The Prince of Risk

The newest financial thriller from the best-selling author Reich (Rules of Betrayal) brings espionage to the New York Stock Exchange. Bewildered by a text message that was sent to him by his estranged father right before his sudden death, Bobby, head of the investment firm Comstock Partners, launches an investigation which entangles him in a conspiracy plot against an unknown U.S. target. Meanwhile, Bobby's ex-wife Alex, a supervisory special agent and head of CT-26, finds an investigation of an arms smuggler in Long Island leading her into the very same conspiracy. The story is propelled forward by short, fast-paced chapters which keep the reader's eyes glued to the page. Reich is akin to Dan Brown in that he has an everyman hero uncover an extravagant conspiracy. But unlike Brown, who weaves art history lessons into his narratives, Reich includes financial tutorials instead, which are much less interesting and harder to follow. Fortunately, the story is still enjoyable whether or not one understands the exact monetary stakes at play. (Dec.)