This book is a prequel of sorts to the author's first book, A Conspiracy of Paper. The main character, Miguel Lienzo, having escaped Spain and the Inquisition, is the trader of the title and an ancestor of the protagonist in the aforementioned first book. Living in Amsterdam, in 1659, with other displaced Jews, he is now able to practice his religion. To ply his trade, he often crosses lines set by the Ma'amad, the group of elected leaders in the Jewish community who set lifestyle rules and protect the community from anyone wishing to do them harm.

Having lost his funds and ruined his reputation in a deal gone wrong, Miguel is forced to live in his brother's flood-prone basement, a bad situation made worse by the enmity between the brothers and by Miguel's growing affection for his brother's wife. So, when a Dutch widow he's befriended wants to partner with him in a scheme to make a fortune in trading the new drink made from coffee berries, Miguel agrees, setting in motion a twisty endeavor full of intrigue and betrayal.

I haven't really read historical fiction set in this time period, so it made for an interesting read. And Lisss's pacing and plot twists kept me turning pages. ( )

Awesome book. I couldn't wait to find out the ending. If you love historical fiction you will love this. ( )

I hate when a good friend recommends a book to you, loans it to you, and then you don't like it. Unfortunately, that was the case this time, and I really don't think I can break it to her.

The story takes place in 17th century Amsterdam and focuses on a merchant, Miguel. Miguel faces a lot of problems - - he's in debt, he lives in his brother's basement, and he has enemies. He needs to make money and based on a tip he receives, he decides that manipulating coffee futures is the way to do it. Coffee futures. Does that sound like an exciting basis for a mystery? I assure you, it is not.

What follows is an incredibly overwraught tale. Every character in the book is truly despicable - LIARS - - the whole lot of them. There is no one to root for. Miguel is the protagonist, but it's not like he's a good guy either. At first you have some sympathy for him, but by the end, you realize he's just as bad as all the rest.

The plot is relentlessly complicated and involves a LOT of financial doings. I'm familiar with stocks, commodities, and futures, but that doesn't mean I find them scintillating and suspenseful. There is a clever plot twist at the end, but it wasn't clever enough to flog through the rest of the book. Not by a long shot. And the whole plotting was so complex that I had to read the last two chapters twice to make sure I really understood the twist.

I actually own Liss' more well known book, A Conspiracy of Paper, and I picked it up and put it right back down because it didn't grab me. Because a friend really wanted me to read The Coffee Trader, I did. But I really wish I hadn't. ( )

Amsterdam, 1659. En la primera bolsa de valores del mundo, la riqueza se hace y se pierde en un instante. Miguel Lienzo, un hábil comerciante de la comunidad judía de origen portugués, lo ha perdido todo por el repentino hundimiento del mercado del azúcar. Obligado a vivir de la caridad de su mezquino hermano, está dispuesto a hacer lo que sea por cambiar su suerte. En contra de las reglas de la comunidad judía, decide asociarse con la seductora Geertruid en un osado plan para monopolizar el tráfico de una nueva mercancía: el café. Para triunfar, Miguel tendrá que arriesgarlo todo y poner a prueba los límites de su astucia; al tiempo que se enfrenta a un enemigo que no se detendrá con tal de verlo caer.

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