Jay Newman

I don't often read contemporary thrillers, but this was well-reviewed by the WSJ, and I was in the mood for some escapism. The US commandos steal billions of dollars from an air drop intended to bribe Syrian rebels, then use the loot to take over a hedge fund, with the goal of electing a new US president who is promising to restore America's place in the world. It had interesting perspective on recent events, and "VVP" (aka Vladimir Putin) is a character in the shadows. The Russian character suggests that the US should have helped Russian industry and economy at the end of the cold war, instead of treating it like a pariah. The two countries could then have made common cause against China. The narrative took a while to get into gear, and the many characters were so rapidly introduced that it was hard to keep track of all the first names being thrown around. The settings were from the James Bond movies, very rich surroundings in exclusive areas of the world, and the narrator is lovingly detailed about the types of weapons, the cars, the clothes and the banking.… (meer)

Politics can be a dirty and dangerous world.
“Undermoney” opens with a definition that outlines the novel. It is “money which is unknown publicly but that controls individuals and events; the currency of corruption.” What follows confirms that description; take the money and pretend to be friends, or do not take it, and become enemies, but not pretending.

Characters are introduced with detailed backgrounds, so readers immediately get to know them; the good, the bad, and the ones readers love to hate, the ones who are “different.” They are the egotistical, the dangerous, only pretending to be nice. They are not who they appear to be and cannot be trusted; they travel with bodyguards for a reason. Relationships are complex and secret; people are hiding in plain sight just waiting for the perfect moment. They get what they want, and what they want is to be in the “White House.”
“Undermoney” is a non-stop ride on the roller-coaster of international politics. Just when things seem to be settling down, there is a sudden turn, an unexpected twist, and a plunging drop. I received a review copy of “Undermoney” from Jay Newman, Scribner Publishing, and Simon & Schuster. Sometimes the complexity is almost overwhelming, and the book could be shorter without losing any of its complications.… (meer)