What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bank of Fear
"Sizzling…engrossing all the way."—Los Angeles Times Book Review
Hit men stalk computer analyst Lina Alwen and financial investigator Sam Hoffman in pursuit of the knowledge the pair may have regarding a late Iraqi dictator’s billions. From London to Switzerland, and from Baghdad to the mysterious corners of the just-budding Internet, this spy thriller covers the map to uncover a world of corruption.463 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1994
242 people are currently reading
677 people want to read
About the author
David Ignatius
34 books726 followersDavid Ignatius, a prize-winning columnist for the Washington Post, has been covering the Middle East and the CIA for more than twenty-five years. His novels include Agents of Innocence, Body of Lies, and The Increment, now in development for a major motion picture by Jerry Bruckheimer. He lives in Washington, DC.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 6, 2019
This '94 thriller starts slow before exploding to action. 7 of 10 stars
November 23, 2015
This was a First Reads win on Goodreads, so thanks go out to Goodreads and to the publisher (Norton).
I had some serious mixed feelings here, and had to remember that 3-stars = "liked it".
And I'd say that I liked it more than, I didn't like it. There were some issues that I didn't care for along the way, but for the most part I enjoyed the experience.
It was a bit slow going early on. As I was introduced to the characters, I wasn't impressed. Book smart they might be, but they couldn't distribute an ounce of common sense to the lot of them. They were so stupid, it was unrealistic. Unrealistic that they could BE that dumb, and unrealistic that they didn't die from their stupidity. Especially the main character, Sam Hoffman. How a financial investigator could move along at his steady pace of gaffes and blunders made it difficult for me to suspend belief. And I read fantasy as my primary genre. Wizards ain't got nothing on this guy's ability to not only survive, but make money at his chosen profession.
The author is a Washington Post journalist that has won awards, and is seen as an "expert" in the study of the Middle-East. Really? I had a hard time believing in any of the Arab characters either. For the most part, their actions and plots were about as convincing as a Left Behind novel.
But all of that said, I did find myself enjoying the story once I pushed past the annoying flaws in plot and character. I wouldn't go as far as to say I cared about the characters, but once the story really got going, it had me hooked. You know, how reality television will do if you sit there watching it long enough; you know it's stupid, but pretty soon you can't take your eyes off it.
In fairness, as the plot really got churning, a lot of the ridiculous fell aside. Or I got used to it. Anyway, there were lots of twists and turns, and it kept a brisk pace all the way to the end. I was actually surprised with some of the resolution at the end (probably not a surprise, considering). After struggling to make much progress in the first third of the book, I breezed right on through the rest of it. For that, I can appreciate the experience.
But if I ever met Sam Hoffman in real life, I'd probably have to punch him in the face.
I had some serious mixed feelings here, and had to remember that 3-stars = "liked it".
And I'd say that I liked it more than, I didn't like it. There were some issues that I didn't care for along the way, but for the most part I enjoyed the experience.
It was a bit slow going early on. As I was introduced to the characters, I wasn't impressed. Book smart they might be, but they couldn't distribute an ounce of common sense to the lot of them. They were so stupid, it was unrealistic. Unrealistic that they could BE that dumb, and unrealistic that they didn't die from their stupidity. Especially the main character, Sam Hoffman. How a financial investigator could move along at his steady pace of gaffes and blunders made it difficult for me to suspend belief. And I read fantasy as my primary genre. Wizards ain't got nothing on this guy's ability to not only survive, but make money at his chosen profession.
The author is a Washington Post journalist that has won awards, and is seen as an "expert" in the study of the Middle-East. Really? I had a hard time believing in any of the Arab characters either. For the most part, their actions and plots were about as convincing as a Left Behind novel.
But all of that said, I did find myself enjoying the story once I pushed past the annoying flaws in plot and character. I wouldn't go as far as to say I cared about the characters, but once the story really got going, it had me hooked. You know, how reality television will do if you sit there watching it long enough; you know it's stupid, but pretty soon you can't take your eyes off it.
In fairness, as the plot really got churning, a lot of the ridiculous fell aside. Or I got used to it. Anyway, there were lots of twists and turns, and it kept a brisk pace all the way to the end. I was actually surprised with some of the resolution at the end (probably not a surprise, considering). After struggling to make much progress in the first third of the book, I breezed right on through the rest of it. For that, I can appreciate the experience.
But if I ever met Sam Hoffman in real life, I'd probably have to punch him in the face.
