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Baņķiera sieva
Ikvienam ir sava cena.
Un Šveices Apvienotā banka to ir gatava samaksāt.
Agrā novembra rītā Alpos bez vēsts pazūd lidmašīna, kurā atradies arī Metjū Verners, Šveices Apvienotās bankas baņķieris. Viņa sieva Anabella ir satriekta: policija to uzskata par nelaimes gadījumu, tomēr ir pārāk daudz neatbildētu jautājumu: kādēļ Metjū lidoja uz Londonu, nevis Cīrihi, kā bija teicis? Kādēļ pēdējās nedēļās viņš bija kļuvis tik nerunīgs? Un kādēļ lidmašīnā kopā ar viņu atradās arī Fatima Amīra, Sīrijas prezidenta Bašāra al Asada māsīca?
Otrā pasaules malā žurnāliste Marina Turno ir uzgājusi pēdas vērienīgam nelegālo finanšu tīklam, kura oficiālais aizsegs ir Šveices Apvienotā banka. Plānotā raksta sagatavošanas laikā mīklainos apstākļos mirst Marinas kolēģis, viņa tiek izsekota un pārtraukt savu darbību viņu lūdz arī topošais vīratēvs, prezidenta kandidāts gaidāmajās vēlēšanās...
Abu sieviešu centieni noskaidrot patiesību izvēršas par spēli uz dzīvību un nāvi: pasaulē ir pārāk daudz cilvēku, kuri naudas dēļ gatavi darīt visu.
Kristīna Eldžera ir studējusi Hārvarda Universitātē un ieguvusi juristes izglītību. Vairākus gadus strādājusi par finanšu analītiķi un korporatīvo advokāti. Eldžeras romāns Baņķiera sieva ir spraigs un satricinošs stāsts par naudas un sirdsapziņas attiecībām mūsdienās; rakstnieces personīgā pieredze ļauj sniegt psiholoģiski niansētu ieskatu finanšu pasaules aizkulisēs un augsta ranga baņķieru morālajās dilemmās.
Globāla sazvērestība par netīru naudu slepenos kontos, sižeta līkloči no Ženēvas līdz Parīzei, Londonai un Ņujorkai, kā arī divas spēcīgas sievietes: šis pavisam noteikti ir trilleris uz visu banku!
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Elegants un ārkārtīgi aizraujošs romāns par starptautisko banku mahinācijām.
Newsday
Skarbs un aizraujošs ieskats finanšu pasaulē. Stāsts par to, cik postoša var būt alkatība.
Publishers Weekly
Un Šveices Apvienotā banka to ir gatava samaksāt.
Agrā novembra rītā Alpos bez vēsts pazūd lidmašīna, kurā atradies arī Metjū Verners, Šveices Apvienotās bankas baņķieris. Viņa sieva Anabella ir satriekta: policija to uzskata par nelaimes gadījumu, tomēr ir pārāk daudz neatbildētu jautājumu: kādēļ Metjū lidoja uz Londonu, nevis Cīrihi, kā bija teicis? Kādēļ pēdējās nedēļās viņš bija kļuvis tik nerunīgs? Un kādēļ lidmašīnā kopā ar viņu atradās arī Fatima Amīra, Sīrijas prezidenta Bašāra al Asada māsīca?
Otrā pasaules malā žurnāliste Marina Turno ir uzgājusi pēdas vērienīgam nelegālo finanšu tīklam, kura oficiālais aizsegs ir Šveices Apvienotā banka. Plānotā raksta sagatavošanas laikā mīklainos apstākļos mirst Marinas kolēģis, viņa tiek izsekota un pārtraukt savu darbību viņu lūdz arī topošais vīratēvs, prezidenta kandidāts gaidāmajās vēlēšanās...
Abu sieviešu centieni noskaidrot patiesību izvēršas par spēli uz dzīvību un nāvi: pasaulē ir pārāk daudz cilvēku, kuri naudas dēļ gatavi darīt visu.
Kristīna Eldžera ir studējusi Hārvarda Universitātē un ieguvusi juristes izglītību. Vairākus gadus strādājusi par finanšu analītiķi un korporatīvo advokāti. Eldžeras romāns Baņķiera sieva ir spraigs un satricinošs stāsts par naudas un sirdsapziņas attiecībām mūsdienās; rakstnieces personīgā pieredze ļauj sniegt psiholoģiski niansētu ieskatu finanšu pasaules aizkulisēs un augsta ranga baņķieru morālajās dilemmās.
Globāla sazvērestība par netīru naudu slepenos kontos, sižeta līkloči no Ženēvas līdz Parīzei, Londonai un Ņujorkai, kā arī divas spēcīgas sievietes: šis pavisam noteikti ir trilleris uz visu banku!
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Elegants un ārkārtīgi aizraujošs romāns par starptautisko banku mahinācijām.
Newsday
Skarbs un aizraujošs ieskats finanšu pasaulē. Stāsts par to, cik postoša var būt alkatība.
Publishers Weekly
432 pages
First published July 3, 2018
3339 people are currently reading
21302 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,093 reviews
August 18, 2018
The Banker’s Wife by Christina Alger is a 2018 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication.
Annabelle and Matthew move to Geneva hoping for not only a great career opportunity for Matthew, but a change of scenery after suffering some hard losses.
But, when Annabelle is informed that Matthew has been killed in a plane crash, she’s not just devastated, she’s shocked to learn the details of the crash. Desperately needing to make sense of her husband’s actions and his death, Annabelle begins to research Matthew’s working life, while his colleagues attempt to ‘handle’ her. It’s hard to know who to trust, how to know who the bad guys are. But, if Annabelle isn’t careful, she could become collateral damage.
Meanwhile, Marina Tourneau, a reporter who is about to marry into a powerful New York family, is given the chance to work on one last story by her long -time mentor, Duncan. But, when Duncan is killed, she makes a shocking discovery which propels her to continue with the story, despite the obvious personal repercussions and the wishes of her fiancé.
What goes on in the powerful Swiss United Bank could draw the two women together, both hoping to protect the reputations of the men they love.
The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking that it felt like a Mish -Mash between ‘The Pilot’s Wife’ and ‘The Firm’. If you’ll notice, both of those books are classics, which means that apparently, I can’t think of a more recent book to compare this one to. That’s not a good thing. There have been plenty of thrillers published in recent years, some of them solid, but none of them all that memorable, it seems. Maybe this book will give authors and publishers a wake -up call and inspire them to write and publish a higher caliber product.
End of lecture-
This is a very moody, atmospheric thriller which exposes the ease in which money is hidden in offshore banks and the criminal activity it shields in the process. But, don’t just think about tax evasion or money laundering. The crimes in this book are much bigger and terrifying than that. Think mob ties and cartels, Syrian and Russian leaders, and…. American monsters.
Annabelle is a naïve wife, enjoying the luxuries her husband’s new job affords them, but she’s also unhappy about his long hours, how she never sees him for any extended period of time, and his lovely young assistant, Zoe, who often travels with him.
But, after his death, Annabelle learns far more troubling aspects of Matthews job and his possible illegal activity.
While Annabelle feels like the most sympathetic figure, all alone against some very powerful men who may be considering her a liability, Marina is also a very compelling figure as well. She’s tougher, choosing a bolder approach with her enemies, but she’s also blindsided and equally stunned by the information she discovers. She’s the character that I ended up admiring above all others because her choices are conscious ones.
As with any thriller, there are times when we must suspend belief, but they are forgivable in light of such a smart, well- constructed novel. Some may feel the wrap up was a little too tidy, but others will prefer it that way. I was okay with it. It ended on a positive note and I even caught a hint of further adventures featuring a couple of our main characters. I’d be up for that too!
I’m impressed with this one. It is definitely a cut above, very clever, and absolutely chilling!
4.5 stars
Annabelle and Matthew move to Geneva hoping for not only a great career opportunity for Matthew, but a change of scenery after suffering some hard losses.
But, when Annabelle is informed that Matthew has been killed in a plane crash, she’s not just devastated, she’s shocked to learn the details of the crash. Desperately needing to make sense of her husband’s actions and his death, Annabelle begins to research Matthew’s working life, while his colleagues attempt to ‘handle’ her. It’s hard to know who to trust, how to know who the bad guys are. But, if Annabelle isn’t careful, she could become collateral damage.
Meanwhile, Marina Tourneau, a reporter who is about to marry into a powerful New York family, is given the chance to work on one last story by her long -time mentor, Duncan. But, when Duncan is killed, she makes a shocking discovery which propels her to continue with the story, despite the obvious personal repercussions and the wishes of her fiancé.
What goes on in the powerful Swiss United Bank could draw the two women together, both hoping to protect the reputations of the men they love.
The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking that it felt like a Mish -Mash between ‘The Pilot’s Wife’ and ‘The Firm’. If you’ll notice, both of those books are classics, which means that apparently, I can’t think of a more recent book to compare this one to. That’s not a good thing. There have been plenty of thrillers published in recent years, some of them solid, but none of them all that memorable, it seems. Maybe this book will give authors and publishers a wake -up call and inspire them to write and publish a higher caliber product.
End of lecture-
This is a very moody, atmospheric thriller which exposes the ease in which money is hidden in offshore banks and the criminal activity it shields in the process. But, don’t just think about tax evasion or money laundering. The crimes in this book are much bigger and terrifying than that. Think mob ties and cartels, Syrian and Russian leaders, and…. American monsters.
Annabelle is a naïve wife, enjoying the luxuries her husband’s new job affords them, but she’s also unhappy about his long hours, how she never sees him for any extended period of time, and his lovely young assistant, Zoe, who often travels with him.
But, after his death, Annabelle learns far more troubling aspects of Matthews job and his possible illegal activity.
While Annabelle feels like the most sympathetic figure, all alone against some very powerful men who may be considering her a liability, Marina is also a very compelling figure as well. She’s tougher, choosing a bolder approach with her enemies, but she’s also blindsided and equally stunned by the information she discovers. She’s the character that I ended up admiring above all others because her choices are conscious ones.
As with any thriller, there are times when we must suspend belief, but they are forgivable in light of such a smart, well- constructed novel. Some may feel the wrap up was a little too tidy, but others will prefer it that way. I was okay with it. It ended on a positive note and I even caught a hint of further adventures featuring a couple of our main characters. I’d be up for that too!
I’m impressed with this one. It is definitely a cut above, very clever, and absolutely chilling!
4.5 stars
July 12, 2018
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars.
Despite taking place in 2015, Cristina Alger's newest novel, The Banker's Wife , definitely has a bit of a ripped-from-the-headlines feel to it, without being sensationalist.
One snowy morning at an airport in London, amidst chaos caused by multiple travel delays, a couple quietly and unobtrusively boards a private jet bound for Geneva. Not long after, the plane drops off of the radar, and later, wreckage is found in the Alps. Investigators suspect weather-related issues, despite the skill of the pilot.
One of the passengers on the plane was Matthew Werner, a banker for the powerful Swiss United, which houses countless offshore accounts for some of the world's wealthiest—and most notorious. Matthew's young wife, Annabel, didn't even know Matthew was in London, and honestly didn't know much about her husband's clients or the work he did, but she knew that it paid for an opulent lifestyle beyond anything she dreamed of. But she found this life, associating with his rich colleagues, to be lonely—sometimes having it all doesn't really mean having it all.
Devastated at the loss of her husband, she is unprepared for the questions that Matthew's death raises. It seems as if her husband had more secrets than she imagined, and she can't help but wonder just what they had to do with his death? Why does it seem like the investigation into the plane crash is being rushed? The more she begins to look into what her husband left behind, the more she suspects that Matthew's death might not have been an accident, and she might be in danger herself, no matter how little she actually knows.
Meanwhile, journalist Marina Tourneau has the job she's always dreamed of, as a top editor at a society magazine. But now that she's engaged to Grant Ellis, the handsome son of multi-billionaire James Ellis, the financier expected to declare his candidacy for President of the United States, it's time to leave her career behind and concentrate on being part of one of the country's richest and most powerful families. She's ready for all that life entails, but she knows she'll miss the thrill of chasing a story.
When her editor-in-chief and mentor, Duncan Sander, asks for her help on one more story, she can't pass up the chance, especially when she knows it deals with the one case which has obsessed Duncan for years. When Duncan is found dead, Marina realizes she's stepping into dangerous territory, but she knows she needs to uncover the truth for Duncan's sake. And when the truths she uncovers about the secrets that Swiss United is hiding, some of which hit closer to home than she expects, she needs to decide whether the pursuit of truth is worth sacrificing everything—including her own safety.
The Banker's Wife alternates between Marina and Annabel's stories, and the danger both find themselves in as they try to understand the secrets that Swiss United is hiding, and discover just how their lives are linked to it all. Even though some of this story unfolds just as you'd expect it to, Alger still throws in some twists and turns, and keeps the suspense coming.
I'm always a little dubious when companies seem to have people at their disposal whose only purpose is to spy on others and cause trouble, but it didn't bother me too much here. I really enjoyed this book and the way the story unfolded, although Alger spent a little too much time dwelling on the financial details of the plot, which made my eyes glaze over a bit. But again, the flashbacks to my short-lived foray into a college economics class didn't detract from my enjoyment of this story.
I loved Alger's last book, the very different This Was Not the Plan (see my review), but if you read her first book, The Darlings (I haven't), there are definitely some references to that book here. However, this was definitely a standalone book.
If you love compelling thrillers and seeing just how different and dysfunctional (and dangerous) the rich can be, check out The Banker's Wife . You'll be hooked!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
Despite taking place in 2015, Cristina Alger's newest novel, The Banker's Wife , definitely has a bit of a ripped-from-the-headlines feel to it, without being sensationalist.
One snowy morning at an airport in London, amidst chaos caused by multiple travel delays, a couple quietly and unobtrusively boards a private jet bound for Geneva. Not long after, the plane drops off of the radar, and later, wreckage is found in the Alps. Investigators suspect weather-related issues, despite the skill of the pilot.
One of the passengers on the plane was Matthew Werner, a banker for the powerful Swiss United, which houses countless offshore accounts for some of the world's wealthiest—and most notorious. Matthew's young wife, Annabel, didn't even know Matthew was in London, and honestly didn't know much about her husband's clients or the work he did, but she knew that it paid for an opulent lifestyle beyond anything she dreamed of. But she found this life, associating with his rich colleagues, to be lonely—sometimes having it all doesn't really mean having it all.
Devastated at the loss of her husband, she is unprepared for the questions that Matthew's death raises. It seems as if her husband had more secrets than she imagined, and she can't help but wonder just what they had to do with his death? Why does it seem like the investigation into the plane crash is being rushed? The more she begins to look into what her husband left behind, the more she suspects that Matthew's death might not have been an accident, and she might be in danger herself, no matter how little she actually knows.
Meanwhile, journalist Marina Tourneau has the job she's always dreamed of, as a top editor at a society magazine. But now that she's engaged to Grant Ellis, the handsome son of multi-billionaire James Ellis, the financier expected to declare his candidacy for President of the United States, it's time to leave her career behind and concentrate on being part of one of the country's richest and most powerful families. She's ready for all that life entails, but she knows she'll miss the thrill of chasing a story.
When her editor-in-chief and mentor, Duncan Sander, asks for her help on one more story, she can't pass up the chance, especially when she knows it deals with the one case which has obsessed Duncan for years. When Duncan is found dead, Marina realizes she's stepping into dangerous territory, but she knows she needs to uncover the truth for Duncan's sake. And when the truths she uncovers about the secrets that Swiss United is hiding, some of which hit closer to home than she expects, she needs to decide whether the pursuit of truth is worth sacrificing everything—including her own safety.
The Banker's Wife alternates between Marina and Annabel's stories, and the danger both find themselves in as they try to understand the secrets that Swiss United is hiding, and discover just how their lives are linked to it all. Even though some of this story unfolds just as you'd expect it to, Alger still throws in some twists and turns, and keeps the suspense coming.
I'm always a little dubious when companies seem to have people at their disposal whose only purpose is to spy on others and cause trouble, but it didn't bother me too much here. I really enjoyed this book and the way the story unfolded, although Alger spent a little too much time dwelling on the financial details of the plot, which made my eyes glaze over a bit. But again, the flashbacks to my short-lived foray into a college economics class didn't detract from my enjoyment of this story.
I loved Alger's last book, the very different This Was Not the Plan (see my review), but if you read her first book, The Darlings (I haven't), there are definitely some references to that book here. However, this was definitely a standalone book.
If you love compelling thrillers and seeing just how different and dysfunctional (and dangerous) the rich can be, check out The Banker's Wife . You'll be hooked!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
October 30, 2018
There is no such position as 'a banking insider' in banks. I'm wondering just how well the author knows the industry... If I do read it after all, the chances are I'll rant non-stop.
UPD. Well, I read it. I shouldn't have. It turned out to be a non-thrilling thriller devoted to Assad-bashing... A mediocre, at best, example of propaganda fiction. And it's not the propaganda that's meh, it's everything else:
- where is the suspense?
- the plot - riddled with holes and lacking in sense!
- the cardboard characters...
> WTF psychology and character dev. For example, the wife spends several pages in misery and then goes in Nancy Drue mode. Or the journalist who goest from wanting to marry Grant to considering her 'electricity' with Owen within 3 pages of inane text and back to Grant, within another page. What the hell is wrong with theserobotic women who have no feelings for their boyfriends or husbands? People have been known to show more feeling to passers-by on a street or to random strangers!
> WTF Security. Mathew, doing his lettering with the DOJ person from his work laptop!!! I'm sorry, has he been taking notes much from Hillary Clinton's book? Imagine you're thinking of going whistleblower on some shady organisation you work with, would you do it from their laptop assigned to you (and most likely closely monitored!)?
> WTF Industry. The 'banker' is not a 'banker' but an 'in house lawyer'... The book, halfway through mischristens him a banker... It's a minor but irritating feature, since it shows no internal knowledge of the industry. So, the 'banker's wife' is, in fact, a 'bank's lawyer's wife'.
Another thing is that there is no understanding of the industry demonstrated: how the transfers were carried out, what happens when you change banks, how clients are vetted within the banks - all of this could have been fodder for a real thriller! And there isn't a word on anything remotely industry-related. How did the lawyer get their hands on accounting info? Or did he? Actually, emails usually don't contain financial databases. Photos of people of the bank doing business with shady clients? How exactly would a lawyer get that info? Banks don't film their employees going about their daily business (outside of the office, of course). And anyway, such data management would have been a process of security dep not the legal...
> Cliches on rampage... Syria, IT specialists, stay-at-home-wives, journalists, bankers (especially horribly clicheed...) From this book no one would have guessed that employees of banks are 1. human and 2. have lots of professions, qualifications, specializations and functions!!!
> Propaganda writing. Made me want to reread this little and totally underrated gem of Ian McEwan's: Sweet Tooth. In that novel authors were being surreptitiously funded by a government agency to write novels about things that the government agency in question wanted popularized... This book actually felt like a case of such writing, what with it incorporating most of the recent 'sensational' headlines. So, whether it's a case compulsive newspaper quoting or somethings more interesting, still, the ideas are not original.
> FPPV: FacePalm Plot Vehicles. Why the fuck would an agency willing to hush-hush a plane murder give the wife photos? Why these photos would be easily found online? Why the frigg, would the wife's arts edu give her supposedly an edge to being an insta Nancy Drew with these pics or the journalist gal would instantly be a 'good investigator'? I like more than my fair share of Mary Sues but this is all very unplausible and not even explained or used to improve the plot by much.
I am giving it the +1 star for the happy end, which I'm a total sucker for. And even that happy end, they managed to make rather forced and unlively! How did they pull it off?
The overall rating had a very good chance to get negative, so I decided to count the small blessings in it, for once (I was in a very good mood, this weekend):
- the happy end (+1 star)
- banking industry could have been an interesting subject (it wasn't shown in this book, even rudimentarily, still, it had the potential, however left undeveloped) (+0.5 stars)
- there was that secretary who could have been an interesting character and wasn't (a shame!). (+0.5 stars)
- +0.5 star for the effort and trying to come up with a book.
- +0.5 star for reminding me to reread Evan McEwan's 'Sweet Tooth'.
So, 3 stars overall. And I'm being too generous. I might come back and detract a bunch of them at a later date, when I'm in a worse mood, I think... Hmm....
