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Rachel Gold Mysteries #4
Due Diligence
In the wake of two murders, including those of her newest client and a beloved friend, attorney Rachel Gold investigates a pharmaceutical company with ties to a presidential candidate
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1995
7 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Michael A. Kahn
25 books44 followersPseudonym for Michael Baron.
Michael Kahn is a trial lawyer by day and an author at night. He wrote his first novel, GRAVE DESIGNS, on a challenge from his wife Margi, who got tired of listening to the same answer whenever she asked him about a book he was reading. "Not bad," he would say, "but I could write a better book than that." "Then write one," she finally said, "or please shut up." So he shut up for a few months--no easy task for an attorney--but finally wrote one.
Kahn is the award-winning author of 11 Rachel Gold novels, the most recent being BAD TRUST, and three stand-alone novels: the recently published PLAYED!, about which Library Journal wrote, "“Fans of quick reads . . . will be well served by this thriller’s fast pace"; THE SIRENA QUEST, which Publishers Weekly praised as “Equal parts rollicking adventure, existential and spiritual quest, and coming-of-(middle)-age tale”; and THE MOURNING SEXTON, a mystery novel under the pen name Michael Baron. His most recent Rachel Gold novel, THE DEAD HAND, was published last fall.
In addition to his day job as a lawyer, he is an adjunct professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches a class on censorship and free expression. Married to his high school sweetheart, he is the father of five and the grandfather of, so far, five.
Michael Kahn is a trial lawyer by day and an author at night. He wrote his first novel, GRAVE DESIGNS, on a challenge from his wife Margi, who got tired of listening to the same answer whenever she asked him about a book he was reading. "Not bad," he would say, "but I could write a better book than that." "Then write one," she finally said, "or please shut up." So he shut up for a few months--no easy task for an attorney--but finally wrote one.
Kahn is the award-winning author of 11 Rachel Gold novels, the most recent being BAD TRUST, and three stand-alone novels: the recently published PLAYED!, about which Library Journal wrote, "“Fans of quick reads . . . will be well served by this thriller’s fast pace"; THE SIRENA QUEST, which Publishers Weekly praised as “Equal parts rollicking adventure, existential and spiritual quest, and coming-of-(middle)-age tale”; and THE MOURNING SEXTON, a mystery novel under the pen name Michael Baron. His most recent Rachel Gold novel, THE DEAD HAND, was published last fall.
In addition to his day job as a lawyer, he is an adjunct professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches a class on censorship and free expression. Married to his high school sweetheart, he is the father of five and the grandfather of, so far, five.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 14, 2015
“Due diligence. Utter that dull gray phrase around a pack of corporate lawyers and watch them leer. That’s because the final tab for the due diligence in a significant transaction will easily exceed ten million dollars. Those kinds of numbers enchant even the most somber of practitioners.”
The plot revolves around an accountant who was doing due diligence on a company before a merger could take place. Rachel had received a call from him explaining he needed her advice on some details of the merger. When his body is found in the basement having gone through a trash compactor, Rachel is hired to help clean up some of the affairs and discovers an intricate web of deceit and malfeasance. Soon her investigation leads to a presidential candidate and what he might have done many decades earlier and whether doing something that might benefit millions of people but leads to the deaths of some elderly patients might be ethically suspect.
Each of Kahn’s books takes a legal issue and builds a plot around it. There’s usually some kind of list with obscure combinations of letters and numbers Rachel must decipher. While the details of the characters appear repetitive from one book to the next, I didn’t find that as disconcerting as have some readers.
Some interesting history of trademarks. I knew little of their origin and raison d’etre. “During medieval times, trademarks became a symbol of responsibility as the powerful guilds of Europe required their members to each use a unique mark. That way a defective product could be traced back to its maker. A trademark was thus the highly personal symbol of a single worker: when his life ended, so did his trademark. By the middle of the twentieth century, however, it had metamorphosed into the multibillion dollar world of brand-name marketing—a world where a single word, such as Xerox or Corvette or Chanel or Kodak, can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Not to mention that St. Louis became home to many brands of beers because it’s built over the top of hundreds of limestone caves. I just had to check out whether all this was a figment of Kahn’s imagination. It is not and the caves play a central role in the solution to the puzzle. Note that claustrophobic activities appear in other of Kahn’s novels. (http://books.google.com/books?id=A-qx...)
The plot revolves around an accountant who was doing due diligence on a company before a merger could take place. Rachel had received a call from him explaining he needed her advice on some details of the merger. When his body is found in the basement having gone through a trash compactor, Rachel is hired to help clean up some of the affairs and discovers an intricate web of deceit and malfeasance. Soon her investigation leads to a presidential candidate and what he might have done many decades earlier and whether doing something that might benefit millions of people but leads to the deaths of some elderly patients might be ethically suspect.
Each of Kahn’s books takes a legal issue and builds a plot around it. There’s usually some kind of list with obscure combinations of letters and numbers Rachel must decipher. While the details of the characters appear repetitive from one book to the next, I didn’t find that as disconcerting as have some readers.
Some interesting history of trademarks. I knew little of their origin and raison d’etre. “During medieval times, trademarks became a symbol of responsibility as the powerful guilds of Europe required their members to each use a unique mark. That way a defective product could be traced back to its maker. A trademark was thus the highly personal symbol of a single worker: when his life ended, so did his trademark. By the middle of the twentieth century, however, it had metamorphosed into the multibillion dollar world of brand-name marketing—a world where a single word, such as Xerox or Corvette or Chanel or Kodak, can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Not to mention that St. Louis became home to many brands of beers because it’s built over the top of hundreds of limestone caves. I just had to check out whether all this was a figment of Kahn’s imagination. It is not and the caves play a central role in the solution to the puzzle. Note that claustrophobic activities appear in other of Kahn’s novels. (http://books.google.com/books?id=A-qx...)
March 5, 2022
As others remarked, there were a lot of info dumps in this book, as apparently there are in the other books in this series. I found myself skimming over many of the lengthy descriptions and repeated tables that did gradually make sense to readers as well as the protagonist but ddn't need to keep showing back up in their entirety . I found the crass friend, Benny, to be too crass for an educated woman to want to be around continuously. Guys with guys, yes. Guy friends with girls, not so much. There were other telling signs that the writer was a man writing about a woman, also noted by others. Obviously, he had never tried to run in stockings after kicking off shoes. Very slippery, and while Rachel's assistant, who is transitioning from a man to a woman, worries about runs in his/her stockings, Rachel never does. There were several other examples, but readers will find those without my help. Where I raised red flags (spoiler alerts) were when Bennie finds Rachel and Flo at the hotel, but none of them thinks well, if Bennie found where they were hiding, so would the people who were trying to kill Rachel, and the cave sequence, which was also far too long. All the suspense gets sucked out of a scene that goes on and on while the full history of the caves is explained and everyone gets a guided tour of the many attractions the caves used to hold. Not only does our merry band of hero and heroines leave the trapdoor open, they only buy one flashlight between the 3 of them (and those batteries were definitely the cheap ones,) but when Bennie takes out one of the would-be assassins, they leave not only the guy's gun behind, but his big flashlight. And then they crawl around in the subterranean world for hours instead of ambushing the other would-be assassin, and like Indiana Jones in the market with the giant wielding the saber, just shoot him. Or they could, since they have toured every one of the passages between the caves, just avoid him, double back, escape up the ladder and leave him stuck down in the caves. Also, when Rachel ends up earlier in the novel having to escape someone following her by dropping into a storm drain, why the heck doesn't she just ask a security guard to walk her out to her car because she thinks some guy is following her? Any woman worth her salt would do that, not assume security won't help her because she's not being actively attacked. Kahn has been married for many years, and definitely during all the years he's been writing about Rachel Gold. He needed to run a lot of his questions about how a woman would act past his wife. She could have enlightened him no end. So, the story was well put together coming from a male viewpoint of how a woman would act, but has flaws because of long-winded passages that needed tightening and has a protagonist who is smart in a lot of ways but lacks plain old horse-sense.
May 2, 2020
This is fast becoming a favorite series. I have a weakness for smart-ass female main characters, and Rachel Gold is all of that. Great surrounding cast, including her endearing but gross friend law prof Benny, and her (former steelworker tough guy awaiting surgery to transition into being female) secretary Jacki.
This time out Rachel has to tackle Big Pharma. One of the things I like about these books is that each one gives you some insights into different settings. In this one you learn a bit about the process to test and develop new drugs.
Rachel has a new client who wants to share something at work that troubles him, but before they can meet he is murdered in a particularly grisly way - smashed by a trash compactor. Several other murders follow, and soon it's obvious to Rachel that there must be a huge secret from the past that someone is willing to kill to keep quiet.
Another interesting sidebar is that some of the climactic scenes took place in a huge network of caves under the city of St. Louis. This is a real thing, and these caves were used in the past for cooling beer and even as entertainment venues. Who knew?
This time out Rachel has to tackle Big Pharma. One of the things I like about these books is that each one gives you some insights into different settings. In this one you learn a bit about the process to test and develop new drugs.
Rachel has a new client who wants to share something at work that troubles him, but before they can meet he is murdered in a particularly grisly way - smashed by a trash compactor. Several other murders follow, and soon it's obvious to Rachel that there must be a huge secret from the past that someone is willing to kill to keep quiet.
Another interesting sidebar is that some of the climactic scenes took place in a huge network of caves under the city of St. Louis. This is a real thing, and these caves were used in the past for cooling beer and even as entertainment venues. Who knew?
December 31, 2023
This was my final.read for 2023 and not a bad way to finish out the year. Decent characters, good background/stage setting info for the different things presented throughout. Politicians, doctors, intrigue, murder, chase scenes, love, friendship. Everything needed for a good satisfying story.
July 1, 2025
A good read right from the beginning! though once said political characters were introduced, I suspected foul play. Also absolutely love the attention to detail about the proper channels for medications or approvals needed before it hits market.
will be on lookout out for more by this author!
will be on lookout out for more by this author!
August 13, 2018
This was a fun read. Rachel dodged a bullet to solve an interesting medical case.
July 6, 2013
This is the second Rachel Gold mystery I've read, and one of three in the local library. While I may not be in a hurry to read the next one, I will look forward to it.
Like many popular mystery series, this has a strong female lead, a cast of off-beat friends, and a basic David-vs-Goliath story line. It's like going to a chain restaurant; you are there because you don't want surprises, you just want something predicable and comfortable.
While the book is formulaic with stock characters, I'm giving it 4 stars because the author does a good job of capturing a lot of St. Louis (my hometown) in the book. While many of the names of places and businesses are changed, Kahn makes it very easy to imagine where in St. Louis the action is taking place and what kind of people Rachel is dealing with.
After taking a week or so to finish the last tome, I breezed through this in a day. It's a straight-ahead mystery story, with a silly amount of action, some silly-girl thinking, and a predictable but enjoyable ending.
If you are a St. Louisan and a mystery fan, this is a very enjoyable book. If you don't care for reading much, this is smoothly and simply written. If you like weightier books, this may be a nice palate-cleanser between those NYT critically-acclaimed novels.
Like many popular mystery series, this has a strong female lead, a cast of off-beat friends, and a basic David-vs-Goliath story line. It's like going to a chain restaurant; you are there because you don't want surprises, you just want something predicable and comfortable.
While the book is formulaic with stock characters, I'm giving it 4 stars because the author does a good job of capturing a lot of St. Louis (my hometown) in the book. While many of the names of places and businesses are changed, Kahn makes it very easy to imagine where in St. Louis the action is taking place and what kind of people Rachel is dealing with.
After taking a week or so to finish the last tome, I breezed through this in a day. It's a straight-ahead mystery story, with a silly amount of action, some silly-girl thinking, and a predictable but enjoyable ending.
If you are a St. Louisan and a mystery fan, this is a very enjoyable book. If you don't care for reading much, this is smoothly and simply written. If you like weightier books, this may be a nice palate-cleanser between those NYT critically-acclaimed novels.
May 1, 2016
I read this for a book club but I'm so glad I did. Rachel Gold and her friends are a delight. Michael Kahn has fashioned a complex yet totally understandable and believable thriller/mystery. A simple story woven with delightful characters. I really enjoyed the dialogue and the action. I may want to go back and read some more of the Rachel Gold mysteries. There are nine of them to date with several other books to his credit.
September 25, 2008
DUE DILIGENCE - VG+
Kahn, Michael - 4th in Rachael Gold series
In the wake of two murders, including those of her newest client and a beloved friend, attorney Rachel Gold investigates a pharmaceutical company with ties to a presidential candidate.
Very good. A bit technical at times, but very enjoyable.
Kahn, Michael - 4th in Rachael Gold series
In the wake of two murders, including those of her newest client and a beloved friend, attorney Rachel Gold investigates a pharmaceutical company with ties to a presidential candidate.
Very good. A bit technical at times, but very enjoyable.
February 23, 2015
The mystery was good but my favorite part was the St. Louis setting and that he utilized multiple areas of the city (not just focused on the county). I will definitely read another one in this series!
November 13, 2014
Boring. I figured out whodunit half way through. It was too predictable and is now hopelessly outdated thanks to the internet. I can't believe this is a series.
May 12, 2016
"Due Diligence" - written by Michael A Kahn and published in 1995 by Dutton Adult. A fairly good mystery.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews