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The Vulture Fund
Mace McLain is the hottest young gun at Wall Street's last great independent investment banking firm. His high-profile career takes a surprising turn when he's named co-manager of a multibillion-dollar "vulture fund," preying on undervalued real estate and stocks in a faltering economy, then selling them at exorbitant gains once the economy recovers.
The awesomely powerful senior partner who has made this offer seems willing to bet the bank on it. So does Kathleen Hunt, a gorgeous, seductive, and very shrewd investment banker with high-level contacts, who has come from the West Coast to work with McLain - and perhaps on him. What do they know that he doesn't?
The awesomely powerful senior partner who has made this offer seems willing to bet the bank on it. So does Kathleen Hunt, a gorgeous, seductive, and very shrewd investment banker with high-level contacts, who has come from the West Coast to work with McLain - and perhaps on him. What do they know that he doesn't?
378 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1996
21 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
Stephen W. Frey
28 books280 followersFor the last 15 years I’ve been lucky enough to be a novelist. Until recently the books were set in the worlds of Wall Street and Washington. In addition to writing, I’ve also had a career in finance with specialties including merger & acquisition advisory and private equity at firms like J.P. Morgan in New York City and Winston Partners just outside D.C. in northern Virginia.
So, it seemed natural to write about those two worlds and, fortunately, the publishing industry agreed. My first book was published in 1995, The Takeover; about a secret group of men who were trying to destroy the U.S. monetary system by engineering a massive corporate takeover. I have followed The Takeover with 13 more novels all set in high-level finance and national politics.
Recently, I decided to alter the theme. The novels will still have a financial focus, but Wall Street won’t be the backdrop. We’ll get out into the world more. And there will be a man versus nature element for the hero in every novel. Hell’s Gate, available August 2009, is set in Montana and involves forest fires and why many of them start.
I live in southwest Florida with my wife, Diana, and we have since 2004 after moving down here from northern Virginia. Given the new direction of my books, it seems like a hurricane ought to make an appearance in a novel sometime soon.
So, it seemed natural to write about those two worlds and, fortunately, the publishing industry agreed. My first book was published in 1995, The Takeover; about a secret group of men who were trying to destroy the U.S. monetary system by engineering a massive corporate takeover. I have followed The Takeover with 13 more novels all set in high-level finance and national politics.
Recently, I decided to alter the theme. The novels will still have a financial focus, but Wall Street won’t be the backdrop. We’ll get out into the world more. And there will be a man versus nature element for the hero in every novel. Hell’s Gate, available August 2009, is set in Montana and involves forest fires and why many of them start.
I live in southwest Florida with my wife, Diana, and we have since 2004 after moving down here from northern Virginia. Given the new direction of my books, it seems like a hurricane ought to make an appearance in a novel sometime soon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 5, 2008
I read this Stephen Frey book because I thought it would be interesting to see how a plot could be developed using investment banking as the backdrop for a mystery/thriller. Unfortunately, the story was not even close to plausible, and that I found disappointing. However, this is not to say I didn't like the book at all. Frey has a wide variety of characters most of whom play against each other, and at the very center of this is the mystery concerning who is really pulling all the strings for a nefarious scheme to raise a huge amount of money over a short time period. This gave me some incentive to keep on reading. Given the current very real global economic crisis, The Vulture Fund could have been relevant to today's financial headlines. Instead, because of its unlikely story development, the book fell short of my expectations.
If Frey were relying on his own experience in investment banking, he has a very low opinion of women working within this industry. His opinion of men isn't much higher. In short, men are pigs, and women are pig farmers. That doesn't make anyone very likable. None of the characters were ever developed enough to make the reader care what happened to them.
Perhaps someone who really really likes reading mystery thrillers would enjoy this book, but I'll pass on anything more by Stephen Frey.
If Frey were relying on his own experience in investment banking, he has a very low opinion of women working within this industry. His opinion of men isn't much higher. In short, men are pigs, and women are pig farmers. That doesn't make anyone very likable. None of the characters were ever developed enough to make the reader care what happened to them.
Perhaps someone who really really likes reading mystery thrillers would enjoy this book, but I'll pass on anything more by Stephen Frey.
January 25, 2017
WTF?
After reading Frey's first effort, "The Takeover," I moved eagerly on this one.
It seems like he got a 10yr old kid to write it for him.
Frey has a background in M&A, which presumably is why he writes with such authority on related topics. He should stick to it.
His attempts to write about the CIA and terrorism are laughably amateur.
When the hero is introduced as "Mace McLain" the alarm bells start tinkling.
By the time you get to "Slade Conner" leader of a "crack CIA anti-terrorist squad, the 'Wolverines'," the bells are deafening, and it only gets worse from there.
Perhaps what I found most horrific was Frey's apparently ignorant dis-regard for some of the most basic laws of his own country. He's assuming his readers are morons and does them and himself a great disservice.
After reading Frey's first effort, "The Takeover," I moved eagerly on this one.
It seems like he got a 10yr old kid to write it for him.
Frey has a background in M&A, which presumably is why he writes with such authority on related topics. He should stick to it.
His attempts to write about the CIA and terrorism are laughably amateur.
When the hero is introduced as "Mace McLain" the alarm bells start tinkling.
By the time you get to "Slade Conner" leader of a "crack CIA anti-terrorist squad, the 'Wolverines'," the bells are deafening, and it only gets worse from there.
Perhaps what I found most horrific was Frey's apparently ignorant dis-regard for some of the most basic laws of his own country. He's assuming his readers are morons and does them and himself a great disservice.
July 5, 2010
A political thriller set in the world of investment banking, it did manage to keep me turning the pages. Of course, the bad guys are really bad and the good guys have pure intentions. This book was first published in 1996, and it is interesting to read of a world pre-9/11. Also, reading about the manipulation of the real estate markets on Wall Street is scary. I am certain that the story simplifies the reality, but based on recent development, there are some underlying truths here. A good beach read.
February 6, 2015
Was recommended this NYT bestselling author by a friend. Fast, sleazy and shallow. Everyone is a crook - VP of the USA, Wall Street guys, CIA, FBI, you name it. Everyone has a dirty secret, yet they are all outrageously successful. The senior partner of Wall Street's super-duper firm controls other partners by blackmail. Yeah, sure!
There is action for action's sake, crisis for crisis sake, and the author throws in "who's who" into the works with scant regard to plausibility or feasibility. I found this superficial story rather difficult to believe. Felt like pulp fiction.
There is action for action's sake, crisis for crisis sake, and the author throws in "who's who" into the works with scant regard to plausibility or feasibility. I found this superficial story rather difficult to believe. Felt like pulp fiction.
January 13, 2014
The characterization of Mace McLain, a young hot-shot investment banker putting in grueling hours toward his goal to become partner was easy to imagine but I think the 'dub' of Stephen W. Frey as the "Grisham of financial thrillers" to be quite premature. Perhaps I'll try another title by this author this year but it will be awhile.
September 3, 2018
Welcome to the 90s of page turner fiction. The women protagonists are capable women of business, and are gorgeous and want both a career and to have the hero pay attention to them, dang it. The people who are wealthy and powerful all have disgraceful secrets (the better for blackmail). And everyone, when they need to be, is really handy with firearms, and has a good friend in the secret services.
The plot is nonsense involving terrorists, government officials up to no good in an election year, and a Rube Goldberg of a plot that, for reasons that remain obscure to me, required the participation of our hero and then the killing of our hero. (Something about an investment fund being set up to help out with a terrorist attack actually supported by government officials)
It’s 100, 150 pages too long. But the ending is good, the central mystery on who the big bad guy really is maintained well, and the Wall Street business stuff rings true. Enter the 90s at your own risk, but know that I got out alive and not overly offended, and so will you.
The plot is nonsense involving terrorists, government officials up to no good in an election year, and a Rube Goldberg of a plot that, for reasons that remain obscure to me, required the participation of our hero and then the killing of our hero. (Something about an investment fund being set up to help out with a terrorist attack actually supported by government officials)
It’s 100, 150 pages too long. But the ending is good, the central mystery on who the big bad guy really is maintained well, and the Wall Street business stuff rings true. Enter the 90s at your own risk, but know that I got out alive and not overly offended, and so will you.
July 25, 2017
This thriller is not only concerned with financial markets but also has a background of Political arena. Blackmail, Manipulation of the real estate markets, Top level governmental corruption & Wall street dealings form the central part of the plot. The novel revolves around a conspiracy of a secret agreement & funds arrangement for a $2 billion real estate fund. INTERESTING.
January 31, 2022
A political thriller set in the world of investment banking. Not a very plausible story, but reads quickly and remains mostly engaging. Especially fun since it takes place pre-9/11 and before email and social media become ubiquitous. Of course, some of the very unrealistic aspects of the book no longer seem so unrealistic given the events of the past 4-5 years in the US.
September 30, 2023
I'd say maybe a strong four. Only reason I'm not fond of giving it a five is that one, the government bit is a bit meh, while the role of the women is, well, let's just say it would have been better to have no women than to have the role they had here. Not bad, just "really?" kind of reaction. Otherwise, the finance part is solid, the main plot is intriguing, and the thrills are thrilling.
April 3, 2021
This 1996 book was pretty disappointing. Wooden style, unrealistic events, lack of character development...it was a cast-off book and will go to the discard pile.
February 28, 2024
The story was good, but some parts were a little slow. I have read better books by this author.
3.5 stars on this one.
3.5 stars on this one.
September 13, 2024
Excellent book.
November 30, 2024
Not my favorite of his. The main story was interesting but some of the side stories and characters were not enjoyable.
September 27, 2016
I can say The Vulture Fund is a pretty good novel.
Set in the world of investment banking it involves a firm in a fragile position, blackmail, an enormous 2 billion dollar investment fund, a potentially corrupt US Vice President, a potentially corrupt CIA director and terrorism set in a pre 9/11 America.
The plot develops well and what's really going on is cleverly hidden and masked from the reader until the climax when it begins to all unfold as terrorists attack a nuclear power plant. I found it quite an enjoyable read.
Set in the world of investment banking it involves a firm in a fragile position, blackmail, an enormous 2 billion dollar investment fund, a potentially corrupt US Vice President, a potentially corrupt CIA director and terrorism set in a pre 9/11 America.
The plot develops well and what's really going on is cleverly hidden and masked from the reader until the climax when it begins to all unfold as terrorists attack a nuclear power plant. I found it quite an enjoyable read.
September 8, 2008
The story about one super successful stock broker at Wallstreet that had to fight himself among all the bigshot that conspired under thread to collect all money they could for a presidential campaign.
His writing style kinda Grisham-style, minus law term yet switch it onto financial terms.
Frey trying so hard for us --the reader to guess who the bad person was but it not ended beautifully, he gave too much hint that make it easy to guess which one the white side and which one the other side.
He left some problem unanswered at the end, cost him one star reduced from my rating.
His writing style kinda Grisham-style, minus law term yet switch it onto financial terms.
Frey trying so hard for us --the reader to guess who the bad person was but it not ended beautifully, he gave too much hint that make it easy to guess which one the white side and which one the other side.
He left some problem unanswered at the end, cost him one star reduced from my rating.
September 17, 2014
My 2nd Stephen Frey book. I gave the first one (The Takeover) 5 stars. I would give this 5+ if I could as this is up there as one of the best books that I've ever read. Okay, it's a financial thriller but it's so much more. It involves the US President (briefly) and Vice-president, head of the CIA, terrorists and a host of other heroes and villains. The pace is unrelenting, not a wasted word, outstanding plot and a touch of sex & romance. The financial terms and jargon are difficult at times to follow but are vital to the whole story. If you like suspense thrillers, this is a must.
April 11, 2014
Mace McClain a young investment banker is tasked to head a vulture fund. Saddled with an overinvolved senior partner and a new partner with sinister motives he wonders what is going on when unexpected moves are going on. Meanwhile the Vice President and the head of the CIA are battling over the Presidency. Will McClain and his young protégé’s running of the fund collide with powerful political interests.
December 14, 2014
The Vulture Fund (1996) is #2 in author Frey's stand-alone Financial thrillers, after The Takeover (1995).
Financial thriller - Mace McLain, investment banker, is told by his managing partner to line up investment targets for a vulture fund that will buy real estate and stocks with depressed prices. McLain comes to distrust the woman put in charge of the fund and the sources of the equity. Plot involves the forthcoming Presidential election race between the V-P and the CIA Director.
Financial thriller - Mace McLain, investment banker, is told by his managing partner to line up investment targets for a vulture fund that will buy real estate and stocks with depressed prices. McLain comes to distrust the woman put in charge of the fund and the sources of the equity. Plot involves the forthcoming Presidential election race between the V-P and the CIA Director.
December 18, 2010
A presential contest. The Vice President and the CIA director in a contest. A 'vulture funds' is set up to buy real estate cheap at the boom time and then a nuclear plant hijacked. Stephen Fry unravels these things in his typical way
August 31, 2007
best of what I've read of his.
January 12, 2008
You'll get sucked in quick on this one..Good, fast-paced and exciting. Not really ground-breaking, though.
April 10, 2008
Another excellent book by Stephen Frey. Frey spins a great "Wall Street Thriller," this one about a man caught up in a wide-ranging conspiracy revolving around a $2 billion real estate fund.
March 3, 2009
fianancial grisham
May 8, 2010
I think this was the first book I read by Stephen Frey. I enjoyed the character development and the build-up of the plot line
August 10, 2011
Very nice...shows the belly of Wall Street and the reality of a dog-bite-dog world where everyone wants the top and what they will do to get it among the secrets they hold.
March 7, 2012
Sometimes I wish an author would make a misstep, so I can read someone else. Dammit! But Frey is just too good.
January 21, 2014
One of my favorites that I've read from him so far.
January 22, 2014
Fast moving, hard to tell who the good guys are. Story of Wall Street firm and how it corrupted itself to help the head of the CIA become president.
Takeover of nuke plant.
Pretty good.
Takeover of nuke plant.
Pretty good.
June 16, 2015
This was a pretty fabulous story solid 3 1/2 stars. A quick read for sure. It was described as john grisham for finance - not a bad description
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews