The Scheme

by Ash Thakur

Suburban financial advisor Julian Kay has an elegant lifestyle and a glamorous fiancée, Stephanie, all supported by a fraudulent investment scheme. When things go wrong and clients ask for their money back, he must take desperate measures to maintain his standard of living.

Along the way he meets Sonia, a young literature student who has some interesting money making sidelines of her own. Julian tries to start an affair with her, but his attempts at impressing her never seem to have the intended effect.

This darkly humorous thriller puts you inside the head of a charming sociopath as he struggles to stop his comfortable world falling apart.

250 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2016

About the author

Ash Thakur was born in Edgware, north London and grew up in Hendon. He was educated at the Haberdashers’ Aske’s school in Hertfordshire and Imperial College, London, where he read Mathematics.

Following a fifteen year career working for a variety of banks in the City, he decided to write a story about some of the shadier goings on at the edges of the financial world. The Scheme is his debut novel.

He now resides in Golders Green, former home of Evelyn Waugh and presently Kazuo Ishiguro. His pastimes are travel, cooking, traditional British ales and attending the theatre and classical concerts.

Reviews

[Tena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. It was an ok read, short enough to finsh soon enough to not have to give up on it. Sorry, but it didn't click for me.

[Lyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

On this one, I didn't really like the "bad-boy" angle that was going on. I didn't think it really worked out. It wasn't really a "this-guy-is-bad-but-hot" thing, it was more a "this-guy-is-a-douche-and-not-at-all-attractive" vibe. Honestly, Julien was constantly worrying about his scheme throughout the whole book. And the way that he ultimately ended up "taking care of it", so that he didn't get in any trouble was really convenient, and not really believable at all, so it made me like him less. He was kind of just a jerk in every way. And I don't remember liking any of the other characters much, either. Or the ending... that wasn't satisfactory to me at all. Overall, the book was really just "eh". Written decently, but nothing to get excited about.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Hanna Newby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I wouldn't have chosen this from a bookstore. And frankly, I am not sure what I just read. The characters lacked depth and personality, the plot lacked logic and direction, and in my opinion, the author should use his Mathematics degree from the College of London and leave the writing of novels to other people.
My biggest issue was the fact that nothing made any sense -- I mean, what was up with that weird party in someone's random basement? Somehow every character in the story is there? If it was a dream, Mr. Thakur did not do a good job of implying that. And what is with Sonia? She meets Julian one time, they talk about Russian literature, and then they meet up so he can buy her expensive shoes and she can steal a wallet for a wealthy man who could afford to buy 20 of those wallets?
All in all, this one was frustrating and difficult to finish.

[Bridgett Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a financial adviser, Julian Kay who's a little shady in his business dealings. And when the clients ask for their money back, Julian and his fiancee Stephanie, Have to drastically change the way they live. Along the way he meets Sonia, a young literature student who has some interesting money making schemes of her own. Julian tries to start an affair with her, but it dosen't seem to ever work out.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this as a Goodreads Giveaway. Wouldn't go out and buy it but was readable for a freebie. The cover picture would put me off from picking if up in a shop.

[Olga]

Hmmm, is there a sequel to this book? I enjoyed the book but the ending.........