Undermoney

Newman’s overstuffed debut, a financial political thriller, opens on a promising note when ex-military types from the U.S., assisted by Russian contractors, intercept a $2 billion cash drop in the remote Jordanian desert for use as seed money for an eventual presidential campaign. Ben Corn, Nebraska’s junior senator and a decorated combat vet, is to be that candidate. Three years after the heist, the cabal selects billionaire Elias Vicker’s Industrial Strategies hedge fund as the vehicle to launder their cash with members of the group managing a shadow takeover. Industrial Strategies, as it turns out, is in business with individuals with direct connections to Vladimir Putin and are manipulating markets through sabotaging key infrastructure. Much of the book is taken up with intricate backstories of various characters’ financial shenanigans, with little action to move things along. Loose ends suggest that this may be intended as a series opener. Readers will hope Newman, a veteran of the world of global finance, provides a stronger hero and a more exciting plot next time. Agent: Sloan Harris, ICM Partners. (Jan.)