Esther Larsen works as a bank analyst and foresees something on the horizon in the financial banking world. But as a loner how can she let others know of the impending doom on the global economy? How can she fight against the big banks and the status quo of how they do business which puts many global citizens in financial jeopardy? Where can she find anyone who will listen and help her get the word out?

This was an eye opener on how banks do business with our money and it wasn't a pleasant one. Definitely gives readers food for thought even if it's a fiction book. ( )

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to Bethany House for this opportunity!

This was hard to read although the author did his best to explain what was going on. By the end, I could understand well what the problem was but I still feel as though I missed a lot.

This is also some sort of a Christian book, just a warning if it bothers you. The thematic wasn't too present, aside from a few mentions of the Book of Esther, one character studying Theology and people going to church.

So, Esther works as a risk analyst for a big bank and she knows that the crisis of 2008 taught nothing to the big men. She can even demonstrate through calculations how the world is walking towards a crash thanks to the greed of the the financial institutions. As she finally notices she has friends, she decides to take a stand and blow the whistle. However, the threat might be closer than she thinks.

I have no idea of economics, aside from what I researched for my master's thesis, when the focus was more on extradition of those economic criminals. The book doesn't go the criminal investigation route as I expected, so I had to learn a lot to understand the big issue presented. I mean, understanding "the world is about to enter another crisis" wasn't enough to see Esther's reasons for acting. This made me just nod and wait for more than half of the story.

At least I finally got it. Or some of it.

The main character wasn't very relatable but I won't say I disliked her either. Her feelings were just too abrupt. She often has no time to hear about her brother, whom you know she loves above all, and suddenly she's hugging everyone even though she was a loner for all her life. I couldn't figure her character very well but I liked how she wasn't as stereotypical as I expected from her introduction and she had a good evolution through the story, even if some developments were that sudden.

The romance was far from sappy. Again, I also think it developed too out of the blue. You can see the guy was cast to be her romantic interest. There are no cheesy scenes of them that I can remember of. Unless you count her bonding with his teenager daughters... that was the biggest cliche of all. And yet, I liked how heartwarming the scenes were.

As for the main plot, I wouldn't have started with that big "the world is coming to an end" threat, as I felt it was too big to be really scary. The main issue, which is gradually revealed felt much more interesting though. As the summary mentions, you do wonder how much is truly fiction—so scary. I think the problem was choosing the right way to start, introduce, engage the reader.

Unfortunately, by the time it picked rhythm, I was already too disconnected. Had this been a leisure reading, I might have abandoned the book. On the bright side, disregarding the incessant economics lectures, the writing was very easy to read through—had he opted for a less clean narration, I would have abandoned it even if it meant I couldn't write an apprehensive review.

I feel this book could appeal to those who understand a little more of economics. Also, I kept getting some Michael Crichton vibes. On the other hand, I'm a fan of Crichton's and it still wasn't my thing. At last, I feel this brings good themes for a discussion on the economy and liberalism. In fact, many parts sounded perfect for me to quote in my thesis, albeit this being a fiction read. ( )

Title: The Domino Effect
Author: Davis Bunn
Goodreads synopsis:
A Financial Thriller That Will Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Seats
Esther Harding, a leading risk analyst at one of the country's largest banking institutions, is becoming more and more convinced that she has uncovered a ticking bomb with the potential to overshadow 2008's market crash. And as her own employer pursues "investment" strategies with ever-increasing levels of risk, she becomes convinced she must do something. Yet what can one person really do?
The markets are edging closer to a tipping point--like the teetering first domino in a standing row that circles the globe. And when Esther does sound the alarm, she wonders if anyone will take her seriously. But as public support grows for her ideas, so does the desperation of those whose conspiracy of greed she seeks to expose. With global markets on the brink, and her own life in danger, Esther is locked in a race with the clock to avert a worldwide financial meltdown.
This fast-paced suspense novel will make you wonder where the fiction ends and reality begins. . . .
Endorsement
"Davis Bunn applies his deft hand to "The Domino Effect" with the grace and mastery his dedicated fans have come to expect. . . ."--Jerry B. Jenkins

The Good:
This was a very suspenseful book. Once you get into it, it is really difficult to put it down. This book comes at a time when a lot of people, probably most people, are very concerned about the state of our country and all of our futures. The timing of this makes it very easy to relate to.
I also was drawn in by Esther’s personal issues, and the ghosts of her past, and how she coped with them. I felt as though she really matured with the story, I love seeing progress in the characters. I enjoyed all of the characters in this book; they were all well developed and were quite complex as well as relatable. That is what kept me going when I got bogged down with technical jargon of the banking world.

The Bad:
At times I found it difficult to follow along because they were talking in bank and mathematical terms that I don’t know, however, it was usually explained when a “more common” person in the story gets just as confused as I did.
I also found it a little difficult to get into, probably because this is about the stock market, something I don’t follow, and a genius analyst, which I have nothing in common with. Therefore, I could not connect right away. Before too long however, I was able to get into the story and move past it.

Conclusion:
This book is very good. I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone, however, anybody who is into mathematics, the banking industry, or who is looking for a different type of thriller would enjoy this book.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review* ( )

"The status quo no longer worked.
"Remaining silent, not speaking, that was what had weighed her down the most… More than the risks the bank currently exposed itself to. Her time of remaining on the sidelines and simply observing was over."

As a risk analyst for a large banking institution, Esther Larsen sees a financial crisis coming that will hit the global markets and crash the US dollar. But going public about an international conspiracy will put her life in danger in The Domino Effect, a novel by Davis Bunn.

Plenty of readers have their go-to, “I’ll read anything with his/her name on it” authors. Davis Bunn is one of those authors for me. I’ve come to expect a clear level of mastery while reading his novels; this one was no different, and I got what I expected with this well-told story.

I’ve seen it described as a “financial thriller,” and while I felt it to be more of a suspense novel throughout than a thriller, I did find the climax quite thrilling. Plus, the story isn’t all schemes and intrigues without heart. My own heart was warmed and wrenched as Esther had to navigate both the old and new human connections in her life.

Now, I’ll admit that numbers aren’t one of my top interests. While it’s true that fiction gets me to delve into some topics I don’t naturally gravitate toward, I found it difficult to stay interested during the stretches of technical explanations in this book. It felt more to me like reading a finance textbook or an economics periodical than a novel during those parts. The true-to-life warning here about global economics is impossible to miss, though.

Another good, suspenseful read from this ChristFic author that I think many fellow readers will find worthwhile.
______________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. ( )

Before I go into my review I want to let those of you who are not savvy in the arena of the stock market and investment banking know that you should keep reading this review and then pick up The Domino Effect. Davis Bunn has provided a great education and a needed warning in an understandable and exciting way. I truly feel that you will enjoy the ride. Now onto the review.

Davis Bunn’s novel The Domino Effect is absolutely thrilling and frightening. A warning of the probable future of the global economy if drastic action isn’t taken. In the financial arena, Bunn knows what he is talking about. His bio states that “after completing degrees in international economics and finance in the United States and England, Davis became a business executive working in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.” He understands the global impact of our current banking methodology.

Some people live and breathe mathematical constructs and have an intuitive understanding of investment banking and the stock market. Others work hard to learn how to manage their investments. Then there are those like me… admittedly illiterate. There is a long list of concepts and terms in The Domino Effect that I honestly knew almost nothing about, but should have. My husband and I entrust the professionals to take care of our families investments. This may or may not be the best way but investment banking is confusing to us. I’m still not going to manage my own portfolio but Bunn has taken those concepts and terms that are crazy complicated in my mind and made them understandable without dumbing down the material. He has provided me with a greater understanding of our national economy and its interconnectedness with the global economy.

Lest you think that The Domino Effect is just a tome on the stock market and international banking you need to know that The Domino Effect is a thrilling ride. It is chock full of danger and intrigue. It is also a story of acceptance, friendship, and healing.

The Domino Effect is Christian fiction but the Christianity is very subtle. It is a book that you could give to a non-Christian friend and they wouldn’t feel preached to. It isn’t an evangelistic book. The Domino Effect is a creative modern adaptation of the biblical book of Esther. Through the life and actions of the fictional strategic analyst Esther, Bunn takes the frenetic modern world of investment banking and applies parallels to the biblical story and person of Esther. Both are women who feel out of time and place yet find their purpose; a purpose that has an electric effect upon a nation.

“Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 ESV as quoted in The Domino Effect

Read The Domino Effect. Enjoy the action and intrigue. Understand the dominoes and the disaster that would follow that metaphorical tipping of the first one.

I received a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. My thanks to the author and publisher.

For all of my reviews visit my blog at www (dot) blessedandbewildered (dot) com ( )