Development so-so, but interesting story built around the 2008 financial crisis

Will not add my specific disappointments and outline of the story as it would amount to publishing a spoiler

Readable, anyway ( )

I can say The Vulture Fund is a pretty good novel.

Set in the world of investment banking it involves a firm in a fragile position, blackmail, an enormous 2 billion dollar investment fund, a potentially corrupt US Vice President, a potentially corrupt CIA director and terrorism set in a pre 9/11 America.

The plot develops well and what's really going on is cleverly hidden and masked from the reader until the climax when it begins to all unfold as terrorists attack a nuclear power plant. I found it quite an enjoyable read. ( )

The characterization of Mace McLain, a young hot-shot investment banker putting in grueling hours toward his goal to become partner was easy to imagine but I think the 'dub' of Stephen W. Frey as the "Grisham of financial thrillers" to be quite premature. Perhaps I'll try another title by this author this year but it will be awhile. ( )

This was a pretty clever book considering that it was written before 9/11. Frey writes thrillers about the stock market and this book shows how a person who is well-known in Wall Street can raise enormous amounts of money for an unorthodox purpose. The book contains a romantic interest to make things more complicated. It is fast reading and interesting. ( )

While this was published in the mid-90's, the plot rings true today. Terrorism, self inflicted and economical are relatable. The current mortgage crisis and the idiot of a president involved in a self serving war.

The writing is excellent, good character development, enough twists and turns, so that you're not quite sure who the ultimate villian is until the end.

This would have been a 4 star except for the ending. Nothing ruins a great book like a terrible ending. ( )