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ian230's review against another edition
1.0
I thought Ghost Writer was excellent, but this was poor from the start and unfortunately extremely obvious. A real shame as given his previous work I was expecting so much more. Would not advise others to read.
ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
5.0
Bought with a birthday coupon for Thalia from my mother, Antje, thanks!
Gekauft mit einem Geschenkgutschein von Antje zu meinem Geburtstag, danke!
Story is about a hedgefond which operates with computer generated AI trades.
Just as up-to-date near-SF as when it was published. A little knowledge about stock trades and computers does not hurt, but is imho not required to understand the implications and questions which the book asks. Heavy stuff.
Very highly recommended!
Gekauft mit einem Geschenkgutschein von Antje zu meinem Geburtstag, danke!
Story is about a hedgefond which operates with computer generated AI trades.
Just as up-to-date near-SF as when it was published. A little knowledge about stock trades and computers does not hurt, but is imho not required to understand the implications and questions which the book asks. Heavy stuff.
Very highly recommended!
david_donhoff's review against another edition
4.0
This started out *PAINFULLY* slow & drawn out... far too much character definition & scenario building, in my opinion, especially for a thriller.
Once it got into the market trading and culture it became far more interesting (to me, as a trader, anyway.)
The storyline is fun on its surface... but its unfortunate that the author didn't *REALLY* understand the underlying mechanical nature of algorithmic technical hedge trading sufficiently to build out an actually realistic scenario. Nonetheless, without providing a spoiler in this review, the unique angle is fun & somewhat worthy of exploration.
I listened to this via audio book... but I would recommend it in print so the reader can scan over the slow sections.
Once it got into the market trading and culture it became far more interesting (to me, as a trader, anyway.)
The storyline is fun on its surface... but its unfortunate that the author didn't *REALLY* understand the underlying mechanical nature of algorithmic technical hedge trading sufficiently to build out an actually realistic scenario. Nonetheless, without providing a spoiler in this review, the unique angle is fun & somewhat worthy of exploration.
I listened to this via audio book... but I would recommend it in print so the reader can scan over the slow sections.
amberrgreen's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mzmegara's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
yliimehenry's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️
Fast paced but a few things left unanswered and more depth was needed for the characters.
Fast paced but a few things left unanswered and more depth was needed for the characters.
jacki_f's review against another edition
2.0
Dr Alex Hoffman is an intensely private, brilliant physicist who has developed a series of algorithms capable of predicting, with uncanny accuracy, how stockmarkets will react to events. His investment company has made him - and others - a billionaire off the calculations of his artificially intelligent VIXAL-4 super-computer. He is happily (if somewhat improbably) married and has built his company with a partner who has the social skills that he lacks. One night Hoffman is awoken by the sound of an intruder in the house - the catalyst in a chain of events that over the next 24 hours will end some lives, cause those close to him to doubt his sanity and potentially may bring down the global economy.
It took a little while for this thriller to pull me in. The tension takes some time to build. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters, none of whom (with the possible exception of Hoffman) felt very believable. However it's deftly written and even as I started to work out parts of the plot and where the story might be going, other elements kept me guessing. It's a strange change of pace for Harris, reading more like a Michael Crichton novel than a Robert Harris one. It has the scientific edge that I associate with Crichton's books, it's highly topical and grounded in recent events. It's also very readable - I tore through it in a day. So where's the problem? It's more shallow than I expect Harris's writing to be. The plot doesn't have a massive twist, some some small kinks. I simply didn't care about any of the characters. I read it happily enough, but I don't think it will stay with me.
It took a little while for this thriller to pull me in. The tension takes some time to build. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters, none of whom (with the possible exception of Hoffman) felt very believable. However it's deftly written and even as I started to work out parts of the plot and where the story might be going, other elements kept me guessing. It's a strange change of pace for Harris, reading more like a Michael Crichton novel than a Robert Harris one. It has the scientific edge that I associate with Crichton's books, it's highly topical and grounded in recent events. It's also very readable - I tore through it in a day. So where's the problem? It's more shallow than I expect Harris's writing to be. The plot doesn't have a massive twist, some some small kinks. I simply didn't care about any of the characters. I read it happily enough, but I don't think it will stay with me.
agrdck20's review against another edition
3.0
This was an average financial thriller. I thought it started off really well, and built up the tension as expected, but got a little bit silly towards the end.
barrsfca's review against another edition
3.0
Fairly entertaining story about the stock market crash of 2010 and how an algorithm to gauge consumers' fear can go awry...I read this, coincidentally, after watching The Big Short, and it made me want to put all my meager savings under a mattress.