Hill Country Greed (A Joe Robbins Financial Thriller #1

Joe Robbins Financial Thriller #1

by Patrick Kelly

Joe Robbins is a chief financial officer with a beautiful wife, a burning desire for riches, and a history with boxing and guns.
It is 1999 in Austin, TX, at the peak of the high-tech boom, and Joe has a He will take Connection Software public to win riches and financial freedom. Events proceed according to plan, until an employee commits suicide in a public way. Her motive is unknown.
Soon after, Joe leans far from his values to reach for the brass ring, and when he falls, he loses everything. To make matters worse, a director on the board is murdered, and Joe becomes a suspect.
Estranged from his wife, unemployed, and watched closely by the police, Joe struggles to redeem himself. To succeed he must use his analytical mind to solve the mysteries and his fighting skills to clean up the mess.
Greed, lust, and obsession breed frantic acts of deception, sex, and murder in the gripping tale of Hill Country Greed.

Genres: Mystery

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2014

About the author

Patrick Kelly has deep roots in Virginia. His mother grew up in Crozet, and he fondly remembers feeding chickens and picking peaches on his grandparents’ farm. Later, he graduated from the University of Virginia. His extended family has held reunions in Staunton, Hampton, Natural Bridge, Gordonsville, Afton, Smith Mountain Lake, and Wintergreen.

Patrick and his wife spend their summers in Wintergreen, hiking mountain trails, sampling local wines, and marveling at nature’s beauty. The Blue Ridge Mountains provide the perfect setting for retired detective Bill O'Shea to match wits with scheming murderers.

If you have a fondness in your heart for the natural places on earth, pull up a chair and enjoy a classic, traditional mystery set in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Patrick is winner of a Beverly Hills Book Award and a silver medalist for the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for adult fiction. He serves as president of the Heart of Texas Chapter of Sisters in Crime.

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Reviews

[Marlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is far-fetched. I worked in corporate America like Kelly. This stuff doesn't happen as often as Kelly has you believe. Kelly has better work, and I recommend some of his other works.

[Nancy Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. The storyline was engaging. I've worked in a tech start up so I could relate to the roller coaster ride. I've never been to Austin, but now I really want to visit.

I laughed out loud when Joe decided to create a spreadsheet to help solve the crime. It's what we often do to sort and weigh options.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Robbins received an offer he couldn’t refuse from Webb Elliott, CEO of Connection Software in Austin, Texas. Leaving Liberty Airlines in Dallas seemed a no-brainer. Joining the senior executive team as CFO, Joe is to ensure the company is poised to go public. Negotiating his contract carefully, Joe believes his plan is in place to get rich. He’ll be able to enjoy life with his wife, Rose, and young daughters, Chandler and Callie. Will his dream come true? Or was Joe caught in a web of deceit? Can he tell the difference between truth and lies? Do greed and lust overtake common sense?

As a series opener, the introduction to Joe, his family, and his new team at work and play begins slowly building to dramatic interactions and page-turning suspense as red herrings pop and surprise. I’ve enjoyed Patrick Kelly’s cozy mysteries set in Wintergreen, Virginia, and while “waiting” for Book 4, it was an opportunity to read more of his writing. Regardless of cozy or thriller, I’m drawn within the setting with atmospheric writing, the storyline with well-developed characters, and intrigued through the investigations by the unexpected twists and turns.

I’m looking forward to reading more of this earlier series too!

Reviewer’s Note: Some readers may have read this novel by its original title, "Hill Country Greed" © 2014, or its alternative title, "A Fateful Greed," © 2018. I read the novel with title, "The Entrepreneurs" © 2019.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been re-released under the name The Entrepreneurs: A High-Tech Mystery (Joe Robbins Financial Thriller Series Book 1). I received a free copy of The Entrepreneurs in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn in to the story of CFO Joe Robbins from the very 1st page and finished it quickly. I loved that the novel was set in Austin, TX (I may be a little biased being a Texas girl myself). It’s exciting and easy to follow and is the type of book that keeps you up late at night because you just can’t go to sleep until you know how it all ends. Good character development, this is the 1st book in a series of Joe Robbins Financial Thrillers. Would definitely read the rest of the series. Smart, suspenseful and fun!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greed can be a terrible thing as you will find out if you read this amazingly good novel about the rise and fall of an IPO (Initial Public Offering) company in Austin Texas, and the people who rise and then fall with it. Joe Robbins, happily married with two daughters that he loves completely decides that he is going to take the job of CFO (Chief Financial Officer)at Connection Software. His job will be to help with the IPO process and make sure the company is in financially good enough shape for investors. He moves his entire family to a large and beautiful home. This all happened at the peak of the high-tech boom and Joe is convinced that he can make a killing. There is a core bunch of people of which Joe is now one. Then strange things start to happen-------people start dying.

Joe truly loves his wife and lets the women know when they start to come on to him at the office---until he doesn't. Joe and his wife become estranged and then--Joe catches her with someone-----

Then the stock market crashes and Joe and a lot of people are let go. More deaths start occurring. Joe decides that since he is almost positive the police think he did it-decides to help the police department discover who is really behind all the killing; almost getting himself killed in the process.

I found this to be a very fast read simply because I just could not put it down!!
Hill Country Greed: An Austin, Texas Mystery

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited when I won this book on Goodreads! I received it, then started reading and almost finished it in one day (but had to get some sleep first). I enjoyed the book very much and thought that the plot and characters were quite believable. I have a son who works with a somewhat similar company like the main character Joe (well, his job touches on some of the aspects of Joe's company anyway) so this made me even more interested in the story. There were enough twists and turns to the plot to make it good reading. I do admit that after just reading the "blurb" or short description of the plot on the back of the book, I thought that Joe Robbins was going to be the "bad guy" but while he does do some things he's ashamed of he's actually on the good side. Although the ending is not a picture-perfect one, it is quite satisfactory for the story.

[Debbi Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

HILL COUNTRY GREED takes place in 1999, during the boom days of high-tech. In it, Joe Robbins takes a position as CFO at a Connection Software in Austin, Texas, hoping to cash in on stock options, become rich and be set for life.

What Joe doesn’t realize is that nefarious goings-on are taking place at the Connection, as the firm is called. When an employee commits suicide at a firm party, Joe is wary, but not nearly wary enough.

The story follows Joe and how his life unravels as he makes one bad decision after another. Author Patrick Kelly has written a highly suspenseful page-turner that I found hard to put down. He also paints a picture of Austin that puts the reader right there.

This book is Kelly’s debut novel. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading his next one.

[MaryAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, most informative and a definite "must read" for the educated mystery reader. This is a realistic "take" in today's complicated world of life, love, career choices and consequences. Each turn of the page gains interest and involvement in the life of a family, career-focused man as he deals with the ultimate dream of being rich and the realities of everyday decisions. Patrick Kelly keeps the reader involved and committed to solving "who do it!"

[William Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins slowly and then ramps up to a solid page turner. While the reader doesn't get a clear idea of customer relations management software, the presentation of what it takes to build an Initial Public Offering for millions of dollars is well executed. As well executed as some of the principals. Highly recommended.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well orchestrated financial detective mystery that takes place in Austin, TX in the 90s. The plot and pacing are spot on! Great job Pat!

[Julia Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greed is a terrible thing, one of the seven deadly sins and as such, it does not get much worse. Patrick Kelly understands this and brings the story to life with his incredibly greedy characters. The story takes place in Austin, Texas - a city fueled by millenials with wealth beyond measure. As a native Austinite reading of the various settings the characters find themselves in, I find it thrilling and fun to see where they go, but each place has been chosen well for they also display the air of wealth.
This book is an intense ride into the world of greed. The story has all the normal parts and the tangled webs of secrets and emotions that occur when we have been misled. This is only the first in a series with Joe Robbins and I am looking forward to reading the second one to find out how Joe’s life comes back after the ordeal he goes through.

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Austin is a wonderful mix of people, and in a past life I worked with the Joe’s, Webb’s and Gwen’s of the business world (side note I do not miss it!), so I easily related to these characters and story. Joe thinks he is a good guy and trying to do the right thing, of course being the prime suspect in a murder will be a bit of a motivation! There are some nicely played out physical scenes as well as the drama of trying to balance work and personal lives. The story line moves along quickly and keeps you engaged.
This book was a nice set up for the series, and I look forward to reading the next adventure for Joe.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Entrepreneurs – This is my first read by this author and I really enjoyed the book. The writing style is easy to read, along with his vivid descriptions, which makes it difficult to put the book down.

The characters are mainly white collar, so there is a deeper level to them. The vulgar language is at minimum usage and the sex scenes are not graphic. Joe working with the police is believable and realistic.

As the storylines unfold, there is enough intrigue to keep the reader immersed in the pages. I was steady working on who I thought the killer was and their motive. The story is edited, which is extremely nice. I found this book at Hidden Gems and in my library. 5*

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Kelly writes interesting, intriguing and entertaining stories that are usually immersing. A good constant pace, interesting characters, good dialog, and more important, no silliness or hollywood-style idiotic drama. There is no rehashing of the previous books, thank you, Mr. Kelly. Source: The author, ARCs.

THE ENTREPRENEURS SERIES:
THE ENTREPRENEURS, #1 – This is my first read by this author and I really enjoyed the book. The writing style is easy to read, along with his vivid descriptions, which makes it difficult to put the book down. The characters are mainly white collar, so there is a deeper level to them. The limited vulgar language and non-graphic sex scenes. Joe working with the police is believable and realistic. As the storylines unfold, there is enough intrigue to keep the reader immersed in the pages. I was steady working on who I thought the killer was and their motive. 5*

THE CARTEL BANKER, #2 (Hill Country Rage) - I enjoy reading anything by Patrick Kelly and this book was no exception. The new storylines blend well with the old making the foundations of the series stronger. There is plenty of intrigue and the suspense exists in good supply throughout the story. I love the fact this book is set in Austin and the surrounding area. The characters are well thought out and have realistic dialogues. None of them are perfect, especially Joe. The pace is fast and the action realistic. Joe is not a superhero and more than once he is an idiot. His action and stunts are realistic for a regular person, no hollywood-styling. He is a good guy doing what is right the best he can. Mr. Kelly is in the same league as Ludlum, Grisham, and Follette. Limited vulgar language. 5*

THE ISLAND THIEF, #4 – I disliked missing the third book but I was not disappointed with this story. There was not much depth about his job, which I would have liked more detailed. The storylines were interesting and all the characters came across as real people. There was good intrigue and had a good ending. There is a short story titled Fresh Faces and Crisp Uniforms included as a bonus. Set in 1939 Australia, it is a glimpse into the life of a woman when her man of two years drops a bombshell on her. 3* for the short, it was way too short but it is part of The Sheila Stories. The Island Thief rates 4*

THE GIRL IN THE TINY HOUSE, #5 - It is sad that the Joe Robbins Series ends with this book. This story is interesting and immersing. I finished it in one sitting since I found it hard to put down. There are twists, good characters, humor and a possible redo for Joe. If you are new to this series start with The Entrepreneurs and read all five novels. They are worth the investment. 5*

WINTERGREEN MYSTERIES:
THE CURSE OF CRABTREE FALLS, prequel - The author's comment at the end of story that this is a Cozy? While not in the league of The Sheila Stories and The Entrepreneurs Series, there was enough interest for me to finish this short read quickly. 3.5 *

MOUNTAIN VIEW MURDER, #1 - No flippantry or silly head thoughts but a clear, quiet cut and dry process to solving the mystery. The author does bring a higher level of investigation, but I am spoilt by his previous work. This well written story moves at a steady pace with interesting story lines. 5*

THE OVERLOOK MURDER, #2 - Well done! Interesting. Good characters. Good story lines. Well written and well thought out, this story is meaty and the reader works as hard as the retired police officer Bill. Dislike calling this a Cozy because this has more substance and real world investigations and proper procedures. 5*

MURDER IN WHITE, #3 - This is the best of the three books in this series. This is a top-tier mystery with good characters that can think and have intelligent conversations. I enjoyed the fact that there so many suspects, the victim was not a nice or likeable person. The murder weapon was easy to figure out but the killer took more figuring. 5*

MURDER AT DAWN, #4 - An interesting and intriguing story that kept me reading until the last word. Enjoyable and entertaining, and set at good pace, the pages flew quickly in this well written book with plenty of kinks in the investigation. 5*

THE SHEILA STORIES - Wonderful. Heartwarming. Heartbreaking. This book tugs at my heartstrings. I enjoyed the storylines about everyone involved. The way two stories are told, the past and the present, is interesting and makes it difficult to put the book down. The characters are so intriguing, varied and Sheila is mesmerizing. The vivid descriptions place the reader in the midst of everything happening. This is one of the best stories about a person's life that I have read in years. 5*

CARTER'S LAST RACE - Mr. Kelly is proving himself quite a talented storyteller in several genres. Imagine having the chance of being a 19-year-old again while keeping your 63 years of life experiences. While this book is slow to start, this is an interesting story. The author weaves multiple story lines covering several decades while showing the depths and the thoughts of Carter and his effect on others. The writing style fits the reality of what the character is experiencing as an old man teenager. The energy spent on his detailed training for a marathon was not just about the race but his growth, too. 4*

[Shelbie Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick paced read. It was great to read a book that showed that my work drama is nothing compared to what Joe had to work with. Having the story set in Austin also helps to add more intrigue and realism to the book, especially since I’ve been to the Austin hot spots mentioned in the book.

[Peter Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially, I had reservations, but it got better and, as I got into it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was irritated, initially, by the reference to spouses, when wives would have been more normal and spouses sounded almost legalise, but this passed.

Worth a read.

[Peter Mathon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Business Downturn

Strong story for about first 60% then the devaluation begins. Lead character has schizophrenic break from businessman to private eye. The plot spirals into a predictable Pollyanna-like ending reminiscent of a B-grade Lifetime movie.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun vacation read

Okay I’m a sucker for the local Austin references. It was a fun read and I’ll be downloading the next in the series.

[Katherine Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

It was a great book and i am looking forward to next in series. Characters are interesting as is the continuing plot.

[Carolyn Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

Lots of twists and turns. Not sure if I like the main character or not yet. He's smart but a real dumb ass at times.

[David Freas · Rating 2 out of 5]

In Chapter 4 (about 10% into the book), a woman dies. What happens after that? Nothing! It’s like her death never happened.

What does happen is a bunch of people sitting around talking about how they can keep making obscene amounts of money. And while they all worry about not making that money, they’re spending what they have as if it grows on trees by doing things like taking trips to Las Vegas, where they blow piles of cash on gambling, booze, and strippers. Oh, there are a few other things happening like infidelity.

Our hero, Joe Robbins, suspects the woman’s death isn’t so innocent yet he doesn’t question it, doesn’t pursue his suspicions, just goes on trying to amass huge piles of money like the others. And what does he do when he loses his job? Goes on spending money like the pipeline has no ‘off’ valve.

Throughout the book, whenever Joe needed something, there it was. He needed a gun? He just happened to have one he bought years ago when a neighbor threatened him. He needed lock picks? He just happened to have a set he bought as a kid.

Finally, around the middle of the book, things start happening again. And from there up to the last three chapters, it’s a pretty good story. But those final three chapters tying off all sorts of loose ends drag on too long.

I’ll be the first to admit I don’t care about money except that it can buy me the things I need to survive. So people talking endlessly about amassing millions of dollars is as engaging as watching paint peel.

This didn’t read like a true thriller. There were too many other things unrelated to the main plot going on that took it out of that genre.

I doubt I’ll be back for more Joe Robbins adventures.

[Melanie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be careful what you wish for. That could apply to Joe Robbins and his beautiful wife Rose, who in 1999 uproot their young family and move to Austin where Joe becomes the CEO of a hot tech firm about to go public and turn Joe and other senior management into instant millionaires. The first reality check comes when a young woman employee commits suicide at a company party, but despite his suspicions that all is not well, Joe hangs on - after all, his new house, his wife's "girlfriend" trips, even the $500 bicycle his daughter wants for her birthday can only be paid for if he can make that IPO happen. He's in way too deep by the time he learns that nothing, from adultery to murder, is off limits in this vicious corporate shark tank. And in order to survive (and not have the crimes pinned on him) he has to track a killer as clever as he is deadly.

For everyone who ever thought finance was boring (me!) this is an eye-opening book with a protagonist who is as skilled with his fists and his gun as he is with facts and figures. I keep wanting to warn Joe and Rose to run, run, run back to Dallas - but on the other hand, if they had, I'd have missed some very entertaining sleepless nights reading this fast-paced, well-written thriller. In Hill Country Greed, Pat Kelley does for finance what John Grisham and Scott Turow did for law. Can't wait for the sequel.

[Bill Laughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received a free copy from Goodreads for an honest review.

Really enjoyed Hill Country Greed: An Austin, Texas Mystery, it’s a fast paced page turner. The story revolves around Joe Robbins a chief financial officer for a high tech software company. When one of Joe’s office workers commits suicide at the company party Joe wants to know why.

The story has lots of good old fashion greed, sex and mayhem. I would recommend this book to any one that enjoys a good mystery.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick paced little mystery. Set in 1999 Austin during the tech bubble. Fun to read about so many of my favorite places in Austin.

[Denise Sellers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a very slow read! I had a very hard time getting into the story and then when I did there was way too much financial information, which lost me.

[Lady Mockingbird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well crafted suspense.

Enjoyable read. Takes a while to build the intrigue, but I found it worth the wait for the eventual denouement.

[Janice McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly was a killer

I will tell you now before you start to read that it really is a killer. So enjoy all the blood and suspense.