Q:
“That’s love, then, isn’t it? A connection. Electricity. You feel it in your gut. I felt it when I first saw you. I still feel it when I see you.” (c)
Q:
How much of what happened at Swiss United was just optics? (с)
Q:
Everyone who was anyone was here. (c)
Q:
There must be something else on here that proves that Reiss is Client 437-65-9881. Maybe that’s his Social Security number? (с) This is one of the stupidest things I've ever read. And I've done me some traipsing in that realm…
Q:
“You’re not much of an investigative journalist, are you?” (c) No, she isn't. Especially in the context of the above-mentioned SSN 'idea'.
Q:
There it was: a numbered account at Swiss United, with the same amount: $73,542,980.11. (c) Actually, that would be weird of itself, since the transfer should have incurred fees, which would more often than not been deducted from the amount of the transfer. The only thing with this amount would be the operation statement.
Q:
11:45 p.m. …
Even in the middle of the night, Zoe looked fresh-faced and chic… (c) 11:45 isn't the middle of the night, actually.
Q:
Bashar al-Assad, for example.”
“The Syrian dictator?” … The videos and photographs coming out of Syria were horrifying. Chemical attacks. Cities reduced to rubble. ... (c) How unconventional, to put blatant propaganda in a novel.
Q:
“Insane. Honest to God, we should be checking in with this guy regularly to make sure he’s still alive. It takes serious cojones to steal data in real time. Most sources steal it and bolt. This guy is just stealing it, sending it to us, and stealing some more.” (c)
Q:
Everything about Jonas was intentional. He wanted you to know that he was above you. For God’s sake, he was above the weather. (c)I think this was meant to impress the reader. It didn't work with me. Humans have been able to mitigate the effects of weather since ages ago, what with all the novel for the author inventions: fire, homes and heated transport. So... it's old news for most of us.
Issues with editing (-1 star), for example:
Q:
They literally just talk about what they’re doing like its business as usual. (c)
UPD. Well, I read it. I shouldn't have. It turned out to be a non-thrilling thriller devoted to Assad-bashing... A mediocre, at best, example of propaganda fiction. And it's not the propaganda that's meh, it's everything else:
- where is the suspense?
- the plot - riddled with holes and lacking in sense!
- the cardboard characters...
> WTF psychology and character dev. For example, the wife spends several pages in misery and then goes in Nancy Drue mode. Or the journalist who goest from wanting to marry Grant to considering her 'electricity' with Owen within 3 pages of inane text and back to Grant, within another page. What the hell is wrong with these
> WTF Security. Mathew, doing his lettering with the DOJ person from his work laptop!!! I'm sorry, has he been taking notes much from Hillary Clinton's book? Imagine you're thinking of going whistleblower on some shady organisation you work with, would you do it from their laptop assigned to you (and most likely closely monitored!)?
> WTF Industry. The 'banker' is not a 'banker' but an 'in house lawyer'... The book, halfway through mischristens him a banker... It's a minor but irritating feature, since it shows no internal knowledge of the industry. So, the 'banker's wife' is, in fact, a 'bank's lawyer's wife'.
Another thing is that there is no understanding of the industry demonstrated: how the transfers were carried out, what happens when you change banks, how clients are vetted within the banks - all of this could have been fodder for a real thriller! And there isn't a word on anything remotely industry-related. How did the lawyer get their hands on accounting info? Or did he? Actually, emails usually don't contain financial databases. Photos of people of the bank doing business with shady clients? How exactly would a lawyer get that info? Banks don't film their employees going about their daily business (outside of the office, of course). And anyway, such data management would have been a process of security dep not the legal...
> Cliches on rampage... Syria, IT specialists, stay-at-home-wives, journalists, bankers (especially horribly clicheed...) From this book no one would have guessed that employees of banks are 1. human and 2. have lots of professions, qualifications, specializations and functions!!!
> Propaganda writing. Made me want to reread this little and totally underrated gem of Ian McEwan's: Sweet Tooth. In that novel authors were being surreptitiously funded by a government agency to write novels about things that the government agency in question wanted popularized... This book actually felt like a case of such writing, what with it incorporating most of the recent 'sensational' headlines. So, whether it's a case compulsive newspaper quoting or somethings more interesting, still, the ideas are not original.
> FPPV: FacePalm Plot Vehicles. Why the fuck would an agency willing to hush-hush a plane murder give the wife photos? Why these photos would be easily found online? Why the frigg, would the wife's arts edu give her supposedly an edge to being an insta Nancy Drew with these pics or the journalist gal would instantly be a 'good investigator'? I like more than my fair share of Mary Sues but this is all very unplausible and not even explained or used to improve the plot by much.
I am giving it the +1 star for the happy end, which I'm a total sucker for. And even that happy end, they managed to make rather forced and unlively! How did they pull it off?
The overall rating had a very good chance to get negative, so I decided to count the small blessings in it, for once (I was in a very good mood, this weekend):
- the happy end (+1 star)
- banking industry could have been an interesting subject (it wasn't shown in this book, even rudimentarily, still, it had the potential, however left undeveloped) (+0.5 stars)
- there was that secretary who could have been an interesting character and wasn't (a shame!). (+0.5 stars)
- +0.5 star for the effort and trying to come up with a book.
- +0.5 star for reminding me to reread Evan McEwan's 'Sweet Tooth'.
So, 3 stars overall. And I'm being too generous. I might come back and detract a bunch of them at a later date, when I'm in a worse mood, I think... Hmm....
Q:
“That’s love, then, isn’t it? A connection. Electricity. You feel it in your gut. I felt it when I first saw you. I still feel it when I see you.” (c)
Q:
How much of what happened at Swiss United was just optics? (с)
Q:
Everyone who was anyone was here. (c)
Q:
There must be something else on here that proves that Reiss is Client 437-65-9881. Maybe that’s his Social Security number? (с) This is one of the stupidest things I've ever read. And I've done me some traipsing in that realm…
Q:
“You’re not much of an investigative journalist, are you?” (c) No, she isn't. Especially in the context of the above-mentioned SSN 'idea'.
Q:
There it was: a numbered account at Swiss United, with the same amount: $73,542,980.11. (c) Actually, that would be weird of itself, since the transfer should have incurred fees, which would more often than not been deducted from the amount of the transfer. The only thing with this amount would be the operation statement.
Q:
11:45 p.m. …
Even in the middle of the night, Zoe looked fresh-faced and chic… (c) 11:45 isn't the middle of the night, actually.
Q:
Bashar al-Assad, for example.”
“The Syrian dictator?” … The videos and photographs coming out of Syria were horrifying. Chemical attacks. Cities reduced to rubble. ... (c) How unconventional, to put blatant propaganda in a novel.
Q:
“Insane. Honest to God, we should be checking in with this guy regularly to make sure he’s still alive. It takes serious cojones to steal data in real time. Most sources steal it and bolt. This guy is just stealing it, sending it to us, and stealing some more.” (c)
Q:
Everything about Jonas was intentional. He wanted you to know that he was above you. For God’s sake, he was above the weather. (c)I think this was meant to impress the reader. It didn't work with me. Humans have been able to mitigate the effects of weather since ages ago, what with all the novel for the author inventions: fire, homes and heated transport. So... it's old news for most of us.
Issues with editing (-1 star), for example:
Q:
They literally just talk about what they’re doing like its business as usual. (c)
July 31, 2018
Book prejudices. Despite my love for mysteries, thrillers and police procedurals, I had myself convinced that I disliked anything to do with computer crimes, money laundering and politics. The publisher, however, sent me a copy and if they send it I will read. As soon as I started reading I was hooked, all preconceived notions thrown out the window.
A female journalist, about to marry the son of the man who may be the next US President and a young wife in Geneva, whose husband works for a Swiss Bank, will find themselves in the same danger. When the banker is killed in a suspicious plane crashes, and the journalists mentor is murdered in a suspicious supposed robbery, the game is on. Enjoyed both these characters, their intelligence, their integrity, and the quest to get to the bottom of what is really happening. Off shore banking, powerful men willing to do anything it takes to keep the truth from coming out, make for a fast paced read.
Will tie into the criminal activities of not only banks, but people we have heard about on the news. Gave this a realistic feel, in fact this was incredibly believable, I have no doubt that these are common practices in the monied world. A very good read, and while my opinion may have changed on these types of reads, one book prejudice gone, I will not read books about zombies or shape shifters. Well, maybe I should never say never. LOL!
ARC from G. P. Putnam
A female journalist, about to marry the son of the man who may be the next US President and a young wife in Geneva, whose husband works for a Swiss Bank, will find themselves in the same danger. When the banker is killed in a suspicious plane crashes, and the journalists mentor is murdered in a suspicious supposed robbery, the game is on. Enjoyed both these characters, their intelligence, their integrity, and the quest to get to the bottom of what is really happening. Off shore banking, powerful men willing to do anything it takes to keep the truth from coming out, make for a fast paced read.
Will tie into the criminal activities of not only banks, but people we have heard about on the news. Gave this a realistic feel, in fact this was incredibly believable, I have no doubt that these are common practices in the monied world. A very good read, and while my opinion may have changed on these types of reads, one book prejudice gone, I will not read books about zombies or shape shifters. Well, maybe I should never say never. LOL!
ARC from G. P. Putnam
September 25, 2018
Enticing premise, BUT...
Everyone seems to have loved this book, except for me (or so it seems). I find myself in the minority once again!
Full review to come!
Everyone seems to have loved this book, except for me (or so it seems). I find myself in the minority once again!
Full review to come!
July 25, 2019
As a former banker that had to deal with compliance rules, sanctions lists and OFAC, I’ve had this book on my radar for a while. I’m always interested in how the crooks circumvent the law, especially when those crooks are bankers.
The premise here is that a private banker goes down in a plane crash. He wasn’t where he told his wife he was and he was with a beautiful woman.
There are two different stories going on here. Annabelle, the banker’s widow, soon discovers her husband’s job involved some shady clients and she suspects his death wasn’t an accident. Meanwhile, Marina is a reporter who is working on a story of banks that ignore the sanctions list. Both soon find their lives in danger.
The book kept my attention even if it didn’t keep me riveted. I had my suspicions early on as to how this would play out and I was right. The ending strains credibility.
I did enjoy all three of the female protagonists.
The narrator did a decent job even if her accents slipped every now and then.
The premise here is that a private banker goes down in a plane crash. He wasn’t where he told his wife he was and he was with a beautiful woman.
There are two different stories going on here. Annabelle, the banker’s widow, soon discovers her husband’s job involved some shady clients and she suspects his death wasn’t an accident. Meanwhile, Marina is a reporter who is working on a story of banks that ignore the sanctions list. Both soon find their lives in danger.
The book kept my attention even if it didn’t keep me riveted. I had my suspicions early on as to how this would play out and I was right. The ending strains credibility.
I did enjoy all three of the female protagonists.
The narrator did a decent job even if her accents slipped every now and then.
August 7, 2018
3.5, rounded up
This is a fast-paced financial thriller that has two smart women as our MCs. The story alternates between Annabel, a banker’s wife, determined to uncover the truth behind her husband’s death in an airplane crash, and Marina, the journalist who is on the case after her boss, who was investigating a scheme of money laundering/offshore banking, dies under suspicious circumstances.
There are a lot of books in this genre written by men with male protagonists. I particularly appreciated that this book is written by a woman who has worked in the world of finance. She created female characters who are strong, independent, and fearless as they dig for the truth, at great personal cost and danger to themselves.
I won't go further into the plot as its best to discover it for yourself, but I found this to be a fast-paced addictive page-turner with intrigue that seems all too plausible in today’s world. There’s no need to know anything about banking or the world of finance to enjoy this book.
Life is a bit busy right now and I needed a quick easy read. I picked this one up on a recommendation from Sarah who has the blog, https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com. I recommend it for a fun, late summer read!
This is a fast-paced financial thriller that has two smart women as our MCs. The story alternates between Annabel, a banker’s wife, determined to uncover the truth behind her husband’s death in an airplane crash, and Marina, the journalist who is on the case after her boss, who was investigating a scheme of money laundering/offshore banking, dies under suspicious circumstances.
There are a lot of books in this genre written by men with male protagonists. I particularly appreciated that this book is written by a woman who has worked in the world of finance. She created female characters who are strong, independent, and fearless as they dig for the truth, at great personal cost and danger to themselves.
I won't go further into the plot as its best to discover it for yourself, but I found this to be a fast-paced addictive page-turner with intrigue that seems all too plausible in today’s world. There’s no need to know anything about banking or the world of finance to enjoy this book.
Life is a bit busy right now and I needed a quick easy read. I picked this one up on a recommendation from Sarah who has the blog, https://www.sarahsbookshelves.com. I recommend it for a fun, late summer read!
December 6, 2021
Un thriller bastante decente, que se lee con interés y que no está nada mal escrito. Y que, además, es un reflejo de la realidad en el mundo de las finanzas, como ya estamos viendo por las revelaciones de los afamados “Papeles de Panamá” y los “Papeles de Pandora”. Por esa parte, de ficción tiene poco. El entramado de paraísos fiscales encargados de ocultar MILES de millones, la mayoría provenientes de ganancias ilícitas, cuando no directamente provenientes del narcotráfico, mafias de diversas índoles y de líderes mundiales que necesitarían muchas vidas para poder gastarse lo que han robado a manos llenas.
Para ello, la autora se sirve de dos protagonistas femeninas, Annabel, cuyo marido, un famoso banquero, fallece en un muy sospechoso accidente aéreo, y de Marina, una periodista que investiga el mundo de las financias ocultas, pero cuya vida está a punto de dar un vuelco ante el anuncio de su suegro de presentarse como candidato a las elecciones para presidente de EEUU. Nada que objetar a la trama. Te la podrás creer en mayor o menor grado, pero no provoca grandes aspavientos. Tampoco necesitarás grandes conocimientos financieros para leerla. Esa parte está muy bien explicada. Mi problema con la novela procede más bien de anticipar un final que no resultó ni remotamente parecido al que Cristina Alger nos ofrece, azucarado y muy a lo “happy ending”. Más propio para la gran pantalla que para el soporte en el que se desarrolla.
Pero, en general, una novela muy lograda. Escrita para el consumo de masas y de rabiosa actualidad. Sin necesidad de persecuciones, ni tiros ni asesinatos para mantenerte enganchado. Buenos diálogos y personajes (de ficción) muy creíbles. Tanto, que no puedes evitar ponerles caras. Las mismas que salen casi a diario con la publicación de los ya mencionados papeles.
Para ello, la autora se sirve de dos protagonistas femeninas, Annabel, cuyo marido, un famoso banquero, fallece en un muy sospechoso accidente aéreo, y de Marina, una periodista que investiga el mundo de las financias ocultas, pero cuya vida está a punto de dar un vuelco ante el anuncio de su suegro de presentarse como candidato a las elecciones para presidente de EEUU. Nada que objetar a la trama. Te la podrás creer en mayor o menor grado, pero no provoca grandes aspavientos. Tampoco necesitarás grandes conocimientos financieros para leerla. Esa parte está muy bien explicada. Mi problema con la novela procede más bien de anticipar un final que no resultó ni remotamente parecido al que Cristina Alger nos ofrece, azucarado y muy a lo “happy ending”. Más propio para la gran pantalla que para el soporte en el que se desarrolla.
Pero, en general, una novela muy lograda. Escrita para el consumo de masas y de rabiosa actualidad. Sin necesidad de persecuciones, ni tiros ni asesinatos para mantenerte enganchado. Buenos diálogos y personajes (de ficción) muy creíbles. Tanto, que no puedes evitar ponerles caras. Las mismas que salen casi a diario con la publicación de los ya mencionados papeles.
July 2, 2018
4 Stars!
Thank you to Putnam publishing #partner and GetRedPR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!
What a solid thriller! I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. It has a very different plot then what I am used to but the change of pace was very welcomed!
This story is told from three perspectives: Marina, Annabel and Zoe. They are three women who don't necessarily know each other that well but are all intertwined in the same case. One day, there is a plane crash in the Alps. Annabel gets a knock on her door and she finds out her husband is gone. As this is happening, Marina gets word that her good friend and mentor Duncan Sanders has had something happen to him as well. This starts to get the wheels turning - could these be connected?
All While this is happening, there are some sketchy deals going on at overseas banks. As Annabel is navigating through this with the help of some of Matthew's friends, she discovers who she can and cannot trust. She also learns who she can outsmart. Meanwhile, Marina just came across the biggest story of her career that could help keep Duncan's legacy alive but what if that meant bringing your family down into the ground?
Something I really loved about this book was that it was told from all female perspectives. Where most of the crooks men? Yes. However these three ladies were very strong female characters and I love that in thrillers. I don't think it happens in enough books. I also felt like the pace and handoff to the next character flowed really nicely. Sometimes it can get choppy or you can have a hard time remembering where the last character left off but in this book I knew exactly where each character was at all times. I also loved the ending. I literally sat up and was like WHAT! and that's when you know it was a good thriller.
Why the 4 star? This *may* sound Nit-picky but there were quite a few editorial errors that I caught in the book and it really bothered me. Mixing up names in another characters chapter (and they don't cross paths) is not good, especially when it happened more than once.
I think most people will enjoy this book and luckily it comes out this week on July 3rd. Thriller fans you won't want to miss this one!
Thank you to Putnam publishing #partner and GetRedPR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!
What a solid thriller! I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. It has a very different plot then what I am used to but the change of pace was very welcomed!
This story is told from three perspectives: Marina, Annabel and Zoe. They are three women who don't necessarily know each other that well but are all intertwined in the same case. One day, there is a plane crash in the Alps. Annabel gets a knock on her door and she finds out her husband is gone. As this is happening, Marina gets word that her good friend and mentor Duncan Sanders has had something happen to him as well. This starts to get the wheels turning - could these be connected?
All While this is happening, there are some sketchy deals going on at overseas banks. As Annabel is navigating through this with the help of some of Matthew's friends, she discovers who she can and cannot trust. She also learns who she can outsmart. Meanwhile, Marina just came across the biggest story of her career that could help keep Duncan's legacy alive but what if that meant bringing your family down into the ground?
Something I really loved about this book was that it was told from all female perspectives. Where most of the crooks men? Yes. However these three ladies were very strong female characters and I love that in thrillers. I don't think it happens in enough books. I also felt like the pace and handoff to the next character flowed really nicely. Sometimes it can get choppy or you can have a hard time remembering where the last character left off but in this book I knew exactly where each character was at all times. I also loved the ending. I literally sat up and was like WHAT! and that's when you know it was a good thriller.
Why the 4 star? This *may* sound Nit-picky but there were quite a few editorial errors that I caught in the book and it really bothered me. Mixing up names in another characters chapter (and they don't cross paths) is not good, especially when it happened more than once.
I think most people will enjoy this book and luckily it comes out this week on July 3rd. Thriller fans you won't want to miss this one!
July 19, 2018
What a page turner! I was worried after reading reviews saying that this story revolved around the Swiss banking industry and hedge funds and lots of other financial dealings I'm completely ignorant of, but it ended up being an interesting part of this story and not difficult at all to get into. This book caught my attention right away. It gets right into the meat of the story from the get-go and never lets up.
I was provided an ARC of this book by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided an ARC of this book by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2019
In The Banker’s Wife Annabel is left with many unanswered questions in the wake of her grief, as her husband Matthew, disappeared in a private plane crash. Annabel has Matthew’s encrypted laptop from Swiss United, where he was a banker and now she must decide who, if anyone, she can trust to help her piece together the mystery surrounding his death.
Marina is a journalist who is about to trade in her successful career to support her fiancé and his family’s political ambitions. Her mentor, Duncan, begs for her assistance with one final matter that could be the story they’ve been chasing for years. Marina agrees, then finds herself in a dangerous position when Duncan is murdered shortly after. As she works to uncover the details of this last story, it becomes clear some of the high ranking men at Swiss United have not been playing nice and Marina may be closer to the truth than she realizes.
Marina and Annabel’s stories didn’t directly cross over in the way I expected them to, but I still enjoyed the tension that built and the mystery in The Banker’s Wife, a fast-paced, corporate suspense novel.
