Shadow Account

by Stephen W. Frey

Investment banker Conner Ashby is doing all right for himself-until he receives a wayward e-mail ... and is plunged into a terrifying nightmare. It's a communication not meant for Conner's eyes, about a company engaged in corporate fraud on a massive scale. With millions of dollars at stake and hell to pay if the truth comes out, whoever clicked the send button by mistake isn't about to take any chances. Following a trail of misdeeds that stretches nationwide, Conner slowly uncovers a shocking agenda. Surviving will mean struggling to expose the plot as relentlessly as his shadowy enemies seek to conceal it-and fighting for his life as ruthlessly as those determined to end it.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Finance, Audiobook, Ebooks

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

For the last 15 years I’ve been lucky enough to be a novelist. Until recently the books were set in the worlds of Wall Street and Washington. In addition to writing, I’ve also had a career in finance with specialties including merger & acquisition advisory and private equity at firms like J.P. Morgan in New York City and Winston Partners just outside D.C. in northern Virginia.

So, it seemed natural to write about those two worlds and, fortunately, the publishing industry agreed. My first book was published in 1995, The Takeover; about a secret group of men who were trying to destroy the U.S. monetary system by engineering a massive corporate takeover. I have followed The Takeover with 13 more novels all set in high-level finance and national politics.

Recently, I decided to alter the theme. The novels will still have a financial focus, but Wall Street won’t be the backdrop. We’ll get out into the world more. And there will be a man versus nature element for the hero in every novel. Hell’s Gate, available August 2009, is set in Montana and involves forest fires and why many of them start.

I live in southwest Florida with my wife, Diana, and we have since 2004 after moving down here from northern Virginia. Given the new direction of my books, it seems like a hurricane ought to make an appearance in a novel sometime soon.

Reviews

[Marca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conner Ashby, a young investment banker who is on his way to the top, finds himself in the middle of a huge financial fraud. He soon discovers this fraud reaches to the President of the U.S. The character of Jackie, an accountant friend of Conner’s, explains, using simplified examples understandable to the reader, how companies pull off reporting false profits in order for the chief officers to bag big profits. Enjoyed the book – exciting action, but made me more pessimistic about big businesses.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read financial thriller. I really enjoyed this book. It helped that I had an accountant friend explain what was real and fantasy. The fantasy was just to keep the story going and I understand why authors need this. The real taught me things that I didn't realize that people could or would do for money. To me it was a facinating and interesting book.

[Johnnie Gee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Conner Ashby discovers what he thinks is happening in his personal life really isn’t at all.

My biggest complain about the book is it goes much too deep in explaining how corporations juggle or keep two sets of books. Those long explanations were not all that necessary to the story line – I wanted an exciting book not a lesson in finance.
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It is interesting when I go back and reread books usually I do not like them as much as I did originally. This book was no exception, in 2013 I gave it 2 stars, in 2020 I am giving it one star. To be fair the first time I actually read the book, this time I listened to it. The reader exasperated me with the way he read the book as if most sentences ended on a high note almost like a question. I hate to be critical of the reader (unless it is Stephen King, he can write, but listening to him read a book...it hurts my ears), the story was not well developed, the characters were there without any relationship to the reader. I liked no one in the book this time. No One!!

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed all Stephen Frey's earlier books. I have chosen, over the last 4-5 years, to read them in order of publication even though each book is a standalone. By doing so, I have seen the author's work mature in its content and increase in complexity of the plot and sub-plots. All his earlier books have the same basic format of a young, Wall St financier who ends up in the middle of financial corruption created by others but he ends up being made the fall guy. He tries to find out who is doing what whilst the 'bad guys' are trying to stop him and, at times, kill him off. All books have a high content of financial jargon and explanation of financial processes. So if you have no interest in this subject, his books are probably not for you.

[Nira Ramachandran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twisted tale of high level scams involving millions of dollars, top political involvement, conspiracy and counter conspiracy. What starts as a short term affair between a gorgeous blonde and a young investment banker, suddenly spirals into a break in, destruction, murder and a run for life through the streets of New York. Conner Ashby finds himself trapped in a bewildering maze, which threatens his life as well as the safety of those close to him, unless he can find answers to what is happening and why. With the help of his Boss Gavin, and consulting auditor and longtime friend Jackie, he sets off on his mission only to uncover layers and layers of deceit, and a tangled web which extends much farther and deeper than he ever imagined.

[Spicydish · Rating 4 out of 5]

You need to be a CPA to fully understand the high level accounting scam which forms the basis of the plot. While I love twists and turns my head was spinning with all of the characters and their multiple names. I very much enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. He had his work cut out for him in voicing all of the different characters including Jackie, the Hispanic accountant extraordinaire. The novel was fast paced but the accounting detail was too intricate for me. One thread that I liked was the possibility of the president making the ultra rich investment manipulators finally pay their fair share of taxes. Now that would be a story I could sink my teeth into.

[Mikiel Ottmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a tantalizing read, Frey took an event and wound it around so many posts I got dizzy. I thought the ending a bit abrupt but don't really see how it could have been different and still make sense. And the correct couple got together. Women!?! Am glad I"m not an accountant, it was much too real. Goes to show there's nothing new under the sun.

[Jake Cavanah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many parts with no substance

Thought it had potential until the story went in too many directions, not in a confusing kind of way, but in a "Wow, really?" kind of way. The info dump sprinkled here and there didn't help, either.

[Kandace Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book once I got my head around the complete background & storyline thanks to Jackie breaking things down. Did get a little confused as it jumped between Connor & Lucas at times. Lots of action & mystery on what’s going to happen next & how all the characters connect. Good read!

[Raquel Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read.

[Srinidhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best financial thrillers ever written!

[Kaushik Sriram · Rating 1 out of 5]

absolutely ridiculous story that could have been made up by a third grader.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast moving,educational and keeps you guessing.

[Odalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are moments when this book was just downright tedious reading for me but I was interested in the storyline so I kept on reading and it really wasn't worth it. Very disappointed in this selection.
In looking back on the list of books I've read, I have read two (2) other novels by Stephen W. Frey, "The Successor" and "The Vulture Fund". After reading "The Successor" I knew I would keep reading novels by this author. But after reading "The Vulture Fund", I had to add in my review that ..."I think the 'dub' of Stephen W. Frey as the 'Grisham of financial thrillers' to be quite premature. Perhaps I'll try another title by this author this year but it will be awhile." Well, I waited about 6 months and tried "Shadow Account". It will be longer than 6 months before I try another novel by this author. Perhaps if you're an accountant, enthralled with the behind-the-scenes corporate financial reporting, or enthralled with behind-the-scenes politics of presidential election preparation, you might love this book. None of those items are at the top of my interest list.

[Tom B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 2005 and I assume it was written in the aftermath of the Enron and other .com scandals. This might as well have been written after the '08 financial crash, because it deals with the same fraudulent behavior of bankers, accountants and corporate execs.

Credible financial thriller, although the main character, who's supposed to be an investment banker, does show some 'Jason Bourne-behaviour' that might seem a bit off.

Don't read the epilogue. It will unravel the mystery step by step, which you could easily do yourself if you pay attention reading the story.

[Robert Bacal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've liked every other Frey book, but afraid I had to give up on this one, about a third of the way through. I tried. Really. But going through page after page of pedantic, dull, one sided dialogue on accounting rules and so on just did me in.
I appreciate that one could learn from this, but as someone said, I don't want a lesson in finance, at least not this poorly communicated in huge chunks.
Not a winner.

[Deanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading just over 150 pages I just couldn't take it anymore. Too much blah blah blah about stuff I don't care about. At first I was interested in the mystery of Liz so I was willing to stick it out. Sadly, the mind numbingly boring details got to me and now I couldn't care less about finding out what really happened.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a finance wonk, so I had to give this one a shot. Some of the commentary by the characters seems overly populist to me, but the core of the financial crime is interesting. I wish the female characters had more, well, character - Frey's taken the Madonna/Magdalene concept a bit literally here.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shadow Account delved deeply into how large corporations juggle their books so they look like they are doing better than they really are. I would have liked to see more of the character's personalities and much less of the narration. It was a very slow read for me.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conner Ashby receives an email not meant for his eyes - ok, how is this possible? This lets the reader in on something that Conner is slow to realize.

It does not tell us, however, the how and why, and here lies the fast-paced story.

[Rupesh Goenka · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent & suspenseful Wall Street thriller. The novel gives understanding about the murky financial dealings, corruption, manipulations & illegal insider trading of a stock exchange. People connected to financial work will find this an enjoyable read.

[Gay · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little corny and convoluted, but probably not all that far fetched.

[Carole Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story. A lot of Wall Street lingo to muddle through though.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic Stephen Frey suspense thriller. Although I liked it and found it very entertaining, I personally feel like it wasn't his best work.

[Mondae Roberson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was entertaining and educational. I learned alot about the world of Wall St. and insider trading. It was a little predictable.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shadow Account: A Novel by Stephen Frey (2005)

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not in the Christian Gillette series. Entertaining.

[Rick]

Very good

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Frey Book