This is the third novel, and fourth book, that I have read this year dealing with the global financial crisis (the others being [Capital] and [Whoops] by [[John Lanchester]] and [Other People's Money] by [[Justin Cartwright]]), and they have all been immensely enjoyable.
Torday brings the light touch that rendered his debut novel [Salmon Fishing In The Yemen] so engaging, though he deals with serious, often tragic issues. The novel is narrated by Hector "Eck" Chetwode-Talbot, an ex-public schoolboy who had resigned his commission in one of the "better regiments" in the Army during the mid 2000s following an unfortunate incident in Afghanistan. Having dabbled briefly in the private security world he found himself being offered a position as a "greeter" for Mountwilliam and Partners, a private bank offering complex investment mechanisms for wealthy clients to generate huge income with limited exposure to tax. Although he knows very little about the details of these accounts Eck is very good at buttering up the right sort of client for Bilbo Mountwilliam to ply his wares to.
All goes well for two or three years and Eck finds his own fortunes waxing along with those of his firm. He decides to go for a golfing holiday in France with Lord Henry Newark, an old schoolfriend who might just be looking for the sort of investment opportunity that Mountwilliam and Partners might be able to offer.. While discussing some of the preliminaries over a couple of drinks in a village square they are accosted by Charlie Summers, a dissolute and downbeat English ex-pat who asks them for a light and joins in their conversation. This chance meeting will have significant repercussions throughout the rest of the novel.
The humour is dry and understated but very telling, and Torday's simple portrayal of the unfettered risks that such investment schemes offered makes one wonder how anyone, let alone the so-called experts, could ever have failed to see the inevitable consequences..
All in all it was very entertaining, despite the gravity of the basic subject matter. ( )

When I began this book I felt worried that I wouldn't engage as I didn't like the characters and my eyes glazed over at talk of hedge funds. However very soon, the writer's voice became familiar and carried me along. Although the general plot was predictable, all shysters fall, the ending was not quite so. Once again Paul Torday takes a shot at the old wealthy British class. A quick entertaining read. ( )

I cannot rave about the writing of Paul Torday highly enough and both my husband and I can equally enjoy his work on different levels. This book follows the economic 'downturn' and explores the effect that money and loss of money have on people's lives and the consequences of greed. There are an array of some wonderful characters and the subject, although appearing heavy, is dealt with in a light and humorous way whilst making the reader think. Totally enjoyable and thought provoking. ( )

Eck, Charlie, traders going bust. Not nearly as good as his others, ( )

This is the fourth book by this author who seems to specialise in stories about men who are social misfits.The tale is narrated Eck who has featured in another of the author's books telling the tale of his acquaintance Charlie Summers. I wasn't sure that the structure worked in that the narrator was describing in detail events in the life of a man that he barely knew. This aside I thought that this was an enjoyable read with a poignant twist at the end. ( )