November 15, 2013
A financial thriller that included international intrigue along with some horrifying scenes of torture in the post first Gulf War Iraq. I really liked the reluctant heroine and though the book was published almost twenty years ago and the technology was dated everything else rang true. I listened to the audio version which was expertly read by George Guidall.
August 16, 2021
I bit slow going as a London based financial consultant agrees to help a Philippine cook to a secritive Iraqi Banker find out who raped and killed his wife, a maid in the same house, he is propelled in to a world of shady international banking and becomes even more involved when an employee contacts him about some suspicions she has about what is happening at the Bank. This involvement puts them both in grave danger as try to work out what is going on and keeping ahead of the security forces working to protect the banks secrets.
June 18, 2018
Spannende thriller! Aanrader!
January 6, 2026
David Ignatius never disappoints! Well-constructed novel of corrupt high finance and international intrigue with memorable characters. Highly recommended!
May 21, 2019
From Washington Post editor and columnist David Ignatius, another outstanding novel of espionage
Sam Hoffman grew into his work as a financial investigator specializing in the Arab world from childhood. His father had been a senior officer in the CIA with powerful connections throughout the Middle East and was still active as a private citizen. He "had grown up in Beirut, where his father had been chief of the large and active CIA station during the late 1960s." But Sam was not a drunk like his father, and he had rejected the old man's cynicism with a powerful strain of idealism. So it was natural that when a poor Filipino cook came to his London office complaining that his girlfriend had been raped and murdered by their boss, a wealthy Arab financier, Sam would look into the matter. And he soon finds that the financier, an Iraqi named Nasir Hammoud, is powerful indeed.
Saddam Hussein, secret offshore banks, and a dissolute Saudi prince
At length, Sam manages to track down a woman inside Hammoud's company, Coyote Investment, whom the Filipino had said might help. Naturally, the two are attracted to each other, and sparks begin to fly. And soon the two become entangled in a complex web of events. Involved are "the Ruler" of Iraq (obviously, a stand-in for Saddam Hussein), a network of secret offshore banks, a dissolute Saudi prince, a venerable Washington establishment lawyer, and, eventually, Sam's own father.
The Bank of Fear is a compelling tale that continues to fascinate until the very end. Ignatius combines deep research into the role of money in international affairs with all-too-believable characters and a fast-moving plot. When David Ignatius writes about secret offshore banks, it's wise to believe what he says.
Sam Hoffman grew into his work as a financial investigator specializing in the Arab world from childhood. His father had been a senior officer in the CIA with powerful connections throughout the Middle East and was still active as a private citizen. He "had grown up in Beirut, where his father had been chief of the large and active CIA station during the late 1960s." But Sam was not a drunk like his father, and he had rejected the old man's cynicism with a powerful strain of idealism. So it was natural that when a poor Filipino cook came to his London office complaining that his girlfriend had been raped and murdered by their boss, a wealthy Arab financier, Sam would look into the matter. And he soon finds that the financier, an Iraqi named Nasir Hammoud, is powerful indeed.
Saddam Hussein, secret offshore banks, and a dissolute Saudi prince
At length, Sam manages to track down a woman inside Hammoud's company, Coyote Investment, whom the Filipino had said might help. Naturally, the two are attracted to each other, and sparks begin to fly. And soon the two become entangled in a complex web of events. Involved are "the Ruler" of Iraq (obviously, a stand-in for Saddam Hussein), a network of secret offshore banks, a dissolute Saudi prince, a venerable Washington establishment lawyer, and, eventually, Sam's own father.
The Bank of Fear is a compelling tale that continues to fascinate until the very end. Ignatius combines deep research into the role of money in international affairs with all-too-believable characters and a fast-moving plot. When David Ignatius writes about secret offshore banks, it's wise to believe what he says.
September 1, 2016
I received Bank of Fear through GoodReads Giveaways and am glad I did. It is about an American in London, his involvement with an Iraqi girl, and their eventual entanglement with various powerful and wealthy Arab men. The story was first published in 1995. All that has transpired since (both in the Middle East and in technological changes) made the story even more interesting to me. I was not familiar with David Ignatius before. I found his writing easy and absorbing, and who doesn't like a young, strong, defiant female protagonist?
August 14, 2013
I thought this was a great book. The story involved CIA, various foreign countries, and a ton of money. It was easy to follow. This is the first book that I have read from him and Im looking forward to reading more.
July 26, 2015
+ 1/2 a star
July 2, 2022
A terrible novel
Unbelievable plot, filled with sadistic torture scenes. The other three novels I had read by Ignatius were reasonably good. This novel was an embarrassment.
Unbelievable plot, filled with sadistic torture scenes. The other three novels I had read by Ignatius were reasonably good. This novel was an embarrassment.
October 21, 2022
No lavish bullshits. Fine plot for mystery-adventure lovers.
London, as a suitable setting to unfold a story where interactions are enforced to draw the characters with different backgrounds - an American investigator living in London, and his father living in anywhere in globe, a British girl from Iraq, agents from Israeli intelligence and more - has always been an interesting place for me, and that's what I liked in this book.
"The truth about modern-day London, Hoffman suspected, was that it represented the revenge of the colonized. It was evident in the magisterial gait of Mr Onono, in the condescending faces of the Asian businessmen who gazed out form the backseats of the limousines that cruised the West End, in the Arabic signs that graced the windows of the jewelry shops and art galleries in Mayfair."
Written in 1994, this 28-years-old story doesn't give a clue about today's troubles in London, which are different from the ages of Neocon, but new and obscure issues such as Brexit, collapsing pound, position challenged by ungraspable movement against globalism. Therefore, the seriousness about the issues of the age dissolves into this post-covid atmosphere of the current world.
Though the tension created by the period is now less relevant, there are enough fun, thrilling, romantic points, all of which are worth to read for any fans of thriller.
London, as a suitable setting to unfold a story where interactions are enforced to draw the characters with different backgrounds - an American investigator living in London, and his father living in anywhere in globe, a British girl from Iraq, agents from Israeli intelligence and more - has always been an interesting place for me, and that's what I liked in this book.
"The truth about modern-day London, Hoffman suspected, was that it represented the revenge of the colonized. It was evident in the magisterial gait of Mr Onono, in the condescending faces of the Asian businessmen who gazed out form the backseats of the limousines that cruised the West End, in the Arabic signs that graced the windows of the jewelry shops and art galleries in Mayfair."
Written in 1994, this 28-years-old story doesn't give a clue about today's troubles in London, which are different from the ages of Neocon, but new and obscure issues such as Brexit, collapsing pound, position challenged by ungraspable movement against globalism. Therefore, the seriousness about the issues of the age dissolves into this post-covid atmosphere of the current world.
Though the tension created by the period is now less relevant, there are enough fun, thrilling, romantic points, all of which are worth to read for any fans of thriller.
June 20, 2024
I am so surprised by this book. This is my third book by David Ignatius and this one was the worst and is the most offensive book to Arabs. I remember that during the US invasion of Iraq the vice president Dick Cheney was pressuring Hollywood to make the Arabs the bad guys in their movies to brainwash the public by the media. Well, this book accomplishes this goal. I am wondering if he got paid to write this offensive book.
The plot is very lame and there is no complexity in it. The story is very predictable. The Arabs are all greedy and money hungry and the Iraqis are sadistic torturers. The Saudis are represented by a prince who is a pervert and useless and a corrupt rich man.
He is so clueless about the Arab culture (not that I am an expert), but to him all Arabs are the same. the Saudis, Iraqis, Palestinians, and even Tunisians are all one big group. And of course the good guys are the Americans who save the day. Isn't this book commissioned by Dick Cheney?
The plot is very lame and there is no complexity in it. The story is very predictable. The Arabs are all greedy and money hungry and the Iraqis are sadistic torturers. The Saudis are represented by a prince who is a pervert and useless and a corrupt rich man.
He is so clueless about the Arab culture (not that I am an expert), but to him all Arabs are the same. the Saudis, Iraqis, Palestinians, and even Tunisians are all one big group. And of course the good guys are the Americans who save the day. Isn't this book commissioned by Dick Cheney?
April 2, 2018
This is great novel. I was thrilled with the wonderful way the characters were connected. A network of corrupt and ruthless characters engaged in money laundering. As a Nigerian, the book reminded me of our past military heads of states and political leaders who engages in brazen corruption and money laundering. Though, the book was an interesting read and the fact that I tried to bring the characters to life, I was not at home with the London settings, especially the activities of the Arabs in London. This made me adrift.
April 9, 2019
With the third book in a row set in and around the Middle East, David Ignatius fully has my attention. This book crackled with energy from the first pages through to the end.
It would be an oversimplification to say this book laid bare the moral ambiguities of the Middle East- what it did was make the reader confront both their assumptions about the good guys and the bad guys while also turning the spy/thriller trope on its ear. It was a really fun read, while also being stressful, tense, and very rewarding.
It would be an oversimplification to say this book laid bare the moral ambiguities of the Middle East- what it did was make the reader confront both their assumptions about the good guys and the bad guys while also turning the spy/thriller trope on its ear. It was a really fun read, while also being stressful, tense, and very rewarding.
February 2, 2021
Another genre thriller I couldn't make it through. I love action-packed stories, but struggle finding authors whose prose is an asset--or even a non-issue--rather than a liability. Here, Ignatius gets the Iraqi expatriate culture right. He's at his best when describing their fears and thoughts of their homeland. What he falls well short on are believable characterizations and dialogue. His two leads are flat and simplistic.
August 1, 2025
An interesting plot
What an interesting story that is many parts true. The CIA going to ‘bed’ with hateful, evil and ruthless people, without thinking of the ramifications. It starts with an Iraqi getting away with murder and an Iraqi woman getting away with a ‘theft.’ The end left me wondering if Sam was going to cash in his ticket to California. Humm. Another great and thought provoking Novel by David Ignatius.
What an interesting story that is many parts true. The CIA going to ‘bed’ with hateful, evil and ruthless people, without thinking of the ramifications. It starts with an Iraqi getting away with murder and an Iraqi woman getting away with a ‘theft.’ The end left me wondering if Sam was going to cash in his ticket to California. Humm. Another great and thought provoking Novel by David Ignatius.
November 22, 2025
BANK OF FEAR, even though dated, is one of Ignatius's best. A page-turner for sure, set mainly in London and Geneva, it also has some brutal scenes in Baghdad. It's got everything: a damsel in distress (who turns out to be cleverest character of all); a young financial advisor in love; a cynical retired CIA agent; the Mukhabarat; the Mossad; and a cast of dozens. A truly suspenseful read. Don't miss it.
February 25, 2018
Post 9-11 thriller of Arab intrigue, endemic corruption, greed and police-state abuse. There's a James Bond quality that heightens the thrills and promotes sardonic grins. The author's intimate knowledge of the Arab world and the major players brings a realism that makes the plot, fantastic at times, quite believable.
February 23, 2020
Ever wonder what’s really going on behind those tinted, big-city office windows? Perhaps it’s a secret banking operation for shadowy mid-eastern billionaires. Welcome to the imagination of author David Ignatius. This cat-and-mouse story is a creative web of intrigue, money, fear and love. It’s another strong novel from the 1990s that’s well worth adding to your library.
March 4, 2022
Last in a trilogy of the Middle East and CIA. HAVE YET TOEAD “Body of Lie” but thoroughly enjoyed “ Agents of Innocence” Not his best in my opinion. Very good tale, interesting ending with surprise. My issue with an otherwise fine read is that the author does not do romance and sex well. I suppose a little had to creep in but it diminishes his very good CIA work.
April 2, 2023
Complex, intelligent, and compelling
Ignatius weaves a complex, intelligent, entertaining, and compelling tale. The writing is clear and crisp. Full of international banking maneuvers, spy craft, and edgy action.
Ignatius weaves a complex, intelligent, entertaining, and compelling tale. The writing is clear and crisp. Full of international banking maneuvers, spy craft, and edgy action.
April 4, 2025
another page turner
Love his writing. Not as convoluted as Le Carre nor as sarcastic as Mick Herron, two of favorites ( 6 decades and one respectively) and throttled differently and high up there. Well researched as his books are. Bravo!
Love his writing. Not as convoluted as Le Carre nor as sarcastic as Mick Herron, two of favorites ( 6 decades and one respectively) and throttled differently and high up there. Well researched as his books are. Bravo!
March 30, 2020
Classic David Ignatius...but not at his best.
January 3, 2021
Smart and compelling
A memorable read. I highly recommend it. You’ll love the dialog and the couple of creative twists that I didn’t see coming!
A memorable read. I highly recommend it. You’ll love the dialog and the couple of creative twists that I didn’t see coming!
May 21, 2021
Cynical book for our time
Takes awhile to get into The cynicism is overwhelming but you get into the book it gets you hooked into what happens to the protagonist s
Takes awhile to get into The cynicism is overwhelming but you get into the book it gets you hooked into what happens to the protagonist s
Read
March 22, 2023DNF
April 7, 2023
Very disappointing-disgusting torture porn and complete misogynistic perspective on women. Have enjoyed some of his other spy novels but will not be reading more.
January 18, 2024
Good pace, The main character's behaviour was a little unrealistic at times.
May 26, 2024
Pas un moment où l'on s'ennuie.captivant, dépaysant
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews