Title: The Insider
Author: Reece Hirsch
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0425-23642-4
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 330
Quick Review: 4 stars (out of 5)
Why I Read It: Looked interesting on Goodreads.
Where I Obtained the Book: The author sent me a copy for review through the Goodreads giveaway program. BTW, if you like to read and can write a review, you need to sign up for Goodreads right now. Seriously, stop reading this and go to Goodreads and sign up, I will wait.
Synopsis: San Francisco corporate attorney Will Connelly's well-ordered life is shattered when he watches a colleague hurtle to his death outside his office window. Within days, Will is the prime suspect in a murder, the target of an S.E.C. insider trading investigation, and a pawn in a complex criminal scheme involving the Russian mafia and a ruthless terrorist plot. Now, Will must ensure that a deadly enemy doesn't gain access to the nation's most sensitive and confidential information—and the power to do incalculable, irrevocable harm.
Review: You remember when you first read John Grisham? If you were like me that book was the Firm and you came away thinking it was pretty good, a few small problems, but you were very excited to read his next book. I hope Reece Hirsch is on that same path because he has surely taken the same first step with the Insider.
It is a pretty tight legal thriller that takes us into the office politics of a large firm, and the intrigue of Mergers and Acquisitions law. That’s right, I said intrigue and that is a tribute to Mr. Hirsch’s skill as a storyteller. Because this nominally dry subject becomes a 100 more times interesting when you learn that foreknowledge is the opportunity to make a lot of money. And money attracts all types to the wild side of the law. In real life we have Martha Stewart going to Federal prison and in the insider we have some Russian tough guys trying to make their bones with the American based Russian Mob.
It has been said he who cares least has the power. At its essence this is a story of a man faced with a choice between bad and worse, and the bad guys have all the power. I liked the portrayal of the “it is only business/nothing personal” attitude of the Russians. The ability to switch off one role for another is probably pretty accurate and it’s that ability which allows them to control others. Plus who do you trust when you can’t trust anyone; but you really need help? That question is central to the plot, and it is a universal struggle a lot of books skip. And finally it is a good primer on why you should never, never talk to the police. Never. They are not looking out for you or the truth, they are looking to close a case.
**Spoiler**
The downside to the story for me was the side plot of the terrorist. I think the main plot had enough legs to run on its own. Plus it led to an excessively contrived climax which again I felt it didn’t need. Finally there was (very rarely) some clunky dialogue. But the good news is these are signs of a first book and most writers easily overcome them with each successive work. To bring up Grisham again, these are the same difficulties I had with The Firm.
So what does this mean? If you are looking to get a good legal thriller and jump on the bandwagon with a new writer before your friends, then the Insider is for you. FWIW, I typically give away all my books when I have read them, but this signed copy is going to be put in a nice safe place. It is only going to increase in value over time.
Author: Reece Hirsch
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0425-23642-4
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 330
Quick Review: 4 stars (out of 5)
Why I Read It: Looked interesting on Goodreads.
Where I Obtained the Book: The author sent me a copy for review through the Goodreads giveaway program. BTW, if you like to read and can write a review, you need to sign up for Goodreads right now. Seriously, stop reading this and go to Goodreads and sign up, I will wait.
Synopsis: San Francisco corporate attorney Will Connelly's well-ordered life is shattered when he watches a colleague hurtle to his death outside his office window. Within days, Will is the prime suspect in a murder, the target of an S.E.C. insider trading investigation, and a pawn in a complex criminal scheme involving the Russian mafia and a ruthless terrorist plot. Now, Will must ensure that a deadly enemy doesn't gain access to the nation's most sensitive and confidential information—and the power to do incalculable, irrevocable harm.
Review: You remember when you first read John Grisham? If you were like me that book was the Firm and you came away thinking it was pretty good, a few small problems, but you were very excited to read his next book. I hope Reece Hirsch is on that same path because he has surely taken the same first step with the Insider.
It is a pretty tight legal thriller that takes us into the office politics of a large firm, and the intrigue of Mergers and Acquisitions law. That’s right, I said intrigue and that is a tribute to Mr. Hirsch’s skill as a storyteller. Because this nominally dry subject becomes a 100 more times interesting when you learn that foreknowledge is the opportunity to make a lot of money. And money attracts all types to the wild side of the law. In real life we have Martha Stewart going to Federal prison and in the insider we have some Russian tough guys trying to make their bones with the American based Russian Mob.
It has been said he who cares least has the power. At its essence this is a story of a man faced with a choice between bad and worse, and the bad guys have all the power. I liked the portrayal of the “it is only business/nothing personal” attitude of the Russians. The ability to switch off one role for another is probably pretty accurate and it’s that ability which allows them to control others. Plus who do you trust when you can’t trust anyone; but you really need help? That question is central to the plot, and it is a universal struggle a lot of books skip. And finally it is a good primer on why you should never, never talk to the police. Never. They are not looking out for you or the truth, they are looking to close a case.
**Spoiler**
The downside to the story for me was the side plot of the terrorist. I think the main plot had enough legs to run on its own. Plus it led to an excessively contrived climax which again I felt it didn’t need. Finally there was (very rarely) some clunky dialogue. But the good news is these are signs of a first book and most writers easily overcome them with each successive work. To bring up Grisham again, these are the same difficulties I had with The Firm.
So what does this mean? If you are looking to get a good legal thriller and jump on the bandwagon with a new writer before your friends, then the Insider is for you. FWIW, I typically give away all my books when I have read them, but this signed copy is going to be put in a nice safe place. It is only going to increase in value over time.
Author Biography: Reece Hirsch is a partner in the San Francisco office or Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP specializing in privacy, security and healthcare law. He is a nationally recognized privacy and security law expert. Reece earned his law degree from the University of Southern California and a B.S. degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Prior to law school, Reece worked as a journalist in Atlanta for several years, including a stint as an assistant editor of a business magazine. For three years, he edited and published an arts and entertainment magazine in Atlanta. Reece lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Kathy and their dog Simon.
Other Reviews:
Linn Country Leader
FYI:
Chapter One is available on the author’s site for free
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