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Gil Peck series #2
The Crash: The brand new 2023 thriller from Britain's top political journalist
As the world falls apart, a deadly conspiracy comes together . . .
London, 2007. It's summer in the the economy is booming, profits are up and the stock market sits near record highs.
But journalist Gil Peck is a lone voice worrying it can't last. Deep in the plumbing of the financial system, he has noticed strange things happening which could threaten the whole economy. But nobody wants to hear not the politicians taking credit for an end to boom and bust, not the bankers pocketing vast bonuses, not even Gil's bosses at the BBC, who think it's irrelevant.
When Gil gets a tip-off that a small northern bank has run out of money, everything changes. His report sparks the first run on a UK bank in 140 years. The next day, Marilyn Krol, a director of the Bank of England dies in an apparent suicide.
For Gil, it's personal. Marilyn was his was his scoop connected to her suicide? Or is there something more sinister in her death? Gil is determined to find out.
The more he investigates, the more he is drawn into the rotten heart of the financial system, where old school ties and secret Oxbridge societies lubricate vast and illegal conflicts of interest. The whole economy has been built on a house of cards, and Gil is threatening to bring it down.
When simply reporting the facts can make or break fortunes, Gil has to ask is he crossing the line between journalist and participant? Are his own conflicts of interest making him reckless? And in a world ruled by greed where nothing and no-one is too big to fail, what price will he pay for uncovering the truth?
London, 2007. It's summer in the the economy is booming, profits are up and the stock market sits near record highs.
But journalist Gil Peck is a lone voice worrying it can't last. Deep in the plumbing of the financial system, he has noticed strange things happening which could threaten the whole economy. But nobody wants to hear not the politicians taking credit for an end to boom and bust, not the bankers pocketing vast bonuses, not even Gil's bosses at the BBC, who think it's irrelevant.
When Gil gets a tip-off that a small northern bank has run out of money, everything changes. His report sparks the first run on a UK bank in 140 years. The next day, Marilyn Krol, a director of the Bank of England dies in an apparent suicide.
For Gil, it's personal. Marilyn was his was his scoop connected to her suicide? Or is there something more sinister in her death? Gil is determined to find out.
The more he investigates, the more he is drawn into the rotten heart of the financial system, where old school ties and secret Oxbridge societies lubricate vast and illegal conflicts of interest. The whole economy has been built on a house of cards, and Gil is threatening to bring it down.
When simply reporting the facts can make or break fortunes, Gil has to ask is he crossing the line between journalist and participant? Are his own conflicts of interest making him reckless? And in a world ruled by greed where nothing and no-one is too big to fail, what price will he pay for uncovering the truth?
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2023
223 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
August 24, 2023
Author Robert Peston is acknowledged as one of Britain’s top political journalists and TV presenters, and he was the BBC economics editor at the time of the financial crisis, ‘The Crash’.
Blending fact and fiction, ‘The Crash’ gives a front row seat to the ins and outs of the financial crash of 2007 involving the Subprime Mortgage Market, when it looked like people’s savings were seriously at risk, and the banking industry was in danger of collapse.
Journalist Gil Peck is business editor at the BBC, and the biggest story of his career is about to be unveiled, as he has had special access to an unbelievable business scoop, one that will be exclusively revealed by him on his nightly TV show. He intends to blow the whistle on a funding crisis at one of the major banks, and it will mean he’s humiliating the opposition at the same time, something that will give him great satisfaction.
On the face of it things were looking good in the UK in 2007, it’s summer and the economy appears to be booming with the stock market near record highs. But Gil is about to blow the whistle on this smoke screen, with devastating consequences.
I enjoyed the fact that Peck’s personal life was given some prominence, his relationships with family and partners, lightening the seriousness of the storyline, as he’s dragged ever deeper into the rotten heart of politics, mainly involving former members of Oxbridge secret societies, but also Russian Oligarchs, all of whom lacked any kind of moral compass.
Things really began to kick off when Peck’s on off lover Marilyn dies in suspicious circumstances. Marilyn was in a commanding position at the Bank of England, which given the fact that the banking system is teetering on the edge and Peck has just revealed it to the world, is all just a bit too convenient.
The Crash is a very good political thriller with plenty of twists and turns with the tension building to create a great ending.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier books UK, Zagreb for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
Blending fact and fiction, ‘The Crash’ gives a front row seat to the ins and outs of the financial crash of 2007 involving the Subprime Mortgage Market, when it looked like people’s savings were seriously at risk, and the banking industry was in danger of collapse.
Journalist Gil Peck is business editor at the BBC, and the biggest story of his career is about to be unveiled, as he has had special access to an unbelievable business scoop, one that will be exclusively revealed by him on his nightly TV show. He intends to blow the whistle on a funding crisis at one of the major banks, and it will mean he’s humiliating the opposition at the same time, something that will give him great satisfaction.
On the face of it things were looking good in the UK in 2007, it’s summer and the economy appears to be booming with the stock market near record highs. But Gil is about to blow the whistle on this smoke screen, with devastating consequences.
I enjoyed the fact that Peck’s personal life was given some prominence, his relationships with family and partners, lightening the seriousness of the storyline, as he’s dragged ever deeper into the rotten heart of politics, mainly involving former members of Oxbridge secret societies, but also Russian Oligarchs, all of whom lacked any kind of moral compass.
Things really began to kick off when Peck’s on off lover Marilyn dies in suspicious circumstances. Marilyn was in a commanding position at the Bank of England, which given the fact that the banking system is teetering on the edge and Peck has just revealed it to the world, is all just a bit too convenient.
The Crash is a very good political thriller with plenty of twists and turns with the tension building to create a great ending.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier books UK, Zagreb for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
January 21, 2024
So far, unexpectedly good. I didn’t know that I would find a thriller about the financial crisis in 2007 so entertaining and gripping, I’m on the edge of my seat😀
Update:
Just finished.
This is so brilliant that I hardly know where to begin or end my praise. My little grey cells felt stimulated, I was in turn indignant, raging, stupefied, amazed, horrified, but also giggling and at the end just found myself wishing I hadn’t finished. Best thriller in a long, long time.
This is actually what in French is called a roman-a-clef, a novel in which you can recognize key characters, as an example I am pretty sure that Johnny Todd in the novel alludes to Tony Blair and there are others, Boris Johnson and David Cameron probably figure too and many more. A UK citizen well versed in British politics around 2007 would be able to point out more and have even more fun with that than I did.
Update:
Just finished.
This is so brilliant that I hardly know where to begin or end my praise. My little grey cells felt stimulated, I was in turn indignant, raging, stupefied, amazed, horrified, but also giggling and at the end just found myself wishing I hadn’t finished. Best thriller in a long, long time.
This is actually what in French is called a roman-a-clef, a novel in which you can recognize key characters, as an example I am pretty sure that Johnny Todd in the novel alludes to Tony Blair and there are others, Boris Johnson and David Cameron probably figure too and many more. A UK citizen well versed in British politics around 2007 would be able to point out more and have even more fun with that than I did.
November 4, 2023
Utterly tedious. If you want lots of mind-numbing information about sub-prime mortgages and nationalising banks, this is for you.
It fails to make a thrilling tale out of the financial mismanagement which led to the 2008 banking crisis. And the romantic sub-plot is really cheesy.
Our hero is a plucky (but whinging) tv reporter who discovers that a bunch of Oxbridge bankers and politicians are being greedy and generally evil. It’s full of thinly veiled real life characters and events but it’s boring and convoluted.
Makes you wonder if Peston is as irritating and narcissistic as Gil Peck.
* Thanks to BorrowBox * as I would’ve returned it on Audible.
It fails to make a thrilling tale out of the financial mismanagement which led to the 2008 banking crisis. And the romantic sub-plot is really cheesy.
Our hero is a plucky (but whinging) tv reporter who discovers that a bunch of Oxbridge bankers and politicians are being greedy and generally evil. It’s full of thinly veiled real life characters and events but it’s boring and convoluted.
Makes you wonder if Peston is as irritating and narcissistic as Gil Peck.
* Thanks to BorrowBox * as I would’ve returned it on Audible.
January 2, 2024
This book is a page turner, and works as a straightforward thriller. However, the protagonist Peck, is very disagreeable and hard to like. The author also has a couple of grating habits. Referencing the brand names of all the items of clothing continually is annoying, and some of the dialogue is cringeworthy.
August 4, 2023
Rating: 3.9/5
I am often wary of reading novels by celebrities who have decided to turn their hand to literary fiction. However, I was sufficiently impressed by Robert Peston's debut fictional novel, "The Whistleblower", that I had no hesitation in coming back to read the sequel, "The Crash".
If you have read "The Whistleblower" you will recognize the lead protagonist, Gil Peck, who returns in that central role. This time the setting has moved on from the late 1990s and the action takes place amid the banking crisis of 2007. Peck is no longer a political newspaper journalist, but is now working for the BBC. Indeed, it is he who will break the story of a high profile bank in the north of England that appears to be in significant trouble. All hell is breaking loose - not just in the UK economy, but also in Peck's personal life, with his long-term lover - who just happens to work for the Bank of England - being found hanged. Are the events linked or is this merely coincidence?
As with "The Whistleblower" Robert Peston once again "writes what he knows" and draws on his status as an experienced political journalist with in-depth knowledge of business and economics. Anyone who can cast their minds back to 2007 will be able to recognize some thinly disguised fictional characters from that period, as well as the references to some real life personalities. Robert Peston blends factual occurrences with an imaginary alternative reality to create an engaging and (mostly) believable political thriller.
A made the comment in my review of "The Whistleblower" that Peston's style struck me as a little erratic at times and I sensed that he was still searching for his fiction-writing DNA. I think it would be fair to say that the author now has a far clearer vision in that respect and "The Crash" is all the better for it. I would be very surprised if Gil Peck doesn't return at least once more and I will be looking forward to reading that next instalment.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
I am often wary of reading novels by celebrities who have decided to turn their hand to literary fiction. However, I was sufficiently impressed by Robert Peston's debut fictional novel, "The Whistleblower", that I had no hesitation in coming back to read the sequel, "The Crash".
If you have read "The Whistleblower" you will recognize the lead protagonist, Gil Peck, who returns in that central role. This time the setting has moved on from the late 1990s and the action takes place amid the banking crisis of 2007. Peck is no longer a political newspaper journalist, but is now working for the BBC. Indeed, it is he who will break the story of a high profile bank in the north of England that appears to be in significant trouble. All hell is breaking loose - not just in the UK economy, but also in Peck's personal life, with his long-term lover - who just happens to work for the Bank of England - being found hanged. Are the events linked or is this merely coincidence?
As with "The Whistleblower" Robert Peston once again "writes what he knows" and draws on his status as an experienced political journalist with in-depth knowledge of business and economics. Anyone who can cast their minds back to 2007 will be able to recognize some thinly disguised fictional characters from that period, as well as the references to some real life personalities. Robert Peston blends factual occurrences with an imaginary alternative reality to create an engaging and (mostly) believable political thriller.
A made the comment in my review of "The Whistleblower" that Peston's style struck me as a little erratic at times and I sensed that he was still searching for his fiction-writing DNA. I think it would be fair to say that the author now has a far clearer vision in that respect and "The Crash" is all the better for it. I would be very surprised if Gil Peck doesn't return at least once more and I will be looking forward to reading that next instalment.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
September 15, 2023
The financial crash of 2007 is underway.
I confess that at the start of The Crash I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the book because it is set so firmly in the duplicitous and corrupting worlds of banking, journalism, media and politics that all hold little interest other than frustration and anger for me. Equally, it took me a little while to settle into the writer’s style and I found the acronyms, brand name references and expletives occasionally distracting. There was a slight feeling of trying too hard to impress or shock the reader.
However, once I’d adjusted to the style and settled into what is a clever and entertaining plot in The Crash, those initial reservations dissipated. The continuous present tense gives a feeling of immediacy that is engaging. I think what works so well too is that recent real world events, historical and recent international banking crises, foreign interference in domestic UK affairs, and so on, all feel completely plausible and are woven through the action with complete authority by Robert Peston. The reader has the satisfaction of knowing that this is an author who knows what he’s writing about which makes it easier to slip into accepting and enjoying the narrative.
Aside from these large politicised elements, there are many more prosaic, and somehow more humane, themes that made the story attractive to me. Family and grief, personal relationships and love, trust, loyalty and friendship all lurk in the pages so that I think The Crash offers more to the casual reader than I first thought.
Gil’s previous life is dripped into this story carefully so that the reader has a good idea of who he is and his narrative voice – almost an inner monologue – creates a sense of him incredibly vividly, making him hard to resist and I soon found myself caught up in Gil’s world. He’s a multi layered and flawed individual who feels realistic and human. His relationships with his mother and with Jess ameliorate his obsessive and frequently manic elements really well so that I became drawn to him.
There’s a wide range of other characters that blends real people known to the reader with fictional portraits very cleverly, so that at times it’s hard to know what’s fact and what is fiction. I found this a highly effective aspect of the text because it pulled me into the scenarios, making them intriguing and engaging.
I began The Crash thinking I might not actually read it and ended it glad I had. The Crash is exciting, fast paced and engaging. It educates and entertains. It contains greater humanity than I had anticipated and Robert Peston has illustrated that he is a skilled and knowledgeable author who can hook even the most reluctant reader. He convinced me!
I confess that at the start of The Crash I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the book because it is set so firmly in the duplicitous and corrupting worlds of banking, journalism, media and politics that all hold little interest other than frustration and anger for me. Equally, it took me a little while to settle into the writer’s style and I found the acronyms, brand name references and expletives occasionally distracting. There was a slight feeling of trying too hard to impress or shock the reader.
However, once I’d adjusted to the style and settled into what is a clever and entertaining plot in The Crash, those initial reservations dissipated. The continuous present tense gives a feeling of immediacy that is engaging. I think what works so well too is that recent real world events, historical and recent international banking crises, foreign interference in domestic UK affairs, and so on, all feel completely plausible and are woven through the action with complete authority by Robert Peston. The reader has the satisfaction of knowing that this is an author who knows what he’s writing about which makes it easier to slip into accepting and enjoying the narrative.
Aside from these large politicised elements, there are many more prosaic, and somehow more humane, themes that made the story attractive to me. Family and grief, personal relationships and love, trust, loyalty and friendship all lurk in the pages so that I think The Crash offers more to the casual reader than I first thought.
Gil’s previous life is dripped into this story carefully so that the reader has a good idea of who he is and his narrative voice – almost an inner monologue – creates a sense of him incredibly vividly, making him hard to resist and I soon found myself caught up in Gil’s world. He’s a multi layered and flawed individual who feels realistic and human. His relationships with his mother and with Jess ameliorate his obsessive and frequently manic elements really well so that I became drawn to him.
There’s a wide range of other characters that blends real people known to the reader with fictional portraits very cleverly, so that at times it’s hard to know what’s fact and what is fiction. I found this a highly effective aspect of the text because it pulled me into the scenarios, making them intriguing and engaging.
I began The Crash thinking I might not actually read it and ended it glad I had. The Crash is exciting, fast paced and engaging. It educates and entertains. It contains greater humanity than I had anticipated and Robert Peston has illustrated that he is a skilled and knowledgeable author who can hook even the most reluctant reader. He convinced me!
January 29, 2025
I was lent this book and had to read it, primarily because there is no TV reporter that irritates my wife more than Robert Peston! Also, I didn't know he did fiction, so I thought I would find out if his particular oeuvre would irritate me too!
Robert admits that the plot stretches credulity at times but I found it fun enough as a light read. His main character is a TV financial journalist, so the background to the book is close to home. The central narrative, where the world teeters on the brink of financial catastrophe, is all too plausible. That wealth and power is held by just a small group, in league with each other, is still ok. That they are all happy to murder anyone who gets in their way, starts to stretch matters. That they all went to school or university with the central character (a Robert Peston like financial reporter), whose sister (the central character's, not Robert Peston's) also bedded the Prime Minister and then 'apparently' committed suicide, is really starting to push beyond the boundaries of credulity. However, where any semblance of reality is lost, is that the same Robert Peston like hero of the story appears to be a designer label obsessed fashionista....come on Robert...your scruffy clothes / appearance on News at Ten is just one of the things that so irritates my wife!
Robert admits that the plot stretches credulity at times but I found it fun enough as a light read. His main character is a TV financial journalist, so the background to the book is close to home. The central narrative, where the world teeters on the brink of financial catastrophe, is all too plausible. That wealth and power is held by just a small group, in league with each other, is still ok. That they are all happy to murder anyone who gets in their way, starts to stretch matters. That they all went to school or university with the central character (a Robert Peston like financial reporter), whose sister (the central character's, not Robert Peston's) also bedded the Prime Minister and then 'apparently' committed suicide, is really starting to push beyond the boundaries of credulity. However, where any semblance of reality is lost, is that the same Robert Peston like hero of the story appears to be a designer label obsessed fashionista....come on Robert...your scruffy clothes / appearance on News at Ten is just one of the things that so irritates my wife!
January 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting story with complex characters and lots of drama. I really felt anxious at some points and angry at the obvious links to real-life politics and economics.
April 4, 2025
i would have enjoyed this more if i knew anything about finance. i’m just a girl i don’t know anything about bonds or nationalising banks
September 23, 2025
really good book. at least I enjoyed it a lot. tbh didn't realize it was a sequel.
October 14, 2024
Very average thriller, interspersed with copy and paste from his BBC articles on sub-prime, etc. Main character is a BBC journalist ; reporter 'reptile' (his word) who reports on economic matters, but had his sister murdered by the previous prime minister!!
Confused plotting, loads of irrelevant minor characters. Preposterous portrayal of various renamed politicians. Endless bragging about how clever everyone from Oxford is, endless details about the brands the hero is wearing. Ridiculous details of how expensive everything is at the parties he attends. finally almost everyone bad just dies in a helicopter crash, so now you don't need to read it and waste many hours you'll never get back.
Minor tv celebs should stop peddling rubbish novels a s a side-line.
Confused plotting, loads of irrelevant minor characters. Preposterous portrayal of various renamed politicians. Endless bragging about how clever everyone from Oxford is, endless details about the brands the hero is wearing. Ridiculous details of how expensive everything is at the parties he attends. finally almost everyone bad just dies in a helicopter crash, so now you don't need to read it and waste many hours you'll never get back.
Minor tv celebs should stop peddling rubbish novels a s a side-line.
September 29, 2024
Again I've read number two in a series before number 1. This time the Gil Peck series. Yes there are spoilers from the first one but it did not hinder my reading. It was a slow burner for me however I did enjoy it. It's got a good mix of trying to be realistic and the drama craved from a thriller. The escapism parts included Jess and Amy who I loved like Gil. They did get brought into the drama though. No doubts about that. 4.5 stars
February 11, 2024
Author has an annoying habit of listing the brand name of everything he/his character is wearing, but reasonably enjoyable yarn
September 18, 2023
After reading this author's first book, and thoroughly enjoying it, by the way, I was definitely up for reading his next book. The Crash takes Gil Peck into the world of finance and politics and where you get those two you are sure to get corruption. Gil is now a reporter on the BBC and when he gets the sniff of a story about a bank running out of money her blogs the story. The following day his beast friend commits suicide, something that is out of nature for her. This gets Gil wondering if there is more to the bank than he first thought!
Once again I adored this book, I do like the character of Gil, he does get picked on a little bit as things do seem to end up more about him. He does become the story at several points in this book and it fits in well with how the author has created him.
With the world of finance, I did expect some mentions of things that would be over my head, and yes there were. Not too much so that it stopped the flow of the story but it did slow my reading a little when these were mentioned. Even though it is a world I don't really understand the author kept this story more about the intrigue and the corruption and of course working out what happened to his friend. There is more to the book than just the death and the bank running out of money. The book goes into some shady areas and these are dangerous for several that are involved. There is a mention of a character who is a bit of an enigma but gradually he is teased out and I kind of like this one. Still working out if he is really bad news or what, hopefully, he will feature again.
There are several characters in this book and to be fair they all have a role to play, no bystanders as such but also memorable for various reasons. While Gil is the focus of the story there are mentions of his private and family life, this is relevant and it does show how the journalistic world works, especially for someone breaking a story, blogging about it, following it up and also broadcasting it. There is a lot more than I realised, but then when you know the author has been in this field successfully you can see why these things are brought into the story.
A fabulous fast-paced book and one that is very addictive. It kept me on my toes and guessing the whole way through. Ideal for fans who like thrillers with a political slant to them and one I would definitely recommend.
Once again I adored this book, I do like the character of Gil, he does get picked on a little bit as things do seem to end up more about him. He does become the story at several points in this book and it fits in well with how the author has created him.
With the world of finance, I did expect some mentions of things that would be over my head, and yes there were. Not too much so that it stopped the flow of the story but it did slow my reading a little when these were mentioned. Even though it is a world I don't really understand the author kept this story more about the intrigue and the corruption and of course working out what happened to his friend. There is more to the book than just the death and the bank running out of money. The book goes into some shady areas and these are dangerous for several that are involved. There is a mention of a character who is a bit of an enigma but gradually he is teased out and I kind of like this one. Still working out if he is really bad news or what, hopefully, he will feature again.
There are several characters in this book and to be fair they all have a role to play, no bystanders as such but also memorable for various reasons. While Gil is the focus of the story there are mentions of his private and family life, this is relevant and it does show how the journalistic world works, especially for someone breaking a story, blogging about it, following it up and also broadcasting it. There is a lot more than I realised, but then when you know the author has been in this field successfully you can see why these things are brought into the story.
A fabulous fast-paced book and one that is very addictive. It kept me on my toes and guessing the whole way through. Ideal for fans who like thrillers with a political slant to them and one I would definitely recommend.
March 6, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed Robert Preston’s The Crash, just as much as I did The Whistle Blower, bringing Gil Peck up to date.
No spoilers, but a riveting read and even though I know very little about the economics of monetary functions, I understand more now than I did before. It is so plausible and makes you think that this type of underhand skullduggery can/does happen with Britains “privileged”
spoilt, privately educated, arrogant and egotistical brats who look after themselves and their own. Within the history of the plot and with persons of a certain age, more than one character is easily recognised (the beaming smile being one).
My reading of books had waned over the last few months to the extent that I had lost interest.
No chance with “The Crash” which has thankfully, ignited my enthusiasm once more,hence the five stars.
No spoilers, but a riveting read and even though I know very little about the economics of monetary functions, I understand more now than I did before. It is so plausible and makes you think that this type of underhand skullduggery can/does happen with Britains “privileged”
spoilt, privately educated, arrogant and egotistical brats who look after themselves and their own. Within the history of the plot and with persons of a certain age, more than one character is easily recognised (the beaming smile being one).
My reading of books had waned over the last few months to the extent that I had lost interest.
No chance with “The Crash” which has thankfully, ignited my enthusiasm once more,hence the five stars.
December 26, 2024
Rounded-up to 4 stars. This has some excellent, fast-paced moments when my heart was in my mouth and I liked the first-person narrative voice which helped us understand all of Gil Peck’s decisions, but the ‘baddies’ were too numerous and I got mixed up a few times with who was who, plus I spent too long trying to work out who these characters are meant to represent in real life so it was slightly distracting as it’s clearly based on factual events and real people.
September 8, 2024
As someone with limited political knowledge and typically bored by the crime/thriller genre, I was gripped by this book, but could not tell you what happened in it
August 10, 2024
The confusing consequences of my buying a stock market crash themed thriller at 4 am in gatwick airport. Still none the wiser but enjoyed the ride.
September 23, 2024
It's like reading two different books. The first half was a chore to get through primarily because the main protagonist is a weak, whiny, repetitive, annoying, cry-baby of a man. The fact that he mentions the name of his (beloved brand) of phone about a thousand times is irritating. The storyline was good and it's got potential to be a decent movie. But the main reason my rating is so low is because of that main character, I absolutely hated him for being so spineless despite his ferocious reputation in his field of work.
September 22, 2023
London, 2007. The economy is booming, profits are rolling in, and everything related to the stock market is looking rosy. The promise of New Labour that the days of boom and bust are a thing of the past appears to be holding true, and the City is reaping the rewards.
Journalist, Gil Peck receives a tip-off that a northern bank is in trouble, caught up in the nasty business of the sub-prime loan scandal in the USA. If true, it is news that will rock the financial world, and could spell disaster for the investment sector. Despite the lack of interest in the story from his bosses at the BBC, Gil decides that this is a scoop too good to ignore, and breaks the news on his blog. He suddenly finds himself at the centre of a huge story, and being blamed for a run on the bank.
As Gil delves deeper into the murky affairs behind the bank's woes, he realises that there is far more at stake than the deposits of their customers. Financial misconduct and illegal trading fuelled by greed lie at the heart of Britain's financial markets, and Gil feels sure it is his job to expose the scandal to the public.
When his lover and confidante Marilyn Krol, a director at the Bank of England, is found hanged, he is convinced that her death is more than the suicide the police believe it to be. His pursuit of the truth has now become personal, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get justice for her untimely death. However, those making vast sums from the dodgy dealing are keen to keep the enormous scale of the operation secret, and the power of wealth and the old school tie are significant weapons against a wildcard like Gil..
The Crash is a delicious thriller set in the world of finance, by eminent journalist Robert Peston, as a follow-up to his debut novel The Whistleblower. Gil Peck, an intriguing mix of hero and anti-hero, returns in this cracking story that explores the shady shenanigans that link politics, money and power, set against the disastrous events of the financial crash of 2007.
I do not even know where to begin summing up how brilliant this novel is. Although the characters here are all fictional, Peston cleverly manages to retain enough real world events and the personalities that played on the world political and financial stages of 2007, to make this novel engaging and chillingly authentic - I had endless fun spotting the caricatures here, who I sincerely hope are a lot more villainous than the real people they echo...
Gil is a fine protagonist, in all his chaotic madness, with his love of fine food, fine wine, and sartorial elegance... and all the weighty personal baggage that ends up exposing the human frailty he keeps under wraps. He is a self-centred, narcissist, but not without charms, and his determination to get to the bottom of a story is admirable - in partnership with his friend, the quite excellent FC reporter Jess Neeskens. Through them, Peston examines some hard questions about journalism too, especially when it comes to the conflict between exposing the truth and a responsibility to have a care for how stories are broken, and the fall-out their words might create.
There is a lot of complex finance and stock market trade related jargon in this book, which you do need to keep up with, but Peston does a great job of explaining how this all works and the impact of the illegal and foolhardy acts in the real world, and in the story. He really shines a light on the sphere of journalism too, especially the relationships between different facets of the media circus and their influence. I am in awe of the way he manages to take a world that is mystifying to so many of us, and work finance into a novel that brims over with compelling investigative twists and turns; gritty gangster vibes; atmospheric espionage intrigue; and good old fashioned, edge-of-your-seat adventure.
This is a proper page-turner of a novel, with an intelligent plot, characters to get your teeth into, a voyage into the darkest of hearts, and plenty of action. I loved it!
Journalist, Gil Peck receives a tip-off that a northern bank is in trouble, caught up in the nasty business of the sub-prime loan scandal in the USA. If true, it is news that will rock the financial world, and could spell disaster for the investment sector. Despite the lack of interest in the story from his bosses at the BBC, Gil decides that this is a scoop too good to ignore, and breaks the news on his blog. He suddenly finds himself at the centre of a huge story, and being blamed for a run on the bank.
As Gil delves deeper into the murky affairs behind the bank's woes, he realises that there is far more at stake than the deposits of their customers. Financial misconduct and illegal trading fuelled by greed lie at the heart of Britain's financial markets, and Gil feels sure it is his job to expose the scandal to the public.
When his lover and confidante Marilyn Krol, a director at the Bank of England, is found hanged, he is convinced that her death is more than the suicide the police believe it to be. His pursuit of the truth has now become personal, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get justice for her untimely death. However, those making vast sums from the dodgy dealing are keen to keep the enormous scale of the operation secret, and the power of wealth and the old school tie are significant weapons against a wildcard like Gil..
The Crash is a delicious thriller set in the world of finance, by eminent journalist Robert Peston, as a follow-up to his debut novel The Whistleblower. Gil Peck, an intriguing mix of hero and anti-hero, returns in this cracking story that explores the shady shenanigans that link politics, money and power, set against the disastrous events of the financial crash of 2007.
I do not even know where to begin summing up how brilliant this novel is. Although the characters here are all fictional, Peston cleverly manages to retain enough real world events and the personalities that played on the world political and financial stages of 2007, to make this novel engaging and chillingly authentic - I had endless fun spotting the caricatures here, who I sincerely hope are a lot more villainous than the real people they echo...
Gil is a fine protagonist, in all his chaotic madness, with his love of fine food, fine wine, and sartorial elegance... and all the weighty personal baggage that ends up exposing the human frailty he keeps under wraps. He is a self-centred, narcissist, but not without charms, and his determination to get to the bottom of a story is admirable - in partnership with his friend, the quite excellent FC reporter Jess Neeskens. Through them, Peston examines some hard questions about journalism too, especially when it comes to the conflict between exposing the truth and a responsibility to have a care for how stories are broken, and the fall-out their words might create.
There is a lot of complex finance and stock market trade related jargon in this book, which you do need to keep up with, but Peston does a great job of explaining how this all works and the impact of the illegal and foolhardy acts in the real world, and in the story. He really shines a light on the sphere of journalism too, especially the relationships between different facets of the media circus and their influence. I am in awe of the way he manages to take a world that is mystifying to so many of us, and work finance into a novel that brims over with compelling investigative twists and turns; gritty gangster vibes; atmospheric espionage intrigue; and good old fashioned, edge-of-your-seat adventure.
This is a proper page-turner of a novel, with an intelligent plot, characters to get your teeth into, a voyage into the darkest of hearts, and plenty of action. I loved it!
September 12, 2023
‘The Crash’ is definitely what I class a ‘thinking man’s ‘ thriller! Packed full of details about the financial system and the crash of 2008 but not dumbed down for the reader. The author expects that his readers will have the ability to grasp complex systems, interrelated activities and how they relate to the overarching plot. However, he manages to explain them in terms that a layman with no prior knowledge will easily be able to understand them! But that should be no surprise to Robert’s readers and of course his viewers. This is the first book that I have read by the author but I will keep my eye out for what he brings out next!
This was a nail-biting and tense thriller that takes about around the financial crash of 2008 and it is a very authentic and realistic take on the events. Of course, this is due to the extensive experience the author brings to the table on this subject since it was himself who broke numerous stories about Northern Rock and the subprime banking crash. Here we find Gil Peck, an ambitious BBC reporter and author of his economics blog Peckonomics who is breaking the story about the coming melt down of the worlds economy. His big scoop is when he gets a tip-off about a northern bank losing their customer's money, setting off a run-off for the first time in modern banking history which culminates with the Bank of England stepping in to save the bank. When one of his closest friends and on and off again lover Marilyn Krol, a director at the Bank of England, is discovered in her home after committing suicide, Gil wonders if he should have been able to help her more. Gil doesn't believe that she would have done this and thinks she has been murdered and it has something to do with the crash. He decides to investigate with the help of his best friend and fellow reporter Jess but will they get to the truth in time…
I really liked Gil, he was determined to get the crux of the story no matter what but he was also concerned about hurting people in the process. Although he has his flaws, he was a great protagonist and maybe his flaws actually helped make him relatable. You can feel the pressure he is under, trying to get the next story, his mother's illness and then the death of Marilyn. Then having to navigate that bunch of killer sharks is bankers and politicians! Geez no wonder he needs a spa day! There is also the shadow of his sister’s death which he has never recovered from.
You will definitely be able to work out who the characters are based upon quite easily if you like your politics. It made me feel as a reader that I was getting a peak behind the curtain at this world and how it operates. It certainly is a world where power rules!
Let me know if you pick this one up.
This was a nail-biting and tense thriller that takes about around the financial crash of 2008 and it is a very authentic and realistic take on the events. Of course, this is due to the extensive experience the author brings to the table on this subject since it was himself who broke numerous stories about Northern Rock and the subprime banking crash. Here we find Gil Peck, an ambitious BBC reporter and author of his economics blog Peckonomics who is breaking the story about the coming melt down of the worlds economy. His big scoop is when he gets a tip-off about a northern bank losing their customer's money, setting off a run-off for the first time in modern banking history which culminates with the Bank of England stepping in to save the bank. When one of his closest friends and on and off again lover Marilyn Krol, a director at the Bank of England, is discovered in her home after committing suicide, Gil wonders if he should have been able to help her more. Gil doesn't believe that she would have done this and thinks she has been murdered and it has something to do with the crash. He decides to investigate with the help of his best friend and fellow reporter Jess but will they get to the truth in time…
I really liked Gil, he was determined to get the crux of the story no matter what but he was also concerned about hurting people in the process. Although he has his flaws, he was a great protagonist and maybe his flaws actually helped make him relatable. You can feel the pressure he is under, trying to get the next story, his mother's illness and then the death of Marilyn. Then having to navigate that bunch of killer sharks is bankers and politicians! Geez no wonder he needs a spa day! There is also the shadow of his sister’s death which he has never recovered from.
You will definitely be able to work out who the characters are based upon quite easily if you like your politics. It made me feel as a reader that I was getting a peak behind the curtain at this world and how it operates. It certainly is a world where power rules!
Let me know if you pick this one up.
August 21, 2023
Robert Peston draws on his extensive professional background with this nail biting and tense political thriller, a blend of fact and fiction, featuring ambitious workaholic BBC Business Editor, Gil Peck, always on the look out for his next exclusive, writing a popular blog, Peckonomics. A 2007 Banque of Maghreb story hints at a coming banking meltdown that barely anyone pays any attention to with a booming economy, but Peck starts to sound the alarm through his blog. It all culminates in Peck getting his exclusive when he receives a tip off, he exposes the threat to the entire financial system when a northern bank is forced to turn to the Bank of England after running out of money. His reporting triggers a bank run, with alarmed account holders desperate to get hold of their money, with the bank website crashing.
What is obvious is that others in the banking sector must must be affected too. Peck is traumatised and griefstricken when the following day, one of his closest friends and long term lover, Marilyn Krol, Director of Financial Stability, is discovered in her home having committed suicide, after having informed him he wasn't seeing the whole picture. Peck's suspicions are aroused, what lies behind her death? The deeper he delves, the more the fraught Peck wonders if he ever really knew Marilyn. He is helped in his investigations by his best friend, the Financial Chronicle's Jess Neesken, finds himself in grave danger as he finds himself caught in a deadly conspiracy involving those at the heart of the financial system. The amoral, the entitled for whom the law and country means nothing, the repulsive, self serving and greedy who will stop at nothing, with ties that go back to their university days.
You can really feel the pressures that are piling on the flawed Peck, the deaths, his mother is undergoing treatment for cancer, he has never recovered from the murder of his older sister, Clare, for which there was never any justice, he has to tread carefully with the BBC hierarchy, and he is a target for the likes of the Daily Mail. You could probably guess who the thinly disguised political characters here are based on. Peston's experienced eye reveals the moral vacuum and sociopaths within the British establishment circles, the sleaze, the privileged lifestyles, the over the top parties, Russian oligarchs and more. His central protagonist, Peck, feels like an all too human character, he often does not get it right, but his friends matter to him, he is determined, and when the chips are down, he remembers his father's advice, don't get mad, get even. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
What is obvious is that others in the banking sector must must be affected too. Peck is traumatised and griefstricken when the following day, one of his closest friends and long term lover, Marilyn Krol, Director of Financial Stability, is discovered in her home having committed suicide, after having informed him he wasn't seeing the whole picture. Peck's suspicions are aroused, what lies behind her death? The deeper he delves, the more the fraught Peck wonders if he ever really knew Marilyn. He is helped in his investigations by his best friend, the Financial Chronicle's Jess Neesken, finds himself in grave danger as he finds himself caught in a deadly conspiracy involving those at the heart of the financial system. The amoral, the entitled for whom the law and country means nothing, the repulsive, self serving and greedy who will stop at nothing, with ties that go back to their university days.
You can really feel the pressures that are piling on the flawed Peck, the deaths, his mother is undergoing treatment for cancer, he has never recovered from the murder of his older sister, Clare, for which there was never any justice, he has to tread carefully with the BBC hierarchy, and he is a target for the likes of the Daily Mail. You could probably guess who the thinly disguised political characters here are based on. Peston's experienced eye reveals the moral vacuum and sociopaths within the British establishment circles, the sleaze, the privileged lifestyles, the over the top parties, Russian oligarchs and more. His central protagonist, Peck, feels like an all too human character, he often does not get it right, but his friends matter to him, he is determined, and when the chips are down, he remembers his father's advice, don't get mad, get even. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
September 13, 2023
This is book 2 in the series - the first being The Whistleblower - so for maximum enjoyment, you might want to read that first. I would recommend you do as it is referenced herein.
So we are now in 2007 and Gil is still a Journalist. As we catch up with him, he has just received a tip that a small bank is about to run out of money. So he does what any journalist worth his salt would do - he writes and publishes a report. And you can imagine what this sparks off... Dozens upon hundreds of people all flocking to withdraw their cash - which only compounds the issue. Disaster...
And then, the next day, Marilyn Krol, a director of the Bank of England, commits suicide. At least that's what it appears to be.
This throws Gil into torment as not only does he feel a bit guilty about the Bank run he sparked, but he also feels responsible for Marilyn's death - the two being very close. Although he can't believe it was suicide.
And then whispers start coming out about people who have gained more than they should have in the Bank's demise... And Gil starts to debate the whole ethos of journalism... Was he simply being used...?
This book mirrors what actually happened within the subprime mortgage market - which I remember the fallout of quite well. It also questions the use of the media by people in power for their own ends and means. This is also something I see quite a lot these days, especially by politicians "leaking" stuff to friendlies to gauge the public interest prior to announcing in the House. If only the Speaker would really get to grips with this, but that's by the by.
I already liked Gil when I first met him in The Whistleblower, and or relationship blossoms through this book too. I also like Peston's style of writing. How he writes very intelligent, detailed, stories but manages to get the crux across in layman's terms without patronising the reader.
For those who follow politics there are some familiar characters to be found along the way. We also have the politics of the BBC and their hierarchy to contend with! All very familiar stuff , again if you are politically aware.
The story is gripping and held my attention nicely all the way through, culminating in a wholly satisfying conclusion.
All in all, a cracking follow up outing for Gil Peck. Although I did reference the series at the start of my review, The two books do not appear to be linked as a such, but I am very much looking forward to catching up with him in his next outing. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So we are now in 2007 and Gil is still a Journalist. As we catch up with him, he has just received a tip that a small bank is about to run out of money. So he does what any journalist worth his salt would do - he writes and publishes a report. And you can imagine what this sparks off... Dozens upon hundreds of people all flocking to withdraw their cash - which only compounds the issue. Disaster...
And then, the next day, Marilyn Krol, a director of the Bank of England, commits suicide. At least that's what it appears to be.
This throws Gil into torment as not only does he feel a bit guilty about the Bank run he sparked, but he also feels responsible for Marilyn's death - the two being very close. Although he can't believe it was suicide.
And then whispers start coming out about people who have gained more than they should have in the Bank's demise... And Gil starts to debate the whole ethos of journalism... Was he simply being used...?
This book mirrors what actually happened within the subprime mortgage market - which I remember the fallout of quite well. It also questions the use of the media by people in power for their own ends and means. This is also something I see quite a lot these days, especially by politicians "leaking" stuff to friendlies to gauge the public interest prior to announcing in the House. If only the Speaker would really get to grips with this, but that's by the by.
I already liked Gil when I first met him in The Whistleblower, and or relationship blossoms through this book too. I also like Peston's style of writing. How he writes very intelligent, detailed, stories but manages to get the crux across in layman's terms without patronising the reader.
For those who follow politics there are some familiar characters to be found along the way. We also have the politics of the BBC and their hierarchy to contend with! All very familiar stuff , again if you are politically aware.
The story is gripping and held my attention nicely all the way through, culminating in a wholly satisfying conclusion.
All in all, a cracking follow up outing for Gil Peck. Although I did reference the series at the start of my review, The two books do not appear to be linked as a such, but I am very much looking forward to catching up with him in his next outing. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
September 26, 2023
I started reading this book this morning and finished it this evening. I am not normally one for politics, Banking or corruption. But it is clear that the author is writing about what he knows. Obviously some truth blended in with fiction. Which clearly works well.
The year is 2007 and Business editor for the BBC is Gil Peck, he is an ambitious workaholic, who has OCD. He is constantly looking out for his next big scoop, that’s the thing with reporting to get a scoop you need to be there first. He has been writing his own blog known as Peckonomics. But he hears rumours of something of interest that could become a huge story. It involves a bank hints are flying round that it could collapse, would the Bank of England come to its rescue? this could affect the whole banking system, but no one is listening to Pecks intel. Until they are. But Pecks reporting of this banks collapse triggers off people into panic mode all going to the bank to withdraw their monies. They had tried to check online but the whole system had crashed.
The day after he had reported the information that the bank had run, he is shocked to his core to learn that Marilyn Krol, the Director of Financial Stability, one of Pecks closest friends and a long term lover is dead. The police say it is suicide but Peck has problems accepting that Marilyn would do that. He is distraught and grief stricken. The last time he had spoken to her she had given him information on the situation with the bank that was in trouble, but before she finished the conversation she told him he wasn’t seeing the whole picture. What had she meant by that? What was he missing?
The more Peck looked into Marilyn’s death the more he wonders how much he really knew about her. Jess Neesken his best friend who works for the Financial Chronicle helps Peck with his investigation. But it’s not long before he finds himself in a deadly conspiracy involving the people at the heart of the financial institution, some of these are people he went to Oxford with. People he knew or thought he knew. But they are entitled, corrupt, and greedy.
Peck was being pulled from one direction to another not only was he trying to dig into the information on the banking system and who stood to gain from it, but he was also dealing with his mums ill health as she was just finishing having chemotherapy for cancer. He had also never got over the murder of his sister Clare, for which no one had ever been caught.
There are a number of complex conversations within this story some of which I had no idea what they were talking about except it involving money. As Peck does his interviews digging deeper for more information he realises the people he thought he knew he didn’t, they weren’t just greedy they were sociopaths, people with privileged lifestyles, where to them money is no object, they would throw parties where bottles of wine could cost £6000 maybe some of them were worth more, cocaine is lined up for whoever wants to participate. Russian oligarchs were invited to these parties as well. But had Peck been used to leak the information on the bank that collapsed? Had people gained money from his reporting?
Peck is not like these other people he is a down to earth reporter who looks for the truth, he is a believable character well drawn. This is the first book I have read by Robert Peston I believe there is one book before this one called The Whistleblower which also has Gil Peck in it. Once you get completely into the story it grabs you and the pace picks up. The only thing I wasn’t keen on was the descriptions of the clothes the characters were wearing that didn’t really add to the story if they had Gucci or Armani suits etc. But other than that a good solid political thriller. Engrossing and engaging toward the last quarter of the book the tension really grabbed you. Definitely worth a read.
The year is 2007 and Business editor for the BBC is Gil Peck, he is an ambitious workaholic, who has OCD. He is constantly looking out for his next big scoop, that’s the thing with reporting to get a scoop you need to be there first. He has been writing his own blog known as Peckonomics. But he hears rumours of something of interest that could become a huge story. It involves a bank hints are flying round that it could collapse, would the Bank of England come to its rescue? this could affect the whole banking system, but no one is listening to Pecks intel. Until they are. But Pecks reporting of this banks collapse triggers off people into panic mode all going to the bank to withdraw their monies. They had tried to check online but the whole system had crashed.
The day after he had reported the information that the bank had run, he is shocked to his core to learn that Marilyn Krol, the Director of Financial Stability, one of Pecks closest friends and a long term lover is dead. The police say it is suicide but Peck has problems accepting that Marilyn would do that. He is distraught and grief stricken. The last time he had spoken to her she had given him information on the situation with the bank that was in trouble, but before she finished the conversation she told him he wasn’t seeing the whole picture. What had she meant by that? What was he missing?
The more Peck looked into Marilyn’s death the more he wonders how much he really knew about her. Jess Neesken his best friend who works for the Financial Chronicle helps Peck with his investigation. But it’s not long before he finds himself in a deadly conspiracy involving the people at the heart of the financial institution, some of these are people he went to Oxford with. People he knew or thought he knew. But they are entitled, corrupt, and greedy.
Peck was being pulled from one direction to another not only was he trying to dig into the information on the banking system and who stood to gain from it, but he was also dealing with his mums ill health as she was just finishing having chemotherapy for cancer. He had also never got over the murder of his sister Clare, for which no one had ever been caught.
There are a number of complex conversations within this story some of which I had no idea what they were talking about except it involving money. As Peck does his interviews digging deeper for more information he realises the people he thought he knew he didn’t, they weren’t just greedy they were sociopaths, people with privileged lifestyles, where to them money is no object, they would throw parties where bottles of wine could cost £6000 maybe some of them were worth more, cocaine is lined up for whoever wants to participate. Russian oligarchs were invited to these parties as well. But had Peck been used to leak the information on the bank that collapsed? Had people gained money from his reporting?
Peck is not like these other people he is a down to earth reporter who looks for the truth, he is a believable character well drawn. This is the first book I have read by Robert Peston I believe there is one book before this one called The Whistleblower which also has Gil Peck in it. Once you get completely into the story it grabs you and the pace picks up. The only thing I wasn’t keen on was the descriptions of the clothes the characters were wearing that didn’t really add to the story if they had Gucci or Armani suits etc. But other than that a good solid political thriller. Engrossing and engaging toward the last quarter of the book the tension really grabbed you. Definitely worth a read.
September 17, 2023
Robert Peston is a famous and charismatic journalist who, for many years, was the anchor-man business editor at the BBC, breaking news scoops in his unique and somewhat eccentric style, making the sometimes dull stories from the financial sector interesting and headline grabbing. He reported exclusive information on the Northern Rock crisis in 2008 and led on the many banking and funding crisis of that time. So, for me, someone who is something of a News-24 addict, I was always going see the lead character in "The Crash" as Peston himself, rather than the book's lead - Mr Gil Peck.
A quick review of Peston's life shows other parallels to Peck that make the line between fact and fiction even harder to see; both Grammar-school educated and alumni from Oxford, both lead BBC journalists, both of Jewish faith with a famous father, instrumental in the Labour Party movement in the 70s and 80s, and both breaking the news of the financial crisis in the UK with their scoop storylines and the danger that goes with it.
It should be of no surprise then, that Peston writes with effortless knowledge and command of "The Crash", making the story fast-paced, exciting and dangerous from the very start. The characters develop so quickly and with historical events and other real-life characters woven in, I regularly had to remind myself who was in "The Crash" and who was from real life! Written with a superb pager-turner quality, Peston drives his character "Peck" from one crisis to the next with danger mounting at every turn. I found myself reading some pages almost through my fingers, worrying about what was coming next, with the style and setting fresh and stylish in modern-day London.
Peston does love to name-drop brands though, and the only reason I cannot give this book a full 5 star review is to be found in one particular outfit, where Peck describes himself prior to an important event, wearing Jasper Conran, John Smedley, Paul Smith, Turnbull & Asher, Charvet and Jeffery-West all at the same time - this is fashion-tastic and too much for me! It interrupts the flow of an otherwise exciting narrative and ultimately costs Peston a star.
Highly recommended, but better off without the designer outlet vibe.
A quick review of Peston's life shows other parallels to Peck that make the line between fact and fiction even harder to see; both Grammar-school educated and alumni from Oxford, both lead BBC journalists, both of Jewish faith with a famous father, instrumental in the Labour Party movement in the 70s and 80s, and both breaking the news of the financial crisis in the UK with their scoop storylines and the danger that goes with it.
It should be of no surprise then, that Peston writes with effortless knowledge and command of "The Crash", making the story fast-paced, exciting and dangerous from the very start. The characters develop so quickly and with historical events and other real-life characters woven in, I regularly had to remind myself who was in "The Crash" and who was from real life! Written with a superb pager-turner quality, Peston drives his character "Peck" from one crisis to the next with danger mounting at every turn. I found myself reading some pages almost through my fingers, worrying about what was coming next, with the style and setting fresh and stylish in modern-day London.
Peston does love to name-drop brands though, and the only reason I cannot give this book a full 5 star review is to be found in one particular outfit, where Peck describes himself prior to an important event, wearing Jasper Conran, John Smedley, Paul Smith, Turnbull & Asher, Charvet and Jeffery-West all at the same time - this is fashion-tastic and too much for me! It interrupts the flow of an otherwise exciting narrative and ultimately costs Peston a star.
Highly recommended, but better off without the designer outlet vibe.
January 12, 2024
One of my all-time favourite novels is A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks. Published in 2009 while the dust was still settling following the global banking crisis, it features an extraordinarily Machiavellian financier called John Veals, who devises and sets in motion a major couple which, in addition to winning him an immense fortune, will scupper the country’s foremost banking institution. Reading it shortly after its publication, while the wounds that virtually everyone in the Western world sustained from the banking crisis still felt rather raw, I was amazed at the apparent simplicity of Veals’s subversion.
As it happens, it was during that crisis that I first became aware of Robert Peston, who was then the BBC’s leading financial correspondent, and whose sanguine reporting helped offer some degree of understanding of terms being bandied around such as ‘subprime’ and ‘toxic debt’. Peston moved on to become the BBC’s leading political editor, before then moving to perform a similar role in commercial television.
His second novel revisits the crisis. The story is a first-person narration from Gil Peck, a high-profile journalist with the BBC, and opens in 2007 when he receives a tip that one of Britain’s banks, based in the north-east of England, may have seriously overreached itself and could be facing existential challenges. Peck checks with contacts in the Bank of England who confirm that there are issues with the bank in question. Peck uses the tip to secure a journalistic scoop, although that results in massive queues outside each branch of the ailing bank as customers rush to withdraw their money. But then Peck’s contact in the Bank of England is found dead, and it transpires that various other banks are experiencing similar problems, and may be looking for the government to bail them out.
Peston draws on his immense knowledge of the field to create a very tense thriller, full of twists. He also has an enviable capacity to describe highly complex financial transactions and constructions in a readily accessible manner. In a former incarnation I was an investigative tax inspector, but my experiences of forensic accounting would not have helped me to make much headway through the labyrinthine twists and deceptions that mar Gil Peck’s investigations.
My one cavil – a minor one – is that nearly all of the characters are so deeply unpleasant, including Peck himself. I don’t particularly need to be able to empathise with characters in order to enjoy a book, but it would be nice to find at least one that has some redeeming traits.
As it happens, it was during that crisis that I first became aware of Robert Peston, who was then the BBC’s leading financial correspondent, and whose sanguine reporting helped offer some degree of understanding of terms being bandied around such as ‘subprime’ and ‘toxic debt’. Peston moved on to become the BBC’s leading political editor, before then moving to perform a similar role in commercial television.
His second novel revisits the crisis. The story is a first-person narration from Gil Peck, a high-profile journalist with the BBC, and opens in 2007 when he receives a tip that one of Britain’s banks, based in the north-east of England, may have seriously overreached itself and could be facing existential challenges. Peck checks with contacts in the Bank of England who confirm that there are issues with the bank in question. Peck uses the tip to secure a journalistic scoop, although that results in massive queues outside each branch of the ailing bank as customers rush to withdraw their money. But then Peck’s contact in the Bank of England is found dead, and it transpires that various other banks are experiencing similar problems, and may be looking for the government to bail them out.
Peston draws on his immense knowledge of the field to create a very tense thriller, full of twists. He also has an enviable capacity to describe highly complex financial transactions and constructions in a readily accessible manner. In a former incarnation I was an investigative tax inspector, but my experiences of forensic accounting would not have helped me to make much headway through the labyrinthine twists and deceptions that mar Gil Peck’s investigations.
My one cavil – a minor one – is that nearly all of the characters are so deeply unpleasant, including Peck himself. I don’t particularly need to be able to empathise with characters in order to enjoy a book, but it would be nice to find at least one that has some redeeming traits.
September 19, 2023
“In my blog, Peckonomics, I’ve been sounding the alarm day after day, shouting as loudly as I can that we all need to get into our bunkers, because the day of financial and economic reckoning is nigh. But try as I might, I can’t get the story onto the Ten O’Clock News.”
My thanks to Bonnier Books Zaffre for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Crash’ by Robert Peston.
This is his second novel featuring journalist Gil Peck. Peston is a leading British political journalist and draws upon his extensive experience to create a fascinating thriller set during the political and economic turmoil of 2007-08.
Since the events in ‘The Whistleblower’, Peck, who serves as the novel’s narrator, has moved from print journalism to a more prominent job as the Business Editor for the BBC. He also runs a widely followed blog, Peckonomics. Through it he is attempting to deliver the bad news to the nation that it’s on the brink of economic collapse, because of the greed and recklessness of banks. Yet it seems no one wants to listen. Then a tragedy occurs and he begins an obsessive pursuit of the truth to discover what had happened. No further details to avoid spoilers.
In his Afterword Peston writes that he has drawn on his personal experience of big events to create a “plausible alternative reality” and that every character is a “figment of my imagination and an amalgam of people I’ve encountered and know.”
Peston has attempted to keep events realistic and Peck is clearly a flawed hero (or rather anti-hero). As in ‘The Whistleblower’ Peck’s inner dialogue is sharp as he dissects the world he inhabits, including his and others’ fashion choices. Satire or perhaps this is how people in these elite circles judge one another?
Overall, I found ‘The Crash’ an intelligent and engaging novel that proved hard to put down. While economics and the banking crises might seem an unusual subject for a thriller, Peston is a gifted writer and was able to integrate these complex financial themes into his novel while delivering on the thrills.
My thanks to Bonnier Books Zaffre for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Crash’ by Robert Peston.
This is his second novel featuring journalist Gil Peck. Peston is a leading British political journalist and draws upon his extensive experience to create a fascinating thriller set during the political and economic turmoil of 2007-08.
Since the events in ‘The Whistleblower’, Peck, who serves as the novel’s narrator, has moved from print journalism to a more prominent job as the Business Editor for the BBC. He also runs a widely followed blog, Peckonomics. Through it he is attempting to deliver the bad news to the nation that it’s on the brink of economic collapse, because of the greed and recklessness of banks. Yet it seems no one wants to listen. Then a tragedy occurs and he begins an obsessive pursuit of the truth to discover what had happened. No further details to avoid spoilers.
In his Afterword Peston writes that he has drawn on his personal experience of big events to create a “plausible alternative reality” and that every character is a “figment of my imagination and an amalgam of people I’ve encountered and know.”
Peston has attempted to keep events realistic and Peck is clearly a flawed hero (or rather anti-hero). As in ‘The Whistleblower’ Peck’s inner dialogue is sharp as he dissects the world he inhabits, including his and others’ fashion choices. Satire or perhaps this is how people in these elite circles judge one another?
Overall, I found ‘The Crash’ an intelligent and engaging novel that proved hard to put down. While economics and the banking crises might seem an unusual subject for a thriller, Peston is a gifted writer and was able to integrate these complex financial themes into his novel while delivering on the thrills.
October 17, 2023
Robert Peston is a great journalist and an insightful commentator on UK politics and economics. But he is not great novelist.
The Crash is a thriller set against the backdrop of the 2007 financial crisis. Gill Peck – an economic journalist clearly closely modelled on Peston himself – is caught up in a spiral of economic misdeeds and dark conspiracy which soon lead to murder.
The thriller aspect of the book is OK. There are some well drawn characters (perhaps too many characters?). But there are also gaps in plot credibility (the attempt to murder Peck doesn’t hold water), too many high speed cycle rides across London and the ending is too abrupt and not well linked to the rest of the plot.
And I found the central character of Gil Peck frankly annoying. Insecure, obsessive and with a jarring habit of name-dropping various high-end brands. I guess that a lot of this is Peston himself. On there positive side these traits result in a truly original character and not some identikit sleuth. But unlike a Rebus this is not someone you would necessarily like or sympathise with. When the neurotic Peck mumbles “kill me, kill me, kill me now” I sometimes wish someone would get on with it.
So a three star book overall – except there is a delicious bonus with this book. Peston has been at the heart of British political life for decades. His description of the venal, self-satisfied, entitled, coked up and insider-dealing Oxbridge clique running the London financial/political world in 2007 is brutal and unsparing. There is obviously some exaggeration for dramatic effect but Peston was an eye witness and just as Peck seems 90% autobiographical these dystopian gargoyles surely roamed pre-Crash London (and probably still do today). It is a fascinating and frightening insight of the UK's very own "big swinging dicks".
So if the reader is interested in British politics and economics then for this alone The Crash is definitely worth a read. If your interests are elsewhere then chose another book.
The Crash is a thriller set against the backdrop of the 2007 financial crisis. Gill Peck – an economic journalist clearly closely modelled on Peston himself – is caught up in a spiral of economic misdeeds and dark conspiracy which soon lead to murder.
The thriller aspect of the book is OK. There are some well drawn characters (perhaps too many characters?). But there are also gaps in plot credibility (the attempt to murder Peck doesn’t hold water), too many high speed cycle rides across London and the ending is too abrupt and not well linked to the rest of the plot.
And I found the central character of Gil Peck frankly annoying. Insecure, obsessive and with a jarring habit of name-dropping various high-end brands. I guess that a lot of this is Peston himself. On there positive side these traits result in a truly original character and not some identikit sleuth. But unlike a Rebus this is not someone you would necessarily like or sympathise with. When the neurotic Peck mumbles “kill me, kill me, kill me now” I sometimes wish someone would get on with it.
So a three star book overall – except there is a delicious bonus with this book. Peston has been at the heart of British political life for decades. His description of the venal, self-satisfied, entitled, coked up and insider-dealing Oxbridge clique running the London financial/political world in 2007 is brutal and unsparing. There is obviously some exaggeration for dramatic effect but Peston was an eye witness and just as Peck seems 90% autobiographical these dystopian gargoyles surely roamed pre-Crash London (and probably still do today). It is a fascinating and frightening insight of the UK's very own "big swinging dicks".
So if the reader is interested in British politics and economics then for this alone The Crash is definitely worth a read. If your interests are elsewhere then chose another book.
January 9, 2025
Rounded up from 2.5 stars. This was a weird read since the main character, Gil Peck, appears to be the author Robert Peston himself. He is a Jewish Oxford graduate who was an editor at the Financial Chronicle (= Financial Times) before moving to the BBC as economic editor, and he broke the story of the collapse of NewGate (= Northern Rock) and the problems at PTBG (= HSBC). And if it is a real portrait of himself, he comes across as a self-involved, weepy arsehole. But it's not exactly a roman à clef (one hopes), because the figure who is obviously Tony Blair is not averse to a wee bit of abduction, GBH and torture to increase his wealth and influence. It's very distracting.
The story itself is fairly interesting, centred around a suspicious suicide, and I just about followed the financial stuff (although it helped that I already knew a lot about the 2008 crash). The tragic loss of Marilyn is a bit undermined by how quickly Peck decides that Jess is now the love of his life. The ending gets a bit silly (you arrange for your enemies to get taken out by a Russian billionaire in a helicopter crash rather than, say, using your global platform to simply expose them?) but I was past caring at that point.
What was also distracting, but very amusing, was the obsession with clothing brands. It's not just "I put on my Jasper Conran suit and went out", it gets really ridiculous, to the point that I highlighted a couple of classics. Enjoy!
"I cushion my fall with my arms, as an overpolished black pointy-toed lace-up stamps on my left hand. Then an imitation Gucci slip-on kicks me in the ribs"
"She goes to my suit, which is folded over the back of a chair. There are deep bloodstains all over it. I doubt any dry cleaner will be able to remove them. How many suits are going to be destroyed before the banking crisis is over?" 😂
The story itself is fairly interesting, centred around a suspicious suicide, and I just about followed the financial stuff (although it helped that I already knew a lot about the 2008 crash). The tragic loss of Marilyn is a bit undermined by how quickly Peck decides that Jess is now the love of his life. The ending gets a bit silly (you arrange for your enemies to get taken out by a Russian billionaire in a helicopter crash rather than, say, using your global platform to simply expose them?) but I was past caring at that point.
What was also distracting, but very amusing, was the obsession with clothing brands. It's not just "I put on my Jasper Conran suit and went out", it gets really ridiculous, to the point that I highlighted a couple of classics. Enjoy!
"I cushion my fall with my arms, as an overpolished black pointy-toed lace-up stamps on my left hand. Then an imitation Gucci slip-on kicks me in the ribs"
"She goes to my suit, which is folded over the back of a chair. There are deep bloodstains all over it. I doubt any dry cleaner will be able to remove them. How many suits are going to be destroyed before the banking crisis is over?" 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2023
All the time I was reading, I couldn’t help wondering how much of Gil Peck is based on Robert Peston himself. Or is Gil a mish-mash of the people Robert has met during his illustrious career? I hoped (prayed) it was the latter. When I got to the end, the author informs us that ‘every character is both a figment of my imagination and an amalgam of people I’ve encountered and know.’ Phew! I would hate to think of Robert selling drugs at Balliol and …. well I can’t tell you any more.
I did struggle a bit to keep up with the financial jargon eg subprime mortgages, bonds, and hedge funds. Imagine if ‘you were telling your grandmother what’s going on, how would you put it?’ Peck recommends at one point, unless of course she’s been a hedge fund manager, which she wasn’t. And neither am I. In fact what I know about the world of high finance could be written on the back of a Bitcoin. But I still recognise corruption in finance and politics and often question how some of the people involved, supposedly Oxbridge clever, can be so stupid. Greed I suppose trumps (no pun intended) common sense.
This was a fascinating read, not high-brow or dry as one might expect (or fear), but fast, entertaining and sprinkled with sex, romance, intrigue and unexplained deaths. The characters are larger than life, and often based on actual politicians of the day, though I hope they didn’t behave the way this lot do. The Malmsey Club at Oxford, for example, reminds me of The Bullingdon Club (minus the pig’s head) and I can see subtle references to various politicians, Russian oligarchs, and members of the press and BBC. Most of them fictitious, but mixed with actual personalities of the time.
Oh and it’s a follow-up to The Whistleblower, which I haven’t read and didn’t realise until much later. The Crash, however, can be read as a standalone. It’s great stuff, well written (it would be) and I certainly didn’t expect the outcome. I’d go as far as saying I was shocked. But in the world of power, politics and finance, I guess anything is possible.
Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
I did struggle a bit to keep up with the financial jargon eg subprime mortgages, bonds, and hedge funds. Imagine if ‘you were telling your grandmother what’s going on, how would you put it?’ Peck recommends at one point, unless of course she’s been a hedge fund manager, which she wasn’t. And neither am I. In fact what I know about the world of high finance could be written on the back of a Bitcoin. But I still recognise corruption in finance and politics and often question how some of the people involved, supposedly Oxbridge clever, can be so stupid. Greed I suppose trumps (no pun intended) common sense.
This was a fascinating read, not high-brow or dry as one might expect (or fear), but fast, entertaining and sprinkled with sex, romance, intrigue and unexplained deaths. The characters are larger than life, and often based on actual politicians of the day, though I hope they didn’t behave the way this lot do. The Malmsey Club at Oxford, for example, reminds me of The Bullingdon Club (minus the pig’s head) and I can see subtle references to various politicians, Russian oligarchs, and members of the press and BBC. Most of them fictitious, but mixed with actual personalities of the time.
Oh and it’s a follow-up to The Whistleblower, which I haven’t read and didn’t realise until much later. The Crash, however, can be read as a standalone. It’s great stuff, well written (it would be) and I certainly didn’t expect the outcome. I’d go as far as saying I was shocked. But in the world of power, politics and finance, I guess anything is possible.
Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
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