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Laundered
Ben Taylor has a nice life working for the UK's biggest bank. Company car, generous pension scheme and a carefree bachelor lifestyle to distract him from the relentless monotony of his desk job.
But, when he starts to investigate the sudden disappearance of one of his colleagues, he finds himself drawn into the murky sub-culture of money laundering in British banking and the criminal underworld that runs it.
Out of his depth and running out of time, Ben is facing a fourteen year prison sentence. That's if things go his way.
'Worse case scenario' (as they like to say at Henleys Bank) - he'll also be made to 'disappear' like the others.
Whatever happens, his life is about to change, forever.
From the vast business parks on the outskirts of London, to the remote west Wales coastline, Laundered is a unique, adrenalin-charged thriller that shines a light on real-life money laundering activity at UK banks and examines how ordinary people can react to extraordinary circumstances.
But, when he starts to investigate the sudden disappearance of one of his colleagues, he finds himself drawn into the murky sub-culture of money laundering in British banking and the criminal underworld that runs it.
Out of his depth and running out of time, Ben is facing a fourteen year prison sentence. That's if things go his way.
'Worse case scenario' (as they like to say at Henleys Bank) - he'll also be made to 'disappear' like the others.
Whatever happens, his life is about to change, forever.
From the vast business parks on the outskirts of London, to the remote west Wales coastline, Laundered is a unique, adrenalin-charged thriller that shines a light on real-life money laundering activity at UK banks and examines how ordinary people can react to extraordinary circumstances.
- GenresFiction
334 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
James Williams
7 books13 followersAuthor of Laundered - money laundering crime thriller love story. Tried to cover all the bases with this one...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 1, 2012
The protagonist of this excellent book is a chap named Ben Taylor who works for the fictitious Henley Bank in England. It’s what I would call a “financial thriller” involving the illegal laundering of huge sums of cash and politics within the bank to do with salaries and job titles. The book is similar to the current novels of Norb Vonnegut but at a slower pace.
Ben is pressured to repay a favor by picking up two cases of money in a deserted stretch of land on the Welsh coast. When he gets the loot, the story’s pace picks up and we’re treated to dangerous chase over the motorways back to a safe place for Ben. But the excitement is not over. Ben must get the money into the bank’s system without leaving his fingerprints on the transaction, not easy task.
The author, James Williams, doesn’t give us any biographical notes about himself or any acknowledgments on who might have helped him fabricate this novel. The only mysterious statement provided on the face page is “most of this actually happened.”
Readers shouldn’t have too much trouble with the usual British words such as petrol, boot and bonnet as parts of an automobile. The City is the financial center of London, much like Wall Street is the money center of New York. Williams also tells about an occasion called a “leaving do” that would be a “going away party” in America. He also uses the word “cascade” as both a noun and verb to mean an announcement or to make an announcement.
Altogether, a fast paced and quite enjoyable read.
Ben is pressured to repay a favor by picking up two cases of money in a deserted stretch of land on the Welsh coast. When he gets the loot, the story’s pace picks up and we’re treated to dangerous chase over the motorways back to a safe place for Ben. But the excitement is not over. Ben must get the money into the bank’s system without leaving his fingerprints on the transaction, not easy task.
The author, James Williams, doesn’t give us any biographical notes about himself or any acknowledgments on who might have helped him fabricate this novel. The only mysterious statement provided on the face page is “most of this actually happened.”
Readers shouldn’t have too much trouble with the usual British words such as petrol, boot and bonnet as parts of an automobile. The City is the financial center of London, much like Wall Street is the money center of New York. Williams also tells about an occasion called a “leaving do” that would be a “going away party” in America. He also uses the word “cascade” as both a noun and verb to mean an announcement or to make an announcement.
Altogether, a fast paced and quite enjoyable read.
June 14, 2020
Slightly curious mix of corporate intrigue, action and romance. A bit difficult to keep track of the characters in places.
October 12, 2012
I entered the GoodReads give-away for this book....and didn't win.
Well, okay....
Then I got an email from James Williams letting me know he was trying to set up another give-away for November sometime. BUT, if I didn't want to wait, Laundered is available on amazon (kindle version) for $.99.
I checked the "reviews" on GoodReads. They were useless.
I checked the reviews on amazon. They were non-existent.
I figured $ .99 was a gamble I could afford to lose if the book was a stinker.
It wasn't.
I can't believe I'm the first person to read Laundered.
I'm probably not the 1st to read it...just the 1st to write a "real" review.
It's a great story with some great characters. If you like Stephen Frey's financial thrillers, you'll like Laundered better. Ben (the hero) is a little more believable as he doesn't go all "MacGyver" whenever he gets in a tight spot. In the beginning, Ben seems like just another ex-jock just going thru' the motions of getting by (and getting into any female's bed he can find) and going along... He stumbles into a massive money laundering scheme by accident and because he's so detached (?) from his own life, he goes along...knowing what he's doing. He doesn't seem to care until he's in it. Uh oh.
Then it gets fun. There's plenty of action all through...enough to keep me awake past midnight.
James Williams did a great job in not using so much British slang/idioms that are incomprehensible to an Alabamiam who's more fluent in "redneck" than the "Queen's English." I also appreciated there was little repetition of the characters' backgrounds/thoughts/descriptions. (Has anyone else noticed that lately? Do they get paid by the word? Do they think their readers are so stupid that they need to repeat themselves a minimum of seven times? Have I just been reading some bad books?)
I found Laundered to be a fast-paced and well written book with well developed characters and hope that James Williams keeps writing. I want to know what happens with Abi and Max.
Well, okay....
Then I got an email from James Williams letting me know he was trying to set up another give-away for November sometime. BUT, if I didn't want to wait, Laundered is available on amazon (kindle version) for $.99.
I checked the "reviews" on GoodReads. They were useless.
I checked the reviews on amazon. They were non-existent.
I figured $ .99 was a gamble I could afford to lose if the book was a stinker.
It wasn't.
I can't believe I'm the first person to read Laundered.
I'm probably not the 1st to read it...just the 1st to write a "real" review.
It's a great story with some great characters. If you like Stephen Frey's financial thrillers, you'll like Laundered better. Ben (the hero) is a little more believable as he doesn't go all "MacGyver" whenever he gets in a tight spot. In the beginning, Ben seems like just another ex-jock just going thru' the motions of getting by (and getting into any female's bed he can find) and going along... He stumbles into a massive money laundering scheme by accident and because he's so detached (?) from his own life, he goes along...knowing what he's doing. He doesn't seem to care until he's in it. Uh oh.
Then it gets fun. There's plenty of action all through...enough to keep me awake past midnight.
James Williams did a great job in not using so much British slang/idioms that are incomprehensible to an Alabamiam who's more fluent in "redneck" than the "Queen's English." I also appreciated there was little repetition of the characters' backgrounds/thoughts/descriptions. (Has anyone else noticed that lately? Do they get paid by the word? Do they think their readers are so stupid that they need to repeat themselves a minimum of seven times? Have I just been reading some bad books?)
I found Laundered to be a fast-paced and well written book with well developed characters and hope that James Williams keeps writing. I want to know what happens with Abi and Max.
November 7, 2012
Won a copy through GoodReads First Read contest! Thank you!
Until about 50 pages in, I had difficulty keeping track of all the characters. They all seemed to have multiple nicknames, no descriptions of physical characteristics, and they all sounded the same. As well, it seems there is a noticeable amount of punctuation and grammatical errors throughout.
Those minor issues aside, Williams definitely does an excellent job presenting a sense of urgency. This book is quite fast-paced and engaging once you get into it. There is a spectacular car chase scene, and I kept worrying and wondering what would happen next! Two enthusiastic thumbs up for the action!
This is not my normal reading fare. That said, I appreciate this opportunity to read and enjoy something out of my standard range of genres. James Williams knows his stuff (at least, I assume he does, as I'm not knowledgeable enough on the banking industry to call him out if he's full of it). Definitely a book to recommend to those who like political thrillers, shady characters, mystery, (car chases!), and a little bit of love thrown in.
So let's summarize - slow starter that surprises you when it suddenly tromps on the excitement gas and refuses to let up until the book is done. After you catch your breath from that whirlwind ride, maybe take a cold shower, spread the "Laundered" love along by recommending this book to every friend you have, and maybe pay it forward by recommending it to some strangers too. Read. Enjoy. And, if you're so compelled, Repeat.
Until about 50 pages in, I had difficulty keeping track of all the characters. They all seemed to have multiple nicknames, no descriptions of physical characteristics, and they all sounded the same. As well, it seems there is a noticeable amount of punctuation and grammatical errors throughout.
Those minor issues aside, Williams definitely does an excellent job presenting a sense of urgency. This book is quite fast-paced and engaging once you get into it. There is a spectacular car chase scene, and I kept worrying and wondering what would happen next! Two enthusiastic thumbs up for the action!
This is not my normal reading fare. That said, I appreciate this opportunity to read and enjoy something out of my standard range of genres. James Williams knows his stuff (at least, I assume he does, as I'm not knowledgeable enough on the banking industry to call him out if he's full of it). Definitely a book to recommend to those who like political thrillers, shady characters, mystery, (car chases!), and a little bit of love thrown in.
So let's summarize - slow starter that surprises you when it suddenly tromps on the excitement gas and refuses to let up until the book is done. After you catch your breath from that whirlwind ride, maybe take a cold shower, spread the "Laundered" love along by recommending this book to every friend you have, and maybe pay it forward by recommending it to some strangers too. Read. Enjoy. And, if you're so compelled, Repeat.
March 31, 2013
I received a very nice, very personalized signed copy of this novel through the Goodreads givaway program. Many thanks
This is a story of greed and corruption in the banking industry, set amid the turmoil of companies being sold to overseas conglomerates, and the ever-present money laundering that headlines the news. James Williams takes us through all of this with enough detail that we can understand the mechanics of doing this, and does so in an interesting way with a wayward hero recognizing that he has made some bad decisions, and trying to find an honorable way out. Along the way he helps others, including a victim of domestic abuse.
I found the book hard to get into, initially. There are a lot of characters, the fate of a number is never made clear, and the writing style made it difficult (for me) to understand the primary and secondary characters. About 25% of the way through, everything clicked and from that point on it was difficult to put down.
The characters in Laundered are flawed individuals, but are realistic in their thinking and approach. There are no superheroics (other than the chase scene. The author puts to use some of the basic social hacking to allow his characters to obtain information; things we know actually work in a corporate environment.
This is a quite readable thriller. Highly enjoyable, highly recommended.
This is a story of greed and corruption in the banking industry, set amid the turmoil of companies being sold to overseas conglomerates, and the ever-present money laundering that headlines the news. James Williams takes us through all of this with enough detail that we can understand the mechanics of doing this, and does so in an interesting way with a wayward hero recognizing that he has made some bad decisions, and trying to find an honorable way out. Along the way he helps others, including a victim of domestic abuse.
I found the book hard to get into, initially. There are a lot of characters, the fate of a number is never made clear, and the writing style made it difficult (for me) to understand the primary and secondary characters. About 25% of the way through, everything clicked and from that point on it was difficult to put down.
The characters in Laundered are flawed individuals, but are realistic in their thinking and approach. There are no superheroics (other than the chase scene. The author puts to use some of the basic social hacking to allow his characters to obtain information; things we know actually work in a corporate environment.
This is a quite readable thriller. Highly enjoyable, highly recommended.
December 8, 2012
James Williams’ Laundered (free copy received courtesy of the author and Goodreads.com) is a basic morality play set in the context of the toxic corporate structure of a large bank operating in Britain. For a novel ostensibly about money laundering, there is little in this novel to enlighten a reader on that subject. The main characters are presented economically, as is the plot. After a promising and tantalizing opening tableau, the rest of the action seems mundane. I finished the book wishing that the author had used his talent to explore both the international mechanics of money laundering and its unseen effects on modern society in much greater depth.
January 5, 2013
This is by far one of the best books I've read all year. I couldn't put it down, not even for sleep.
Updated: January 5, 2013
Now that I have taken the time to reread this amazing novel, I have found certain things that I"m absolutely in love with.
James writing style is spectacular, and I can honestly say, that is one of the main reasons I just couldn't put it down. He uses such a precise wording that makes my literature loving heart quiver.
I'm normally not enthusiastic about certain writer's first novels, but if this novel is any indication of what is to come in his later works, he can anticipate me being a lifelong reader.
Updated: January 5, 2013
Now that I have taken the time to reread this amazing novel, I have found certain things that I"m absolutely in love with.
James writing style is spectacular, and I can honestly say, that is one of the main reasons I just couldn't put it down. He uses such a precise wording that makes my literature loving heart quiver.
I'm normally not enthusiastic about certain writer's first novels, but if this novel is any indication of what is to come in his later works, he can anticipate me being a lifelong reader.
June 29, 2015
Surprisingly fun and fast read. I entered to win this on Goodreads a while ago, didn't win, but found the e-book for free on Amazon and decided to give it a shot. This was a good way for me to pass the afternoon. Some parts were slower than others and I did not always love the writing style, but in general I liked the story and the ending in particular. Not the type of book I usually read, but I'm glad that I picked this up. Even someone like me who knows essentially nothing about money laundering would probably enjoy the quick pace.
November 19, 2012
Won the book in the first reads giveaway, thank you! After receiving the book I thought it was going to be a boring bank related book. However, after reading it I found out I was wrong as it was an interesting read. I look forward to trying nay more books that he writes. Thoroughly recommend giving the book a try.
February 2, 2017
Complicated
Good tale well told.. a complicated strategy to launder money which was difficult for me to follow but that,s not important it convinced me as being possible that's what counts. The book bounced along at a good pace and kept my interest well done
Good tale well told.. a complicated strategy to launder money which was difficult for me to follow but that,s not important it convinced me as being possible that's what counts. The book bounced along at a good pace and kept my interest well done
December 6, 2012
Received as a Goodreads Giveaway.
Great little caper novel about high banking and money laundering. A quick, fun read.
Great little caper novel about high banking and money laundering. A quick, fun read.
Want to Read
September 29, 2012I won this book from the first reads giveaways and I am so excited to read it. Thanks.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews