What do you think?
Rate this book
The Insider
San Francisco corporate attorney Will Connelly's well-ordered life is shattered when he watches a colleague hurtle to his death outside his office window. Within days, Will is the prime suspect in a murder, the target of an SEC insider trading investigation, and a pawn in a complex criminal scheme involving the Russian mafia and a ruthless terrorist plot.
Now, Will must ensure that a deadly enemy doesn't gain access to the nation's most sensitive and confidential information -- and the power to do incalculable, irrevocable harm.
Now, Will must ensure that a deadly enemy doesn't gain access to the nation's most sensitive and confidential information -- and the power to do incalculable, irrevocable harm.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2010
374 people are currently reading
2890 people want to read
About the author
Reece Hirsch
7 books589 followersReece Hirsch is the author of six thrillers that draw upon his background as a privacy attorney. His first book, The Insider, was a finalist for the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel. His two most recent books, Black Nowhere and Dark Tomorrow, feature FBI Special Agent Lisa Tanchik, who investigates cybercrimes. Hirsch was a partner in the San Francisco office of an international law firm and cochair of its privacy and cybersecurity practice. He lives in the Bay Area with his wife. His website is www.reecehirsch.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews
May 23, 2017
Enjoyed reading this story.
Legal thriller but no courtroom scenes, edge of the seat thrill ride from the beginning to the end. Fights, torture and murders, didn't liked the long fight at the end. Organized crime, terrorist, friend that turnouts not a friend, insider trading. Liked this his writing style, will read more books written by Reece Hirsch.
Legal thriller but no courtroom scenes, edge of the seat thrill ride from the beginning to the end. Fights, torture and murders, didn't liked the long fight at the end. Organized crime, terrorist, friend that turnouts not a friend, insider trading. Liked this his writing style, will read more books written by Reece Hirsch.
May 24, 2017
"The Insider" is a thriller set in a corrupt legal firm. It ratchets up tension skillfully. A trial isn't at its core; staying alive is. Wow.
January 16, 2011
I am so excited!! I found out I won this book on first reads, AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS! Who says persistence doesn't pay off!! I cannot wait to read it again. My husband really wants to read it because I kept talking to him about it. This book is well worth a second read it is so good and I am hoping to catch some stuff I missed. It will def. become part of my library and it is a rare book that I like so much that I want it to become part of my permanent library. I am already recommending it to people.
My original review (12/01/2010): All I keep thinking while reading this book is "Wow, this is a more than likely one night stand gone really, really bad!" This book started off strong on page one and didn't stop until page 330. I had to force myself to put it down to read all the other books I was reading. What an unbelievable read! A must, must read!
My original review (12/01/2010): All I keep thinking while reading this book is "Wow, this is a more than likely one night stand gone really, really bad!" This book started off strong on page one and didn't stop until page 330. I had to force myself to put it down to read all the other books I was reading. What an unbelievable read! A must, must read!
January 22, 2011
We have a brilliant new THINKING PERSONS' Thriller writer!!! Reece Hirsch and his Will Connelly character are such a welcome addition to the legal thriller genre. Hirsch, an attorney himself, has created a complex plot and characters so real and well detailed that the reader immediately falls under the novel's spell. Here's to many more Will Connelly novels! A MUST READ
Rick Friedman
Founder/Moderator
James Mason Community Book Club
Rick Friedman
Founder/Moderator
James Mason Community Book Club
November 8, 2017
4 ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this book! But I wish I didn't start it while I were busy. Possibly could've liked it even better if I hadn't been. Nonetheless, it won't deter me from giving it a good review & a great referal.
Instant chemistry I felt between the characters and just an easy read for me.
It is definitely classic in some ways and if you read it, you'll understand. It'll even give you a chuckle.
I really enjoyed this book! But I wish I didn't start it while I were busy. Possibly could've liked it even better if I hadn't been. Nonetheless, it won't deter me from giving it a good review & a great referal.
Instant chemistry I felt between the characters and just an easy read for me.
It is definitely classic in some ways and if you read it, you'll understand. It'll even give you a chuckle.
June 7, 2010
Happy Monday to all. To get the week off to a good start, our Flavor of the Day is Reece Hirsch’s debut novel The Insider. It being his first offering and Reece Hirsch being an esquire and all, I will try to watch my P’s & Q’s. You may want to inject your own lawyer joke here; I will give pause as you do that.
Me, Giovanni Gelati, being of simple mind and enormous body (please see profile picture), did hereby enjoy the novel. I grew up with the Cold War and despise all things Russian, even salad dressing. I will make the noted exception of spiking fruit salad with vodka; that is acceptable. But I digress, yet again. Having said all that, the unorganized Russian crime figures (how could they not be unorganized, their noses are smashed, not bent) in the novel, worked for me. The plot and the way in which the story unfolded were compelling and at times intense. Will Connelly, Hirsch’s main character, goes through quite a bit in his life from the beginning of the novel till the end. Up until that point one is lead to believe his life was mundane, boring, and otherwise un-noteworthy,
unless he was billing hours for the law firm where he works.
The Insider for me was a good novel, a departure from some of the stuff I had been reading & posting on lately, the zombies & graphic novels. A change of pace, a curve ball, a different flav, if you will, is always good to keep the mix fresh and the flow going. If you’re looking for a good paperback to add to your summer reading list, then you have one here in Reece Hirsch’s debut novel The Insider. Hirsch is a new voice with a fresh perspective in this genre, and I think his main character, Will Connelly, will be seen and heard from again. Check it out; add it to your Goodreads –to read- list. Here are a few words from Reece Hirsch himself. I had asked him if he wanted to add anything to the post, enjoy:
"I've just finished the main push of my book tour campaign, which included events in San Francisco, Phoenix, L.A., San Mateo, Seattle, Philadelphia and D.C. As a first-time author, I enjoyed every minute of it, but now I'm beat. Time to get back to work on my next legal thriller. I'm about 150 pages into my new book, which will be another legal thriller that touches upon some cutting-edge technology issues. If you're in the Bay Area, I will be signing and chatting about THE INSIDER at Barnes & Noble in Dublin, CA (my neck of the woods) on June 12. And if you'd like to sample the first chapter of THE INSIDER, or learn more about the real-life privacy and domestic surveillance issues that my book touches upon, please check out my website at www.reecehirsch.com. Thanks, Giovanni, and happy reading to all of you!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter and visit us on Book Blogs. Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Me, Giovanni Gelati, being of simple mind and enormous body (please see profile picture), did hereby enjoy the novel. I grew up with the Cold War and despise all things Russian, even salad dressing. I will make the noted exception of spiking fruit salad with vodka; that is acceptable. But I digress, yet again. Having said all that, the unorganized Russian crime figures (how could they not be unorganized, their noses are smashed, not bent) in the novel, worked for me. The plot and the way in which the story unfolded were compelling and at times intense. Will Connelly, Hirsch’s main character, goes through quite a bit in his life from the beginning of the novel till the end. Up until that point one is lead to believe his life was mundane, boring, and otherwise un-noteworthy,
unless he was billing hours for the law firm where he works.
The Insider for me was a good novel, a departure from some of the stuff I had been reading & posting on lately, the zombies & graphic novels. A change of pace, a curve ball, a different flav, if you will, is always good to keep the mix fresh and the flow going. If you’re looking for a good paperback to add to your summer reading list, then you have one here in Reece Hirsch’s debut novel The Insider. Hirsch is a new voice with a fresh perspective in this genre, and I think his main character, Will Connelly, will be seen and heard from again. Check it out; add it to your Goodreads –to read- list. Here are a few words from Reece Hirsch himself. I had asked him if he wanted to add anything to the post, enjoy:
"I've just finished the main push of my book tour campaign, which included events in San Francisco, Phoenix, L.A., San Mateo, Seattle, Philadelphia and D.C. As a first-time author, I enjoyed every minute of it, but now I'm beat. Time to get back to work on my next legal thriller. I'm about 150 pages into my new book, which will be another legal thriller that touches upon some cutting-edge technology issues. If you're in the Bay Area, I will be signing and chatting about THE INSIDER at Barnes & Noble in Dublin, CA (my neck of the woods) on June 12. And if you'd like to sample the first chapter of THE INSIDER, or learn more about the real-life privacy and domestic surveillance issues that my book touches upon, please check out my website at www.reecehirsch.com. Thanks, Giovanni, and happy reading to all of you!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter and visit us on Book Blogs. Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
August 18, 2010
I throughly enjoyed this book. It is a quick read with a very likeable character. Will Connelly is an attorney who has just made partner at his firm, when all hell breaks loose! I sometimes questioned Will's decisions as I read through the novel, but by the end learned that Will is very sharp.
The mafiya characters are very believeable and the story has a real twist to the ending. "The Insider" is a terrific thriller and I look forward to Reece Hirsch's next book!
The mafiya characters are very believeable and the story has a real twist to the ending. "The Insider" is a terrific thriller and I look forward to Reece Hirsch's next book!
August 17, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Fast-paced and entirely captivating, this book was hard to put down. I couldn't wait to find out how, or if, Will would ever find a way to clear himself of all the trouble that he found himself in the middle of. Loved the San Francisco setting, too. I'll be sure to look out for more books from Reece Hirsch!
May 17, 2017
Exciting page turner
Russian gangsters,big city law firm,regulatory agencies,framed good guys all collide in intriguing tale which pushes the reader to keep going from start to finish.
Russian gangsters,big city law firm,regulatory agencies,framed good guys all collide in intriguing tale which pushes the reader to keep going from start to finish.
September 6, 2010
I used to read legal thrillers a long time ago. After a while I found that they were pretty much the same book over and over again, so I stopped reading them. Then I received The Insider in the mail as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I examined the front cover and back cover. There were a lot of glowing reviews for this book. So I settled in to read the book. I enjoyed every gripping moment.
The Insider is a legal thriller, and can be compared to the John Grisham books. As a debut novel, it is a great first effort. The Insider is thrilling and there were moments where I was on the edge of my seat. So there’s the Russian mob, a large legal firm, a secret encryption software, insider trading, and a possible terrorist threat – all rolled into one book.
The Insider is the story of Will Connelly, a lawyer up for partnership in a prestigious San Francisco law firm. Will shows up at the office early one morning to catch up on work. Suddenly, he sees Ben, a co-worker plummeting to his death past his window. Will takes over Ben’s acquisition account for a prestigious software firm. This is where Will’s problems begin. And something else seems off…
The plot is well paced and action packed. There were lots of interesting twists. The Russian mobsters were very scary (as were some of the legal partners). Will is a likeable character and I found myself rooting for him. I found that the character development was lacking for the secondary characters, perhaps because the story revolved around Will. The Russian mob characters felt very stereotypical.
Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves legal thrillers. I look forward to reading more books by Reece Hirsch.
July 2, 2012
This was a free read thanks to the Goodreads Firstreads program! I love a good Grishamesque novel especially when its free! I was able to spend 2 days of my vacation dedicated to this and it really helped me pass the time of what became a pretty hectic week. As all the other reviews of Mr. Hirschs first effort say...very fast moving which keeps the reader zoned in. Some points I was able to sit back and say, yeah the has the feel of being a first book, but most of it was centered around the observation of "WoW! this is his first book?!?!" The objective side of my review consisting of contructive criticism...not trying to give anything away, but throwing to many obstacles at the main character makes it seem overwhelming. i.e. no need to send everything against him including the kitchen sink, perhaps less is more. Really though, that is my only criticism of this. Im curious to see if this will turn into a series or if Mr. Hirsch will learn and build from this effort and try something new, either way im looking forward to it!
oh, on a side note, I dont get big envelopes sent to my home by attorneys from San Francisco too often, so next time...please spare me the potential heart attack when sending me your book with your firms letterheard and return address label. It caught me way of guard. haha!
oh, on a side note, I dont get big envelopes sent to my home by attorneys from San Francisco too often, so next time...please spare me the potential heart attack when sending me your book with your firms letterheard and return address label. It caught me way of guard. haha!
March 11, 2011
This was an enjoyable read from beginning to end. The action starts right away in this book and keeps you lured in until the end. I won't soon forget about Will and his misfortunes throughout the story! One thing after another, so many angles and possibilities, it was definitely an adventure I could see turned into a film. I cannot recall the last time I read a book that involved the Russian Mafiya and these characters were a refreshing addition to this story. I was able to form quite the images in my mind's eye while reading as all the characters in this book were very believable. Reece Hirsch had a way with words and even though I am not into the "market" or "merger" type books, the way this book is written will have anyone entertained and I will be on the look out for other books by this author! Reece's legal experience shines through in this book, but it crafted in a way that doesn't leave you with a "huh?" feeling. I gave this book 3 stars because I think a little more time could have been spent describing the actual characters, while I had them pictured in my mind, I would have benefited from a little more personal detail, especially more about Claire. The ending well a "feel-good" one and over all, I certainly liked this book and recommend it.
August 30, 2010
I really enjoyed this debut legal thriller. The inevitable comparison is to Grisham, of course, because of the lawyer-in-trouble-against-other-dirty-lawyers thing. And while the style is reminiscent, it's very unique.
Overall, I thought "The Insider" was well paced and had believable and likable characters. I work with a number of Russians and thought that Hirsch nailed Yuri and Nikolai's manner of speech. I was also impressed with the twist at the end. There were some places in the middle where I got frustrated with the main character's choices and felt they were slightly unbelievable. But, such moments were minor and fleeting. I could hardly put the book down and anticipate more from the author! I think I would enjoy either another Will Connelly book, or another stand alone!
The worst thing about reading the first book from a new author (that I enjoy) is not having more to immediately pick up and read!
Overall, I thought "The Insider" was well paced and had believable and likable characters. I work with a number of Russians and thought that Hirsch nailed Yuri and Nikolai's manner of speech. I was also impressed with the twist at the end. There were some places in the middle where I got frustrated with the main character's choices and felt they were slightly unbelievable. But, such moments were minor and fleeting. I could hardly put the book down and anticipate more from the author! I think I would enjoy either another Will Connelly book, or another stand alone!
The worst thing about reading the first book from a new author (that I enjoy) is not having more to immediately pick up and read!
May 24, 2012
What?!? HOW can this be Reece Hirsch's first book???
I was very impressed and very caught up in the narrative reading this book cover-to-cover in 2 days. Hirsch is not only an intelligent and educated individual, but also a very gifted writer. This is obviously a winning combination and The Insider is proof of this.
I hope to see more books from this author!
[Disclaimer: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.]
I was very impressed and very caught up in the narrative reading this book cover-to-cover in 2 days. Hirsch is not only an intelligent and educated individual, but also a very gifted writer. This is obviously a winning combination and The Insider is proof of this.
I hope to see more books from this author!
[Disclaimer: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.]
May 24, 2017
Unbelievably believable
What a great story! A tale of intrigue and cunning by someone who has been framed and is now in over his head. Great read. Recommended.
What a great story! A tale of intrigue and cunning by someone who has been framed and is now in over his head. Great read. Recommended.
May 22, 2017
Innicent
An interesting look into white. collar crimes and easy it is to be innocently pulled into committing it. I could not put it down.
An interesting look into white. collar crimes and easy it is to be innocently pulled into committing it. I could not put it down.
January 24, 2019
Basic Plot: Will (lawyer) gets caught up in inside trading by the Russian mafiya, who happen to be working with some Middle-Eastern terrorists looking to steal some serious technology from a tech company, sell it on the black market, and commit naughty terrorist acts in San Francisco.
I won this book from First Reads here at Goodreads. As it was my first "win," I was really excited to get an autographed free book (who on this site wouldn't be?) and try something out of my usual genre.
I kinda feel bad about the 2-star rating, but I'll explain why I gave it that, and let you make your own decision on whether or not you want to read it.
