Mad Money

Madeline Carter #1

by Linda L. Richards

Mad Money by Linda L. Richards released on Nov 24, 2004 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Amazon, Suspense, Chick Lit

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2004

About the author

Linda L. Richards is the award-winning author of fifteen books. The founder and publisher of January Magazine and a contributing editor to the crime fiction blog The Rap Sheet, she is best known for her strong female protagonists in the thriller genre. Richards is from Vancouver, Canada and currently makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona. Her latest book, ENDINGS, was published by Oceanview Publishing in 2021. A PW starred review said that this “harrowing tale of love, loss, and the value of life is not to be missed.” A sequel, EXIT STRATEGY, was published May 2022 and DEAD WEST, the third novel in the series, will be published September 2023. Linda’s 2021 novel, ENDINGS, was recently optioned by a major studio for series production.

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I good book, fast read, but something was loose and not tied up in the end. If I was Jack's wife I dont know if I could be friends with Madeline, but stranger things went on. Good outlook on the stock market

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book...nothing outstanding, but a good bus book. I will read more by this author.

[Angie ☯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story had a slow start, but it picked up and turned out to be an enjoyable read. But the topic was just a little too far-fetched. I thought many times, "yeah, like that would happen!", or "I think it's about time to call the cops!" But, take it from someone that knows first hand, anything can happen to anyone at anytime....so some of things that I questioned, could probably happen to me!

The story is about a former stock broker who still dabbles in stocks and gets a tidbit of insider info which she acts upon. Then is trying to understand why the events that followed were happening and if they were planned or coincidence.

I would probably read more in the series.

[Jeanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just blah. A stockbroker moves to LA for a fresh start and immediately meets a top Hollywood director who invites her to live in his guesthouse. You know, like everybody does. Due to a little insider trading of her own, she gets into trouble with a problem stock and goes investigating to fix the problem. Also, the director's teenage daughter fakes her own kidnapping. Not worth the money.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what caused me to pick this book, but I am glad that I did. The book was a slow start for me. However, I was soon caught up in the story. This is a good book to read when one is stuck in the house.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been so hard to get into this book, but I just can't. The character is kinda blah and didn't really interest me. She also made such a stupid mistake that for being so smart as she's written I can't imagine her making. The supporting characters are all very blah too.

[Janice Spradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy reading.

A good mystery that wasn't gross. Really two mystery s with good outcomes. A young person could enjoy. Would recommend.

[Melissa Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read!

[Jan Strnad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mad Money is the first book in a series about amateur detective Madeline Carter.

Due to a brutal murder at her NY brokerage firm, Carter retires to Los Angeles, takes up residence in a cliffside apartment in Malibu owned by a movie director, and settles in for some day trading. Acting on a bit of inside information, she invests most of her money in a "sure thing" that quickly unravels and sends her scurrying for answers about her past life and current life choices.

It's an easy read that kept me interested but also frustrated me with questions like, "Why don't you call a cop?" and "Isn't this a good time to call a cop?" and "Are you really not going to call a cop yet?"

Richards' storytelling is strongest when she's talking about money and investments, which provide most of the suspense in Mad Money. There's one kidnapping subplot too many, the middle is a bit muddled, and the climax is written like an epilogue. I think a good editor would have told Richards to give this basically good story one more pass.

Also, there's a kind of "romance novel" feel to the male/female relationships that, as a guy, left me cold.

Still, the novel kept me entertained.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Interesting note: This author is the mother of Seinfeld's Kramer.) I really enjoyed this novel. For me, some books I rush through either because; 1) They are so bad I want to get it over with or 2) They are so good that I race to the finish to see how it ends. Other books I read at a slower rate, either because; 1) I get interrupted over time and keep having to stop, then reread to refresh your memory before moving on, or 2) It is so boring and tedious that it is a chore to get through. Normally that is it for me, but I have new one to add. I took my time with this book because it was an easy read with interesting characters and situations and it felt right to just enjoy the ride - there was no reason to rush through it - kind of like a scenic ride, I was enjoying the view and when it seemed like it might start loosing its appeal, the suspense started building toward a satisfying end. This is a new experience for me for sure.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you like em dashes? So many that they become irritating for the normal reading! You'll enjoy this. Now, getting past my sarcasm here, the book was generally enjoyable to read, despite all the em dashes.

So there's a murder early on and turns out, other than an emotional tool, this was not the murder we are to care about--that comes later. And that murder was not the center of the book, it was a missing person mystery, which is fine.

Another bad thing I'll say is I felt like half the story was in a longer than normal epilogue.

But the writing was good. Easy to stay with it. If I'd had more free time I would have finished it much faster because it was hard to put down (her writing style attracts you).

As I remember it had a sex scene with more than I wanted to know.

Now, the important part. Would I read another in the series? and I think that's a yes.

[Nancy]

After witnessing a brutal crime, Madeleine Carter escapes her high-velocity New York City life for the laid-back atmosphere of Los Angeles. One night she runs into an old boyfriend, now a high-powered CEO, who lets her in on a great investment opportunity. But soon she discovers that the stock is tumbling, taking her money with it--and her ex is nowhere to be found. Compelled to get to the bottom of the disappearance, Madeleine turns amateur sleuth and discovers that she is the only person with the power to bring a dangerous criminal to justice.

It is a set up, and her ex-boyfriend is in on the fraud. He is eventually killed - drowned - trying to escape to Mexico. His best friend, who was also in on the fraud was arrested for the stock manipulations.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was pretty good but had a slow start. I was at least 1/3 of the way into the book before there was any suspense or much of a story beyond "woman quits job in NY and moves to LA to start over." The actions Madeline took as a beginning day trader were pretty unbelievable too and did not seem to fit with her identity as a smart broker. Once the action picked up the book got much better. I enjoyed the secondary characters a lot, and Madeline's amateur sleuthing was really entertaining. Hopefully future Madeline Carter books will keep up the pace of the second half of this first book, and not repeat the slow start.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a rather outrageous story. My favorite character was Tycho, the dog, who didn't even belong to the main character Madeline Carter, former stock broker, who lives in the guest house of a family in LA. She gets mixed up in the kidnapping of both a former boyfriend, and her landlord's teenage daughter, getting friendly with a woman private investigator who is following her. Very strange!

[Sher Ling · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book for free as part of an amazon subscription. I'm halfway through but probably won't keep reading to the end. The dialogue in the book feels forced, and different characters speak too similarly. The writing is easy to read, but the pace drags at times. As another reviewer noted: more editing and cutting could have salvaged this read.

[Marguerite Czajka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started slow for me. The descriptions of how trading worked bored me and I skimmed them. But it picked up near the end. I read it on my Kindle and I was at 70%, then the next thing I knew I was at 96%! I actually went back to make sure I didn't somehow miss a chapter. So it approved enough that I'll check out the next ones.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complicated, if somewhat over-imaginative thriller about a New York stockbroker who, having moved west to start a new life, gets embroiled in a mystery involving a former boyfriend.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particularly good for something I got as a free/cheap download--I've since given up on those, but had downloaded this a while ago.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent read, a little bit thriller and a little bit mystery.

[Benni Chisholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mad Money kept me in suspense, informed about day trading, and was a fun read.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a pretty good book. easy read and not to difficilt to follow

[Judy Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good - fairly fast read

[Dayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy read...good beach book.

[Emmaa22 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. REally enjoyed the pace and plot as well as the characters. Good twisty thriller.

[Will Phillipson · Rating 3 out of 5]

KINDLE - FREE
GOOD MYSTERY
DIANA MIGHT LIKE

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

the stock market info/descriptions were a little difficult to follow

[Clea Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it - fast and fun!

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book. The best part about it was it was the very first book I read on my Kindle!!!

[Eunira]

Freebie fom Amazon. March 5, 2012

[Dana Sahm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, quick summer read!