The Underwriting

Todd Kent is a high-powered Wall Street Millenial who thrives on large deals and casual sexual encounters. When he’s asked by Josh Hart, CEO of online dating app Hook, to take his company public, he leaps at the chance. Todd brings in a small team to execute the billion-dollar deal, but quickly they all realize that they have different goals and desires—and that the deal itself is brimming with intrigue and secrets. As the deal moves forward, people around it start to draw connections between the drug-related death of an undergraduate and the application, and it becomes clear that someone used Hook to cover up a murder. As they race to complete the IPO before anyone finds out, Todd and his team find out who is willing to risk everything for this deal. This taut thriller does combine the best of Millenial technologies and Wall Street greed, but it tries to be too many things to too many people. While readers will quickly discover that most of the characters aren’t likable, they will want to find out what happens in the story. That said, it ends on a clumsy cliffhanger, leaving readers confused as to whether there is a next installment. There could be—Miller, who worked at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, does an excellent job and leaves readers interested in what happens next. Readers, especially ones of an age with the characters, will find this a quick, entertaining read. (May)