revealed as the book progresses. When the action does start it feels like ‘Die Hard in a Cabin’ and any fan of nonsense action is going to like that. I just feel that Finder should have chosen one genre or the other; character piece or action piece. The book ends up somewhere in the middle and does justice to neither.
September 1, 2007
This is a fun, engaging novel "starring" a low- to mid-level corporate employee who gets caught up in corporate intrigue and an "offsite" gone wrong. I'm not going to say more for fear of spoiling the plot. I very much enjoyed the book; I found the primary characters engaging (and almost every one of the secondary characters had a key role to play in the book; there were few mere "extras"). I'd call it a "page-turner."
September 10, 2013
Power Play is oine of those decent thriller that never rises to the level of true greatness, but offers an interesting premise, a moving plot, and clever plot twists.
The premise is interesting. A group of executives on a retreat in a remote wilderness area are held hostage-- sort of like DIE HARD without the big building and the cops on the outside. This idea is well developed and the author obviously spent some time creating the tension of the situation, as well as a clever underlying reason that this particular group is targetted.
The characters are interesting and well written. The hero has a past that the reader slowly becomes aware of through a series of flashbacks. He isn't Supercop or a former Green Beret.. but a normal guy with some different experiences with tough guys that allows him to use his wits and skills to fight against his captors. The woman executive who has just taken over the company is sort of a no-nonsense strong woman who suddenly realizes that she has spent too much time in the corporate world and not enough time nurturing her family.. a really nice realistic touch to this novel. Of course there are characters who are blowhards and executive bullies and snobs, as well as characters who are weak and cowardly. The only characters that I felt weren't adequately fleshed out was the bad guys. I just couldn't picture anything except their avarice and desire for money.
The only other book I've read by this author was my very positively reviewed "Kiler Instinct" and this one falls far short of that one. But if "killer Instinct" is a home run, this is stand-up double. A decent thriller\action book with enough human moments to allow the reader to recognize that Finder knows people.
However, both books featured the same type of corporate hacks and blowhards.. When I get to the next novel by Finder, I'm hoping I will find it to have a greater variety of characters. On the other hand, some writers write what they know... And Finder seems to have a deep understanding of the corporate mentality.
The premise is interesting. A group of executives on a retreat in a remote wilderness area are held hostage-- sort of like DIE HARD without the big building and the cops on the outside. This idea is well developed and the author obviously spent some time creating the tension of the situation, as well as a clever underlying reason that this particular group is targetted.
The characters are interesting and well written. The hero has a past that the reader slowly becomes aware of through a series of flashbacks. He isn't Supercop or a former Green Beret.. but a normal guy with some different experiences with tough guys that allows him to use his wits and skills to fight against his captors. The woman executive who has just taken over the company is sort of a no-nonsense strong woman who suddenly realizes that she has spent too much time in the corporate world and not enough time nurturing her family.. a really nice realistic touch to this novel. Of course there are characters who are blowhards and executive bullies and snobs, as well as characters who are weak and cowardly. The only characters that I felt weren't adequately fleshed out was the bad guys. I just couldn't picture anything except their avarice and desire for money.
The only other book I've read by this author was my very positively reviewed "Kiler Instinct" and this one falls far short of that one. But if "killer Instinct" is a home run, this is stand-up double. A decent thriller\action book with enough human moments to allow the reader to recognize that Finder knows people.
However, both books featured the same type of corporate hacks and blowhards.. When I get to the next novel by Finder, I'm hoping I will find it to have a greater variety of characters. On the other hand, some writers write what they know... And Finder seems to have a deep understanding of the corporate mentality.
April 12, 2012
Following up my pleasure at discovering Finder's "Vanished," I perused the shelves at the local library and found "Power Play" which promised more of the same high octane enjoyment.
Low-key, junior executive Jake Landry is a last minute substitute for his company's high powered executive retreat at a remote lodge with no cell phone or internet access. That sounds relaxing but company politics are at a high boil thanks to the new female CEO who is instituting a lot of ethical policies that the good, ol' boys don't cotton to. Jake's difficult background have imbued him with qualities that come in handy when dealing with ethical quandries and obnoxious, powerful people and ... probably ... when a group of backwoods hunters crash the retreat with vicious intentions.
FINAL EVALUATION
This was not as satisfying as the Nick Heller book which started me reading Finder's other books. However, it wasn't popcorn I'd turn up my nose at. The main character's story, told partially in flashbacks, was interesting in the way that Dick Francis's characters are. Humble, modest, but able to take incredible amounts of pain and incredibly ingenious in outfoxing evil opponents. I also like the way he deals with relationships. Not tons of insights there but what's there is solid. And no sex. Which is a relief after what some thrillers feel must be included to make a book market-worthy. Definitely a good beach read.
Low-key, junior executive Jake Landry is a last minute substitute for his company's high powered executive retreat at a remote lodge with no cell phone or internet access. That sounds relaxing but company politics are at a high boil thanks to the new female CEO who is instituting a lot of ethical policies that the good, ol' boys don't cotton to. Jake's difficult background have imbued him with qualities that come in handy when dealing with ethical quandries and obnoxious, powerful people and ... probably ... when a group of backwoods hunters crash the retreat with vicious intentions.
FINAL EVALUATION
This was not as satisfying as the Nick Heller book which started me reading Finder's other books. However, it wasn't popcorn I'd turn up my nose at. The main character's story, told partially in flashbacks, was interesting in the way that Dick Francis's characters are. Humble, modest, but able to take incredible amounts of pain and incredibly ingenious in outfoxing evil opponents. I also like the way he deals with relationships. Not tons of insights there but what's there is solid. And no sex. Which is a relief after what some thrillers feel must be included to make a book market-worthy. Definitely a good beach read.
April 1, 2010
Five stars is not enough. This book was great! One of the cover blurbs stated that once you start reading it you won't be able to put it down. Well I thought, once kids and grandkids attack every book falls quickly to the wayside.
Wrong. I finished this one at the horse barn where my oldest granddaughter was riding in preparation for an upcoming horse show. I couldn't put it down. I kept wondering about what turn the story might make next when I tried to come a stopping place. This is the first book I actually had to carry around with me.
Great suspense, lots of action, marvelous characters. The main character Jake was awesome!
I will read everything Joseph Finder writes. Grocery lists included, if I could find them!
Wrong. I finished this one at the horse barn where my oldest granddaughter was riding in preparation for an upcoming horse show. I couldn't put it down. I kept wondering about what turn the story might make next when I tried to come a stopping place. This is the first book I actually had to carry around with me.
Great suspense, lots of action, marvelous characters. The main character Jake was awesome!
I will read everything Joseph Finder writes. Grocery lists included, if I could find them!
November 12, 2020
A remote company retreat is the perfect setting for this thriller by Finder. One of his best.
July 28, 2020
Another implausible but highly entertaining thriller. Maybe 3.5, but I enjoyed the book and the setting. Pure fantasy reading!
June 23, 2023
I enjoyed reading this book for the second time... I hoped the dog would feature a little bit more, and I like how the protagonist's interest was written subtly...
The plot was interesting, and you can tell there was a lot of research done to get details for the story, like the airplane design, K&R terms, and corporate hierarchy.
I would recommend this book to readers who like action novels with some engineering background.
"You can always justify any obscene luxury on the grounds of productivity."
The plot was interesting, and you can tell there was a lot of research done to get details for the story, like the airplane design, K&R terms, and corporate hierarchy.
I would recommend this book to readers who like action novels with some engineering background.
"You can always justify any obscene luxury on the grounds of productivity."
January 20, 2018
A testosterone-laden action thriller. Fast-paced and enjoyable, especially if you're the type of reader who's also drawn to Bruce Willis movies.
February 8, 2021
This was a fast paced interesting book that I couldn’t put down. Once it going and they arrived at the lodge, I was intrigued. I like corporate themed books anyway, so this was right up my alley.
September 23, 2025
A bit uninspired but an entertaining (enough) and quick read
September 2, 2019
Mr. Finder has done it again! Even though most of the story is confined to one area, the action flies off the pages, and the reader will race through the pages, anxious to read what happens next!
October 1, 2017
Interesting and pretty scary too! Such a good author for making sure all the details are thought of and tied up at the end.
April 28, 2022
Exciting, entertaining and fast paced! A joy to read.
May 19, 2010
PROTAGONIST: Jake Landry, junior executive
SETTING: Remote British Columbia
SERIES: Standalone corporate thriller
RATING: 4.25
When you think of a place where you would set a thriller, a corporate environment would probably not be the first setting that would come to mind. After all, what excitement is there in the world of drones laboring in cubicles and stuffed shirts pontificating from their mahogany-paneled offices? Joseph Finder has managed to go beneath that stultifying surface to focus on the power plays that go on behind the scenes, secret groups plotting overthrow, greedy executives going around the law.
Cheryl Tobin has just become the first female CEO of Hammond Aerospace Corporation. Her appointment has come as a surprise to some of the entrenched management, who are busily working to undermine her authority and get her removed from that position. The perfect opportunity presents itself when the top leadership goes on their annual offsite meeting to a remote lodge in British Columbia. Jake Landry, a lower level manager, is summoned to join the group, mostly because of his expertise around one of the company's major products and also to assess why a competitor's plane recently crashed. He has never breathed the rarified air that the executives are used to; as it turns out, in times of crisis, he has more mettle than the entire leadership team put together.
As the group arrives at the lodge, we start to see some of the subversive plans unfolding. There is one group intent on sabotaging Cheryl; various individuals are also working at cross purposes for their own gain. But then the unthinkable happens—a team of armed men take the group hostage. Their leader is very attuned to how the company works and demands a large ransom. From that point on, the various mutinous plots start to unravel, and the unsavory motivations of the various managers are unveiled. Together with his former lover, Ali Hillman who is now Cheryl's assistant, Jake sees what needs to be done and seizes the day, trying to outwit the hostage takers without loss of life. He isn't always successful.
Finder does an exceptional job of going beyond the usual thriller formula and creating a truly suspenseful piece of work. First of all, he developed a very likable protagonist that the reader roots for. Jake is definitely a fish out of water with this group of corporate muckety-mucks. Contrary to the normal behavior of a manager at his level, he doesn't suck up at all. In fact, he tends to do just the opposite, almost pointedly challenging them and not going along with the program. On top of that, he has a decidedly interesting past that equips him well for the business at hand. Will all of the mutinies be exposed? Will the team survive the attack and go back to business as usual? It's easy to assume the answer will be yes, but in Finder's hands, it's not that cut and dried.
Power Play is a book that is almost impossible to put down. The pacing is tremendous and pulls you through the narrative like a fish hooked to a line on a speedboat. True, it wasn't quite credible that Jake would manage to overcome so many tough challenges. And overall, the characters aren't particularly well developed. If you're in the mood for an action-filled adrenaline ride, then Power Play is the book for you. It was for me!
SETTING: Remote British Columbia
SERIES: Standalone corporate thriller
RATING: 4.25
When you think of a place where you would set a thriller, a corporate environment would probably not be the first setting that would come to mind. After all, what excitement is there in the world of drones laboring in cubicles and stuffed shirts pontificating from their mahogany-paneled offices? Joseph Finder has managed to go beneath that stultifying surface to focus on the power plays that go on behind the scenes, secret groups plotting overthrow, greedy executives going around the law.
Cheryl Tobin has just become the first female CEO of Hammond Aerospace Corporation. Her appointment has come as a surprise to some of the entrenched management, who are busily working to undermine her authority and get her removed from that position. The perfect opportunity presents itself when the top leadership goes on their annual offsite meeting to a remote lodge in British Columbia. Jake Landry, a lower level manager, is summoned to join the group, mostly because of his expertise around one of the company's major products and also to assess why a competitor's plane recently crashed. He has never breathed the rarified air that the executives are used to; as it turns out, in times of crisis, he has more mettle than the entire leadership team put together.
As the group arrives at the lodge, we start to see some of the subversive plans unfolding. There is one group intent on sabotaging Cheryl; various individuals are also working at cross purposes for their own gain. But then the unthinkable happens—a team of armed men take the group hostage. Their leader is very attuned to how the company works and demands a large ransom. From that point on, the various mutinous plots start to unravel, and the unsavory motivations of the various managers are unveiled. Together with his former lover, Ali Hillman who is now Cheryl's assistant, Jake sees what needs to be done and seizes the day, trying to outwit the hostage takers without loss of life. He isn't always successful.
Finder does an exceptional job of going beyond the usual thriller formula and creating a truly suspenseful piece of work. First of all, he developed a very likable protagonist that the reader roots for. Jake is definitely a fish out of water with this group of corporate muckety-mucks. Contrary to the normal behavior of a manager at his level, he doesn't suck up at all. In fact, he tends to do just the opposite, almost pointedly challenging them and not going along with the program. On top of that, he has a decidedly interesting past that equips him well for the business at hand. Will all of the mutinies be exposed? Will the team survive the attack and go back to business as usual? It's easy to assume the answer will be yes, but in Finder's hands, it's not that cut and dried.
Power Play is a book that is almost impossible to put down. The pacing is tremendous and pulls you through the narrative like a fish hooked to a line on a speedboat. True, it wasn't quite credible that Jake would manage to overcome so many tough challenges. And overall, the characters aren't particularly well developed. If you're in the mood for an action-filled adrenaline ride, then Power Play is the book for you. It was for me!
October 27, 2014
I’m still entertained that I read this. Even more so that I actually finished it. But when you are half-way round the world in a hotel room, and jet lag is making sleep all too illusive, and you just refuse to pay the equivalent of $15-$20 for a paperback in English, well, you sift through the spouse’s backpack and read whatever you come across. This is one such book.
Power Play is a he-man sort of book. The kind that sadly feeds men’s insistence that women really only like bad boys . . . even reformed bad boys. Let me make it clear to Mr. Finder: there is nothing romantic or mysterious (in a good way) about knowing that your man once killed someone.
The plot stays on its carefully crafted tracks throughout. So I can’t have much to complain about there. It’s the track itself that bothers me. In this story, a man who knows quite a bit about airplanes happens to get sent to his company’s executive, good-ole-boys yearly retreat at some cabin in the middle of nowhere. I’ll spare you the detailed contrivance that gets him there. Conveniently for the author, the protagonist’s lost true love, who is not an executive and who broke up with him because he never shared anything about his personal life, also magically, contrivedly, appears on scene. Within precious few hours, the cabin has been taken over by a band of renegades seemingly bent on taking the entire executive staff hostage so as to make off with much of the company’s money. And of course, they are unopposed to using far more violence than necessary to accomplish their goal.
Of course, just to keep it interesting(??), Mr. Finder also adds liberal dashes of executive in-fighting, whining, and crotch-scratching stopping just shy (or not) of chest thumping their masculinity. Actually, I think the rescue from the almost-rape scene of the protagonist’s long lost love that crosses the chest thumping line. Or is it her overly heart-felt reaction–her desire to be touched by the protagonist so soon after the ordeal who only saves her by exercising brute strength force. I guess that’s how some men feel manly, by protecting their women folk.
My review jumps around because the story also jumps around. There are numerous flashbacks designed to let the reader into the mind of the protagonist, so that naturally by the end we understand who he is much better than those around him. And of course, he gets the girl in the end.
Contrived, contrived, contrived. While I really didn’t enjoy the actual story line, I will say that Mr. Finder knows how to write a story that moves along. He was neither too light nor too heavy with the dialog, and his general structure was well-written. In my preparation to write this review, I discovered that he has at least half-dozen acclaimed books released before this particular novel. I’ll have to ask my husband if they are all cast from the same sort of mold. Or if this was a blip in an otherwise good repertoire.
When I completed the book, I looked at my spouse and commented on the total unbelievability of the plot and wondered whether men really buy that kind of thing. And he silenced me well and good by querying the same thing of women for most of my favorite chick lit books. Touché.
But I can’t help thinking that few of the books that I choose to read for their modern fantasy appeal are half as ridiculous as Power Play.
Power Play is a he-man sort of book. The kind that sadly feeds men’s insistence that women really only like bad boys . . . even reformed bad boys. Let me make it clear to Mr. Finder: there is nothing romantic or mysterious (in a good way) about knowing that your man once killed someone.
The plot stays on its carefully crafted tracks throughout. So I can’t have much to complain about there. It’s the track itself that bothers me. In this story, a man who knows quite a bit about airplanes happens to get sent to his company’s executive, good-ole-boys yearly retreat at some cabin in the middle of nowhere. I’ll spare you the detailed contrivance that gets him there. Conveniently for the author, the protagonist’s lost true love, who is not an executive and who broke up with him because he never shared anything about his personal life, also magically, contrivedly, appears on scene. Within precious few hours, the cabin has been taken over by a band of renegades seemingly bent on taking the entire executive staff hostage so as to make off with much of the company’s money. And of course, they are unopposed to using far more violence than necessary to accomplish their goal.
Of course, just to keep it interesting(??), Mr. Finder also adds liberal dashes of executive in-fighting, whining, and crotch-scratching stopping just shy (or not) of chest thumping their masculinity. Actually, I think the rescue from the almost-rape scene of the protagonist’s long lost love that crosses the chest thumping line. Or is it her overly heart-felt reaction–her desire to be touched by the protagonist so soon after the ordeal who only saves her by exercising brute strength force. I guess that’s how some men feel manly, by protecting their women folk.
My review jumps around because the story also jumps around. There are numerous flashbacks designed to let the reader into the mind of the protagonist, so that naturally by the end we understand who he is much better than those around him. And of course, he gets the girl in the end.
Contrived, contrived, contrived. While I really didn’t enjoy the actual story line, I will say that Mr. Finder knows how to write a story that moves along. He was neither too light nor too heavy with the dialog, and his general structure was well-written. In my preparation to write this review, I discovered that he has at least half-dozen acclaimed books released before this particular novel. I’ll have to ask my husband if they are all cast from the same sort of mold. Or if this was a blip in an otherwise good repertoire.
When I completed the book, I looked at my spouse and commented on the total unbelievability of the plot and wondered whether men really buy that kind of thing. And he silenced me well and good by querying the same thing of women for most of my favorite chick lit books. Touché.
But I can’t help thinking that few of the books that I choose to read for their modern fantasy appeal are half as ridiculous as Power Play.
April 11, 2009
Finder is a "POWER PLAYER"
I'll start off by saying, "Yes, I'm a Finder fan and have been since I read High Crimes." I honestly think he's one of the best thriller authors out there and the reason is simply this....Finder never disappoints his readers. In the world of mystery/thriller authors, they can all take lessons from this master of the ultimate roller coaster ride.
With that said, I'm So glad he switched his emphasis from spy novels to corporate espionage. Set amid the steel and glass towers of corporate America, Power Play introduces us to some of the workings that go on inside these buildings, where the wheelers and dealers are nothing more than pawns in a game that some might call "Risk" while others might call "Jeopardy". Finder has his cast of characters leave the comforts of their magnificent offices and travel to the exact opposite ends of the spectrum as they embark on a retreat to an isolated and remote lodge where cell phones and the Internet are taboo......but where "Deliverance" will be found at the hands of some random hunters.
But the question is....how random are they? This is the one and only mistake in this book. Right on the jacket cover it tells what happens once these executives make themselves comfortable in this lodge. I would have much preferred to have been surprised at the outcome or should I say "shocked" by the outcome because that's what I would have been had it not told me what was going to happen after they arrived. I realize that jacket covers sell books but I feel the publisher does the reader an injustice by laying it out there before one word is even read.
One thing Finder is great at is delivering to his reader an unforgettable character. They always have great names and they're always tough guys down to the core. In this offering, our hero is Jake Landry, who almost reluctantly understands the inner workings of the company almost as much as he does the engineering of the airplanes they build. At Hammond Aerospace, other employees might consider him an underling yet CEO Cheryl Tobin invites him to participate in this corporate weekend raising the eyebrows of the other executives at the top of the ladder. Little do they know how happy they'll be that Landry is with them when the hunters arrive and the mayhem commences.
One thing is for sure -- I'll never tire of anything Joe Finder puts his pen to. He's in a class all his own and it's so deserved. Like his main characters, he's surely one of the good guys in this world of "authordom."
I'll start off by saying, "Yes, I'm a Finder fan and have been since I read High Crimes." I honestly think he's one of the best thriller authors out there and the reason is simply this....Finder never disappoints his readers. In the world of mystery/thriller authors, they can all take lessons from this master of the ultimate roller coaster ride.
With that said, I'm So glad he switched his emphasis from spy novels to corporate espionage. Set amid the steel and glass towers of corporate America, Power Play introduces us to some of the workings that go on inside these buildings, where the wheelers and dealers are nothing more than pawns in a game that some might call "Risk" while others might call "Jeopardy". Finder has his cast of characters leave the comforts of their magnificent offices and travel to the exact opposite ends of the spectrum as they embark on a retreat to an isolated and remote lodge where cell phones and the Internet are taboo......but where "Deliverance" will be found at the hands of some random hunters.
But the question is....how random are they? This is the one and only mistake in this book. Right on the jacket cover it tells what happens once these executives make themselves comfortable in this lodge. I would have much preferred to have been surprised at the outcome or should I say "shocked" by the outcome because that's what I would have been had it not told me what was going to happen after they arrived. I realize that jacket covers sell books but I feel the publisher does the reader an injustice by laying it out there before one word is even read.
One thing Finder is great at is delivering to his reader an unforgettable character. They always have great names and they're always tough guys down to the core. In this offering, our hero is Jake Landry, who almost reluctantly understands the inner workings of the company almost as much as he does the engineering of the airplanes they build. At Hammond Aerospace, other employees might consider him an underling yet CEO Cheryl Tobin invites him to participate in this corporate weekend raising the eyebrows of the other executives at the top of the ladder. Little do they know how happy they'll be that Landry is with them when the hunters arrive and the mayhem commences.
One thing is for sure -- I'll never tire of anything Joe Finder puts his pen to. He's in a class all his own and it's so deserved. Like his main characters, he's surely one of the good guys in this world of "authordom."
August 20, 2017
Master story teller Joseph Finder's explosive suspense thriller, "Power Play", without question a thrill ride from start to finish. Creating a protagonist like Jake Landry is one of author Joseph Finder's real talents. Finder's ability to weave clever and chilling plots always make for some great reading. Jake Landry is down low on the totem pole of Hammond Aerospace working under Mike Zorn. The company's yearly executive retreat to the King Chinook Lodge is a day away and new CEO Cheryl Tobin wants Jake going. Jake is going on the retreat instead of his boss Zorn who's tackling a tricky semi crisis. Having to fly on the jet going north of Vancouver, and then taking a boat to the middle of nowhere is not something Jake finds very exciting. However while traveling Cheryl gives Jake an assignment. She wants him to be a spy and collect company gossip from other executives on this retreat. Also, Jake's former girlfriend Ali Hillman is Cheryl's assistant and going along this trip. Jake still has strong feelings for Ali but their relationship is over. As the group gets settled into the lodge a gang of armed intruders takes over the lodge and is holding the executives for $5 million hostage. In a fast paced page turning thriller, "Power Play", is as enjoyable as it is exciting to read. The jig saw pieces of the plot come together with some unexpected twists too. Written in 2007 and coming in at just over 390 pages, "Power Play" is a do not miss read. Author Joseph Finder does spins some wild and crazy yarns. With his background I'm sure he has a hundred other great tales like this one. So four stars out of a possible five stars for, "Power Play. The only reason I didn't go five stars is that the supporting characters needed more poly-fil to puff them up some more. (Especially Ali). Be sure not to skip this one !
March 17, 2008
Wall Street Journal describes this book as "The action is swift ... keeps the plot bubbling and the pages turning." I agree!
I thought it was really good! I liked Jake - a multi-layered character with a great head on his shoulders After all he'd been through, he doesn't take to bullies, and I like how he deals with them.
I thought the plot different and never ending. Just when you think you know what's going on and who's behind it all, out pops something else that has you second-guessing yourself over an over again. I was really surprised at the ending and how well in favor it played for Jake.
I could also understand Ali's frustration, through the glimpses of the past, at Jake. You get several glimpses of how Jake grew up, and I could understand why he build walls around himself as personal protection. Still, if Jake truly felt something for Ali, he should have been able to crumble those walls just a little.
The action was good and close to never-ending. I liked how Jake thought things through, planned his actions, figured out what was going on. Right off you get a feel that something isn't right - that you should be able to see what's not right, but like Jake, you can't quite grasp it.
Finder's novels, Paranoia and Killer Instinct are getting rave reviews. I have this feeling I'll be picking them up.
I thought it was really good! I liked Jake - a multi-layered character with a great head on his shoulders After all he'd been through, he doesn't take to bullies, and I like how he deals with them.
I thought the plot different and never ending. Just when you think you know what's going on and who's behind it all, out pops something else that has you second-guessing yourself over an over again. I was really surprised at the ending and how well in favor it played for Jake.
I could also understand Ali's frustration, through the glimpses of the past, at Jake. You get several glimpses of how Jake grew up, and I could understand why he build walls around himself as personal protection. Still, if Jake truly felt something for Ali, he should have been able to crumble those walls just a little.
The action was good and close to never-ending. I liked how Jake thought things through, planned his actions, figured out what was going on. Right off you get a feel that something isn't right - that you should be able to see what's not right, but like Jake, you can't quite grasp it.
Finder's novels, Paranoia and Killer Instinct are getting rave reviews. I have this feeling I'll be picking them up.
January 19, 2012
A terrific book in my opinion. Joseph Finder's Power Play is a bit of a mystery but also an obvious kidnap for hire that was well played out. Jake Landry a junior executive at Hammond Industries an airplane manufacturer has been chosen to replace his boss at a top executive retreat in Canada. As the other top executives either try to ignore him or use him Jake has only one friend his ex-girlfriend Ali a beautiful assistant to the new CEO Cheryl. When their meeting is crashed by hunters who seem to know more than they should Jake starts to smell a rat in the executive group. Also he seems to think not everything is as it seems. Russell the leader of the hunters looks ex-military and like a man with no conscience. Soon Jake realizes he is correct and now the games are on. What i especially liked maybe even more so than the main plot line is the author goes back to Jake's past to show how he became who he is today. None of the people who he works with know of his real past only the wise cracking charmer they see now. Soon they realize he understands too much about the bad guys and too much about them. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Joseph Finder and Andrew Gross are two very similar authors too me. They both do a lot of research and try to take some current event or tragedy and and write a story around it.
September 16, 2011
The premise is similar to the Siege movies of Steven Segal. A group of people are taken hostage. The only person who can save the day would appear to be something far less than what he is. Unlike Casey Ryback in the Segal films, Jake Landry has emotions, a sense of humor under pressure, and has his own personal demons which lead the reader to wonder if he can really do what needs to be done.
The plot revolves around a corporate trip to the wilderness. That's one of these faux "survival for executives" camp where they take away cell phones, no Internet, no TV, no connections to the outside world. Then the group learns teamwork by walking through the woods, climbing rocks, and surviving without a microwave--until the evening meal at the lodge with meals that are probably measured in $100s of dollars per plate. Into this collection of cushy executives walk five strangers who promptly take the execs as hostages. The only person who has the slightest clue of how to deal with the situation is a junior executive who is there as a substitute for his boss who couldn't make it because he's closing a multi-billion dollar deal on the other side of the planet.
The author puts a nice spin on the "loner/outcast/hero" charater. The book reads quickly and is just fun to read.
The plot revolves around a corporate trip to the wilderness. That's one of these faux "survival for executives" camp where they take away cell phones, no Internet, no TV, no connections to the outside world. Then the group learns teamwork by walking through the woods, climbing rocks, and surviving without a microwave--until the evening meal at the lodge with meals that are probably measured in $100s of dollars per plate. Into this collection of cushy executives walk five strangers who promptly take the execs as hostages. The only person who has the slightest clue of how to deal with the situation is a junior executive who is there as a substitute for his boss who couldn't make it because he's closing a multi-billion dollar deal on the other side of the planet.
The author puts a nice spin on the "loner/outcast/hero" charater. The book reads quickly and is just fun to read.
February 25, 2013
The back drop to Joseph Finder’s novel Power Play is the aerospace industry but it is populated by the kind of bullish, pompous characters that can be found in any corporate industry. Finder cleverly moves the action to a remote area where the tension between the characters mounts as they jockey for position. An elaborate hostage plan is then introduced which serves to expose the characters for who they really are. The hero in all of this is Jake Landry, more accidental hero than stereotypical action man and all the more interesting and engaging for it; Finder provides flashbacks to Jake’s troubled past in order to make his resilience and skills more convincing but from the start of the novel he is a kind, likeable character. The action of the novel is offset by the fact that Jake finds himself forced into close proximity with an ex-girlfriend for whom he still has deep feelings. I found Power Play to be a very exciting and unpredictable read. Finder grabbed my interest from the very first page and I remained transfixed as he navigated me through the various twists and turns of the plot. This is the first Joseph Finder novel that I have read but it certainly won’t be the last.
April 7, 2015
This was my first novel by Joseph Finder. The narrative is about kidnapping CEO"s of a large corporation for ransom. The meeting is taking place at a very remote fishing lodge in Vancouver, BC-Canada without any electronic connection to the outside world. There was lot of suspense with how people react under the threat of losing their lives and one strong person may make a difference to everyone's survival. Jake Landry is strong and well developed character. Keeps you guessing who is involved from within the company to steal millions of dollars. I will read his other novels.
May 24, 2019
3.25 stars. The second half of this novel is excellent, if you don’t mind getting through a mediocre first half. The writing is fine, but it doesn’t seem to be leading anywhere. Finally, Finder gets his writing juices flowing and KAPOW! The story turns into an action-thriller of the Die Hard genre (less pyrotechnics). I wonder what would have happened if his editors had asked him to shorten the intro and move into the action more quickly. Nevertheless, it’s worth the read.
There is some profanity, but mild compared to many books in this genre. I’m going to check out more of Finder’s books.
There is some profanity, but mild compared to many books in this genre. I’m going to check out more of Finder’s books.
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