Marina is a journalist who is about to trade in her successful career to support her fiancé and his family’s political ambitions. Her mentor, Duncan, begs for her assistance with one final matter that could be the story they’ve been chasing for years. Marina agrees, then finds herself in a dangerous position when Duncan is murdered shortly after. As she works to uncover the details of this last story, it becomes clear some of the high ranking men at Swiss United have not been playing nice and Marina may be closer to the truth than she realizes.
Marina and Annabel’s stories didn’t directly cross over in the way I expected them to, but I still enjoyed the tension that built and the mystery in The Banker’s Wife, a fast-paced, corporate suspense novel.
August 1, 2020
4.5 stars
The Banker’s Wife is a fabulous, well-paced thriller that delves into the offshore banking business in Geneva, Switzerland. I was drawn into the story line from the first page and stayed invested in the plot until the cleverly-crafted conclusion. Alger takes the time to explain the world of high finance and hidden offshore accounts while developing authentic and strong female characters who anchor the book. She also effectively crafts the setting, making the reader feel that she or he has been transported to Geneva. I really enjoyed this book.
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
The Banker’s Wife is a fabulous, well-paced thriller that delves into the offshore banking business in Geneva, Switzerland. I was drawn into the story line from the first page and stayed invested in the plot until the cleverly-crafted conclusion. Alger takes the time to explain the world of high finance and hidden offshore accounts while developing authentic and strong female characters who anchor the book. She also effectively crafts the setting, making the reader feel that she or he has been transported to Geneva. I really enjoyed this book.
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
June 30, 2018
Thank you to netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I was excited at starting this book as it isn’t my usual genre and the subject of hedge funds is not something I know anything about, but boy as soon as I started, it was like a rollercoaster of a ride and once seated there is no escaping until the ride or in this case book is over!
Matthew a banker, is killed in a plane crash leaving his widowed wife Annabel to investigate what happened to him. But this is no accident and there are people who will stop at nothing to keep this secret!
Journalist Marina uncovers information that could bring down powerful men in the financial world, but will she risk losing fiancé Grant and the privileged life they lead.
Loved the fact that the 2 main characters Annabel and Marina were strong kick ass ladies and not the faint hearted victims you often come across in books. High five to Christina Alger for making my day!
This book is addictive and I could have read it in one sitting. Looking forward to reading another of Cristina Alger’s books just give me a few minutes for my heart rate to go back to normal!!
I was excited at starting this book as it isn’t my usual genre and the subject of hedge funds is not something I know anything about, but boy as soon as I started, it was like a rollercoaster of a ride and once seated there is no escaping until the ride or in this case book is over!
Matthew a banker, is killed in a plane crash leaving his widowed wife Annabel to investigate what happened to him. But this is no accident and there are people who will stop at nothing to keep this secret!
Journalist Marina uncovers information that could bring down powerful men in the financial world, but will she risk losing fiancé Grant and the privileged life they lead.
Loved the fact that the 2 main characters Annabel and Marina were strong kick ass ladies and not the faint hearted victims you often come across in books. High five to Christina Alger for making my day!
This book is addictive and I could have read it in one sitting. Looking forward to reading another of Cristina Alger’s books just give me a few minutes for my heart rate to go back to normal!!
June 24, 2018
A fascinating and fast-paced investigative thriller complete with strong and smart women characters.
SUMMARY
A handsome couple boards a private plane in London bound for Geneva. An hour after takeoff the plan drops off the radar, and it’s wreckage is thought to be spotted atop Mt. Trélod, in the Swiss Alps. Among the missing is Matthew Werner, a banking executive at Swiss United Bank, a powerful offshore bank. His young widow, Annabel is left grappling with the secrets he’s left behind, including an encrypted laptop and a confidential client list. As she begins to search for answers, she determines that Matthew’s death was no accident. Someone wanted him dead. And now his enemies are her enemies.
Marina Tourneau an investigative journalist for Press magazine, had finally made it to the top. She’s in Paris celebrating her engagement to Grant Ellis, of Ellis Enterprises, a multinational corporation. She will be joining the ranks of one of the most powerful families in the country. Her entry into the upper echelons of New York’s social scene is just about more appealing than any article she could ever write. But after the death of her editor and mentor, Duncan Sander’s she agrees to investigate one more story. While looking into Swiss United, Marina uncovers information from an anonymous source that implicates some of the most powerful men in the financial world, including some who are too close to home. The story is huge and if Marina chooses to publish it, it could also be the answer to Annabel’s heartbreaking search for the truth.
REVIEW
The pages in this compelling thriller turn themselves. It’s a fascinating story and best of all it’s complete with two or three strong and smart women. This is just the type of book I have been looking for all year. Finding books with strong women characters is not quite as easy as you might think.
THE BANKERS WIFE is a perfect blend of well-developed characters, picturesque settings and a riveting story. The story covers the globe, from London to Geneva to Paris to New York to the Cayman Islands and cleverly layers both Annabel’s and Marina’s lives and perspectives, through alternating chapters. The intensity sustained through the novel makes it an easy prediction that you’ll find this book on the bestseller list very soon. I would even love to see THE BANKERS WIFE made into a movie! It’s that good!
CRISTINIA ALGERS has also authored The Darlings (2012) and This Was Not the Plan (2016). A graduate of Harvard College and NYU law school, she worked as a financial analyst and a corporate attorney before becoming a writer. She lives in New York with her husband and children. Thanks to Penguin First to Read for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication July 3, 2018
www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
A handsome couple boards a private plane in London bound for Geneva. An hour after takeoff the plan drops off the radar, and it’s wreckage is thought to be spotted atop Mt. Trélod, in the Swiss Alps. Among the missing is Matthew Werner, a banking executive at Swiss United Bank, a powerful offshore bank. His young widow, Annabel is left grappling with the secrets he’s left behind, including an encrypted laptop and a confidential client list. As she begins to search for answers, she determines that Matthew’s death was no accident. Someone wanted him dead. And now his enemies are her enemies.
Marina Tourneau an investigative journalist for Press magazine, had finally made it to the top. She’s in Paris celebrating her engagement to Grant Ellis, of Ellis Enterprises, a multinational corporation. She will be joining the ranks of one of the most powerful families in the country. Her entry into the upper echelons of New York’s social scene is just about more appealing than any article she could ever write. But after the death of her editor and mentor, Duncan Sander’s she agrees to investigate one more story. While looking into Swiss United, Marina uncovers information from an anonymous source that implicates some of the most powerful men in the financial world, including some who are too close to home. The story is huge and if Marina chooses to publish it, it could also be the answer to Annabel’s heartbreaking search for the truth.
REVIEW
The pages in this compelling thriller turn themselves. It’s a fascinating story and best of all it’s complete with two or three strong and smart women. This is just the type of book I have been looking for all year. Finding books with strong women characters is not quite as easy as you might think.
THE BANKERS WIFE is a perfect blend of well-developed characters, picturesque settings and a riveting story. The story covers the globe, from London to Geneva to Paris to New York to the Cayman Islands and cleverly layers both Annabel’s and Marina’s lives and perspectives, through alternating chapters. The intensity sustained through the novel makes it an easy prediction that you’ll find this book on the bestseller list very soon. I would even love to see THE BANKERS WIFE made into a movie! It’s that good!
CRISTINIA ALGERS has also authored The Darlings (2012) and This Was Not the Plan (2016). A graduate of Harvard College and NYU law school, she worked as a financial analyst and a corporate attorney before becoming a writer. She lives in New York with her husband and children. Thanks to Penguin First to Read for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication July 3, 2018
www.bluestockingreviews.com
July 8, 2018
4.5 highly engrossing stars
My reviews can be seen here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
Money, power, greed can be and often is a powerful combination. It can lead to heartache, desperation, despair, and murder.
In this fast paced taunt novel we meet the successful people, those who have money, lots of it, and yet still want more. We meet the deceivers, the liars, the people who will do anything to protect their money, hide it in whatever way they can, and do anything to see that their money acquires them power. We enter into their world, the world of offshore banking.
A plane crashes in the Alps. On board were two investment bankers. Annabel, the wife of Matthew, one of the crash victims, is bereft and as she digs into Matthew's life she finds many puzzling and frightening things as well as an encrypted computer. There is something very wrong in all of this and as she delves into his death more and more of incriminating shady dealings details emerge and Annabel is convinced her husband's death was no accident.
Marina Tourneau is a journalist, associating with the doers and shakers of the world. She is about to become one of the elite soon as she is engaged to marry the son of a wealthy scion, a man who has ambitions to become the next President of the United States. After the death of her mentor, Marina decides to investigate the issues he was hot on the trail on. These involved the dealings of the bank known as Swiss United, the very place that Matthew had worked. There are nefarious things going on and as Marina digs further powerful people emerge, including some who are closest to her, who are heavily involved with this off shore way of doing business. What will she do as the facts come out and her very life and limb are threatened with the knowledge she acquires?
This fast pace thriller was a page turner. From the very first page to its conclusion, this reader was highly engaged in the characters, the plot, and the underhanded method that money is hidden as well as the various people who avail themselves of this practice, most of them being the underbelly of the crime, political, and drug worlds. The author was able to make one understand the banking world that allows such practices to happen and how the ultra rich and wealthy manipulate their money and enrich themselves further while in many cases fostering their evil purposes. This is a must read for those who enjoy a tight plot, a twisted and turning book that ensnares the reader in a plot that just won't let go.
Thank you to Cristina Alger, G.P Putnam's Sons, and Edelweiss for providing a copy of this thrilling book to me.
My reviews can be seen here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
Money, power, greed can be and often is a powerful combination. It can lead to heartache, desperation, despair, and murder.
In this fast paced taunt novel we meet the successful people, those who have money, lots of it, and yet still want more. We meet the deceivers, the liars, the people who will do anything to protect their money, hide it in whatever way they can, and do anything to see that their money acquires them power. We enter into their world, the world of offshore banking.
A plane crashes in the Alps. On board were two investment bankers. Annabel, the wife of Matthew, one of the crash victims, is bereft and as she digs into Matthew's life she finds many puzzling and frightening things as well as an encrypted computer. There is something very wrong in all of this and as she delves into his death more and more of incriminating shady dealings details emerge and Annabel is convinced her husband's death was no accident.
Marina Tourneau is a journalist, associating with the doers and shakers of the world. She is about to become one of the elite soon as she is engaged to marry the son of a wealthy scion, a man who has ambitions to become the next President of the United States. After the death of her mentor, Marina decides to investigate the issues he was hot on the trail on. These involved the dealings of the bank known as Swiss United, the very place that Matthew had worked. There are nefarious things going on and as Marina digs further powerful people emerge, including some who are closest to her, who are heavily involved with this off shore way of doing business. What will she do as the facts come out and her very life and limb are threatened with the knowledge she acquires?
This fast pace thriller was a page turner. From the very first page to its conclusion, this reader was highly engaged in the characters, the plot, and the underhanded method that money is hidden as well as the various people who avail themselves of this practice, most of them being the underbelly of the crime, political, and drug worlds. The author was able to make one understand the banking world that allows such practices to happen and how the ultra rich and wealthy manipulate their money and enrich themselves further while in many cases fostering their evil purposes. This is a must read for those who enjoy a tight plot, a twisted and turning book that ensnares the reader in a plot that just won't let go.
Thank you to Cristina Alger, G.P Putnam's Sons, and Edelweiss for providing a copy of this thrilling book to me.
June 29, 2018
yes. Yes. YES. YESSSSSSSSS! This was the exact book that I needed to read right now folks, you have no idea. Cristina Alger, I am now a new fan of yours and please don't mind my raving right now. Don't be fooled by the "wife" in it's title, because
The Banker's Wife
is anything but a reiteration of the "girl" and "wife" psychological thrillers that have been mass produced since 2014.
The Banker's Wife
is completely original, while following a long forgotten formula for mystery/thriller novels. I'll get more to why this novel is so amazing, but let's try to wrap up a quick plot breakdown for you, shall we?
The Banker's Wife features multiple points of view, but the main two you really should be focusing on are Marina Tourneau and Annabel Werner. Marina is currently dating wealthy entrepreneur Grant Ellis, who's father is about to announce his run for presidency. Marina works for Press magazine, and while on vacation, she gets a disturbing call from her mentor. He has the story of a lifetime, but by pursuing it, could also put her life in danger. Marina is ready for the challenge, but is she in over her head? Annabel Werner and her husband Matthew are former New Yorkers, and have moved to Geneva for the chance to grow Matthew's career. Matthew works for investment bank Swiss United, and the duo's lifestyle has drastically changed since pursuing this opportunity. Living the life that people only dream of, Annabel comes home one day to find out disturbing information about her husband. This world of finance and investmenting can be tainted when dealing with sharks. Is Annabel ready to run from the life she helped her husband create, or will she further deepen her involvement in a world where the lines of morality and legality are blurred?
Folks, I really can't go into the plot anymore than I already have. I already said too much... The reason why The Banker's Wife is so amazing, is that it'll keep you guessing until the epilogue! I was seriously on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this story. The Banker's Wife follows the format of mystery and thriller novels that has long been forgotten, and makes it work . In this story; the narrator/s are trustworthy, the plot twists are believable, and the story doesn't revolve around the same regurgitated drunken female protagonist trying to figure out what happened while under the influence. We dive into the world of finance; a world that I know little about, and we get to have a peek of the underworld that is currently existing in society with no consequences today. I will be talking about this book for some time to come.
The Banker's Wife will be released July 2, so please get ready for this to knock out your summer!
The Banker's Wife features multiple points of view, but the main two you really should be focusing on are Marina Tourneau and Annabel Werner. Marina is currently dating wealthy entrepreneur Grant Ellis, who's father is about to announce his run for presidency. Marina works for Press magazine, and while on vacation, she gets a disturbing call from her mentor. He has the story of a lifetime, but by pursuing it, could also put her life in danger. Marina is ready for the challenge, but is she in over her head? Annabel Werner and her husband Matthew are former New Yorkers, and have moved to Geneva for the chance to grow Matthew's career. Matthew works for investment bank Swiss United, and the duo's lifestyle has drastically changed since pursuing this opportunity. Living the life that people only dream of, Annabel comes home one day to find out disturbing information about her husband. This world of finance and investmenting can be tainted when dealing with sharks. Is Annabel ready to run from the life she helped her husband create, or will she further deepen her involvement in a world where the lines of morality and legality are blurred?
Folks, I really can't go into the plot anymore than I already have. I already said too much... The reason why The Banker's Wife is so amazing, is that it'll keep you guessing until the epilogue! I was seriously on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this story. The Banker's Wife follows the format of mystery and thriller novels that has long been forgotten, and makes it work . In this story; the narrator/s are trustworthy, the plot twists are believable, and the story doesn't revolve around the same regurgitated drunken female protagonist trying to figure out what happened while under the influence. We dive into the world of finance; a world that I know little about, and we get to have a peek of the underworld that is currently existing in society with no consequences today. I will be talking about this book for some time to come.
The Banker's Wife will be released July 2, so please get ready for this to knock out your summer!
November 6, 2018
Is money the root of all evil or does it make the world go round?
The answer to that is yes.
Annabel is American living in Geneva with husband Matthew whose job with a secretive Swiss bank keeps him away from her too much, but the trade off is the wealthy lifestyle they’re living. Marina is journalist engaged to Grant who comes from a very rich family, and his father is about to become a candidate for the presidency of the United States. It might seem like both these ladies won the trophy husband lottery, but Annabel is bored and lonely while Marina feels like she’s have to have to give up the job she loves to really be part of Grant’s family. Yeah, I know. Rich people problems.
However, things take a turn for both women. Annabel’s husband is killed in a small plane crash with home of his wealthy clients, and she starts questioning exactly what he was doing at the bank. While on a vacation trip to Paris, Marina does a favor for her old friend and editor by picking up a USB drive with encrypted data, but this errand leads to her ending up with information on money laundering done for international criminal types. Both Annabel and Marina quickly find out that these are not the kind of people who like you asking questions about their business.
This is a solid thriller whose biggest strength is in the idea that there’s a vast ocean of blood money being hidden and utilized by some of the world’s most powerful people. If you’ve been paying attention to current events that’s a story with the ring of authenticity to it. I mean, a rich asshole with presidential aspirations and shady international business connections isn’t much of a stretch these days, and it gives the whole book an honest hook to it.
It’s well written by airport thriller standards, and the presentation of the lives that Annabel and Marina are leading is very well done. There’s some interesting thematic stuff in that Annabel truly loves her husband is now filled with regrets about the independent lifestyle she gave up even if she is living in the lap of luxury. It fits nicely with Marina’s story since she’s on the verge of essentially making that same choice.
Unfortunately, the weaker side comes with the thriller stuff. There’s a few scenes with characters being followed and some lightweight chase scenes, but this isn’t an action story. It’s more about paranoia and dread which is fitting for a book about the money and power lurking behind world events, but I could have used more of a sense of danger to it.
And frankly it seems like a book that real world has outpaced in terms of how much trouble we’re all in. The characters here have faith that a free press and government oversight can ultimately stop and punish people who break the law like this. It doesn’t take into account that the evil rich doing this stuff are now the ones in power, and that institutions we counted on to protect us have been corrupted or neutered.
So it’s a decent read with an interesting idea and above average characterization, but it comes across as too naive a story to really accomplish what it might have just a few years ago.
The answer to that is yes.
Annabel is American living in Geneva with husband Matthew whose job with a secretive Swiss bank keeps him away from her too much, but the trade off is the wealthy lifestyle they’re living. Marina is journalist engaged to Grant who comes from a very rich family, and his father is about to become a candidate for the presidency of the United States. It might seem like both these ladies won the trophy husband lottery, but Annabel is bored and lonely while Marina feels like she’s have to have to give up the job she loves to really be part of Grant’s family. Yeah, I know. Rich people problems.
However, things take a turn for both women. Annabel’s husband is killed in a small plane crash with home of his wealthy clients, and she starts questioning exactly what he was doing at the bank. While on a vacation trip to Paris, Marina does a favor for her old friend and editor by picking up a USB drive with encrypted data, but this errand leads to her ending up with information on money laundering done for international criminal types. Both Annabel and Marina quickly find out that these are not the kind of people who like you asking questions about their business.
This is a solid thriller whose biggest strength is in the idea that there’s a vast ocean of blood money being hidden and utilized by some of the world’s most powerful people. If you’ve been paying attention to current events that’s a story with the ring of authenticity to it. I mean, a rich asshole with presidential aspirations and shady international business connections isn’t much of a stretch these days, and it gives the whole book an honest hook to it.
It’s well written by airport thriller standards, and the presentation of the lives that Annabel and Marina are leading is very well done. There’s some interesting thematic stuff in that Annabel truly loves her husband is now filled with regrets about the independent lifestyle she gave up even if she is living in the lap of luxury. It fits nicely with Marina’s story since she’s on the verge of essentially making that same choice.
Unfortunately, the weaker side comes with the thriller stuff. There’s a few scenes with characters being followed and some lightweight chase scenes, but this isn’t an action story. It’s more about paranoia and dread which is fitting for a book about the money and power lurking behind world events, but I could have used more of a sense of danger to it.
And frankly it seems like a book that real world has outpaced in terms of how much trouble we’re all in. The characters here have faith that a free press and government oversight can ultimately stop and punish people who break the law like this. It doesn’t take into account that the evil rich doing this stuff are now the ones in power, and that institutions we counted on to protect us have been corrupted or neutered.
So it’s a decent read with an interesting idea and above average characterization, but it comes across as too naive a story to really accomplish what it might have just a few years ago.
April 21, 2019
I’m not all surprised that The Banker’s Wife has already been commissioned as a TV series, this suspenseful thriller has all the hallmarks to keep people hooked.
The most striking aspect of this story is the two female leads.
Annabel who’s husband is a successful investment banker is killed in a plane crash, but she is convinced it wasn’t an accident...
Marina a successful journalist who’s prepared to give up her career for her fiancée, but has one last story that could prove to be the most important...
I was instantly hooked by the mystery and was desperate to see how it all played out!
It’s a real page turner and best enjoyed over one or two sittings, I’ve been so busy over the Easter weekend that meant I could only read in snippets which meant that I lost the urgency.
Still it was a thoroughly good read! 3.5 stars!
The most striking aspect of this story is the two female leads.
Annabel who’s husband is a successful investment banker is killed in a plane crash, but she is convinced it wasn’t an accident...
Marina a successful journalist who’s prepared to give up her career for her fiancée, but has one last story that could prove to be the most important...
I was instantly hooked by the mystery and was desperate to see how it all played out!
It’s a real page turner and best enjoyed over one or two sittings, I’ve been so busy over the Easter weekend that meant I could only read in snippets which meant that I lost the urgency.
Still it was a thoroughly good read! 3.5 stars!
July 8, 2018
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
WOW!!!!!!
This book went from 0 to 60 from the first page. I could not put it down. The pace of the storyline was rapid and at times got dizzy from the layers of the plot, yet somehow, with all of the moving parts, this author did an amazing job with threading the plot together.
This story is told in 3 POVs and centers around the "Bankers Wife". Annabel is the wife who learns that her husband's plane has crashed and while dealing with her grief, discovers that his role as a tax attorney for a high profile bank had many secrets. The bank is located in Geneva and deals with high profile clients who want anonymity, whether to protect their money from tax exposure or to help nefarious and corrupt governments who are on sanctions list. This bank has no meal compass and is too greedy to care. This reality unfolds as Annabel does not believe the crash was an accident. She soon learns that the secrets her husband had are posing a threat to her and she is now racing against the clock to get to the truth.
On the other side of the world is Marina, a reporter, who owes her career to her boss, Duncan, who happens to interrupt her trip with her fiance to let her know he is close to writing the story of the decade and needs her help. He informs him that after she is married, she is leaving the journalism business to help her new father-in-law with his bid for the presidency. He asks her to pick up something for her and then he will finish the story on his own. This is short lived as Marina is thrust into the story whether she wants it or not. A story about a bank that breeds international corruption. What she learns changes everything and she, too, is racing against the clock to get to the truth.
Zoe is the banker's assistant, and is suspicious about the bank culture but is fearful of the power it holds. Can she find the courage to expose them?
This story had me from the first page and I found myself holding my breath given the enormity of the wide net of characters that the bank represented. This book had the flavor of John Grisham's, The Firm, with International Finance. This is my first Cristina Alger novel and I am a fan who can't wait to read more. Well done!!
WOW!!!!!!
This book went from 0 to 60 from the first page. I could not put it down. The pace of the storyline was rapid and at times got dizzy from the layers of the plot, yet somehow, with all of the moving parts, this author did an amazing job with threading the plot together.
This story is told in 3 POVs and centers around the "Bankers Wife". Annabel is the wife who learns that her husband's plane has crashed and while dealing with her grief, discovers that his role as a tax attorney for a high profile bank had many secrets. The bank is located in Geneva and deals with high profile clients who want anonymity, whether to protect their money from tax exposure or to help nefarious and corrupt governments who are on sanctions list. This bank has no meal compass and is too greedy to care. This reality unfolds as Annabel does not believe the crash was an accident. She soon learns that the secrets her husband had are posing a threat to her and she is now racing against the clock to get to the truth.
On the other side of the world is Marina, a reporter, who owes her career to her boss, Duncan, who happens to interrupt her trip with her fiance to let her know he is close to writing the story of the decade and needs her help. He informs him that after she is married, she is leaving the journalism business to help her new father-in-law with his bid for the presidency. He asks her to pick up something for her and then he will finish the story on his own. This is short lived as Marina is thrust into the story whether she wants it or not. A story about a bank that breeds international corruption. What she learns changes everything and she, too, is racing against the clock to get to the truth.
Zoe is the banker's assistant, and is suspicious about the bank culture but is fearful of the power it holds. Can she find the courage to expose them?
This story had me from the first page and I found myself holding my breath given the enormity of the wide net of characters that the bank represented. This book had the flavor of John Grisham's, The Firm, with International Finance. This is my first Cristina Alger novel and I am a fan who can't wait to read more. Well done!!
May 24, 2018
Annabel Lerner is devastated when she hears the news her husband Matthew, an employee of Swiss United, has been killed in a plane crash. But his death has left more questions than answers and Annabel becomes convinced some powerful people connected to the offshore bank wanted him dead.
Journalist Marina Tourneau is set to marry Grant, who comes from a wealthy family and whose father is set to run for president. When her colleague and mentor, Duncan, turns up dead, Marina digs deep into the story he was working on about Swiss United and uncovers shocking evidence that could bring down some of the most powerful and prominent people in the world. But publishing the "story of a lifetime" could mean Marina's life is in danger.
While I don't read many books that focus on the financial world, I think it is safe to say most of them revolve around men. So I was pleased this book featured some strong female characters. I loved the back and forth perspectives of the grieving widow and the journalist. This book really held my interest throughout which is exactly what I want in a thriller. The only reason I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn't find anything that surprising or shocking towards the end of the book. Even though there were parts that were fairly predictable, it still was a fun read and I definitely recommend if you like the genre.
Thank you to First to Read for the advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
Journalist Marina Tourneau is set to marry Grant, who comes from a wealthy family and whose father is set to run for president. When her colleague and mentor, Duncan, turns up dead, Marina digs deep into the story he was working on about Swiss United and uncovers shocking evidence that could bring down some of the most powerful and prominent people in the world. But publishing the "story of a lifetime" could mean Marina's life is in danger.
While I don't read many books that focus on the financial world, I think it is safe to say most of them revolve around men. So I was pleased this book featured some strong female characters. I loved the back and forth perspectives of the grieving widow and the journalist. This book really held my interest throughout which is exactly what I want in a thriller. The only reason I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn't find anything that surprising or shocking towards the end of the book. Even though there were parts that were fairly predictable, it still was a fun read and I definitely recommend if you like the genre.
Thank you to First to Read for the advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
June 22, 2022
Annabel’s husband Matthew dies when the private plane he was on crashes. Matthew worked in the world of finance. After his death, Annabel discovers her husband was keeping secrets, and she becomes a target of her husband’s enemies. Meanwhile, Marina, a journalist, is working on a story that could disrupt the financial world.
Told with the alternating viewpoints of multiple characters. I enjoyed the different POVs and found it worked well for this story. Both Annabel and Marina are strong female protagonists with interesting stories.
An intriguing thriller focused on the financial world. There is a fair amount of financial jargon, but it works and is not boring. Complex, compelling, and suspenseful.
Told with the alternating viewpoints of multiple characters. I enjoyed the different POVs and found it worked well for this story. Both Annabel and Marina are strong female protagonists with interesting stories.
An intriguing thriller focused on the financial world. There is a fair amount of financial jargon, but it works and is not boring. Complex, compelling, and suspenseful.
July 25, 2018
Annabel Lerner feels isolated in Geneva: she's not like the other bankers' wives, and she rarely sees her husband Matthew anymore. They moved to Geneva for a fresh start--and yes, to take advantage of the salary Matthew's private banking job at Swiss United offered. But Annabel never realized how stressed Matthew would be or how often he'd travel. And then, suddenly, he's gone: his private plane simply falling off the radar over the French Alps. Before she can even understand what's happening, Annabel is left to deal with the aftermath, including a trail of secrets and the powerful men at Swiss United who don't want them exposed. Meanwhile, Marina Tourneau is a reporter for The Press. Her mentor, Duncan Carr, has been chasing a story involving Morty Reiss, whose hedge fund was one of the largest Ponzi scams of all time. Supposedly, before he could get caught, Morty committed suicide. But Duncan and Marina believe Marty faked his death and Duncan has become obsessed with proving it--to the detriment of his health, his reputation, and his career. But Marina is also engaged to Grant Ellis, whose wealthy father, James, is about to run for President. The plan is for Marina to stop writing and stand by her man. But when she suddenly realizes she's on the trail of the story of her career, what will she do?
Well, this turned out to be a gem of a novel. When I first started reading it, I was a little worried that I wouldn't see what the fuss was all about, but things quickly picked up, and I was hooked. One of the best things about this novel is that it's an old-style thriller--it reminded me of old-school Grisham or Stieg Larsson. It even throws shade at the glutton of Girl books and their (annoying) unreliable narrators, which I love. This is a mystery for folks who love real stories without any fuss or distraction and with strong characters--all of which combine to leave you befuddled and anxious as everything slowly unfurls.
Alger takes us into the complicated and dark world of Swiss banking, where we are introduced to a lot of real bad guys who have no morals. You can't trust them, you know they are bad, and you know your heroes and heroines are in true danger. Rarely do I think this while reading a book (because, face it, the book is always better), but I really think this book would *actually* make a great movie. It's exciting and tense, and the way things are slowly revealed would make for a very effective film.
But, anyway, it's a wonderful novel. You quickly get sucked into Annabel and Marina's worlds--the majority of the story is told from their points of view. There's a decent amount of ancillary characters to keep track of, but it's certainly manageable. The best is not knowing who to trust, what to believe, or how things went down. There's that Girl with a Dragon Tattoo-reporting vibe that I love: the pleasure of solving a case. The story is set in 2015 but is completely timely, yet utterly timeless in its essence of greed, money, and fear--and what people do in the name of all three. I just loved the old-fashioned thrill of it, the long list of suspects, the excitement of trying to work out who did what.
Overall, this is just a great novel. The plot is excellent--tense, exciting, and expertly woven together. The characters are strong, but it's really the story that's the standout here. It truly reminds you of mysteries and thrillers of old (I sound ancient here, but whatever). Don't let the banking theme scare you off: this is a fabulous read, and if you're a mystery or thriller fan, I think you'll really enjoy this one. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
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Well, this turned out to be a gem of a novel. When I first started reading it, I was a little worried that I wouldn't see what the fuss was all about, but things quickly picked up, and I was hooked. One of the best things about this novel is that it's an old-style thriller--it reminded me of old-school Grisham or Stieg Larsson. It even throws shade at the glutton of Girl books and their (annoying) unreliable narrators, which I love. This is a mystery for folks who love real stories without any fuss or distraction and with strong characters--all of which combine to leave you befuddled and anxious as everything slowly unfurls.
Alger takes us into the complicated and dark world of Swiss banking, where we are introduced to a lot of real bad guys who have no morals. You can't trust them, you know they are bad, and you know your heroes and heroines are in true danger. Rarely do I think this while reading a book (because, face it, the book is always better), but I really think this book would *actually* make a great movie. It's exciting and tense, and the way things are slowly revealed would make for a very effective film.
But, anyway, it's a wonderful novel. You quickly get sucked into Annabel and Marina's worlds--the majority of the story is told from their points of view. There's a decent amount of ancillary characters to keep track of, but it's certainly manageable. The best is not knowing who to trust, what to believe, or how things went down. There's that Girl with a Dragon Tattoo-reporting vibe that I love: the pleasure of solving a case. The story is set in 2015 but is completely timely, yet utterly timeless in its essence of greed, money, and fear--and what people do in the name of all three. I just loved the old-fashioned thrill of it, the long list of suspects, the excitement of trying to work out who did what.
Overall, this is just a great novel. The plot is excellent--tense, exciting, and expertly woven together. The characters are strong, but it's really the story that's the standout here. It truly reminds you of mysteries and thrillers of old (I sound ancient here, but whatever). Don't let the banking theme scare you off: this is a fabulous read, and if you're a mystery or thriller fan, I think you'll really enjoy this one. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram
September 2, 2018
In NYC, Marina is engaged to Grant who is the son of a billionaire who is about to run for president. She is a reporter at Press magazine. Her boss Duncan is obsessed with tracking the offshore account of a Ponzi scheme criminal. Annabel is married to Matthew. They live in Geneva where Matthew, a former tax lawyer, works as a private banker at a Swiss bank. Duncan and Matthew wind up dead and Marina and Annabel separately start investigating their mysterious deaths. The book is written from the alternating points of view of Marina and Annabel. Occasionally, there are chapters about Zoe, Matthew's assistant.
Take a mishmash of all the news articles you have read recently about offshore accounts, whistle blowers, money launderers and billionaires in politics. Then combine them with a few murders and some women's fiction tropes (adultery, miscarriage, broken relationships and A LOT of crying). Everyone is beautiful/handsome and exceedingly rich. They all have impeccable Ivy League credentials. It might be better as a movie than a book, if they manage to dramatize people sitting at a computer transferring assets and hacking accounts. The book runs around in circles a lot, so a movie might tighten the plot. I was interested enough to read to the end, but this book is forgettable.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Take a mishmash of all the news articles you have read recently about offshore accounts, whistle blowers, money launderers and billionaires in politics. Then combine them with a few murders and some women's fiction tropes (adultery, miscarriage, broken relationships and A LOT of crying). Everyone is beautiful/handsome and exceedingly rich. They all have impeccable Ivy League credentials. It might be better as a movie than a book, if they manage to dramatize people sitting at a computer transferring assets and hacking accounts. The book runs around in circles a lot, so a movie might tighten the plot. I was interested enough to read to the end, but this book is forgettable.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
July 11, 2018
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller with strong female characters, look no further.
In Geneva, Switzerland Matthew Werner is a high level banker at Swiss United, when his plane crashes under very suspicious circumstances. His wife, Annabel, is left grappling with his death and many unanswered questions. She sets out to find out what her husband was doing and finds herself entangled in a web of lies and deceit.
In New York City, Marina Tourneau is a journalist. While working on a story she uncovers some information about Swiss United that could bring the entire company down.
I read this book cover-to-cover in 24 hours. Alger hooked me from the first page and drew me in. I especially loved that the protagonatists were two strong, level-headed women who did not shrink away from challenges.
In Geneva, Switzerland Matthew Werner is a high level banker at Swiss United, when his plane crashes under very suspicious circumstances. His wife, Annabel, is left grappling with his death and many unanswered questions. She sets out to find out what her husband was doing and finds herself entangled in a web of lies and deceit.
In New York City, Marina Tourneau is a journalist. While working on a story she uncovers some information about Swiss United that could bring the entire company down.
I read this book cover-to-cover in 24 hours. Alger hooked me from the first page and drew me in. I especially loved that the protagonatists were two strong, level-headed women who did not shrink away from challenges.
December 21, 2018
I listened to this as an audiobook and though it wasn't bad narration, the narrator isn't the best at pronouncing non-English names or places and I just wonder why no one told her how to pronounce them properly? That aside, the book was engaging and I did like the multiple POVs. I do wish the author could have set aside the cliche of all three women being incredibly beautiful. It's just kind of boring and not necessary. They could actually look like normal people and still be interesting an capable, shocking though this may seem! All the same, I thought this was a solid mystery, fast-paced and entertaining, if somewhat far-fetched (I hope?!) with an ending that seemed too tidy for my taste.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
July 3, 2018
Two women in dangerous situations through no fault of their own.
Annabelle was married, but her husband seemed to be married to his job. After a plane crash, she finds out why there had been a plane crash with him in it.
Marina writes stories about men like Annabel's husband, but this current story is a bit too dangerous to continue with even though Marina does.
Actually a lot of folks seemed to be in danger, and the persons behind this situation are aware of every move Marina, Annabel, and others are making.
After the plane crash and when Annabel was out of her Geneva apartment, it was ransacked. Annabel really became angry and frightened when she came home to the damage. Marina really became angry when she found out some information about her future father-in-law and when she found her friend had been murdered for uncovering incriminating information.
What was going on? It all seemed to stem from the Swiss bank and its clients.
So many people were involved in this illegal money hiding. It is a pretty frightening concept that seems like it could be “real” in today’s world.
The behind-the-scenes hacking and finding out information is also a bit on the scary side.
The story line was interesting, but was a little slow at times with all the technical information. As the story continued, though, the tension mounted as everyone involved in the money scheme was coming to the surface and trying to keep those who knew what was going on quiet.
THE BANKER’S WIFE addressed high profile and powerful men and women where money was the catalyst, and as the saying goes “the root of all evil.”
Perhaps it isn’t a good idea to be a “banker’s wife.” :)
If you enjoy secrets, intrigue, corruption, and love, you will enjoy THE BANKER'S WIFE. 4/5
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
July 15, 2018
This one was awesome!! This would make one great action movie lol....was enthralled right from the start. Phenomenal writing!! There was a lot of information to take in with this one and a lot of characters to keep track of which was a bit confusing at times but it did not take away from the story! I can tell a lot of research went into this book! Highly recommend for fans of thrillers!
January 27, 2021
Unexciting despite the twist.
October 31, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The subject of offshore banking and it's dangerous owners made for a thrilling and engaging plot. I always loved movies about investigated journalism. The idea of following a thread, a tip and in the end, unraveling a huge plot that brings massive repercussions has always fascinated me.
The Banker's Wife delivered a fascinating story that made me think and wonder how close to reality this thriller was. How much money is really hidden away in offshore banking. Who is protecting whom, and who are the bad guys.
Whenever a thriller is as close to reality as possible I'm enthralled by it. Just the possibilities keep me thinking. And who wouldn't kill for such huge sums of money.
Investigated reporting is a job that is crucial and immensely necessary in this day and age. The stories that came out just this year alone, and the following fallouts changed the status quo for many.
So, yes, I absolutely enjoyed this book.
The writing was crisp, engaging, and interesting. The plot moved smoothly even though the many POVs had me sometimes confused, the story on its own kept me glued to my phone. The narration was great, I can't complain about the performance at all.
The Banker's Wife was a solid mystery/thriller that would make a wonderful movie.
✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵
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The Banker's Wife delivered a fascinating story that made me think and wonder how close to reality this thriller was. How much money is really hidden away in offshore banking. Who is protecting whom, and who are the bad guys.
Whenever a thriller is as close to reality as possible I'm enthralled by it. Just the possibilities keep me thinking. And who wouldn't kill for such huge sums of money.
Investigated reporting is a job that is crucial and immensely necessary in this day and age. The stories that came out just this year alone, and the following fallouts changed the status quo for many.
So, yes, I absolutely enjoyed this book.
The writing was crisp, engaging, and interesting. The plot moved smoothly even though the many POVs had me sometimes confused, the story on its own kept me glued to my phone. The narration was great, I can't complain about the performance at all.
The Banker's Wife was a solid mystery/thriller that would make a wonderful movie.
✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵ ✦ ✷ ✫ ✷ ✦ ✧ ✵ ✧ ✵
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June 9, 2018
4.5/5
The Banker’s Wife is a globe trotting thriller that grabbed my attention instantly and held it throughout. It switches back and forth between Marina, a journalist and Annabel a recently widowed young woman and I loved both of these clever, strong women. They were both incredibly well drawn and believable, and falling down the rabbit hole of offshore banking alongside them was quite the wild ride.
There was a slick sophistication to this one, the setting took me from Geneva and the world of high class Swiss banking to New York and the world of high powered politics and then to small town France just to name a few of the exotic locales Alger explored and they were all beautifully depicted. While the plot focused on banking, something I know next to nothing about, Alger did a fantastic job of explaining the finer details in layman’s terms. I was never confused or bored, rather I was riveted and desperate to find out the truth about what really went down.
I hate to even mention this because thrillers really shouldn’t appeal to one gender over the other, but I kept thinking while I was reading this that my husband would love the storyline, so I would definitely recommend to males as well as females, it had an edginess that I think men would be drawn to and I know my husband wouldn’t be interested in half of the thrillers I read but this one would be a surefire hit.
The Banker’s Wife in three words: Slick, Sophisticated and Twisty.
The Banker’s Wife is a globe trotting thriller that grabbed my attention instantly and held it throughout. It switches back and forth between Marina, a journalist and Annabel a recently widowed young woman and I loved both of these clever, strong women. They were both incredibly well drawn and believable, and falling down the rabbit hole of offshore banking alongside them was quite the wild ride.
There was a slick sophistication to this one, the setting took me from Geneva and the world of high class Swiss banking to New York and the world of high powered politics and then to small town France just to name a few of the exotic locales Alger explored and they were all beautifully depicted. While the plot focused on banking, something I know next to nothing about, Alger did a fantastic job of explaining the finer details in layman’s terms. I was never confused or bored, rather I was riveted and desperate to find out the truth about what really went down.
I hate to even mention this because thrillers really shouldn’t appeal to one gender over the other, but I kept thinking while I was reading this that my husband would love the storyline, so I would definitely recommend to males as well as females, it had an edginess that I think men would be drawn to and I know my husband wouldn’t be interested in half of the thrillers I read but this one would be a surefire hit.
The Banker’s Wife in three words: Slick, Sophisticated and Twisty.
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