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Crisis Deluxe
An absorbing and sophisticated psychological novel set in the quintessential realm of action—global financial markets. Investment banker Alexander “Dusty” Street flies to Hong Kong for an emergency of global consequences.
In this wise, entertaining and multi-layered novel, Dusty is confronted with a crisis so devastating his aggressive, can-do attitude and esoteric financial expertise cannot save him or the profoundly corrupted world he discovers is going bankrupt around him.
Dusty faces complexities in a richly imagined Hong Kong just before the Communist takeover that force him to come to terms honestly with his past and test his deepest emotional loyalties as he searches for a way to overcome the destructive forces engulfing his life and marriage, his career, and Asian financial markets in the worst financial crisis in a generation.
An absorbing, sophisticated literary novel both elegantly constructed and compulsively readable, Crisis Deluxe builds to a beautiful, unexpected and luminous climax.
"Crisis Deluxe is terrific . . . Everything—money, love, memories, relationships!” Aris Janigian, LA Times best-selling author of Waiting for Lipchitz at the Chateau Marmont.
"Crisis Deluxe takes readers to dizzying heights . . . " Michele Torrey, award-winning author of To The Edge of the World.
★★★★★ “A smart, introspective page turner” ★★★★★ “You’ll savor every page” ★★★★★ “I read the entire book in one sitting”
In this wise, entertaining and multi-layered novel, Dusty is confronted with a crisis so devastating his aggressive, can-do attitude and esoteric financial expertise cannot save him or the profoundly corrupted world he discovers is going bankrupt around him.
Dusty faces complexities in a richly imagined Hong Kong just before the Communist takeover that force him to come to terms honestly with his past and test his deepest emotional loyalties as he searches for a way to overcome the destructive forces engulfing his life and marriage, his career, and Asian financial markets in the worst financial crisis in a generation.
An absorbing, sophisticated literary novel both elegantly constructed and compulsively readable, Crisis Deluxe builds to a beautiful, unexpected and luminous climax.
"Crisis Deluxe is terrific . . . Everything—money, love, memories, relationships!” Aris Janigian, LA Times best-selling author of Waiting for Lipchitz at the Chateau Marmont.
"Crisis Deluxe takes readers to dizzying heights . . . " Michele Torrey, award-winning author of To The Edge of the World.
★★★★★ “A smart, introspective page turner” ★★★★★ “You’ll savor every page” ★★★★★ “I read the entire book in one sitting”
- GenresFiction
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2021
14 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
Chris Coffman
2 books46 followersChris Coffman worked for decades in Europe, the UK, the United States, Latin America, Asia and Australia as an expatriate American investment banker and investor before founding a highly-awarded wine company in Australia.
A Phi Beta Kappa, Magna cum Laude graduate of the University of Southern California, he attended Columbia University before beginning his financial career at Manufacturers Hanover Trust, now merged into J.P. Morgan.
His three children were raised in Australia, where he lived for twenty-five years.
www.crisisdeluxe.com
A Phi Beta Kappa, Magna cum Laude graduate of the University of Southern California, he attended Columbia University before beginning his financial career at Manufacturers Hanover Trust, now merged into J.P. Morgan.
His three children were raised in Australia, where he lived for twenty-five years.
www.crisisdeluxe.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 6, 2021
Crisis Deluxe is the debut novel of a former investment banker. Honestly, the work sounds as though it would kill with anxiety anyone who suffers from imposter syndrome. A rougher bunch of the over-compensated would be hard to find.
Super-charged self-satisfaction is not hard to find these days in lots of professions; it may even be a prerequisite for some positions. I am quite sure it has something to do with compensation: “I mean, if I’m paid this much, I must be good! Right?”
What works in this novel is the complicated story of the buy-out of an investment bank headquartered in Hong Kong by a bigger investment bank based in New York. Money, as ordinary folks know it, is a different beast in this world; our interest lies in learning its new definition, realizing the dimensions of its reach and the emptiness of its pleasures.
Things we would ordinarily treasure—out-of-reach gustatory delights, trips around the world, rides in Rolls Royce and expensive clothing—are paired with the scent of sweat, exhaustion and even blood.
Mostly we recognize money is not worth what we give up to get it, something minimum wage and gig workers have discovered post-pandemic in America. But I cannot be completely sure if that lesson is one I learned in this book or if it was merely confirmed to me there.
The investment banker at the heart of this fiction introduces himself like James Bond: “Street. Alexander Street.” Great name. Street is sent to Hong Kong from South America where is he finishing one deal so he can save another going very bad as Asian financial markets teeter and crater. Why the market is unstable is never discussed which prompts my usual skepticism over Wall Street and SEHK shenanigans.
Financial markets are built on trust, and bankers showed us their empty shirts in the last 20 years. IMHO, they simply know there are ways to make money in shaky markets but don’t have the brains, heart or knowledge to tell us why.
Street works out of NYC but his parentage is European. With that he has the best of both worlds: credibility and deniability. He can deny being a hated Yank while having the backing of a big, fat American investment bank. The story involves us in the details of the Hong Kong company’s balance sheet and its status as the continent’s first successful purveyor of corporate bonds. As the market falters, holders of commercial debt begin to limit their exposure by calling in loan payments just when companies are least likely to be able to pay.
Powerful interests around Hong Kong’s city-state begin to move as the investment bank buyout is reimagined. When a wealthy but uninvolved friend of Street’s is murdered before his eyes at dinner one night, we never really get full satisfaction. Murder, and its cousin poisoning, usually require more explanation both to and by the police than we received in this novel. Like in any country, when a rich person dies, there are ripples.
There is a romantic interest in this novel but it is odd. In the manner of all things masculine, Alexander Street does not excessively, or even adequately, question when his gorgeous high-school sweetheart of thirty years before suddenly shows up, willing and able to involve herself in a romantic liaison with him, despite the fact both are long-and-happily married. That she is the older sister of a difficult young bond salesman involved in the bank buyout raises warning flags for women readers but barely touch the consciousness of Street. Alexander Street.
The ending kept me guessing and was climactic. See for yourself.
P.S. I met Chris Coffman on Goodreads. He wrote some of the most insightful and interesting reviews I came across...oh, some long time ago now. Then he dropped off as a result of being consumed with writing his own mystery. I hope you pick this up to encourage such efforts.
Super-charged self-satisfaction is not hard to find these days in lots of professions; it may even be a prerequisite for some positions. I am quite sure it has something to do with compensation: “I mean, if I’m paid this much, I must be good! Right?”
What works in this novel is the complicated story of the buy-out of an investment bank headquartered in Hong Kong by a bigger investment bank based in New York. Money, as ordinary folks know it, is a different beast in this world; our interest lies in learning its new definition, realizing the dimensions of its reach and the emptiness of its pleasures.
Things we would ordinarily treasure—out-of-reach gustatory delights, trips around the world, rides in Rolls Royce and expensive clothing—are paired with the scent of sweat, exhaustion and even blood.
Mostly we recognize money is not worth what we give up to get it, something minimum wage and gig workers have discovered post-pandemic in America. But I cannot be completely sure if that lesson is one I learned in this book or if it was merely confirmed to me there.
The investment banker at the heart of this fiction introduces himself like James Bond: “Street. Alexander Street.” Great name. Street is sent to Hong Kong from South America where is he finishing one deal so he can save another going very bad as Asian financial markets teeter and crater. Why the market is unstable is never discussed which prompts my usual skepticism over Wall Street and SEHK shenanigans.
Financial markets are built on trust, and bankers showed us their empty shirts in the last 20 years. IMHO, they simply know there are ways to make money in shaky markets but don’t have the brains, heart or knowledge to tell us why.
Street works out of NYC but his parentage is European. With that he has the best of both worlds: credibility and deniability. He can deny being a hated Yank while having the backing of a big, fat American investment bank. The story involves us in the details of the Hong Kong company’s balance sheet and its status as the continent’s first successful purveyor of corporate bonds. As the market falters, holders of commercial debt begin to limit their exposure by calling in loan payments just when companies are least likely to be able to pay.
Powerful interests around Hong Kong’s city-state begin to move as the investment bank buyout is reimagined. When a wealthy but uninvolved friend of Street’s is murdered before his eyes at dinner one night, we never really get full satisfaction. Murder, and its cousin poisoning, usually require more explanation both to and by the police than we received in this novel. Like in any country, when a rich person dies, there are ripples.
There is a romantic interest in this novel but it is odd. In the manner of all things masculine, Alexander Street does not excessively, or even adequately, question when his gorgeous high-school sweetheart of thirty years before suddenly shows up, willing and able to involve herself in a romantic liaison with him, despite the fact both are long-and-happily married. That she is the older sister of a difficult young bond salesman involved in the bank buyout raises warning flags for women readers but barely touch the consciousness of Street. Alexander Street.
The ending kept me guessing and was climactic. See for yourself.
P.S. I met Chris Coffman on Goodreads. He wrote some of the most insightful and interesting reviews I came across...oh, some long time ago now. Then he dropped off as a result of being consumed with writing his own mystery. I hope you pick this up to encourage such efforts.
June 6, 2021
Alexander Street, an investment banker is sent to Hong Kong to handle the acquisition of Transpac at a crucial time when the financial market is constantly declining. Everybody involved with this is trying everything in their hands to get maximum benefit. But with declining markets, nothing can be said about the acquisition just yet.
Alexander who is already facing a troubled marriage meets his ex-girlfriend after 25 years and we see an interwoven love story that adds a bit of romantic touch to the story. And with people willing to go to any extent for their profits and diverse characters the story keeps getting interesting.
The author has put down the thoughts through his experience as an investment banker and the story dealt a lot with financial markets which were a bit off for me. But if you are interested in finance then you can definitely grasp the gist of it. Apart from this it was a good story.
Alexander who is already facing a troubled marriage meets his ex-girlfriend after 25 years and we see an interwoven love story that adds a bit of romantic touch to the story. And with people willing to go to any extent for their profits and diverse characters the story keeps getting interesting.
The author has put down the thoughts through his experience as an investment banker and the story dealt a lot with financial markets which were a bit off for me. But if you are interested in finance then you can definitely grasp the gist of it. Apart from this it was a good story.
October 22, 2021
This was an engrossing book that I couldn't put down once I started it. I have to confess that a lot of the complex financial and acquisition information just went right over my head and I also didn't really get the rather strange romantic issues but the story itself was intriguing. A really enjoyable read!
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
June 21, 2021
Highly recommended…Coffman is to finance as Grisham is to legalFiction
Great read. The characters develop well throughout the book and can’t wait to have Alexander street back for another … was a page turner and an interesting insight into the world of high finance.
Great read. The characters develop well throughout the book and can’t wait to have Alexander street back for another … was a page turner and an interesting insight into the world of high finance.
June 8, 2021
Compelling read
Well written. Chris Coffman is an engaging writer. The novel portrays a compelling story about an international investment banker whose challenging deal turns out to be more than just business but also a period of discovery and self awareness. Looking forward to his next book! This is a fabulous read!
Well written. Chris Coffman is an engaging writer. The novel portrays a compelling story about an international investment banker whose challenging deal turns out to be more than just business but also a period of discovery and self awareness. Looking forward to his next book! This is a fabulous read!
May 16, 2021
Chris Coffman’s engagingly written novel, CRISIS DELUXE, revolves around the narrator, Alexander Street, who has been sent to Hong Kong by New York investment bank Coldstream Holdings to oversee the acquisition of TransPac. With declining markets and the interplay of diverse characters, we can’t predict the outcome until the very end of the novel.
For added interest, there is also an interwoven love story, which could itself affect the outcome.
The novel is certainly a thriller, but it is also much more than that, and the major theme of the novel is relationships. Some of these are professional relationships, as the various investment bankers compete with each other and are willing to do almost anything, legal or illegal, to achieve their own particular goals.
There are also players whom Street has known since his own school days in Hong Kong. Among them is Sebastian Nin, the brilliant head of TransPac’s bond-trading department, who is not exactly a friend.
Sebastian’s sister, the charming and beautiful Jacqueline, was Street’s innocent love during their school days, whom he has idolized in his mind ever since, and who meets Street in Hong Kong for the first time in 25 years.
And then there are family relationships. Street grew up with a mother who was cold and distant, only finding out as an adult that she wasn’t even his real mother. By contrast, he remembers happy times at the house of the Nin parents, who were warm and welcoming.
Street himself is married and has children but has prioritized his work to such a degree that he seldom sees them, even at Christmas time.
As we learn more about Street from the many flashbacks and narrative asides, we realize that he has reason to reconsider his life choices, both professionally and personally, and he only comes to a fuller understanding of himself as we learn the fate of TransPac.
I should only add that the author himself is a cosmopolitan and well-read former investment banker, who has lived, worked and studied, both in the United States and in a variety of locations around the world. Because of this, his descriptions of people, places and events ring particularly true.
I found the novel hard to put down, and I recommend it highly to anyone with an interest in high finance (even from afar) or who simply wants to read an exciting and well-crafted story.
For added interest, there is also an interwoven love story, which could itself affect the outcome.
The novel is certainly a thriller, but it is also much more than that, and the major theme of the novel is relationships. Some of these are professional relationships, as the various investment bankers compete with each other and are willing to do almost anything, legal or illegal, to achieve their own particular goals.
There are also players whom Street has known since his own school days in Hong Kong. Among them is Sebastian Nin, the brilliant head of TransPac’s bond-trading department, who is not exactly a friend.
Sebastian’s sister, the charming and beautiful Jacqueline, was Street’s innocent love during their school days, whom he has idolized in his mind ever since, and who meets Street in Hong Kong for the first time in 25 years.
And then there are family relationships. Street grew up with a mother who was cold and distant, only finding out as an adult that she wasn’t even his real mother. By contrast, he remembers happy times at the house of the Nin parents, who were warm and welcoming.
Street himself is married and has children but has prioritized his work to such a degree that he seldom sees them, even at Christmas time.
As we learn more about Street from the many flashbacks and narrative asides, we realize that he has reason to reconsider his life choices, both professionally and personally, and he only comes to a fuller understanding of himself as we learn the fate of TransPac.
I should only add that the author himself is a cosmopolitan and well-read former investment banker, who has lived, worked and studied, both in the United States and in a variety of locations around the world. Because of this, his descriptions of people, places and events ring particularly true.
I found the novel hard to put down, and I recommend it highly to anyone with an interest in high finance (even from afar) or who simply wants to read an exciting and well-crafted story.
July 12, 2021
Set against the glamorous yet sultry backdrop of Hong Kong, Alexander “Dusty” Street is tasked with shoring up a failing acquisition worth billions. The pressure to conclude the deal is coming from all sides, including from Jacqueline, a childhood love whom he has never forgotten from the years he spent going to school in Kowloon. Now she is in his life again, alluring and available, complicating both the acquisition and his distant, troubled marriage. As the walls close in and the plummeting world financial market hangs in the balance, Dusty must calculate the true cost of career, love, and family.
Having worked for decades in many countries as an investment banker, debut novelist Coffman certainly has the experience to write a financial thriller of this magnitude. Coffman delivers with the writing chops, too: the narrative is skilled, confident, the voice engaging. Dusty is a likable and believable character. His occasional, surprising insights into his motivations and past are refreshing, welcome, and border on the profound. Readers will gladly follow Dusty into the dizzying heights of the Hong Kong skyscrapers as well as into the seedy back alley dumpling shops where deals are made, secrets are revealed, and lives are either enriched or destroyed. Crisis Deluxe can hold its own with the best of them, and Coffman is definitely an author to watch.
Having worked for decades in many countries as an investment banker, debut novelist Coffman certainly has the experience to write a financial thriller of this magnitude. Coffman delivers with the writing chops, too: the narrative is skilled, confident, the voice engaging. Dusty is a likable and believable character. His occasional, surprising insights into his motivations and past are refreshing, welcome, and border on the profound. Readers will gladly follow Dusty into the dizzying heights of the Hong Kong skyscrapers as well as into the seedy back alley dumpling shops where deals are made, secrets are revealed, and lives are either enriched or destroyed. Crisis Deluxe can hold its own with the best of them, and Coffman is definitely an author to watch.
July 11, 2021
This was an exciting financial thriller, a very fast read.
December 28, 2021
Kept my attention from the first page to the last
September 8, 2021
Clearly my opinion is the minority and I don't do this often, but this was a DNF for me. I forced myself to get through 20% before abandoning the book. It was so dry with financial matters and as a reader I had no investment (no pun intended) in the outcome of the deal or the personal relationships that were being discussed. Perhaps it picks up later in the book, but I just couldn't bring myself to read any more to get there. I wasn't sucked in by any of the personal storyline enough to keep me slogging through the minute details of the financial crisis. I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
November 1, 2021
GREAT BOOK,
Want to read
December 8, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/8/2021)! 🎁
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews