Stephen Frey, The Chairman

The Chairman

Stephen Frey

Random House, Apr 2005, $21.95, 320 pp.

ISBN: 0345457609

With the accidental death of founder Bill Donovan, Everest Capital selects thirty-six-year-old Christian Gillette to replace him. Christian won the CEO seat by a razor-thin margin over Bill's heir apparent Troy Martin. After a funeral ceremony at a church, Christian's driver opens the door of the limousine to let him in when the vehicle explodes, killing the chauffeur and a female passerby.

Christian wonders who amongst his rivals, (Troy, Ben Cohen, and Nigel Faraday) would want him removed in such a hostile manner. He rules out the family-oriented Ben who is too into the weeds. He eliminates Troy because he believes the culprit murdered Bill and Troy knew that it was a matter of time before his mentor would retire. However, as he takes charge of the firm now trusting no one, he realizes the assailant is trying to destroy Everest Capital; even with private investigator Tom McGuire and his firm on the case, it appears the offender will succeed in obliterating the company and perhaps killing the new CEO.

More a cat-and-mouse suspense tale than a finance thriller, THE CHAIRMAN is an exciting boardroom novel. The ruthless cutthroat (in this case literally) between inside rivals insures that the audience understands the golden rule is do unto others before they do unto you. Thus, Christopher don't call me Chris anymore is a cold person whose life motto is trust no one; this mantra actually gets him in deeper trouble as he must rely on others like McGuire if he to live, let alone save the company. Stephen Frey continues to be the chairman of the board when it comes to dirty, deadly practices on Wall St.

Harriet Klausner