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Quoz
In 2027, AI has merged with quantum technology to take control of global financial markets. Operated by a mysterious Swiss bank, the revolutionary supercomputer known as ICARUS has promised the world a more stable economy, devoid of bailouts and volatile share prices. And it has delivered…until now.
When a data scientist working for one of the few remaining hedge funds finds disturbing trading anomalies, he suspects that markets may be on the verge of a catastrophic meltdown. But before placing big bets on stock market mayhem, his billionaire boss needs inside information from the financial genius behind ICARUS—Rory O’Connor.
Unfortunately, Rory has already had a meltdown of his own and now spends his days trading cryptocurrencies in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, a cabal of powerful central bankers orchestrates a sweeping financial coup that threatens the current world order as well as Rory’s self-imposed exile.
Will a global market collapse plunge the world into chaos? Ultimately, it’s up to Rory O’Connor and some unlikely collaborators to prevent an economic apocalypse.
When a data scientist working for one of the few remaining hedge funds finds disturbing trading anomalies, he suspects that markets may be on the verge of a catastrophic meltdown. But before placing big bets on stock market mayhem, his billionaire boss needs inside information from the financial genius behind ICARUS—Rory O’Connor.
Unfortunately, Rory has already had a meltdown of his own and now spends his days trading cryptocurrencies in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, a cabal of powerful central bankers orchestrates a sweeping financial coup that threatens the current world order as well as Rory’s self-imposed exile.
Will a global market collapse plunge the world into chaos? Ultimately, it’s up to Rory O’Connor and some unlikely collaborators to prevent an economic apocalypse.
317 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2024
23 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Mel Mattison
3 books23 followersMel Mattison is a writer and financial services veteran. Leveraging over twenty years’ experience in the realm of high finance, he brings real-world authenticity to his fictional narratives. Having served as the CEO of three separate FINRA and SEC regulated broker-dealers, Mel combines insider knowledge with a critical eye toward the economic forces that shape all our lives. With a knack for action, excitement, and thrills, he sheds light on the sometimes dark and confusing corners of finance. Mel holds an MBA from Duke University and studied creative writing at Loyola University Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 28, 2023
First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Mel Mattison for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always looking to expand my horizons, I gladly accepted this ARC by Mel Mattison. With little knowledge of financial theories or monetary policy, I came in blind and only hoped that I would not get subsumed with all the jargon. Mattison does well to keep the reader engaged and understanding most of what is going on throughout. The author does get technical, but it seems to help flavour the larger narrative, rather than leave the average reader without any direction. A great novel with some strong storylines for all to enjoy.
By 2027, artificial intelligence capabilities combined with advanced quantum technology will determine all fiscal policy, leaving global financial markets completely at the whim of an algorithm. All is centred in a mysterious Swiss Bank and run through a powerful supercomputer, ICARUS. Promises of a more stable worldwide economy where bailouts are a thing of the past has impressed many. The system appears to be running smoothly, until that fateful day...
When a hedge fund analyst is crunching the data, he notices a disturbing trend. Continuing on the path ICARUS proposes will lead to catastrophic meltdown and force the world into a recession and depression like no other. Before taking the world down in calls of financial apocalypse, the creator of the famed ICARUS, Rory O’Connor, is called back to Chicago to analyse the findings for himself.
Rory wants nothing to do with it, but is gently coaxed out of his self-imposed exile. All the while, powerful central bankers have been watching this and are hedging their own bets on financial ruin and a new superpower, alongside a formidable type of currency to keep the world afloat. To call it nefarious would be an understatement.
As the world teeters on ruin and the Americans pushing a new, non-physical, currency to take the world into a new level of technology, Rory O’Connor will have to work his magic to see what is going on with ICARUS or ensure the world collapses around him. It will be daunting, but something’s up and only Rory can fully understand who is pulling invisible strings in the background. Mattison delves deep into the world of financial dependency and shows the reader a wild ride like no other with this thriller.
While I entered this reading experience feeling nervous and slightly concerned, I did not leave feeling any different. This is not to say that Mel Mattison did not do what was expected of him, but I am nowhere near a financial guru and so much of what I read was over my head. Still, a strong narrative helped guide the way and produced some strong moments of thrilling proportions. The foundation provided a great launching pad for a gripping thriller, which did not focus entirely on monetary issues, but had moments of violence, death, and even kidnapping.This left me wanting to know more and better understand the topics at hand.
Character development is key to understanding many of the competing views found in the novel. Mattison does well to introduce them and flavour the story with their sentiments, while also providing some development throughout the story’s crescendo. There is little time to breathe, as the reader must comprehend all the nuances. I can only hope that he did enough to extol the virtues of this new tech perspective for those readers who understand it well.
Plot twists appeared to make the story come to life, injecting moments of drama and concern for those who took the time to comprehend the subject matter. I was hooked and kept asking myself if this could really happen. Mattison makes it so real that I can only surmise that there are great possibilities of it. Armed with a little more knowledge, I left this reading journey feeling smarter than I had and can only hope for more, should Mel Mattison return with another novel of this ilk.
Kudos, Mr. Mattison, for taking me out of my comfort zone and proving I can still learn a thing or two.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Always looking to expand my horizons, I gladly accepted this ARC by Mel Mattison. With little knowledge of financial theories or monetary policy, I came in blind and only hoped that I would not get subsumed with all the jargon. Mattison does well to keep the reader engaged and understanding most of what is going on throughout. The author does get technical, but it seems to help flavour the larger narrative, rather than leave the average reader without any direction. A great novel with some strong storylines for all to enjoy.
By 2027, artificial intelligence capabilities combined with advanced quantum technology will determine all fiscal policy, leaving global financial markets completely at the whim of an algorithm. All is centred in a mysterious Swiss Bank and run through a powerful supercomputer, ICARUS. Promises of a more stable worldwide economy where bailouts are a thing of the past has impressed many. The system appears to be running smoothly, until that fateful day...
When a hedge fund analyst is crunching the data, he notices a disturbing trend. Continuing on the path ICARUS proposes will lead to catastrophic meltdown and force the world into a recession and depression like no other. Before taking the world down in calls of financial apocalypse, the creator of the famed ICARUS, Rory O’Connor, is called back to Chicago to analyse the findings for himself.
Rory wants nothing to do with it, but is gently coaxed out of his self-imposed exile. All the while, powerful central bankers have been watching this and are hedging their own bets on financial ruin and a new superpower, alongside a formidable type of currency to keep the world afloat. To call it nefarious would be an understatement.
As the world teeters on ruin and the Americans pushing a new, non-physical, currency to take the world into a new level of technology, Rory O’Connor will have to work his magic to see what is going on with ICARUS or ensure the world collapses around him. It will be daunting, but something’s up and only Rory can fully understand who is pulling invisible strings in the background. Mattison delves deep into the world of financial dependency and shows the reader a wild ride like no other with this thriller.
While I entered this reading experience feeling nervous and slightly concerned, I did not leave feeling any different. This is not to say that Mel Mattison did not do what was expected of him, but I am nowhere near a financial guru and so much of what I read was over my head. Still, a strong narrative helped guide the way and produced some strong moments of thrilling proportions. The foundation provided a great launching pad for a gripping thriller, which did not focus entirely on monetary issues, but had moments of violence, death, and even kidnapping.This left me wanting to know more and better understand the topics at hand.
Character development is key to understanding many of the competing views found in the novel. Mattison does well to introduce them and flavour the story with their sentiments, while also providing some development throughout the story’s crescendo. There is little time to breathe, as the reader must comprehend all the nuances. I can only hope that he did enough to extol the virtues of this new tech perspective for those readers who understand it well.
Plot twists appeared to make the story come to life, injecting moments of drama and concern for those who took the time to comprehend the subject matter. I was hooked and kept asking myself if this could really happen. Mattison makes it so real that I can only surmise that there are great possibilities of it. Armed with a little more knowledge, I left this reading journey feeling smarter than I had and can only hope for more, should Mel Mattison return with another novel of this ilk.
Kudos, Mr. Mattison, for taking me out of my comfort zone and proving I can still learn a thing or two.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 29, 2023
Right away I see I’m not qualified to review the plot in this book in the money game to follow the lingo, but the story moves along fairly briskly and the writing feels fresh. I speed read for the gist of what’s happening, and it seems a fast, readable, good story. Every now and then I slowed down, getting pulled into the story and stayed with it until I’d hit bumpy passages burgeoning with bunches of adjectives and start skimming. Cutting about half the adjectives would be a great improvement. And there’s too much interior monologue for my taste. No need to tell us every detail and motive. Basically good storytelling.
March 27, 2024
“Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.” - Thomas Jefferson, 1816, writing to John Taylor (Epigraph)
Recently, I watched a Wendy Williams documentary that left me questioning the power wielded by banks. In her case, the bank froze all her funds based on mere suspicion. They believed her family was exploiting her financially without any concrete evidence or medical diagnosis saying that something was wrong with her. Shockingly, the bank not only restricted Wendy Williams’ access to her money but also had the authority to report their suspicions to the courts. As a result, the court appointed random individuals to be her guardians and manage her money.
This situation raises a critical question: If they can exert such control over a public figure like Wendy Williams, what could they do to the rest of us? The implications are mind-boggling. This theme fits with this book and had me thinking.
The story is set three years in the future and feels like a speculative thriller type of read. Though the plot deals with AI computers, finance, and the banking world, it is easy for any reader to follow - even those not familiar with banking and trading jargon. Questions I had were immediately answered in the next sentence or paragraph. I actually feel smarter after reading this book; while it is fiction there’s still lots to be learned from it.
Mattison’s writing is sharp and holds no punches - just as the characters he has created. The story grabs you from the start and holds tight until the very end. With vivid descriptions, we travel around the world and feel the same sense of urgency that the characters do. The tension is expertly executed and is palpable to the reader.
The plot is fast-paced, so hold onto your hats people, just as it is intriguing. This might have been my first time reading a financial thriller, but it didn’t feel that way. I mean, okay it completely did, but the way Mattison lays the groundwork for this book makes you feel like this is your millionth time reading financial thrillers.
There’s lots of action happening in this book and you’ll never find yourself bored. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably read this in one sitting. It was a hard one to put down.
So whether this is your first or millionth financial thriller read, I believe you’ll walk away from this book feeling satisfied in every sense. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
A 5-star read all around.
Recently, I watched a Wendy Williams documentary that left me questioning the power wielded by banks. In her case, the bank froze all her funds based on mere suspicion. They believed her family was exploiting her financially without any concrete evidence or medical diagnosis saying that something was wrong with her. Shockingly, the bank not only restricted Wendy Williams’ access to her money but also had the authority to report their suspicions to the courts. As a result, the court appointed random individuals to be her guardians and manage her money.
This situation raises a critical question: If they can exert such control over a public figure like Wendy Williams, what could they do to the rest of us? The implications are mind-boggling. This theme fits with this book and had me thinking.
The story is set three years in the future and feels like a speculative thriller type of read. Though the plot deals with AI computers, finance, and the banking world, it is easy for any reader to follow - even those not familiar with banking and trading jargon. Questions I had were immediately answered in the next sentence or paragraph. I actually feel smarter after reading this book; while it is fiction there’s still lots to be learned from it.
Mattison’s writing is sharp and holds no punches - just as the characters he has created. The story grabs you from the start and holds tight until the very end. With vivid descriptions, we travel around the world and feel the same sense of urgency that the characters do. The tension is expertly executed and is palpable to the reader.
The plot is fast-paced, so hold onto your hats people, just as it is intriguing. This might have been my first time reading a financial thriller, but it didn’t feel that way. I mean, okay it completely did, but the way Mattison lays the groundwork for this book makes you feel like this is your millionth time reading financial thrillers.
There’s lots of action happening in this book and you’ll never find yourself bored. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably read this in one sitting. It was a hard one to put down.
So whether this is your first or millionth financial thriller read, I believe you’ll walk away from this book feeling satisfied in every sense. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
A 5-star read all around.
March 20, 2024
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In 2027, AI fused with quantum tech controls global finance via ICARUS, a Swiss bank’s supercomputer promising stability. Yet, anomalies surface, hinting at impending market chaos. A lone data scientist seeks answers from Rory O’Connor, ICARUS’ creator turned recluse in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, powerful bankers plot a financial coup. As the world teeters on the brink, Rory and an unlikely alliance must thwart economic collapse. In a race against time, they confront the forces driving towards chaos, fighting to preserve the fragile balance of the global economy and prevent a cataclysmic meltdown that could reshape the world order forever.
The establishment gave an incredible takeoff platform to a grasping spine chiller, which didn’t zero in completely on money-related issues, yet had snapshots of viciousness, passing, and in any event, capturing. Mattison likewise attracts the peruser all along and has a genuine talent for making the peruser need to go on for another part, which in my situation frequently transformed into different sections. was exceptionally stunned at the number of individuals that wound up dead on account of the entirety of this happening in the book. It’s anything but a sentiment, yet there was an old flame that I felt might have been investigated more.
Mattison works everything out such genuinely that I can construe that there are extraordinary opportunities for it. Mattison insightfully increases the tension by enlightening perusers to specific subtleties of the book’s focal scheme before his characters uncover them, and his insight into global money loans’ weight and validness. I left this perusing venture feeling more astute than I had and might dare to dream for more, should Mel Mattison get back with one more novel of this kind.
In 2027, AI fused with quantum tech controls global finance via ICARUS, a Swiss bank’s supercomputer promising stability. Yet, anomalies surface, hinting at impending market chaos. A lone data scientist seeks answers from Rory O’Connor, ICARUS’ creator turned recluse in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, powerful bankers plot a financial coup. As the world teeters on the brink, Rory and an unlikely alliance must thwart economic collapse. In a race against time, they confront the forces driving towards chaos, fighting to preserve the fragile balance of the global economy and prevent a cataclysmic meltdown that could reshape the world order forever.
The establishment gave an incredible takeoff platform to a grasping spine chiller, which didn’t zero in completely on money-related issues, yet had snapshots of viciousness, passing, and in any event, capturing. Mattison likewise attracts the peruser all along and has a genuine talent for making the peruser need to go on for another part, which in my situation frequently transformed into different sections. was exceptionally stunned at the number of individuals that wound up dead on account of the entirety of this happening in the book. It’s anything but a sentiment, yet there was an old flame that I felt might have been investigated more.
Mattison works everything out such genuinely that I can construe that there are extraordinary opportunities for it. Mattison insightfully increases the tension by enlightening perusers to specific subtleties of the book’s focal scheme before his characters uncover them, and his insight into global money loans’ weight and validness. I left this perusing venture feeling more astute than I had and might dare to dream for more, should Mel Mattison get back with one more novel of this kind.
December 5, 2023
As an engineer who works in tech, I was excited to get an early look at Quoz more for its quantum computing and AI angles than for its financial ones. I was not disappointed. Mattison weaves in some surprisingly cutting-edge stuff without getting overly technical. I was also happily surprised by the thrust of the story and its main character, Rory O’Connor. As a thriller fan, I’ve been getting a little tired of heroes who used to be secret agents or special forces or some other type of super-warrior. In a recent one that I read, its hero literally takes out over a dozen armed fighters with nothing but his fists. Those scenes border on comic-bookish to me, and Quoz has none of them. The action scenes in Quoz ring true, more along the lines of an old-school Jack Ryan scene in a Clancy novel. Mattison also draws the reader in from the beginning and has a real knack for making the reader want to continue on for one more chapter, which in my case often turned into multiple more chapters. My only problem was I didn’t want it to end. Hoping a follow-on book is in the works. Overall, a real page-turner with a strong plot, interesting characters, and intriguing angles. Highly recommended.
March 10, 2024
This book was like nothing I had ever read before. Based on the financial side of things in the thriller side, so if you’re coming here for a complete thriller, I would say it’s not. It has aspects of a thriller, but it is not in my opinion a true thriller. This would be great for someone that is interested in what could truly happen if we had another great depression, or something along those lines with the financial struggles that we’re all dealing with currently. This made it feel real and very scary. 😱 I was very shocked at how many people actually got killed because of all of this going on in the novel. It is not a romance, but there was a love interest that I felt like could’ve been explored more. I kept picturing the Mail main character as dylan O’Brien in front of a gigantic computer board watching the markets, trading and what not. There were some points in this book that felt like a college text book that I had during my finance courses but it’s very relevant and needed for those that haven’t had that background. All and all a good book and different from anything on the market right now.
March 16, 2024
This was my first financial thriller and it did not disappoint!
Set in the year 2027 (three years away…yikes), AI has taken control of the global financial markets with a supercomputer named ICARUS. The idea is that it will keep the markets stable and curtail any major financial meltdowns. Problem is…that’s not what happens.
Obviously, I’m not going to give away what happens (because you’ll want to read it for yourself to find out), but trust me when I say it’s a wild and terrifying ride. And the fact that it is sort of possible makes it all more frightening. Watch those computers, y’all. AI is some serious sh*t!
Truly, though, with the author’s years of experience in the financial world, he has done a great job of crafting a plausible and propulsive alternate reality of things that may (or hopefully may not) come to pass. It’s a great cautionary tale and interesting thriller. I hope you will read it!
Set in the year 2027 (three years away…yikes), AI has taken control of the global financial markets with a supercomputer named ICARUS. The idea is that it will keep the markets stable and curtail any major financial meltdowns. Problem is…that’s not what happens.
Obviously, I’m not going to give away what happens (because you’ll want to read it for yourself to find out), but trust me when I say it’s a wild and terrifying ride. And the fact that it is sort of possible makes it all more frightening. Watch those computers, y’all. AI is some serious sh*t!
Truly, though, with the author’s years of experience in the financial world, he has done a great job of crafting a plausible and propulsive alternate reality of things that may (or hopefully may not) come to pass. It’s a great cautionary tale and interesting thriller. I hope you will read it!
November 24, 2024
I enjoyed this book, but it seemed to end a little too soon. I found myself wanting a bit more.
It was a little hard to keep up with all the players, and there was a lot of finance, investing, economics, etc mixed in so some might not know what's going on. I know enough to follow it, so I found it pretty interesting and informative. The action was pretty continuous, and the bad guys stretched across the world, including Russians, Chinese, Mexicans, Swiss, and American politicians all secretly trying to get very rich very quickly and willing to kill to get what they want.
I hope we get some more from this author.
It was a little hard to keep up with all the players, and there was a lot of finance, investing, economics, etc mixed in so some might not know what's going on. I know enough to follow it, so I found it pretty interesting and informative. The action was pretty continuous, and the bad guys stretched across the world, including Russians, Chinese, Mexicans, Swiss, and American politicians all secretly trying to get very rich very quickly and willing to kill to get what they want.
I hope we get some more from this author.
July 10, 2024
Really enjoyed this story, my first financial thriller and I was very impressed! Kinda niche because it involves finance and action and central banking but luckily for me it combined a lot of my varying interests. Great pacing with short chapters and very fun read! Highly recomend! Big thanks to Mel, the TFTC and the What Is Money? show for talking about these subjects!
September 6, 2025
Very entertaining book. A financial thriller. The author demonstrates quite a background in finance. Its a fast paced book has an interesting plot, lots of good characters. I got quite involved with the characters especially near the end. Lots of plot twists and turns and is reads a bit like a movie.
Strong genre fiction, definite recommend.
Strong genre fiction, definite recommend.
February 3, 2024
Nothing new in this book,.
May 9, 2024
Captivating, but finale is disappointing.
October 15, 2024
I LOVE fiction that teaches me something. This fit the bill. Impressive.
June 9, 2025
Gripping financial thriller; complex jargon, but humor and action make it accessible and engaging
Financial history aspect is absolutely fascinating
Financial history aspect is absolutely fascinating
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews