Suppose There Is Nothing: A Wall Street Mystery

Near the start of this snappy mystery from Ross (The Last Crimes of Charles Mistinguett), stockbroker John McCarthy, who works for the Wall Street firm of Magee & Temple, leaves a Christmas party in Manhattan’s financial district just as a woman plummets to her death in front of him. Margaret Bird was a partner at a failed firm who had recently split from her fiancé, so suicide seems entirely plausible, until John discovers a flash drive from her in his coat pocket. He’s able to get the files from the drive decrypted, but they are only six large but unlabeled spreadsheets. John can’t help digging deeper, involving Investor’s Week editor Saul Kripsky and NYPD homicide detective Thomas Marcus. John’s quest for answers also touches on the lives of his actress wife, Robin Miller, and some of her friends connected to the financial world. Ross generates an enjoyable noir vibe with his snarky hero. He has also crafted a fine puzzle that doesn’t require a deep understanding of high finance to appreciate. [em]Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. (June) [/em]