Conflict

by Jay Michaelson

This book is dedicated to the Members of Lloyd's, to the hundreds of investors who died from suicide, stress and despair, to the thousands who faced bankruptcy or ruin and the few who fought to the bitter end and survived – against all odds, against a conspiracy of the British political Establishment, in order to preserve the name and earnings of Lloyd's of London, at any cost – for the greater good of the City of London and the Exchequer of Britain as a whole. These who were literally sacrificed, may they live on in their defiance.

In the past years, Lloyd's of London has been beset by enormous conflicts of interest, both financial and others which have almost brought this world-famous insurance market to its knees. I have endeavoured in this book to write a novel which shows such conflict in fictional terms. Although this story is loosely based upon several true episodes including an unexplained murder of a few years' ago.

In this fictionalised account, David Seaton, a director of the Lloyd's insurance brokerage firm of Wallis Fleurey, is murdered by a professional hitman. The official police enquiry finds for a case of 'Mistaken Identity'. However, Justin DeVille, the Chief Executive at Wallis's carries out a personal investigation, which takes him from London to Buenos Aires, Miami and Zurich unravelling a web of intrigue, conflict and deception. He teams up with Cat Townend, a British Intelligence operative and their relationship steams between the sheets.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2025

About the author

Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson is the author of ten books, most recently "The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth." He is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and holds a Ph.D in Jewish Thought from Hebrew University and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Dr. Michaelson is also a regular contributor to New York, Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, and other publications. His journalistic work primarily focuses on the Supreme Court, religion, law, and sexuality. And he is a senior editor and podcast host at Ten Percent Happier, a meditation startup.

Reviews

[James Bowes-Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping murder thriller set in the murky world of the Lloyd's insurance markets where many of the investors (know as Names) lost huge amounts of money. A good page-turner with a clever twist at the end. The book gives insight into the control and influence that Lloyd's held and perhaps, despite being fiction, is very close to reality? Sequel is apparently being penned which I look forward to reading.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it on holiday and really enjoyed it. Great page turner. Sympathetic and ghastly characters. It's bit of who-done-it/thriller with some entertaining love interest - all set in the insurance World during the Lloyds crisis. There was a wonderful and surprising twist at the end. Looking forward to the next.