Ok, first of all: Re-read my basic plot above. Seriously. LOOK AT IT. How many tropes of thriller writing does one book really need? There were a few moments when I had to remind myself, "Kat, this is his first book, do not hyperventilate. Do not attempt to reach through the computer to slap the author. Neither should you scream at the book, as the author cannot hear you that way." It's like an eager little kid who wants to be a cowboy/spaceman/knight/baseball player at Halloween instead of picking just ONE THING.
There were some eye-blink moments when I thought I had missed something and had to re-read a passage a few times in order to confirm that no, the author had NOT in fact stated that X event had happened. I'll blame the editor for that instead of the author, as a kindness.
I don't really think it was a bad book, it just wasn't my thing. I was able to follow the legal stuff, which is NOT my thing, because it was written clearly. The flow of events was mostly logical, if frustrating and overly-laden with tropes. (Will is seduced by a Russian bombshell working for the mafiya within the first few chapters of the book, ON TOP of all the other stuff) I liked the ending, more or less, as it made the protagonist a bit more likeable. Throughout most of the book he didn't seem to have much of a personality to me. He was just a cat's paw being manipulated by others with no real drive of his own, other than survival.
Long story short: writing was okay, but nothing to write home about, story was laden with cliched tropes, and characters were lackluster. It wasn't awful, but I'm relatively sure I'll forget this book utterly within a week.
I won this book from First Reads here at Goodreads. As it was my first "win," I was really excited to get an autographed free book (who on this site wouldn't be?) and try something out of my usual genre.
I kinda feel bad about the 2-star rating, but I'll explain why I gave it that, and let you make your own decision on whether or not you want to read it.
Ok, first of all: Re-read my basic plot above. Seriously. LOOK AT IT. How many tropes of thriller writing does one book really need? There were a few moments when I had to remind myself, "Kat, this is his first book, do not hyperventilate. Do not attempt to reach through the computer to slap the author. Neither should you scream at the book, as the author cannot hear you that way." It's like an eager little kid who wants to be a cowboy/spaceman/knight/baseball player at Halloween instead of picking just ONE THING.
There were some eye-blink moments when I thought I had missed something and had to re-read a passage a few times in order to confirm that no, the author had NOT in fact stated that X event had happened. I'll blame the editor for that instead of the author, as a kindness.
I don't really think it was a bad book, it just wasn't my thing. I was able to follow the legal stuff, which is NOT my thing, because it was written clearly. The flow of events was mostly logical, if frustrating and overly-laden with tropes. (Will is seduced by a Russian bombshell working for the mafiya within the first few chapters of the book, ON TOP of all the other stuff) I liked the ending, more or less, as it made the protagonist a bit more likeable. Throughout most of the book he didn't seem to have much of a personality to me. He was just a cat's paw being manipulated by others with no real drive of his own, other than survival.
Long story short: writing was okay, but nothing to write home about, story was laden with cliched tropes, and characters were lackluster. It wasn't awful, but I'm relatively sure I'll forget this book utterly within a week.
December 30, 2010
I received a copy of this book as a giveaway on Goodreads. I have to be honest when saying that legal thrillers really aren't a genre I generally want to get my hands on. I started this book expecting it to be so so.
I tell you though, I should stop judging a book before I read it! This book was really good. Page after page it surprised me with action around every turn. Just when you think things are calming down in the storyline, Will gets into an even bigger predicament.
One thing that seems to be in most legal thrillers that I am not to big on, is the legal jabber. It's easy for me to zone out when they start talking about mergers, etc. The good thing about this book though is that although it did have a little bit of that, it also wasn't "drenched" in it. It felt more like a thriller with a legal background.
In reading previous reviews of this book I found out there was a twist at the end. I was disappointed that fact was even mentioned (and look, here I am mentioning it) because once I knew there was going to be a twist, it was easy for me to figure out what the twist was. It was still interesting but would have been better if I wasn't looking for the twist.
Overall this book is really great. I am surprised it's Hirsch's first one. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of legal thrillers. You won't be disappointed! For those who aren't fans of this genre I suggest it anyway. Even if you aren't into this sort of thing you will appreciate the good writing and the interesting storyline.
I tell you though, I should stop judging a book before I read it! This book was really good. Page after page it surprised me with action around every turn. Just when you think things are calming down in the storyline, Will gets into an even bigger predicament.
One thing that seems to be in most legal thrillers that I am not to big on, is the legal jabber. It's easy for me to zone out when they start talking about mergers, etc. The good thing about this book though is that although it did have a little bit of that, it also wasn't "drenched" in it. It felt more like a thriller with a legal background.
In reading previous reviews of this book I found out there was a twist at the end. I was disappointed that fact was even mentioned (and look, here I am mentioning it) because once I knew there was going to be a twist, it was easy for me to figure out what the twist was. It was still interesting but would have been better if I wasn't looking for the twist.
Overall this book is really great. I am surprised it's Hirsch's first one. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of legal thrillers. You won't be disappointed! For those who aren't fans of this genre I suggest it anyway. Even if you aren't into this sort of thing you will appreciate the good writing and the interesting storyline.
September 17, 2010
The Insider, a real action thriller set in the world of corporate espionage. I enjoyed this book and it is a relatively quick book to read. The main character is likeable and fairly believable. Will Connelly is an attorney who has just made partner in his law firm when all hell breaks loose. A colleague takes a header off of their office building right past Will’s window. It seems that the dead man had tried to call Will earlier and somehow Will’s keycard was switched with the dead colleague too. That should put him on the top of the police’s suspect list.
Things go from bad to worse when he meets the wrong girl in the wrong place and gets entangled with some Russian mobsters who want information. (Insider trading information, like the title get it?)
Reece Hirsch does a good job letting the reader know what is going on in the corporate legal world without hitting you over the head with endless detail and jargon. We’re reading about lawyers not trying to be one. Will seems to keep getting deeper and deeper into trouble and it looks like Hirsch has written him into a corner with no way out, but the resolution is quite elegant and does a nice job tying up all the loose ends. Hirsch really gives the reader a satisfying end and left me with the desire to read further exploits with Will Connelly.
Things go from bad to worse when he meets the wrong girl in the wrong place and gets entangled with some Russian mobsters who want information. (Insider trading information, like the title get it?)
Reece Hirsch does a good job letting the reader know what is going on in the corporate legal world without hitting you over the head with endless detail and jargon. We’re reading about lawyers not trying to be one. Will seems to keep getting deeper and deeper into trouble and it looks like Hirsch has written him into a corner with no way out, but the resolution is quite elegant and does a nice job tying up all the loose ends. Hirsch really gives the reader a satisfying end and left me with the desire to read further exploits with Will Connelly.
August 9, 2010
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I am an avid mystery reader; I must read about 400+ mysteries a year. I'm surprised that this is his first novel as he doesn't fall prey to some of the biggest pitfalls of the debut mystery. I find that a lot of first mystery books feature the quirky/weird/flamboyant best friend and that the characters are more caricature than "real" characters. This novel features very well written and believable characters. I love the little details like the boss who dictates the correct placement of binder clips and the office suck up who takes up smoking to impress him.
My biggest compliment is that I normally read about 4-8 books at the same time. I put all of my other books aside to read this book.
My biggest compliment is that I normally read about 4-8 books at the same time. I put all of my other books aside to read this book.
August 23, 2017
I received this book as a Goodreads first reader giveaway winner. I would have read this book in a day but I had company come over. It hooked me from the start with the co-worker falling 38 floors. Then it just kept going from there. I couldn't put it down. I was even reading it while watching a movie with my company because I wanted to know what happened next. Reece does a great job pulling you into the story from the very start and making you want to know what happens next. Great job for a first book. I look forward to reading more by him.
September 23, 2010
The Insider is a gripping novel; I had trouble putting it down every time I opened it. The characters were well developed, and the imagery was so vivid that I felt like I was right there with Will, running from the mafiya while trying to maintain my innocence. Very witty and smart. Hirsch obviously put a lot of time into creating his story and doing his research. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful novels. [Disclaimer: I won a free copy through Good Reads.]
December 8, 2010
I thought this story was INTENSE!!! What a roller coaster ride. I can't believe I won such an awesome title on Goodreads's giveaway. From the first chapter this book makes you a hostage to the main character's situation, and for being Reece Hirsch's first novel...WOW!! He is an extremely talented author and I hope to see more titles by him soon.
April 11, 2011
I won this book through the First Reads giveaways. The book was alright, though I found it to be a little stiff. It just didn't pull me in that much, and I found that a lot of things were coming together a little too easily, and it was hard to suspend my disbelief. It just didn't really feel like anyone was really ever in any real danger.
January 30, 2012
This is an excellent book, captured my attention right away and it just kept going and going. A book that I did not want to put down.
January 30, 2021
Paul Levine
I love a good legal thriller, and Reece Hirsch’s debut novel, “The Insider,” is a red-hot scorcher.
Meet Will Connelly, a bright young lawyer yearning to become a partner in his deep-carpet San Francisco law firm. A one-man billing machine, Will gets to work early, so he’s the only one to see a fellow lawyer plunge to his death from a higher floor. Accident? Suicide? Murder?
Events conspire to make Will the prime suspect in the death. He’s also implicated in an SEC insider trading scandal, and the Russian mafia are on his tail. If that’s not enough, the author spins a terrorism story, too. That’s a lot of plot, particularly for a first novel, but Hirsch juggles the characters and story lines like an old pro.
I’m a long-time fan of crime fiction set in foggy, windy San Francisco. From Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon” to John Lescroat’s Dismas Hardy series, to Sheldon Siegel’s Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez thrillers to Hirsch’s debut, the city by the bay is a perfect backdrop for intrigue, corruption, and murder.
A finalist for the International Thrillers Award for best first novel, “The Insider” rings true, both in its legal gymnastics and traditional thriller plotting. Hirsch has written five more novels, including “Black Nowhere” and “Dark Tomorrow,” featuring FBI agent Lisa Tanchik. When you’ve finished “The Insider,” you’ll want to read these fast-paced thrillers, too.
Paul Levine
I love a good legal thriller, and Reece Hirsch’s debut novel, “The Insider,” is a red-hot scorcher.
Meet Will Connelly, a bright young lawyer yearning to become a partner in his deep-carpet San Francisco law firm. A one-man billing machine, Will gets to work early, so he’s the only one to see a fellow lawyer plunge to his death from a higher floor. Accident? Suicide? Murder?
Events conspire to make Will the prime suspect in the death. He’s also implicated in an SEC insider trading scandal, and the Russian mafia are on his tail. If that’s not enough, the author spins a terrorism story, too. That’s a lot of plot, particularly for a first novel, but Hirsch juggles the characters and story lines like an old pro.
I’m a long-time fan of crime fiction set in foggy, windy San Francisco. From Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon” to John Lescroat’s Dismas Hardy series, to Sheldon Siegel’s Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez thrillers to Hirsch’s debut, the city by the bay is a perfect backdrop for intrigue, corruption, and murder.
A finalist for the International Thrillers Award for best first novel, “The Insider” rings true, both in its legal gymnastics and traditional thriller plotting. Hirsch has written five more novels, including “Black Nowhere” and “Dark Tomorrow,” featuring FBI agent Lisa Tanchik. When you’ve finished “The Insider,” you’ll want to read these fast-paced thrillers, too.
Paul Levine
May 30, 2017
I enjoyed this book for two reasons. One, I grew up in San Francisco and the scenery was familiar; and second, the legal mystery was innovative as it involved technology and terrorism. Overall it did keep my interest as it is full of action and suspense but there were some inconsistencies in the reasoning of the plot. The novel did remind me a bit of the early Baldacci books.
November 20, 2017
An exciting read
This is a compelling story line. The twists and turns in the plot are not predictable . would read more by this author.
This is a compelling story line. The twists and turns in the plot are not predictable . would read more by this author.
April 20, 2012
Will Connelly should have answered Ben’s call that early morning. But he didn’t. Eyes widened, he watches his colleague plummet to his death. Grabbing a key card, Will runs outside and discovers his own key card near Ben’s body – oops. Suspecting Ben’s death wasn’t a suicide, he quickly decides to tell the police about the security card mix up to avoid becoming a suspect. But, a suspect he becomes; especially after he makes partner and becomes the lead attorney in the firm’s major merger case. He represents Jupiter Software, an encryption specialty company. To make matters worse, he brags about the deal to a Russian beauty who works at a security firm as a receptionist. Oops. He now is open to SEC insider trading charges. But Katya won’t tell, she promises. Then how do a couple of Russian thugs come to be her door early that next morning? Is she part of a set up? Is this related to Ben’s death?
As Yuri and Nicholai shadows Will, he discovers that Claire Rowland who is leading his team’s due diligence has found some disturbing information about Jupiter. Jupiter has created an encryption key that the NSA may be using and its use is illegal. Claire is summarily dismissed during Will’s first partner meeting. He alone was the dissenting voice. He can’t understand the partners’ decision. But he understands the Russians. They want that key for another associate – a well known international terrorist. Will has to stay one step ahead of the police, the SEC, FBI, and the Mafiya to stay alive and stop the terrorist attack while avoiding jail.
Will’s story is written well by Reece Hirsch. It is fast paced and fun, though with many implausible twists that are not quite believable as written. Will’s character is fully developed and I cared about him, though I didn’t quite like him. Other characters weren’t quite developed and probably added to the why I didn’t find the twists quite believable. But this is a good start to hopefully will be a long writing career for Mr. Hirsch. I look forward to his next novel.
As Yuri and Nicholai shadows Will, he discovers that Claire Rowland who is leading his team’s due diligence has found some disturbing information about Jupiter. Jupiter has created an encryption key that the NSA may be using and its use is illegal. Claire is summarily dismissed during Will’s first partner meeting. He alone was the dissenting voice. He can’t understand the partners’ decision. But he understands the Russians. They want that key for another associate – a well known international terrorist. Will has to stay one step ahead of the police, the SEC, FBI, and the Mafiya to stay alive and stop the terrorist attack while avoiding jail.
Will’s story is written well by Reece Hirsch. It is fast paced and fun, though with many implausible twists that are not quite believable as written. Will’s character is fully developed and I cared about him, though I didn’t quite like him. Other characters weren’t quite developed and probably added to the why I didn’t find the twists quite believable. But this is a good start to hopefully will be a long writing career for Mr. Hirsch. I look forward to his next novel.
February 27, 2011
Reece Hirsch’s book “The Insider”is a wonderful read and I recommend it with great enthusiasm. There's not much more that you ask for in a fast paced thriller than what Reece Hirsch has given us in this book. From the opening where a young attorney watched a fellow attorney plummet to the earth out of a multi storied San Francisco law office to the cold and dark parking garages near the ocean, this book was filled with suspense, terror, intrigue, and a bit of light romance. Hirsch struck just the right tone featuring Will, the young attorney working tirelessly to make partner in one of the big 10 law firms being pulled into the world of organized crime and the Russian mob. The situations for Will go from bad to worse and lead the reader through a maze of international intrigue, planned terrorist acts and simple acts of brutality and intimidation. Needless to say I will think twice when I ride a BART train, enjoy a drink in a darkly lit restaurant or have coffee in a Starbucks.
I really enjoyed this book as it is a quick read, a work of continual action and suspense and a story line with developed characters.
I hope that Hirsch continues to write more books with these characters as I am now invested in their lives and would like to follow their careers and enjoy the adventures that surround Will’s life. Thank you Reece for sending me this book and for allowing me to review this delightful gripping novel. It is a great book for all lovers of mystery, suspense and action novels and the background of San Francisco adds a setting for the book that seems to be a perfect fit. Enjoy.
I really enjoyed this book as it is a quick read, a work of continual action and suspense and a story line with developed characters.
I hope that Hirsch continues to write more books with these characters as I am now invested in their lives and would like to follow their careers and enjoy the adventures that surround Will’s life. Thank you Reece for sending me this book and for allowing me to review this delightful gripping novel. It is a great book for all lovers of mystery, suspense and action novels and the background of San Francisco adds a setting for the book that seems to be a perfect fit. Enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews