Nothing Personal: A Novel of Wall Street

by Mike Offit

Warren Hament is a bright young man who wanders into a career in finance in the early 1980s. Nothing Personal is the extraordinary story of his rapid ascent toward success, painted against a landscape of temptation and personal discovery. Introduced to the seductive, elite bastions of wealth and privilege, and joined by his gorgeous and ambitious girlfriend, he gets a career boost when his mentor is found dead.

Warren soon finds himself at the center of two murder investigations as a crime spree seemingly focused on powerful finance wizards plagues Wall Street. The blood-soaked trail leads to vast wealth and limitless risk as Warren uncovers unexpected opportunity and unknown dangers at every turn and must face moral dilemmas for which he is wholly unprepared.

Nothing Personal is a stellar debut novel, which follows an increasingly jaded protagonist as he comes of age in a rarified, deeply corrupt world. Offit, a former senior insider, unflinchingly divulges Wall Street's culture of abuse and portrays the insidious, creeping forces of greed, sex, and power---and the terrible price paid in their thrall.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

340 pages, Hardcover

First published February 11, 2014

About the author

MIKE OFFIT began a twenty-year Wall Street career after graduating from Brown University, abandoning advertising, and earning an MBA from Columbia University. He rose to become a senior trader at Goldman Sachs, and to head the mortgage and asset-backed securities trading desks at First Boston, Prudential, and finally at Deutsche Bank, where, as managing director, he built and ran the Street’s leading commercial real estate finance business. After retiring, he returned to writing, becoming a columnist and contributing editor at the luxury lifestyle bible Departures magazine. He lives in New York City and Bedford, New York, with his wife and their two children.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a copy in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. In some ways this was not a book for me; I think I assumed it would be more like some of the strong literary reflections on financial crisis that I’ve enjoyed in recent years (e.g. Capital by John Lanchester, A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks, Union Atlantic by Adam Haslett, The Devil I Know by Claire Kilroy, and The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan - you can see it’s a topic I’ve thought a lot about).

I got through a little over a third of the novel but gave up when I realized I had very little interest in these greed-fuelled characters and the murders in which they become embroiled. As one declares, “there is absolutely nothing I won’t do, short of killing someone, to get wealthy. I mean dynastically wealthy” – an attitude I can’t relate to at all.

That said, Offit (a Goldman Sachs alumnus) gives a good insider view of Wall Street politics in the 1980s (you can imagine Gordon Gekko down the hall), with lively office banter, financial transactions explained so the layman can understand, and glimpses of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. And I did like the repetition of the title phrase: “It was always, and only, about money. Just business. Nothing personal.” However, I found the book dated (I understand that’s part of the point, but I don’t think the 80s make for a particularly fecund setting), the female characters clichéd, the burgeoning mystery plot a bit obvious, and the overall tone somewhat soulless.

It’s possible that if I stuck with it I would have found this thriller turns into a savvy critique of the lust for Mammon: “what was the point of this relentless pursuit of money where there was so much more to life?” But there’s so much else to be read. I’ll pass this book on to someone who might enjoy it more.

[Lance Charnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m often on the lookout for good business-themed mysteries and thrillers. Not ones where the hero or villain happens to be a businesscritter, but ones where business is vital to the functioning of the plot, where the mystery or thrills grow out of the supercharged environment of high finance or corporate skullduggery.

Nothing Personal, career securities trader Mike Offit’s debut “novel of Wall Street,” promises this on the book’s product page: “Warren [the hero] soon finds himself at the center of two murder investigations as a crime spree seemingly focused on powerful finance wizards plagues Wall Street. The blood-soaked trail leads to vast wealth and limitless risk…” Financial and personal mayhem! Good stuff, right?

Not so much. Nothing Personal is a crime novel, but not a murder novel. The crime isn’t in the couple of killings, which in many ways are beside the point; it’s in the way day-to-day business is done in the corporate finance world in which Our Hero works. A solid three stars.


Since I reviewed this book for Criminal Element, I can't copy it all here. However, you can read the entire review -- and a bunch of other good stuff -- here.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing Personal: Mike Offit

Idealistic, smart and career oriented Warren Hament enters the world of investment banking, bond trading and finance in the early 1980’s hoping to have a lucrative career in the world of high finance. But, Warren is naïve in many respects and as we walk the halls of Weldon along with him, go through the initial intake or interviews the world of top-tier banking comes alive for the reader. Warren is smart, astute and cunning in many respects and is able to circumvent the abuse, insults and unprofessional way some of those interviewing him acted. Hoping to land a plumb position with Weldon, Warren knows the right words, uses the right phrases and is offered a position on the spot. But, sometimes what you wish for might not be exactly what you should want. Jaded and thinking that he would rise to the top, become rich almost over night and never do anything to undercut a client, steal from this investors or even do anything amoral or illegal, the author brilliantly proves that wrong. The world of investment banking is brought to light and the world of an inside trader is not only disreputable, cruel and hardnosed. Lured into the world so many young men and women forget the real reason they went into this field and become hungry for power, money, and wealth and are sucked into playing the game at any cost.

As Warren becomes more familiar with company procedures and meets the players involved you hear their voices, enter the smoke filled rooms as deals are discussed and made and meet Larissa, his soon to be girlfriend as she wangles her way into his life, his bed and career. Smart, beautiful and hungry for the same things as Warren, she’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. With the help of his mentor, Bill Dougherty, Warren rises to the top, helps with his accounts and learns early one the true meaning of disloyalty, deceit, betrayal, lies and fraud.

Warren attended Columbia and lands this job as a bond trader at Weldon Brothers and things his life is about to change for the better. As we learn more about this company, the higher ups and hear the boardroom meetings, learn more about how deals are made anyone studying to be a bond trader, financial analyst or learning more about insider trading and how backroom deals are made will get a perfect education as the author’s own experience in the field is shared. Every step of the way the author shares many deals, trades and explains how bonds are sold and much more. His technical experience is shared and we learn that the world of trading in the 1980’s is no different than today. But, things start to heat up and accidents or are they murders happen when a student falls down a flight of stairs and is in a coma and another dies in a skiing accident. As things start to settle down and his friendships and loyalties are formed his mentor and colleague is murdered. A murder that rocks the company but not in the way you might think. Nothing personal is just that: no one really cares about the victim just the end result for the company, how it will affect their goals, productivity and who will profit from the murder: Who gets his book, his desk and his deals? When Warren is handed them on a silver platter he is quick to take on the responsibility thinking that he will follow in the footsteps of his mentor. Rising to a rich star of the company you learn head on that Warren and his friend Anson are all in it for the money and not for the benefit of the client. It’s just business and as the author states: Nothing Personal: No one really cares about the other. No one would hesitate to make a deal that would undercut the profits of the client and line their pockets with gold. But, when Warren questions the other traders and even his girlfriend, he begins to realize that he better learn to play the game or find himself in a dangerous position as pointed out to him by a close friend.

But, things begin to change and the police question him in the murder of his mentor. Cooperating in every way they attempt to ease his fears that they are only searching for clues and information while actually considering him a suspect since he directly profited from the murders. But, someone is watching and waiting and then Warren learns about a hidden secret that would change the course and direction of his life forever. When Anson’s secretary hands over his computer to Warren what he learns opened up a whole new world for him as he found bank accounts on his computer and with the help of his girlfriend Sam what he learns will astound readers. Enlightening Warren about what he ex-boyfriend managed to cheat her out of and get away with allows readers to understand how many can be channeled to different countries, banks and invested in places that no one will ever find it. As Sam relates her story and how her money wound up in Liechtenstein banks and the author explains how you just won’t believe what they pull off and how. As Warren and Sam manage to con several bankers and the millions they accumulate would change their world if no one found out. Throughout Chapters 34- 46 the reader gets a real education on how Warren and others like him make millions, sell, trade and propose specific deals to their clients hoping that they profit more than them.

With the police stymied and the two murders unsolved Warren still looks good for them both but there they have no solid proof. But, things change and word gets out to someone about his goals, his feelings for Sam and Warren is dealing in a world that is tainted, corrupt and dangerous. Greed, sex, abuse, money, hate and jealousy are at the top of the issues list as well as a young and hot girlfriend who would move more than heaven and earth for Warren but just how remains to be seen.

With the accounts and a fortune in hand, a killer on the lose and a career that could go up in smoke at any point, just what will be Warren’s final fate. As Warren sets the trap for the killer and hopes the person will take the bait the author leads us down one more path explaining the end result for so many as some decide to leave Weldon and Warner, which companies are about to fold or are in trouble and one young investment banker whose future hangs in the balance. From New York, the Hamptons, Dark Harbor and Europe inside the trading houses, banks and boardrooms author Mike Offit gives readers a better education in this field equal if not better than sitting in a course in any college. Put your friendships aside and your own interests at the top and you just might find a career in this field. Enter the world of trading and learn their secrets and hear their conversations and learn the true meaning of undercutting, betrayal, deceit, and corruption.

Warren Hament is a strong enough character to bring back along with Sam to find out just how far he will go to keep what he has, whether he gets caught in the crossfire, if anyone finds out what he did and if everyone rides home in a convertible limo to safety. This is one novel what truly defines the meaning of the phrase: Nothing Personal: It’s all about money, power, success, the list of accounts, greed and indifference. Each trader, financial analyst, banker, VP and Managing Director has his/her own agenda and after reading this novel you will truly understand just how far someone will go to get accounts and at what cost.

Fran Lewis: reviewer

[Mack Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly well-written Wall Street book, although it's really much more of a morality tale and coming of age story than just a murder mystery... kind of a sophisticated bodice-ripper. The characters all came right off the page, and stayed with you, like some reviewers put it. The plot did not seem contrived, and the revelations of how devilish the top firms on Wall Street are left me shaking my head.

I have no doubt that Mr. Offit saw much of what he writes about... there is one scene in which a group of hedge funders conspire with bankers and lawyers to rip off a major client that just left me with my jaw hanging open. It definitely didn't seem like something you would just make up. The explanations of business, which are maybe 10% of the book, are pretty easy to understand. There's another scene in which a mortgage trader negotiates a trade with an insurance company that was a little complicated, but I re-read it and it made sense, and really gave me a feeling for what it must be like to sit on a trading desk with all that pressure to make money.

Michael Lewis writes non-fiction books that are all high-gloss, but never gives you a sense of the actual people or their real lives, rather are full of caricatures of momentarily-researched characters. This book gets into the people and their interior doubts and drives... it's a novel in every sense of the word. John Grisham writes contrived legal stories that have supermen as heroes and improbably heroic and perfect protagonists who are so much smarter than everyone else.

In Mr. Offit's book, the characters seem like they could be smart, attractive people you wonder about. But not superior human beings.The bad guys are bad, for sure. Who hasn't wanted to see some Wall Street criminal get his head bashed in? I, and my kids,on high school, the other college, all enjoyed this book immensely. My daughter said it was the best book she'd read all semester, and my son passed it around.

If you read this book, you;ll laugh a lot, get really angry, and be amazed at what happens on Wall Street and the crazy world of high society and the false facades it hides behind. I really recommend it!

[Wendy Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

From page one, Nothing Personal, became personal in the fact that I was hard-pressed to put the book down. I was caught up from the very beginning in the life of Warren and how the complexities or simplicities for some of Wall Street and how it worked. Not only that, but I was intrigued on how the corruption was tied to the killings. I know it was because that's usually how a crime/thriller novel works, but I was intrigued on the way the threads of securities and trade linked to the crime.

Not to mention that there's a wee bit of romance involved for Warren. That makes it more realistic for someone who reads a lot of suspenseful romance, but the action just never stopped in Nothing Personal - which was refreshing because the characters didn't become stale, consistenly in motion and with me trying to keep up with them.

A rock solid plot, without a lot of mumbo jumbo technical speak, meaning I was able to follow along very easily and quite enjoyed the novel. In fact, even after I've finished, I find myself thinking about it and the subtle humor and solid writing of Mike Offit. Highly recommend!

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTHING PERSONAL by Mike Offit is an interesting Wall Street novel Thriller/Wall Street/Investment Banker/Fiction. Meet Warren Hament, who is a new and upcoming Wall Street Trader and who is about to be introduced to the elite of wealth and privilege and a murder investigation or two.

For an incredible ride into the fast and furious world of Wall Street, murder, deceit, mayhem, big money, seduction, moral dilemmas,sex, creed, and power you must read "Nothing Personal". What an incredible story from beginning to end! Fast paced and action packed. Oh did I mention finding true love along the way. What a ride for Warren and the others. Mr. Offit has written and intense but thrilling tale of love, sex, greed and murder. A very dramatic story! If you enjoy thrillers, finance, and murder than you must read "Nothing Personal". You won't regret your choice. Received for an honest review from the publicist and/or author.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: HOT

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone intimately familiar with the workings of Wall Street, author Mike Offit brings his expertise and knowledge to his debut novel, "Nothing Personal."

This is a novel based on the wheelings and dealings of the moneymakers on Wall Street, but it is so much more as well. There is mystery, adventure, intrigue, and surprisingly a great romance to be found among the pages of this thrilling story. I went into reading this book with little knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes of the big trading companies, but through Offit's brilliant storytelling and descriptive writing, I came away with a better understanding of what a cut-throat world the world of finance really can be,

I highly recommend this novel for those who enjoy an action-packed story with compelling characters and a mesmerizing tale.

[Lea Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A First Read, preview. Loved this book! The plot was fabulous, main character was well developed (would have liked a little more on Larissa earlier). I was surprised by the ending, but it didn't come out of the blue - logical conclusion. I hate stories where the twist is completely random.
Very enjoyable!

[Tim Parise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a pleasant and entertaining read. The insider culture of Wall Street that it describes is nothing particularly surprising if you've already read Liar's Poker. The two books cover much of the same ground when discussing the education, experience, qualifications, and hiring of new Wall Street employees, but Nothing Personal fleshes out the bare facts with vivid descriptions of ancillary benefits like golfing trips and Palm Beach weekends, and does so with color and humor. Offit has a rather unusual style in places, one that turns out to be well-suited to the lively, unconventional personality of his protagonist. The story offers a couple of refreshing approaches to the subject of investment banking as well, starting with Hament's deliberate rejection of a trader's career in favor of a more prosaic and more subtle salesman's job. In addition, one of the key accounts his firm handles turns out to be a pension fund for state employees, and the way that fund is discussed is both informative and intriguing. One of the novel's greatest virtues, though, is its conclusion: at a time when financial thrillers moralize about the industry's flaws and naive young bankers get unconvincing attacks of conscience halfway through the story, you end up wanting to see someone score in a way that's neither moral nor legal just for a change of pace. In this respect, Nothing Personal delivers.

Unfortunately, the impact of that ending is somewhat neutered by the way Hament feels compelled to make large charitable donations out of his ill-gotten gains. The thought of him finishing out his career as a gentlemanly, unaggressive salesman with no desire for advancement is also incongruous. Would any top-tier financial house tolerate a broker who didn't push? They'd be more likely to cut him loose at the first sign of complacency and customer loyalty be damned. Not convincing. The years seem to wear away at Hament's quirky mannerisms, and the plot begins to slip at the same time. It gradually becomes a bit tedious, then a new element is introduced that sparks your interest once more, then it begins to drag again. The gaps between the major events are just a little too noticeable. Even finding out that the two accidental deaths early in the story really were murders - which always seemed like a possibility, given how often they were referred to - didn't carry the weight it should have.

Plenty of novelty, variety, and instruction tempered by uneven pacing and an ending that didn't live up to its early promise.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warren Hament should be on top of the world. After graduating with his masters degree from Columbia, he joins the world of high finance, working as a bond trader on Wall Street. The salary is great and the commissions and bonuses are better. There are lunches and dinners at top-notch restaurants and plenty of client boondoggle vacations to take. He has a gorgeous apartment, makes more than anyone else he knew at school, and has an amazing girlfriend to boot. Why then, is he uneasy?

Warren becomes more and more uneasy as he realizes that the world of high finance is not only dog eat dog, but that the level of corruption is astonishing. Many of his peers aren't even that bright; they make their money by cheating the clients. Upper management takes the lion's share of the money while those at the bottom do the majority of the work. Warren can't even get excited about his quick promotion in the company since it occurred as the result of the sudden death of his supervisor. Can he find a way to reconcile the lack of ethics in his workplace with his own ethical standards, or will he need to find another way to survive?

Mike Offit knows the world of high finance from the inside out. Like Warren, he came to Wall Street after his college graduation where he found success. He was a senior trader at Goldman Sachs and also worked at First Boston, Prudential and Deutsche Bank, where he built and ran the Street's leading commercial real estate finance business. This is the world of the wealthy and of those who would do anything to join their ranks. It is the Street before the scandals and the collapse of the real estate market that ruined so many investors and businessmen. Readers will enjoy learning more about the inner workings of the world of finance, which is a closed environment to most individuals, who can only trust that those working there are doing the right things. This book is recommended not only for mystery fans, but for those readers interested in business.

[Author Groupie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do not let the title of Mike Offit's Nothing Personal: A Novel of Wall Street scare you off if you are not a fan of numbers, trading, and most importantly, Wall Street. Offit is able to break down junk bonds, prepayments, and mortgage-backed securities in such a manner even I understood what was being discussed and wholeheartedly continued to turn the pages.

Hooked on page three by the characterization of a microeconomics professor teaching at Columbia Business School, I liked the subtle humor and accuracy in Offit's writing:

. . . Corelli rarely tried to enliven the material, having long before decided that, even in so inexact a discipline as his, he would grade generously those who simply recited his lectures on all exams without thinking or dissension. This practice would, he reasoned, prepare them well for life in most of corporate America.

Furthermore, Offit's descriptions of Pebble Beach brought to mind my friend Denta's love of the Monterey Bay area:

The verdant green of the grass, deep blue sky, and boiling ocean water combine with the misty sea spray, salt-infused air, sunshine, and puffy clouds to make a tableau so rich and inspiring that a well-struck shot reverberates with the harmony of something divine. (200)

The protagonist, Warren Hament, an up-and-coming salesman on Wall Street who finds himself entangled in a murder mystery is certainly likeable and has quite a way with the ladies. Va va va and voom!

For me, the problem of Nothing Personal lies in the numerous mispellings throughout this novel [i.e. anecdotess (104), omlet (152), and drive (302) instead of driven] and awkard wordings "Just as long as are not connected . . ." (319) which detracts from the reading.

For the purposes of book club, crabmeat salad would be a welcome choice as it was Hament's choice when schmoozing for the first time with an MD (managing director) from Weldon Corporate Finance after a game of squash.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mike Offit employs his wealth of insider knowledge as a Wall Street trader during the 1980s in this clever tale of greed, murder, and success at any cost.
Warren Hament is a fresh MBA graduate who enters the high stakes world of investment banking with the encouragement of his beautiful and ambitious girlfriend. He frequents exclusive clubs in New York City and is a welcome guest in the fabulous mansions of his mega-rich friends and clients in the Hamptons, Hobe Sound, and Dark Harbor. Warren is an honest man with the best intentions, but he soon learns corruption and devious dealings are common among the heavy hitters of Wall Street.
As Warren struggles to advance his career without becoming jaded, his boss is murdered. The police suspect Warren because he takes over the boss’ clients and therefore has the most to gain. A senior executive who considers Warren a dangerous rival plots to have him fired and ends up murdered before he can carry out his plan. The murdered executive’s secretary secretly gives Warren her boss’ private laptop and tells him the password. Warren discovers a vast fortune hidden in Europe. He also finds evidence his girlfriend had been having an affair with the executive. As his life spins out of control, Warren races to solve the puzzle before the killer strikes again.
“Nothing Personal” is a scary story on more than one level. It taught me maybe a little too much about investment banking and the complicated trade packages designed by the wolves of Wall Street. After reading about all the ways SEC laws could be circumvented in the 1980s, I can’t help wondering if I should be worried about my retirement investments.
Reviewed by S.L. Menear, author of “Deadstick Dawn” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a case of a novel that actually does nothing wrong, but does nothing to stand out either. At least, not to me. I've read reviews by people more knowledgeable of Wall-Street culture than I am and they seem to have enjoyed this novel very much. I liked it, I thought it was clever and well-structured, yet I failed to have an emotional reaction to NOTHING PERSONAL. It just didn't move the needly all that much. I appreciated its architecture more than I liked its content.

Let's concentrate on the positive, though. It's too easy to pick something apart. NOTHING PERSONAL is a quite satisfying zeitgeist piece about Wall-Street culture, its vapid ideals and the hollow pursuits that characterize its nature. It's what NOTHING PERSONAL mainly is, and in that regard you can draw influences from Tom Wolfe's BONFIRE OF VANITIES as well as from 19th century literature. What interested me the most in NOTHING PERSONAL is how Mike Offit seemlessly integrated a mystery in the cultural landscape he was building. It layers the novel quite efficiently and gives a different dimension to Offit's writing.

You have to be into Wall-Street to be into NOTHING PERSONAL. You have to seriously love and dream about the thing. If you don't (like me), it'll swing by you and won't leave a strong impression. I appreciate how committed Mike Offit was to his subject, but NOTHING PERSONAL was not my thing.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book grew on me. Warren graduates from Columbia with an MBA and starts working at a top investment-banking firm. A few people he works with mysteriously get killed. While he is not the suspect, even he realizes that it is somewhat strange that he benefits from their deaths in terms of career advancement. The side stories of girlfriends and places he goes as his lifestyle changes are entertaining. The story sometimes gets bogged down in details of trades and banking that are worth skimming over.

[Exapno Mapcase · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Goodreads First Reads review.
Nothing personal, it’s just business. That is the prevailing theme of this novel which features a young man on the rise in the financial industry. The focus is more on the business side with a series of deaths hanging around in the periphery. I did feel that the killer was fairly obvious, but it was still a good read.

[Dionisia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The bad news: Only mildly entertaining and the "twist" ending was eye-roll inducing.

The good news: I acquired a free copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway. The only thing lost was time.

[Linda Marye · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was not terribly well-written, especially in terms of pacing. It was sort of hard to think of it as a mystery. However, its description of Wall Street will make your hair stand on end. Nothing is what it seems!

[Nicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.

This book is pretty boring with poor character and plot development. If it weren't the only reading I had with me on a trip, I wouldn't have made it as far through the book as I did, which was halfway.

[Donnary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about Warren, a fresh graduate who's a wall-street-big-timer wannabe. Prestige and luxury only comes to those people who are ambitious enough to sacrifice everything and risk even their freedom. Warren will be in the middle of the money-hungry people in wall street.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

review coming soon...

[Don Paske · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just barely a page-turner...

[A.C. Haury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come...