What do you think?
Rate this book
Ben Webster #2
The Jackal's Share
A corporate investigator follows the Middle East’s criminal money trail in this sequel to
The Silent Oligarch
A desperate race against time that pits modern wealth against buried betrayals, The Jackal’s Share carries readers from London to Lake Como, from the rotten alleys of Marrakesh to the shining spires of Dubai. This is the story of corporate investigator Benjamin Webster, returning from his explosive debut in The Silent Oligarch. Now his client is a powerful billionaire whose demands soon thrust Webster from the dreamlike existence of the elite rich into a grimmer world of blackmail, offshore money, arms dealing, and terrorism.
When a prestigious London art dealer is found murdered in Tehran—and the Iranian government accuses him of smuggling rare artifacts—the last person anyone suspects is Darius Qazai. A fabulously successful financier, London luminary, and friend of the deceased, Qazai has directed his life and wealth toward philanthropy, cultural promotion, and peaceful protest against Iran’s regime. His fortune is colossal, his character immaculate.
But perhaps not clean enough. Something has scuttled Qazai’s recent business deal, some rumor from his past that frightened his American buyers. To prove his innocence Qazai hires a respectable corporate intelligence firm—led by Benjamin Webster—to investigate himself. Webster soon discovers that Qazai’s pristine past is actually a dense net of interlocking half-truths: is he a good man or an art smuggler? Is his fortune built on merit or on arms dealing? Is he, after all, his own man?
But when Qazai’s grandson is kidnapped a hideous new chain of events unfurls, forcing Webster into a frantic race across the Mediterranean to undo the damage done by his questioning. As he closes in on the truth of Qazai’s fortune—and those who wish to destroy it—Webster discovers he may pay for that knowledge with the lives of his own family.
A high-octane mix of ancient fears, forgotten crimes, and monumental greed, The Jackal’s Share reveals the untold world of criminal corporate finance in a Middle East as raw and as strange as ever depicted.
A desperate race against time that pits modern wealth against buried betrayals, The Jackal’s Share carries readers from London to Lake Como, from the rotten alleys of Marrakesh to the shining spires of Dubai. This is the story of corporate investigator Benjamin Webster, returning from his explosive debut in The Silent Oligarch. Now his client is a powerful billionaire whose demands soon thrust Webster from the dreamlike existence of the elite rich into a grimmer world of blackmail, offshore money, arms dealing, and terrorism.
When a prestigious London art dealer is found murdered in Tehran—and the Iranian government accuses him of smuggling rare artifacts—the last person anyone suspects is Darius Qazai. A fabulously successful financier, London luminary, and friend of the deceased, Qazai has directed his life and wealth toward philanthropy, cultural promotion, and peaceful protest against Iran’s regime. His fortune is colossal, his character immaculate.
But perhaps not clean enough. Something has scuttled Qazai’s recent business deal, some rumor from his past that frightened his American buyers. To prove his innocence Qazai hires a respectable corporate intelligence firm—led by Benjamin Webster—to investigate himself. Webster soon discovers that Qazai’s pristine past is actually a dense net of interlocking half-truths: is he a good man or an art smuggler? Is his fortune built on merit or on arms dealing? Is he, after all, his own man?
But when Qazai’s grandson is kidnapped a hideous new chain of events unfurls, forcing Webster into a frantic race across the Mediterranean to undo the damage done by his questioning. As he closes in on the truth of Qazai’s fortune—and those who wish to destroy it—Webster discovers he may pay for that knowledge with the lives of his own family.
A high-octane mix of ancient fears, forgotten crimes, and monumental greed, The Jackal’s Share reveals the untold world of criminal corporate finance in a Middle East as raw and as strange as ever depicted.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
10 people are currently reading
535 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Morgan Jones
7 books21 followersChris Morgan Jones worked for eleven years at the world’s largest business intelligence agency, and has advised Middle Eastern governments, Russian oligarchs, New York banks, London hedge funds, and African mining companies. The author of The Silent Oligarch and The Jackal’s Share, he lives in London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 2, 2021
The Jackal’s Share
by Christopher Morgan Jones is categorized as a thriller. However, to me, it was more of a mystery that is set mainly in England, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, and Morocco. An antiquities dealer is dead and accused of smuggling artifacts out of Iran for sale in the West. Darius Qazai, a financier, delivers the eulogy. While he has had an impeccable reputation, a rumor has now frightened off his American partners that were going to buy his business. He hires a corporate intelligence firm to investigate and clear his reputation. Ben Webster is the assigned investigator and the situation is not as straight forward as one might think.
Ben was not the most likeable protagonist. I just couldn’t seem to connect with him. His communication skills with his boss and his wife were severely lacking and irritating to me. The other characters had varying levels of depth, but most weren’t likeable. Character flaws are everywhere.
While the situation and plot was interesting, it didn’t rise above that for me. I wanted to know what was going on and how the situation would be resolved, but it didn’t go beyond that for me. The middle seemed slow and somewhat convoluted. However, the ending was stronger. The author did a good job of ensuring the reader traveled to the various locations with the characters. The atmosphere was great.
Overall, this book was interesting, but didn’t rise above that. This is the second book in the series and I don’t plan to continue it. However, there are many readers who thought this book was terrific.
Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Ben was not the most likeable protagonist. I just couldn’t seem to connect with him. His communication skills with his boss and his wife were severely lacking and irritating to me. The other characters had varying levels of depth, but most weren’t likeable. Character flaws are everywhere.
While the situation and plot was interesting, it didn’t rise above that for me. I wanted to know what was going on and how the situation would be resolved, but it didn’t go beyond that for me. The middle seemed slow and somewhat convoluted. However, the ending was stronger. The author did a good job of ensuring the reader traveled to the various locations with the characters. The atmosphere was great.
Overall, this book was interesting, but didn’t rise above that. This is the second book in the series and I don’t plan to continue it. However, there are many readers who thought this book was terrific.
Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
July 16, 2013
THE JACKAL'S SHARE is a decent thriller with clean, readable prose. It features Ben Webster, a corporate-spy-for-hire from London who apparently debuted in THE SILENT OLIGARCH, which I have not read. Webster is investigating the business dealings of Darius Qazai, an Iranian ex-pat who has hired Webster's firm to clear him from some charges he thinks are bogus. Spoiler: NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS, and spoiler: THEY'RE ALL LYING.
The plot itself is not all that interesting and is a bit overcomplicated. One of the initial central questions is settled off the page, but by then of course Webster and we readers are knee-deep in a swamp of unforeseen twists. There's some reasonably interesting stuff about corporate espionage tradecraft, and then the stakes get ramped up to super-dangerous for the final showdown with a super-nasty bad guy dude.
Jones does fall into some familiar narrative traps. One thing all spies must have is a helper who's brilliant with computers and whatnot and who can be given a list of things to investigate while Our Hero is out on the streets and who then calls at opportune moments with critical pieces of information. (Think Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds.) Another cliche is the sultry, flirtatious daughter of the Great Man Under Investigation. Yet another: the overly cautious boss who wants to limit the scope of Our Hero's action even though we all know Our Hero is in the right. Check, check, and check.
Webster's a pretty compelling protagonist, though his moodiness is a bit of a drag at some points. Jones spends a good deal of time digging into the effect that Webster's career has on his family life, and that's all pretty niftily rendered. Webster's wife is appropriately annoyed by her husband's constant leaps into dangerous situations, and the fact that sometimes the danger comes home with him. It's not exactly like bringing home some papers to grade or a report to finish proofreading. There's a cost to living an international life of mystery, and Jones portrays that well.
The plot itself is not all that interesting and is a bit overcomplicated. One of the initial central questions is settled off the page, but by then of course Webster and we readers are knee-deep in a swamp of unforeseen twists. There's some reasonably interesting stuff about corporate espionage tradecraft, and then the stakes get ramped up to super-dangerous for the final showdown with a super-nasty bad guy dude.
Jones does fall into some familiar narrative traps. One thing all spies must have is a helper who's brilliant with computers and whatnot and who can be given a list of things to investigate while Our Hero is out on the streets and who then calls at opportune moments with critical pieces of information. (Think Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds.) Another cliche is the sultry, flirtatious daughter of the Great Man Under Investigation. Yet another: the overly cautious boss who wants to limit the scope of Our Hero's action even though we all know Our Hero is in the right. Check, check, and check.
Webster's a pretty compelling protagonist, though his moodiness is a bit of a drag at some points. Jones spends a good deal of time digging into the effect that Webster's career has on his family life, and that's all pretty niftily rendered. Webster's wife is appropriately annoyed by her husband's constant leaps into dangerous situations, and the fact that sometimes the danger comes home with him. It's not exactly like bringing home some papers to grade or a report to finish proofreading. There's a cost to living an international life of mystery, and Jones portrays that well.
April 15, 2020
I really have difficulty deciding what to say about this book. The writing style seemed good at first but then I was frequently having to re-read to discover what was meant. As for the characters, well, was Ben Webster a spy, a detective, a villain or an idiot. The latter probably. As for Dariuz Qazai. Who would hire someone to find dirt about you and then complain?
Overall this book didn't seem to know what it was and then chased around until it rushed to an abrupt ending. Came close to throwing it in the rubbish heap on more than one occasion. This author is not for me.
2 stars.
Overall this book didn't seem to know what it was and then chased around until it rushed to an abrupt ending. Came close to throwing it in the rubbish heap on more than one occasion. This author is not for me.
2 stars.
June 29, 2013
I have stalled on writing my review of “The Jackal's Share” by Chris Morgan Jones. And I ask myself, “why”? Because I've been busy? Well, yeah, but I've written other reviews in the interim, why did this one always get delayed?
The plot? No, the plot has the kind of stuff I look for in a thriller – a god mix of action and introspection, well paced between the two. The settings? No – while I don't know for sure since I've never been to any of these places, I FELT like I was in London, and Bahrain, and Lake Como, and … The length? No, that was appropriate for the material. The spelling / grammar / punctuation / formatting? No – I had an ARC, but it was a lot cleaner than some of the “completed” indie novels I've read and reviewed over the past couple of years.
The characters? THE CHARACTERS!! That was it!! They all felt believable, from their actions to their motivations to their dialogue. BUT … I didn't LIKE any of them! Our hero, Benjamin Webster, had his own personal issues. And, I didn't HATE anyone, either. Our bad guys – or ARE they villains – have their softer moments, too. BUT … I never got into anyone enough to root for them or even to root against them. This isn't fair to the author – there's no rule that says the reader has to be rooting for or against anyone. BUT … without that, I find I just don't enjoy a book as much.
I'm giving it 3 ½ stars, but rounding up to 4 since we can't provide ½ stars.
DISCLOSURE: I won this ARC in a random draw; the publishers would certainly like it if I reviewed their book (and like it more if I gave it a good review), but no commitment to do so was requested nor made.
The plot? No, the plot has the kind of stuff I look for in a thriller – a god mix of action and introspection, well paced between the two. The settings? No – while I don't know for sure since I've never been to any of these places, I FELT like I was in London, and Bahrain, and Lake Como, and … The length? No, that was appropriate for the material. The spelling / grammar / punctuation / formatting? No – I had an ARC, but it was a lot cleaner than some of the “completed” indie novels I've read and reviewed over the past couple of years.
The characters? THE CHARACTERS!! That was it!! They all felt believable, from their actions to their motivations to their dialogue. BUT … I didn't LIKE any of them! Our hero, Benjamin Webster, had his own personal issues. And, I didn't HATE anyone, either. Our bad guys – or ARE they villains – have their softer moments, too. BUT … I never got into anyone enough to root for them or even to root against them. This isn't fair to the author – there's no rule that says the reader has to be rooting for or against anyone. BUT … without that, I find I just don't enjoy a book as much.
I'm giving it 3 ½ stars, but rounding up to 4 since we can't provide ½ stars.
DISCLOSURE: I won this ARC in a random draw; the publishers would certainly like it if I reviewed their book (and like it more if I gave it a good review), but no commitment to do so was requested nor made.
May 30, 2013
The Jackal's Share is a fast-paced thriller set in the world of corporate investigations. This is the seemier side of capitalism, where corporate private detectives find the dirt on competitors. Ben Webster, who works for a small agency is hired by Darius Qazai, an Iranian banker, to investigate himself. He wants to sell his fund management firm to an American buyer, but there has been a hiccup, and Qazai wants to know why.
Ben Webster begins investigating, and of course uncovers all sorts of nasties. The action moves from London to Dubai and Tunisia. What raises The Jackal's Share above the normal run of books about business sleaze, is the way that powerful but complicated characters can be brought down by greed and ambition. Qazai is arrogant, successful but noble at the same time, a tragic hero. Webster is also a sympathetic character, trying to be good in a difficult world. One little touch I particularly liked is his wfe, Eliza, who acts as Webster's conscience. She is a hard task master and Webster's attempts to evade her judgement ring particularly true. Having written eight financial thrillers, and worked in a Middle Eastern bank, I am familiar with the world that Morgan Jones is decribing in all its shades of grey, and he makes an excellent job of it. Recommended.
Ben Webster begins investigating, and of course uncovers all sorts of nasties. The action moves from London to Dubai and Tunisia. What raises The Jackal's Share above the normal run of books about business sleaze, is the way that powerful but complicated characters can be brought down by greed and ambition. Qazai is arrogant, successful but noble at the same time, a tragic hero. Webster is also a sympathetic character, trying to be good in a difficult world. One little touch I particularly liked is his wfe, Eliza, who acts as Webster's conscience. She is a hard task master and Webster's attempts to evade her judgement ring particularly true. Having written eight financial thrillers, and worked in a Middle Eastern bank, I am familiar with the world that Morgan Jones is decribing in all its shades of grey, and he makes an excellent job of it. Recommended.
February 22, 2016
An industrial investigator is asked by a rich expat Iranian to investigate his own background, to find out why a huge business deal didn't happen. What the investigator finds out leads to people dying, torture, lies, etc. What? The Iranian wheeler-dealer didn't think all his secrets (and he has a honey) would come out? So the foundation for the story is a little iffy. On the other hand, it's a surprisingly well written industrial espionage/spy thriller. This is what keeps one reading... that fine writing style.
What the title has to do with the book, I have no idea, but keep an eye on Chris Morgan Jones. I have a feeling he's going to get better and better.
What the title has to do with the book, I have no idea, but keep an eye on Chris Morgan Jones. I have a feeling he's going to get better and better.
March 12, 2013
I suppose if you really love international crime and intrigue dramas you will like this book but for someone who is only casually invested in this genre it really didn't offer me much. I like to read books about characters that engage me to either like/admire them in some way or hate/feel repulsed by in some way. Both the heroes and villains in this book - Well, frankly I didn't care if they lived or died. I suppose if you focus on the plot's intricate nature which crosses continents and cultures there is something there for you but it just wasn't for me.
July 9, 2019
I picked this book up from awhile back and quite enjoyed it. The details were very believable and I had many moments where I really wanted to be in each beautifully described scenes. I thought the plot was interesting and seemed all very realistic in how each event lead to another. I did find some of the characters that are mentioned but never explicitly having parts (like some of the go between with the smuggling) confusing at times. The characters were interesting and all had backgrounds that drew in and set the stage, but I do agree with another comment about liking them, and I don’t believe I was attached to any of the characters. Over all I was happy I read it .
December 19, 2021
I wouldn't know if I'd classify this book as a thriller. Definitely a mystery but I felt it was lacking for thrills. The story gets complicated and quite frankly less is more when it comes to building plot twists. At some points I think the author would find themselves lost while writing it.
February 17, 2022
7/10 16%. Would have been an even better score with a better ending which was to say the least lack lustre IMHO. Up to that point a fast paced unusual thriller with a different premise / being paid to investigate the baddies by…,the baddies. Worth trying more by this author.
July 7, 2017
asfasdfsdf
April 27, 2020
Enjoyed this second book by the author. I felt his writing had matured from his first book and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
May 3, 2021
le Carré prose labyrinthine intrigue for Webster, encounter .
orbital characters like, Constance
and contra mundum, Hammer
orbital characters like, Constance
and contra mundum, Hammer
January 7, 2014
Ich lese kaum Thriller, die sich mit Sicherheitsfirmen, Ermittlungen in der Wirtschaft oder über mehrere Länder hinweg, beschäftigen. Die britischen Autoren sind bei mir eher weniger vertreten, so dass ich nun den neuen Jones, der so viel Lob bekommen hat, lesen wollte.
Die Story ist nicht so leicht zu ��berschauen und noch schwerer zu beschreiben. Es tauchen immer wieder neue Figuren auf und bringen entweder neue Gefahren für Webster oder neue Spuren, die das Geheimnis von Qazai aufdecken. Die Vielfalt der Figuren hat aus meiner Sicht dazu geführt, dass keine Figur sich so richtig entwickeln konnte. Sie waren nur oberflächlich und zu wenig in die Tiefe beschrieben und so konnte ich nicht so wirklich eine "Verbindung" zu ihnen aufbauen. Auch wiederholte sich der Autor oft bei den Beschreibungen seiner Figuren.
Der Schreibstil des Autors ist gut und flüssig zu lesen. Jedoch schweift er auch gern einmal ab und so hat das Buch, trotz hohem Tempo, seine langatmigen Phasen. Die ein oder andere eingeschobene Geschichte hätte er kürzen bzw. weglassen können ohne das es der Spannung geschadet hätte.
Machenschaften, Feinde im Ausland, Geld, Gier und Politik, Waffen und Kunst alles in einem Buch auf 477 Seiten. Sehr viel Stoff für diese Seiten und teilweise zu viel. Wie heißt es so schön, weniger ist manchmal mehr. Etwas weniger Verfolgung, Gewalt und Fädenziehen und dafür etwas mehr Konturen für die Figuren, die Geschichte an sich wären gut gewesen.
Wer jedoch gern temporeiche Geschichten liest, die sich dazu noch über mehrere Länder und Kulturen, Mächten und Familien ziehen, der ist hier genau richtig.
Ich bin noch etwas unschlüssig bei diesem Buch, aber insgesamt würde ich 3 Sterne geben. Gut zu lesen (nichts für zwischendurch), spannend und schnell, aber leider wenig ausgearbeitete und spannende Charaktere und zu viel Stoff für eine Geschichte.
Die Story ist nicht so leicht zu ��berschauen und noch schwerer zu beschreiben. Es tauchen immer wieder neue Figuren auf und bringen entweder neue Gefahren für Webster oder neue Spuren, die das Geheimnis von Qazai aufdecken. Die Vielfalt der Figuren hat aus meiner Sicht dazu geführt, dass keine Figur sich so richtig entwickeln konnte. Sie waren nur oberflächlich und zu wenig in die Tiefe beschrieben und so konnte ich nicht so wirklich eine "Verbindung" zu ihnen aufbauen. Auch wiederholte sich der Autor oft bei den Beschreibungen seiner Figuren.
Der Schreibstil des Autors ist gut und flüssig zu lesen. Jedoch schweift er auch gern einmal ab und so hat das Buch, trotz hohem Tempo, seine langatmigen Phasen. Die ein oder andere eingeschobene Geschichte hätte er kürzen bzw. weglassen können ohne das es der Spannung geschadet hätte.
Machenschaften, Feinde im Ausland, Geld, Gier und Politik, Waffen und Kunst alles in einem Buch auf 477 Seiten. Sehr viel Stoff für diese Seiten und teilweise zu viel. Wie heißt es so schön, weniger ist manchmal mehr. Etwas weniger Verfolgung, Gewalt und Fädenziehen und dafür etwas mehr Konturen für die Figuren, die Geschichte an sich wären gut gewesen.
Wer jedoch gern temporeiche Geschichten liest, die sich dazu noch über mehrere Länder und Kulturen, Mächten und Familien ziehen, der ist hier genau richtig.
Ich bin noch etwas unschlüssig bei diesem Buch, aber insgesamt würde ich 3 Sterne geben. Gut zu lesen (nichts für zwischendurch), spannend und schnell, aber leider wenig ausgearbeitete und spannende Charaktere und zu viel Stoff für eine Geschichte.
March 18, 2014
From London to Marrakech, from Italy to Dubai – Chris Morgan Jones proves he can write a new blend of spy novel. After his debut release, An Agent of Deceit, Chris Morgan Jones was rightly praised for his re-imagination of this genre by a number of critics and reviewers. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Jackal’s Share.
Featuring the likeable Ben Webster, we follow him as a charismatic Iranian billionaire asks the Private Investigator to investigate his personal affairs. Of course, it doesn’t take him long to become convinced that there is something very wrong with his new client. What does Darius Qazai want to hide?
As it’s widely interpreted, classic spy fiction changes seemingly straightforward facts and represents them in startling ways. Whereas, detective fiction starts with a simple job, and gets more complicated with every page. The Jackal’s Share is both. I love how the genre is adapting to the new generation – being refreshing and new, while keeping some of the rigidity we find so common in these types of novels.
This may sound odd for a ‘new generation spy novel’ but, when reading, I couldn’t help but feel that there was a distinct 1930’s noir feel to it –you know the type! Throughout the novel, everything seemed snappy; it was brief yet perfectly put across to the reader. Everything within the pages was enjoyable but, more importantly, the suspense was glorious. Maybe I’m just slow when it comes to catching onto things with novels in this vein, but I feel that the suspense was a little too prolonged. Then again, I guess it’s what you expect from this genre!
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book – I just hope that Chris Morgan Jones has another in the works.
Featuring the likeable Ben Webster, we follow him as a charismatic Iranian billionaire asks the Private Investigator to investigate his personal affairs. Of course, it doesn’t take him long to become convinced that there is something very wrong with his new client. What does Darius Qazai want to hide?
As it’s widely interpreted, classic spy fiction changes seemingly straightforward facts and represents them in startling ways. Whereas, detective fiction starts with a simple job, and gets more complicated with every page. The Jackal’s Share is both. I love how the genre is adapting to the new generation – being refreshing and new, while keeping some of the rigidity we find so common in these types of novels.
This may sound odd for a ‘new generation spy novel’ but, when reading, I couldn’t help but feel that there was a distinct 1930’s noir feel to it –you know the type! Throughout the novel, everything seemed snappy; it was brief yet perfectly put across to the reader. Everything within the pages was enjoyable but, more importantly, the suspense was glorious. Maybe I’m just slow when it comes to catching onto things with novels in this vein, but I feel that the suspense was a little too prolonged. Then again, I guess it’s what you expect from this genre!
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book – I just hope that Chris Morgan Jones has another in the works.
February 10, 2013
Full disclosure: This is an ARC that I received for free from the publisher through the Goodreads giveaway program.
The corporate investigation firm Ikertu has been hired by the in-scrupulous, billionaire financier Darius Qazai. Ironically, not to research a potential client but to examine his own personal and seemingly flawless background history. Until Mr Qazai can prove to the world that he indeed is a businessman with an immaculate reputation, the business transaction of his lifetime is on hold. Lead Ikertu investigator, Benjamin Webster, takes us on a race for redemption from England through the Middle East and back again. As Webster delves into the mystery he is enviably pulled into a high stakes game of greed, fraud, and corporate intrigue.
Overall 'The Jackal's Share' was a fast paced story that kept you focused and interested right up until the end. While the story did feel somewhat drawn out I enjoyed the authors character development and their strong and colorful personalities. I felt hate for the henchmen, sorrow for the Qazai family, and hope-laced fear for Webster.
Not knowing that 'The Silent Oligarch' precluded this novel I am interested to pick it up and see what other adventures Benjamin Webster was in. The Russians personal life was briefly touched upon and always with just enough description to make me wonder who he was leading up to the present. The future looks great for Mr Webster and I can foresee a lot of work down the road for the Ikertu company!
The corporate investigation firm Ikertu has been hired by the in-scrupulous, billionaire financier Darius Qazai. Ironically, not to research a potential client but to examine his own personal and seemingly flawless background history. Until Mr Qazai can prove to the world that he indeed is a businessman with an immaculate reputation, the business transaction of his lifetime is on hold. Lead Ikertu investigator, Benjamin Webster, takes us on a race for redemption from England through the Middle East and back again. As Webster delves into the mystery he is enviably pulled into a high stakes game of greed, fraud, and corporate intrigue.
Overall 'The Jackal's Share' was a fast paced story that kept you focused and interested right up until the end. While the story did feel somewhat drawn out I enjoyed the authors character development and their strong and colorful personalities. I felt hate for the henchmen, sorrow for the Qazai family, and hope-laced fear for Webster.
Not knowing that 'The Silent Oligarch' precluded this novel I am interested to pick it up and see what other adventures Benjamin Webster was in. The Russians personal life was briefly touched upon and always with just enough description to make me wonder who he was leading up to the present. The future looks great for Mr Webster and I can foresee a lot of work down the road for the Ikertu company!
July 3, 2013
The Jackal’s Share is Christopher Morgan Jones’ second novel. Jones worked as a London private investigator and has now become a writer of espionage thrillers, centered around his literary doppleganger, Ben Webster. I suppose the real life of an investigator might be rather mundane and procedural in general, peppered with the occasional exciting, life-threatening situation and Jones certainly writes to this formula, though, while probably honest, it isn’t very entertaining.
The story begins as Ben is assigned to do a background check on Darius Qazai, at the behest of Qazai himself, who is trying to organize an immense business transaction with an American company, and has been rejected due to a potentially damaging accusation of aiding in the smuggling of antiquities out of his native Iran. Qazai wants Webster to disprove the charges and vet Qazai as an honorable businessman, to counter the investigative report obtained by the American buyers from another agency.
Full Review: http://mrssmithreads.tumblr.com/post/...
The story begins as Ben is assigned to do a background check on Darius Qazai, at the behest of Qazai himself, who is trying to organize an immense business transaction with an American company, and has been rejected due to a potentially damaging accusation of aiding in the smuggling of antiquities out of his native Iran. Qazai wants Webster to disprove the charges and vet Qazai as an honorable businessman, to counter the investigative report obtained by the American buyers from another agency.
Full Review: http://mrssmithreads.tumblr.com/post/...
April 4, 2013
This is the second novel featuring Ben Webster, corporate spy extraordinaire. If you haven't read the first book - The Silent Oligarch, I think it's called here in the States - be sure to read it before this one. CMJ is one hell of a writer and knows how to pace a good cerebral mystery/thriller. This time his protagonist (Webster who is recovering from the events of the first book in the series) is looking into a wealthy Anglo-Iranian financier whose family fled after the Shah fell. Webster is like Cassandra - he is the only one who believes the financier is a fraud. He just doesn't have the proof yet. Too bad the financier and his client are one in the same. There is a point where I am not sure why Webster would put everything he holds dear at risk to prove himself right (other than to drive the plot) but that was a momentary huh? moment for me amid many, many pages of pleasurable and sometimes nailbiting reading.
May 15, 2013
4.5 stars. This is an international thriller that weirdly, yet entertainingly, intertwines all my interests. There's something for you spy novel-lovers. Something for you people interested in corporate financial schemes. Even for those of you that enjoy a little marital strife.
The characters were well thought-out, well developed and I found myself wanting to know if any would appear again in. a future novel, and if so, how their adventure would play out.
If I had to complain about anything it'd be that the ending came a little severely for my taste. I would've liked to see it slightly more drawn out.
Kudos to Jones, who seems to have lifted my distaste for current Brit Lit! Well done sir, well done.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were well thought-out, well developed and I found myself wanting to know if any would appear again in. a future novel, and if so, how their adventure would play out.
If I had to complain about anything it'd be that the ending came a little severely for my taste. I would've liked to see it slightly more drawn out.
Kudos to Jones, who seems to have lifted my distaste for current Brit Lit! Well done sir, well done.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2014
Meh. The Iranian trappings of this thriller initially intrigued me, but there was such a sameness and lack of sparkle to so many of the incidents that the overall dramatic arc was less than thrilling, feeling more like a theme and variations spun out to fill space than inevitable escalations to a climax. Also, I'm not convinced that trying to humanize the protagonists of spy thrillers by portraying them as torn between work and family is a sound strategy; their agonizing over the "personal dilemma" (aka, no-brainer) that their families get fed up with them for endangering said families by taking on dangerous jobs for less-than-compelling reasons often has the effect of making them seem as thick as they are selfish.
February 28, 2013
I received this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
While I did end up enjoying the story, I thought this book started out a little slow and it took me a while to really get into it. Once I did finally get into the book though, I was intrigued to unravel the whole mystery behind Mr. Qazai. There were times that the story seemed to drag on a bit, but I did think it wrapped up well in the end.
I also think the author did a good job drawing the reader into the various characters and their personalities and lives. I really felt for Webster and Ava and everything they were going through and, despite his doings, felt some sympathy for Mr. Qazai.
While I did end up enjoying the story, I thought this book started out a little slow and it took me a while to really get into it. Once I did finally get into the book though, I was intrigued to unravel the whole mystery behind Mr. Qazai. There were times that the story seemed to drag on a bit, but I did think it wrapped up well in the end.
I also think the author did a good job drawing the reader into the various characters and their personalities and lives. I really felt for Webster and Ava and everything they were going through and, despite his doings, felt some sympathy for Mr. Qazai.
February 24, 2013
I was delighted to receive this book as Goodreads giveaway! This book was absolutely wonderful in the way of taking the reader on a suspenseful ride the way that Dan Brown's books do. The author created a web and then explored each string of the web at a time. The main character Webster knows that as he investigates this powerful man Darius Qazai that things are not always as they appear. As Webster continues to untangle this web around Darius, he has this intuitiveness and dares to push along and question what is beneath this powerful man Darisu Qazai. This book kept my attention to the very end.
November 20, 2013
A complicated plot of high finance, double dealing and espionage which slowly unfolds as Ben Webster starts an investigation for a wealthy Iranian exile Darius Qazai. At the start Ben distrusts his client and his brief. The plot developes logically and believably taking Ben from London to Dubai and Morocco via Italy. And like everything else in this novel the ending is right.
The prose is clean and crisp. Definitely a book for those who appreciate of John Le Carre and Gerald Seymour.
My only regret is that this second novel was published in 2013 so I am unable to read a follow-on.
The prose is clean and crisp. Definitely a book for those who appreciate of John Le Carre and Gerald Seymour.
My only regret is that this second novel was published in 2013 so I am unable to read a follow-on.
Read
March 8, 2013Chris Morgan Jones is fast becoming my second favorite author. This is a dynamite books that never lets up. The Middle East business dealing and terrorism are al part of Ben Webster's world as he is asked to clear the name of what looks like a well respected businessman who is attempting to sell his company. All is not as it appears. Great story, can't wait for the next one.
February 12, 2013
Won my copy of this in a giveaway here on goodreads, and am so glad I did. This book was one of the most enjoyable reads I have come across in a long time. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's considering reading it!
April 29, 2013
A strange breed this one. It's about corporate espionage and takes place to a great extent in Dubai. It just didn't seem to have the pace that I've grown used to with writers like Lee Child and James Lee Burke. I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.
April 15, 2013
I got this from my library. Jones is a new author to me and I thought it looked interesting. Wrong. I read approximately 1/2 of the book when I suddenly determined I had better things to do. Sad, but true, I just lost interest.
June 25, 2013
A thriller, set in the financial world with terrorists and generally bad people interfering with life as it was being lived by the main characters. Lots of international travel and strange people add color to a normal tale of corporate crimes and comeuppance.
July 26, 2013
The jacket blurb indicates that this will be a tale of stolen antiquities - but none ever appear in the story. Nor does one learn much about either Iran or Dubai, where the bad guys operate. As a thriller, this is only so-so.
November 12, 2013
He does get his share in this book but in sort of a complicated way. At the expense of someone who didn't expect to be so exposed, not his family anyway. Money the root of all evil. also the love of it. Thank you goodreads for the free book enjoyed it very much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews