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Noble Chase
Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Greg Iles, and Linda Fairstein—this action-packed legal thriller debut races from the gleaming canyons of New York City to the hurricane-lashed waters of the Caribbean. Michael Rudolph’s Noble Chase combines a smart, determined heroine and a storm of stunning surprises in a pulse-pounding morality tale of international intrigue that delivers suspense right up to the shocking end.
Sic transit gloria. Beth Swahn, a young lawyer, makes a rookie mistake: She believes her client. While basking in the glory of winning a hundred-million-dollar judgment for a U.S. division of C. K. Leung’s Chinese conglomerate, Beth realizes that because of her naïveté, Leonard Sloane, president of the division, has absconded to the Caribbean with his banker girlfriend and seventy million dollars of the judgment money. Shortly thereafter, they are both presumed dead when a Mayday call to the Coast Guard reports the sinking of their yacht.
Stunned, furious, and determined to retrieve Leung’s money and save her firm from bankruptcy, Beth investigates her way through a maze of money laundering and white-collar corruption. When the trail leads her to Sloane’s handsome son, she is torn between her attraction for him and her fear that he may be involved in the theft. Beth is not alone in her search for the money. C. K. Leung is also involved, because he doubts Beth’s innocence. When her investigation moves to a critical level and a missing encrypted file comes to light that has the power to ignite a geopolitical firestorm, Leung becomes convinced that Beth is a party to Sloane’s scheme, and her life becomes violently threatened.
Advance praise for Noble Chase
“Noble Chase is exactly that: heart-stabbing adventures at sea and in the courtroom, with lives—and millions—at stake. Get ready to stay up late.”—Brad Meltzer
“From the inner chambers of Manhattan’s legal scene to the jet-setting world of international business, this gripping thriller takes you to exotic places while keeping you on the edge of your seat. Noble Chase is a debut you must read!”—Kathy Reichs
Sic transit gloria. Beth Swahn, a young lawyer, makes a rookie mistake: She believes her client. While basking in the glory of winning a hundred-million-dollar judgment for a U.S. division of C. K. Leung’s Chinese conglomerate, Beth realizes that because of her naïveté, Leonard Sloane, president of the division, has absconded to the Caribbean with his banker girlfriend and seventy million dollars of the judgment money. Shortly thereafter, they are both presumed dead when a Mayday call to the Coast Guard reports the sinking of their yacht.
Stunned, furious, and determined to retrieve Leung’s money and save her firm from bankruptcy, Beth investigates her way through a maze of money laundering and white-collar corruption. When the trail leads her to Sloane’s handsome son, she is torn between her attraction for him and her fear that he may be involved in the theft. Beth is not alone in her search for the money. C. K. Leung is also involved, because he doubts Beth’s innocence. When her investigation moves to a critical level and a missing encrypted file comes to light that has the power to ignite a geopolitical firestorm, Leung becomes convinced that Beth is a party to Sloane’s scheme, and her life becomes violently threatened.
Advance praise for Noble Chase
“Noble Chase is exactly that: heart-stabbing adventures at sea and in the courtroom, with lives—and millions—at stake. Get ready to stay up late.”—Brad Meltzer
“From the inner chambers of Manhattan’s legal scene to the jet-setting world of international business, this gripping thriller takes you to exotic places while keeping you on the edge of your seat. Noble Chase is a debut you must read!”—Kathy Reichs
8 pages, Audiobook
First published April 5, 2016
13 people are currently reading
545 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 2, 2016
3 1/2 to 4 stars. The novel could have made 4 1/2, as it was a very exciting story, had the author not had a conceit. About 1/3 to 1/2 the story takes place aboard a sailboat. Well-and-good. The author seriously over-estimated my intelligence about sailing. One of the characters would say something such as [my words, not the authors], "There's a storm coming! We better blastafrag the empacalumer!" What he actually wrote made as much sense to this landlubber of a reader. I would be really into the action, then I would either have to stop and reference the terms, or press on without really knowing what the characters were doing. It got to the point where it almost seemed as if Mr. Rudolph was chanting, "Nanny Nanny Boo Boo; I know more than you do!!!" The "fix" is simple - he could do as many historical novelists do, and, at the beginning of the book, include a term glossary and an explanation of the difference between the types of sailboats mentioned. Otherwise, the novel will be aimed at a niche market, the unaware, or those who don't really care about detail.
August 21, 2018
I really enjoyed the story, Michael Rudolph is a good writer with a solid perspective. The story was lacking suspense for me and there were too many boat terms for me to be appreciative. Overall I did enjoy the story and learned something new.
July 25, 2016
A solid effort, but nothing stellar.
It was very standard thriller fare with all the primary characters maneuvering to ‘get’ each other in some way. There was tension, but it was always low-key, never reached the ‘Oh, my God, how are they going to get out of this?’ level.
I suspected one twist almost from the beginning of the book, long before the characters in the book caught on, because Rudolph made it a little too obvious (or because it’s been used a hundred times before).
Some chapters had scene breaks where none were needed.
A few lines of dialog were stilted. Some of the conversations between Beth and Max (her father? I never did get their relationship fully sorted out) sounded more like discussions between acquaintances than chats between family members. Some sections of narrative read as if they were written for a much younger audience.
The POV never let me feel close to the characters. I felt more like I was watching events unfold instead of actually being part of them, preventing me from being fully drawn into the story.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, just nothing special. Still, I’d probably read more by this author if they came my way.
It was very standard thriller fare with all the primary characters maneuvering to ‘get’ each other in some way. There was tension, but it was always low-key, never reached the ‘Oh, my God, how are they going to get out of this?’ level.
I suspected one twist almost from the beginning of the book, long before the characters in the book caught on, because Rudolph made it a little too obvious (or because it’s been used a hundred times before).
Some chapters had scene breaks where none were needed.
A few lines of dialog were stilted. Some of the conversations between Beth and Max (her father? I never did get their relationship fully sorted out) sounded more like discussions between acquaintances than chats between family members. Some sections of narrative read as if they were written for a much younger audience.
The POV never let me feel close to the characters. I felt more like I was watching events unfold instead of actually being part of them, preventing me from being fully drawn into the story.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, just nothing special. Still, I’d probably read more by this author if they came my way.
May 4, 2016
This was disappointing for me - can't believe all the good blurbs it had. Not really a legal thriller and not for fans of John Grisham as billed - no slick maneuvering or rooting for the little guy, just an irresponsible and inexperienced lawyer, tons of sailing jargon, weak dialog, and an anticlimactic ending.
January 9, 2017
I found this book tedious, the plot boring, the descriptions overdone and the characters shallow. I struggled to get through it and, when I did, I wondered why I bothered.
June 6, 2017
I received a copy of this for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This was a great, fast, easy read. I did not enjoy the sailing parts at all though. Overall it was a great story though. I would not put it in the same category as Greg Iles though, who is one of my favorite authors.
This was a great, fast, easy read. I did not enjoy the sailing parts at all though. Overall it was a great story though. I would not put it in the same category as Greg Iles though, who is one of my favorite authors.
July 26, 2023
This was a 2 star for me all around. Slight legal thriller, slight romance, slight suspense. Those that way to follow legal paper trails can get their fix. Way too much sailing jargon and finale action happening on two sailboats the last quarter of the book. For me it wasn't the hype other had.
October 9, 2024
Kirkus 5 star review well earned
Novel was compelling and easy to read. The sail boat chase was fun to read and unique. Rarely are mysteries based on sea or ocean chases, so this was exotic, dramatic, and entertaining. Pleasant hours were spent reading it.
Novel was compelling and easy to read. The sail boat chase was fun to read and unique. Rarely are mysteries based on sea or ocean chases, so this was exotic, dramatic, and entertaining. Pleasant hours were spent reading it.
July 8, 2017
Interesting action story. Sailing language was a bit much and lead character's actions weren't always believable.
October 7, 2021
Fast moving and very quick read.
December 29, 2016
First part good, middle boring unless you are avid sailor, and the ending not very satisfying.
February 13, 2017
2 star = it was ok.
This book had a lot of potential. It was easy to read and get into. Unfortunately, it lacked excitement. I thought the plot could have been a lot tighter. This is the type of book where I can put it down any time and not worry about getting right back to it. There were a few spots where I thought it got exciting... only to be let down again. None of the excitement could be sustained or carried over or reached a climax.
I also disagreed with some of the major points.
(Spoiler starts here: for example, when someone embezzles $70M and mysteriously dies/disappears without a trace at sea, wouldn't that seem suspicious to you? Heck yes, the first thing I would think of is a fake death! Yet these people all seem to obliviously and gullibly accept his death without further thought or even a cynical joke about it.
End spoiler)
I could swallow my credulity with some of the characters' actions but the writing just wasn't strong enough for me to give it more than an ok. During break times, I often found myself choosing t.v. instead of this book and that's why I only gave it 2 stars.
I got this book as a review copy.
This book had a lot of potential. It was easy to read and get into. Unfortunately, it lacked excitement. I thought the plot could have been a lot tighter. This is the type of book where I can put it down any time and not worry about getting right back to it. There were a few spots where I thought it got exciting... only to be let down again. None of the excitement could be sustained or carried over or reached a climax.
I also disagreed with some of the major points.
(Spoiler starts here: for example, when someone embezzles $70M and mysteriously dies/disappears without a trace at sea, wouldn't that seem suspicious to you? Heck yes, the first thing I would think of is a fake death! Yet these people all seem to obliviously and gullibly accept his death without further thought or even a cynical joke about it.
End spoiler)
I could swallow my credulity with some of the characters' actions but the writing just wasn't strong enough for me to give it more than an ok. During break times, I often found myself choosing t.v. instead of this book and that's why I only gave it 2 stars.
I got this book as a review copy.
February 20, 2016
While i enjoyed this book very much , however as a fan of mystery stories i found it too easy to figure out the ending before i finished the book. I give it a 4 star rating as the writing itself was exceptionally descriptive and detailed .This story began with the discovery by a lawyer that she was too trustful of her client .In short she believed everything she was told .As a result 70 million dollars was stolen by her Corporate client .She then ,with the aid of her parents, went on a search to find out what happened to the 70 million ! This book was filled with meny twists and turns in their search .A great book ,and i recommend it very much ! I hope we will see meny more good books from this author .But in his next book (which I hope he will write ) I 'd like to see this Author not give away too much of the plot too early in his writng..I figured out the ending too early in my reading of it .
I received this book as a result of a giveaway on Good Reads website !!
i definitely look forward to more books from this author ! Thank you ! its a good writing !!!
I received this book as a result of a giveaway on Good Reads website !!
i definitely look forward to more books from this author ! Thank you ! its a good writing !!!
March 29, 2016
When associate attorney Beth Swahn discovers that the head of her mysterious corporate client doesn't know the full amount of a judgment she won for them and her contact has gone missing, she has a huge problem. Working with her professional liability insurer her firm wants to get out of the situation as quickly as possible but to Beth something doesn't add up and she undertakes her own search for the missing money to defend her reputation. This book isn't a mystery but a thriller as Beth, along with her friends and her step-father a retired law firm partner, uncover more information and race to see if they can track down the money and the truth before time runs out. The author's knowledge of the world of NY law and sailing help him do a good job of bringing the noble chase to life as it runs from NYC to the high seas, although I thought the authors attempt to insert a touch of romance into this story fell flat. I'd give this book 3.5 stars of Goodreads allowed half stars. I received a free ARC of this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaways.
August 22, 2016
While this was predictable, it could have been a very satisfying escape. However, I think the author felt a need to prove how well he had researched for his story. There are extensive passages full of the jargon of banking and insurance, how to hide ill gotten gains, and the last part of the plot is a chase of sailboats to catch a thief, that is riddled with details of sailing from halyards, grommets, gennies and reefing the sails. It caused the story to bog down, though I found that I could skim over the ponderous descriptions in both the financial issues and the sailing to get at the meat of the story. It would have been better spent on fuller development of the characters, though I liked the central character of the strong, female attorney and felt he did well not making her a simpering whiny rookie.
July 28, 2016
I was fortunate enough to be sent an ARC of this book.
It was a fast moving story about two people who bilked a client out of $70,000.
A young, rather inexperienced lawyer made the fatal mistake of trusting her client and then found her own reputation and life in peril.
Her pursuit of the people who had supposedly died in a boating accident led her off land and into the water, along with her mother and stepfather.
The only thing, toward the end, which slowed the story down for me was the author's detailed explanation of running a sailboat through storms and while interesting, took up more of the story than I thought it needed.
I did enjoy it; however, and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers.
It was a fast moving story about two people who bilked a client out of $70,000.
A young, rather inexperienced lawyer made the fatal mistake of trusting her client and then found her own reputation and life in peril.
Her pursuit of the people who had supposedly died in a boating accident led her off land and into the water, along with her mother and stepfather.
The only thing, toward the end, which slowed the story down for me was the author's detailed explanation of running a sailboat through storms and while interesting, took up more of the story than I thought it needed.
I did enjoy it; however, and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers.
February 15, 2016
An action packed thriller about a corporate accountant, Leonard Sloane and his accomplice Erica Grossland, they both use their positions to embezzle 70 million dollars from a wealthy Taiwan businessman, C.K. Leung. A lawyer Elizabeth "Beth" Swahn was handling the litigations for C.K., when she uncovers the missing millions from the legal settlement. The evidence pointed towards the accountant and his accomplice, the chase goes to the high seas, trying to locate the embezzler's and the missing millions, will they ever be caught.
November 2, 2016
An easy and entertaining read. For my taste, there was too much detail about sailing and not enough about the legal subject matter. Unless there is a sequel planned, there were a few too many red herrings and unresolved issues. I wish the characters were more deeply developed, although the plot flowed smoothly. The ending also had some surprises but the reasoning for them was unclear.
August 2, 2016
This book was a Goodreads win - Very good writing, good read. For a reader not familiar with nautical terminology, there was a lot in there but did not detract from the book. Enjoyed very much. Great debut.
July 27, 2016
Great book for a first timer. Full of action. Good plotline(s). A little romance, not vulgar at all. Would read another book by this author in a heartbeat.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
June 6, 2019
Nope... definitely not for the “John Grisham crowd” as advertised. Would not recommend this book, especially if you are not interested in sailing which is what most of the book is about. You could pretty much read the first half of the book and skip to the epilogue and miss nothing.
March 1, 2016
See my Amazon review:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R22PQFQ...
PS Can anyone tell me the origin of the title?
https://www.amazon.com/review/R22PQFQ...
PS Can anyone tell me the origin of the title?
April 29, 2016
OK literary thriller. Interesting story. The writing was adequate. Quick read!
July 28, 2016
this book was decent.
July 31, 2016
I'm not a sailor
It was slow in parts. A good read otherwise. Would have like more of an ending with the 2 phone calls.
It was slow in parts. A good read otherwise. Would have like more of an ending with the 2 phone calls.
August 23, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. It is a real page turner and very well written. It was a very exciting story and the characters were likeable. I can't wait to read more by this author.
September 23, 2016
good and interesting read really enjoyed it
January 1, 2017
really liked it, fast-paced, and plenty of sailing details - felt like I could almost sail a boat afterwards!
April 30, 2016
Poorly written and stupid.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews