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Zero Coupon
Takeover artist Willy Saxon returns from prison to Wall Street with a ruthless--and beautiful--accomplice, an airtight plan, and a tax-free bond worth billions
350 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1993
2 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Paul Emil Erdman
34 books48 followersPaul Emil Erdman was one of the leading business and financial writers in the United States who became known for writing novels based on monetary trends and historical facts concerning complex matters of international finance.
Erdman was born in Ontario, Canada, to American parents. He graduated from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He received his PhD from the University of Basel (in Switzerland). In 1958 he worked as a financial analyst for the European Coal and Steel Community. Between 1959 and 1961, he worked as an economist at the Stanford Research Institute at Menlo Park.
Erdman returned to Switzerland where in 1965, he founded and was the president of a Swiss bank - the Salik Bank. In 1969, the United California Bank in California bought a majority stake and renamed it the United California Bank in Basel. The bank collapsed after taking large losses speculating in the cocoa market. Erdman and other board members were accused of fraud and Erdman spent time in jail awaiting trial.
While in jail, he wrote his first novel - The Billion Dollar Sure Thing (1973). It received a 1974 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel and was published in the UK as The Billion Dollar Killing. He was released on bail and fled from Switzerland. He was subsequently convicted in absentia. His second novel, the The Silver Bears (1974) was turned into a 1978 movie of the same name, starring Michael Caine. His books were well researched and contain convincing details. Despite the underlying complexity of his novels, his lucid writing style had enabled readers to learn complex concepts such as interest rate swaps, and his novels had often been bestsellers. The information in The Swiss Account is credited with providing a basis for helping track down the assets of Jewish victims of the holocaust.
Erdman was born in Ontario, Canada, to American parents. He graduated from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He received his PhD from the University of Basel (in Switzerland). In 1958 he worked as a financial analyst for the European Coal and Steel Community. Between 1959 and 1961, he worked as an economist at the Stanford Research Institute at Menlo Park.
Erdman returned to Switzerland where in 1965, he founded and was the president of a Swiss bank - the Salik Bank. In 1969, the United California Bank in California bought a majority stake and renamed it the United California Bank in Basel. The bank collapsed after taking large losses speculating in the cocoa market. Erdman and other board members were accused of fraud and Erdman spent time in jail awaiting trial.
While in jail, he wrote his first novel - The Billion Dollar Sure Thing (1973). It received a 1974 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel and was published in the UK as The Billion Dollar Killing. He was released on bail and fled from Switzerland. He was subsequently convicted in absentia. His second novel, the The Silver Bears (1974) was turned into a 1978 movie of the same name, starring Michael Caine. His books were well researched and contain convincing details. Despite the underlying complexity of his novels, his lucid writing style had enabled readers to learn complex concepts such as interest rate swaps, and his novels had often been bestsellers. The information in The Swiss Account is credited with providing a basis for helping track down the assets of Jewish victims of the holocaust.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 27, 2014
After reading Den of Thieves this books brings us over from reality to fiction by way of the Grisham / Clancy type drama and action of high finance and intrigue.
Beginning where Den of Thieves leaves off (in the real world) this takes us on a fast passed romp through start-up, cutting deals, leveraging coin, and turning up the heat to create a trading operation in the woods north of San Francisco.
The Willy Saxton character is perfect and handles the pressure well.
This of course is not great literature, but it sure is a fast and great read. Books like this are like "Text Movies". They grab and entertain you.
If you like high finance, drama, and intrigue then this is it!
Beginning where Den of Thieves leaves off (in the real world) this takes us on a fast passed romp through start-up, cutting deals, leveraging coin, and turning up the heat to create a trading operation in the woods north of San Francisco.
The Willy Saxton character is perfect and handles the pressure well.
This of course is not great literature, but it sure is a fast and great read. Books like this are like "Text Movies". They grab and entertain you.
If you like high finance, drama, and intrigue then this is it!
January 24, 2014
Zero Coupon is a financial thriller like all of Erdman's other books.
Whilst not as good as the Panic/Crash/Last Days books it is nonetheless an interesting read. I did find that it become someone bogged down in the middle however the ending did redeem that criticism in my eyes.
Overall, a solid financial thriller.
Whilst not as good as the Panic/Crash/Last Days books it is nonetheless an interesting read. I did find that it become someone bogged down in the middle however the ending did redeem that criticism in my eyes.
Overall, a solid financial thriller.
March 20, 2019
Hero gets out of prison.
That's the start. The lines are grey and might move, in Erdman's high finance thriller. He is one of the few writer's I know that can teach finance in thriller form. Neat trick, and Erdman's very good at it.
Interesting book.
That's the start. The lines are grey and might move, in Erdman's high finance thriller. He is one of the few writer's I know that can teach finance in thriller form. Neat trick, and Erdman's very good at it.
Interesting book.
November 9, 2018
I read this book a long time ago and all I remember is that I loved the premise and the fast paced writing. On my list to re-read as well as some other Paul Erdman books!
February 14, 2022
Favorite Finance Fiction book of all time!
June 18, 2021
Era ziua în amiaza mare la Închisoarea Federală Corecţională din Pleasanton, California. Era zăpuşeală. William F. Saxon stătea afară, pe terasa clădirii principale, aşteptând maşina. „Locuise” la Pleasanton timp de trei ani – de fapt, trei ani şi o zi. Sentinţa fusese de şase ani, dar buna purtare o redusese la jumătate. Plus faptul că plătise o amendă de o sută de milioane de dolari şi aruncase în joc alte două sute treizeci şi cinci de milioane de dolari, ca să pună punct nesfârşitelor acţiuni judecătoreşti deschise împotriva lui.
Era, prin urmare, falit. Exceptând mica rezervă ascunsă în Liechtenstein. Dar cel puţin era, din nou, un om liber. Iar ultimii trei ani ar fi putut fi, mai mult ca sigur, şi mai răi. O privire aruncată dincolo de locul destinat plimbărilor, acoperit cu iarbă, care se întindea în faţa terasei, îi confirmă încă o dată acest lucru. Pentru că de partea cealaltă, la nici două sute de metri distanţă, se afla o închisoare federală cu regim de maximă securitate, pentru femei. Arăta ca un buncăr conceput să reziste unei bombe atomice. Închisoarea era înconjurată de garduri înalte de peste patru metri, care se terminau, în partea de sus, cu rulouri de sârmă ghimpată, dublu împletită. Gardieni înarmaţi cu automate patrulau permanent, în jeepuri, în jurul perimetrului închisorii.
El, unul, ar fi murit de mult, dacă ar fi fost aruncat într-un loc ca acesta.
Se uită la Rolexul de la mână. Timexul pe care îl purtase în ultimii trei am tocmai îl dăduse unuia dintre colegii de cameră. La început, nu-i fusese prea uşor să trăiască laolaltă cu alţi trei oameni. După câteva zile însă, ajunsese la concluzia că nu era mai rău decât la şcoala pregătitoare. Chiar şi rutina zilnică semăna cu cea de la Choate. Scularea la şase treizeci, micul dejun la şapte, începerea lucrului, în locul cursurilor, la ora opt, prânzul la douăsprezece şi un sfert, încetarea lucrului la cinci, cina la şase, TV la opt, stingerea la unsprezece. Duminica, liber.
Era, prin urmare, falit. Exceptând mica rezervă ascunsă în Liechtenstein. Dar cel puţin era, din nou, un om liber. Iar ultimii trei ani ar fi putut fi, mai mult ca sigur, şi mai răi. O privire aruncată dincolo de locul destinat plimbărilor, acoperit cu iarbă, care se întindea în faţa terasei, îi confirmă încă o dată acest lucru. Pentru că de partea cealaltă, la nici două sute de metri distanţă, se afla o închisoare federală cu regim de maximă securitate, pentru femei. Arăta ca un buncăr conceput să reziste unei bombe atomice. Închisoarea era înconjurată de garduri înalte de peste patru metri, care se terminau, în partea de sus, cu rulouri de sârmă ghimpată, dublu împletită. Gardieni înarmaţi cu automate patrulau permanent, în jeepuri, în jurul perimetrului închisorii.
El, unul, ar fi murit de mult, dacă ar fi fost aruncat într-un loc ca acesta.
Se uită la Rolexul de la mână. Timexul pe care îl purtase în ultimii trei am tocmai îl dăduse unuia dintre colegii de cameră. La început, nu-i fusese prea uşor să trăiască laolaltă cu alţi trei oameni. După câteva zile însă, ajunsese la concluzia că nu era mai rău decât la şcoala pregătitoare. Chiar şi rutina zilnică semăna cu cea de la Choate. Scularea la şase treizeci, micul dejun la şapte, începerea lucrului, în locul cursurilor, la ora opt, prânzul la douăsprezece şi un sfert, încetarea lucrului la cinci, cina la şase, TV la opt, stingerea la unsprezece. Duminica, liber.
February 11, 2024
Appena arrivato in Italia, questo è stato il primo libro che ho letto in italiano. L'ho scelto da uno scafale con molte prime uscite da un euro per pura curiosità, visto che veniva descritto come un thriller di alta finanza. La cosa era interessante anche perché la crisi dei subprime era presente in tutti i telegiornali. È stato stato molto divertente capire come possono essere i crimini finanziari.
June 14, 2024
Really fun stuff and while I gave The Crisis of '79 five stars as well that had more geopolitics than finance in it and this was more finance or finance fantasy so I liked it even more. Currently a 1/3 of the way through The Panic of '89 and it's going great so need to secure my 4th adn 5th Erdman titles ASAP.
November 10, 2025
I love financial thrillers and ones set in the 80s and 90s are favourites. This was no exception. I loved all the descriptions of the financial instruments and markets enthralling and the suspense at the end was fantastic. Loved it!
June 30, 2018
William Saxon, fininzial wizard, wird aus Gefängnis entlassen und beginnt neuen großen Coup.
January 18, 2021
Mystery featuring a fixed income trader.
March 7, 2021
Read in 1994. Financial thriller.
January 11, 2024
Probably a little more enjoyable and relevant in the day. Now not so much. Quite dated in all aspects
May 23, 2012
#1. This book has 350 pages - NOT the 240 as shown in the book meta data. I was unable to edit that data for correction.
Pros: this book is very fast paced and covers topic of interest to someone who might appreciate financial investments and timing of trading on "created" financial instruments. These are largely just legalistic contracts that carry a high degree of speculation and a large risk of failure - or a percentage of failure that will be catastrophic when it fails. This is very relevant to the 2000 - 2008 Wall Street manipulations in which no large manipulators were charged, much less hanged. The practice of timing trading on contracted financial instruments that might represent the entire loss of public and investor real dollar savings by artificial contract means conducted by the unscrupulous well practiced thieves operating in the shades of Wall Street manipulation is a topic that affects everyone on an increasing basis, and one that is contributing to the instability of markets and government today. This is a fictitious book that explores some of those avenues an sheds some low cost enlightenment on the practice and the type of people engaged in the financial world.
Cons: Being very fast paced, the people and actions have to fall into tight sequences where the right person with the right skills or assets has to be available instantly with no character development or wasted time on background portrayal. If you are familiar with the Stone Barrington novel of Stuart Woods, then this might seem very similar, in that it requires wealthy people with no hesitation to simply act in chorus to move the story line.
Pros: this book is very fast paced and covers topic of interest to someone who might appreciate financial investments and timing of trading on "created" financial instruments. These are largely just legalistic contracts that carry a high degree of speculation and a large risk of failure - or a percentage of failure that will be catastrophic when it fails. This is very relevant to the 2000 - 2008 Wall Street manipulations in which no large manipulators were charged, much less hanged. The practice of timing trading on contracted financial instruments that might represent the entire loss of public and investor real dollar savings by artificial contract means conducted by the unscrupulous well practiced thieves operating in the shades of Wall Street manipulation is a topic that affects everyone on an increasing basis, and one that is contributing to the instability of markets and government today. This is a fictitious book that explores some of those avenues an sheds some low cost enlightenment on the practice and the type of people engaged in the financial world.
Cons: Being very fast paced, the people and actions have to fall into tight sequences where the right person with the right skills or assets has to be available instantly with no character development or wasted time on background portrayal. If you are familiar with the Stone Barrington novel of Stuart Woods, then this might seem very similar, in that it requires wealthy people with no hesitation to simply act in chorus to move the story line.
July 8, 2024
Erdman's books were considered quite current during his lifetime, but I rarely found time to read them. Now, twenty years later, this book no longer works as a cautionary tale (if it ever did). My evaluation is fairly simple. The plot works, and is well paced through the first half of the novel. It slows later. The characters are not drawn with too much detail. While I enjoyed it, my rating is lower because the profanity crossed my toleration threshold enough to make we wince once or twice.
Doc might like this as a real change of pace. Kent will not.
Doc might like this as a real change of pace. Kent will not.
June 17, 2010
Couldn't finish it. Just not my cup of tea. Too dry. No connection to the characters. I put it down and, although I hate doing this, decided to pick it back up only to put it away. All in all; BORING!!!
June 4, 2013
My first finance thriller... And one of the best ones too... Looking for eBook as the print book has now started disintegrating... Found this better way to get to know deep discount bonds and munis than Fabozzi :)
July 20, 2010
enjoy fiction with serious finance themes
April 11, 2011
This book really didn't have a good plot/story line.
January 11, 2012
Sloppy writing, badly edited but a ripping yarn if you're a fan of intellectual thrillers. A great, lazy holiday read.
June 25, 2013
I loved this story - kept me in suspense. Clever, cunning story!
October 18, 2014
One of the best Financial Thriller :)
September 26, 2015
7. Libre de impuestos
June 21, 2016
Listened to the abridged audio book. A story of financial fraud and hi-jinks that is a bit confusing (especially if you don't understand financial markets). The bad guy wins in the end.
Read
August 19, 2014A very intelligent script narrated brilliantly
Want to read
October 9, 2014Wants to read
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews