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The Insiders Reviews
Read a few of the wonderful things people had to say...
The Insiders is the kind of book that will have you pondering for weeks after you finish reading. The plot and the characters are dynamic and entertaining, with all of the mystery and complexity one could ask for in a mid-sized novel. But the substance of the tale, and the reason it was written, I am guessing, is something of a call to arms. This is a story about exposing the elusive, entrenched, corrupt vested interests at the very top of our economic system. This task presents a tremendous challenge for the heroes in the book, with every sort of evil means being employed by the insiders conspiracy to to dissuade and destroy them. The unfolding process is fun and exciting because it's fiction, but it also lays bare the true-to-life methods and motives of these evil manipulators. The book is therefore a sort of indictment of our broken financial system, which rapes the producing classes and rewards the conspiring financiers. The reality of this problem is something that is pressing and relevant, and will remain to be dealt with long after the last page is turned. This awareness will stay with you and keep you in thought, and it will also make you yearn for the sequel. I read the book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. It has a sort of Brad Thor, Tom Clancy feel to it, as the anatgonist behave at times like greedy businessmen, at other times as the mafia or as domestic terrorists. What else can I say? Buy it and read it.
Tyler Rollins - Oklahoma, USA
I'm not a great fan of fiction but Craig Hickman's writing style knocked me out. While I had to stop reading occasionally, I couldn't wait to get back to the story and find out what was going to happen next. Maybe it's about timing or maybe it's about the times, but this story was so compelling, it was disturbing. As the drama began to escalate, I began to formulate my expectations, and Craig didn't disappoint. That said, once I was thoroughly engaged and freely predicting outcomes, snap...another twist...a persuasive, embedded twist, that pulled me in even deeper. This complex tale of corporate corruption, stock manipulation, and the ravenous greed of the super rich entertains from start to finish. The truth is, I'm not sure what the truth is. Craig's thought provoking story telling had me interchanging reality with fiction, his characters with today's headlines, and the story's ending with a forewarning of our future. A must read...well done Craig, and thanks for the thrills!
George Vroustouris - Chicago, IL
Craig Hickman's "The Insiders" is an innovative and imaginative book, is one of the most enthralling, engrossing and fastest reads I have experienced in years, not decades. The twists, turns, and obvious knowledge of information to make up the plot, redefines "page turner that can't be put down." I have recommended "The Insiders" to friends, family and strangers. If you like fast paced, exciting reads, buy and read "The Insiders" before the movie comes out. Odds are that Hollywood will take out the good parts to get what should be an eight hour, uninterrupted mini series into a two shell of the book.
J. Spencer Maus - Chicago, IL
Fasten your seatbelts. The Insiders is a wild ride, but a thrilling one that is well worth taking.
I'm a long-time fan of Craig Hickman's non-fiction business writing, so I was very anxious to read his fiction debut. Although many authors struggle heartily with the move from non-fiction to fiction, Hickman's transition is seamless. With The Insiders, Craig Hickman emerges onto the fiction scene with a vengeance. I hope that we'll be reading much more fiction from Hickman in the (very near) future.
The Insiders grabs you in its opening scene and won't release you until its final pages. This thriller has it all - the suspense, the romance, and the plot twists that provoke and surprise throughout. Although I read it in just a few sittings (it was very hard to put down), its themes run deep. You'll continue to ponder its messages long after the book is retired to your bookshelf.
Although the book jacket says that this novel was in the making for a decade, The Insiders couldn't be more relevant in today's troubled times. As we watch financial markets crumble around us, we're searching for answers and insight - how could this all happen? In these uncertain times, The Insiders reveals what can happen when the financial elite are allowed to usurp disproportionate power and play it to their personal advantage.
Hickman creates a consistently compelling, thoroughly convincing, and ultimately frightening portrayal of what happens when greed, pride, and revenge become all consuming. To avoid spoiling the plot, suffice it to say that the personal toll is exceptional. Although fictional, his story clearly tests the boundaries of fact and fiction; one can't help but believe that the scenario Hickman creates might actually unfold in the real world.
Hickman's debut engages both head and heart. Hickman's extensive business experience enables him to create a convincing foundation for his thriller. But what makes The Insiders stand head-and-shoulders above the crowded field of thriller novels is a superior, suspenseful plot and rich, well-developed set of characters that engage your heart. It is rare to accomplish this. It is especially exciting and surprising to see this achieved in a writer's fiction debut.
S. Cook
A Must Read
Hickman has created a first class thriller with the intrigue, action, plot twists and characters you would expect from Ludlum or Grisham, but he didn't follow the typical formula. I love both these authors, and with this book, Craig Hickman has proven to be in the same league. The characters are delicious and woven into a complex story told masterfully. The Insiders plot is very realistic, and timely. In fact, in many ways this story and the characters are more realistic than the heroes in many other best sellers. The twists of plot provide surprises and first-rate mystery, but good foreshadowing is there, if you are good enough to catch the clues. (I missed some, and contemplated other clues) There are no absurd character changes of mild mannered hero to instant Rambo, yet the thrills and action are very much a part of the story. The ending is strong, and wraps up in a way to satisfy the reader with realism and solid finish, but leaves just enough trail for the next in the franchise. Having just read Grisham's latest I couldn't help but compare. The Insiders is better, and I love Grisham's work. Bravo Mr. Hickman. Keep them coming.
Fred Ashman - Writer / Director
An impossible book to put down. This is one of my favorite books!! I would highly recommend this for a book club reading as you have a need to discuss many aspects of this book when you are finished. Craig Hickman has a brilliant style of writing. Obviously, a lot of thought and research went into this novel.
The Insiders is a compelling must read book! Once opened, this book will not easily be put down. I hope this does become a movie as other reviewers mentioned! I am waiting anxiously for a sequel!
Cindy Dodson
An exciting, well written, and entertaining thriller with lively and engaging characters, Hickman has done a great job setting the tone and plotting of this work. The Insiders is destined to delight a broad audience of mystery/thriller aficionados, but also readers of general fiction, especially in these tumultuous economic times. The premise of the story is very compelling: innocent man gets sucked into a dark conspiracy against his will, but triumphs anyway. However, any generic quality is minimized by the presence of a substantial mystery element and strong formulaic characters. When it comes to mysteries and thrillers, formula rules. The Insiders hits all the basics right on cue. And in a crowded thriller market, we know how difficult it is to find an original angle for a story that has not been done to death. Happily, Hickman manages to find one. The fun in this story lies not in the predictable deaths, kidnappings, and betrayals (though they are enormously fun), but rather in the complexity of the characters'interrelationships and the machinery of the conspiracy. These two elements alone make this story stand out in the crowd.
The book's tone has an ominous, threatening, and ever-darker feel that builds expectation and tension. Hickman maintains this tone consistently throughout the story and that makes for an engrossing and unencumbered experience for readers. This is a huge strength when it comes to fiction, but this also speaks to Hickman's easy and accessible writing style. And the plot is wonderfully complex and interdependent. Besides the overarching conspiracy of the secret partners and their capitalistic Darwinism, Hickman artfully weaves in the personal and financial machinations of Wilson's company and all the mergers and backroom deals surrounding J. B. Musselman and KaneWeller. The story would work nicely just with the corporate intrigue alone, but Hickman artfully weaves in a larger mystery that incorporates a more conventional plotline of corporate and political scheming. This is great stuff, readers will lap it up.
Hickman's characters are full and engaging. They stand out as individuals and the reader has no problem keeping everybody straight. The surrogate (if contentious) father-son relationship that develops between Carter and Wilson is particularly engaging and really forms the emotional heart of the story. This is more than a love story between Wilson and Emily. It is really a father-son story. Character dialogue is authentic and convincing. Hickman's ability to keep each of the characters unique and individual is masterful. And the story's setting is inspired. The world Hickman's characters populate is timely, relevant, and rich. There are not a lot of books that have ventured into this particular world. Hickman's foray is well executed and nicely done. In the end, this story is an original take on a familiar formula, but the world Hickman creates is so unusual and the characters are so engaging that whatever familiarity readers may have with the formula will not be a deterrent to the enjoyment of the material. The Insiders is destined to become a bestseller.
A. K. Mathew - New York, NY
Very applicable to what you read in todays headlines, Craig Hickman shows a lot of insight and expertise as he tells a very compelling story. It starts out fast and has you hanging onto your seat as it does nothing but pick up steam. I have already recommended this book to many in my family and highly recommend it to anyone else looking for a good read. I just hope that there is a sequel in the works.
Kent Kingston - Seattle, WA
Like intrgue? Pick up The Insiders and you won't want to put it down! The author is an expert in business and leadership and weaves a story of truth about the abuse of power in business and government that is hard to accept. Integrating historical references provides a sense of reality. The potential for reversing corruption through strengthened individual and instutional accountability provides hope in the future. An entertaining read, The Insiders, is also a call for change. If you want to delve beyond the front page news, read The Insiders -- it is an eye opener.
Sheryl Dawson - Houston, TX
I LOVED this book. The character development was enthralling, the plot was mesmerizing, and the message was profound. I was sad when I was almost finished reading The Insiders because it was so addictive. I hope to see more from this writer, and honestly believe The Insiders would make a great movie. It is laden with potential truths about corporate corruption and manipulation.
Don't miss the great experience of the journey within The Insiders.
K. Heiting - Chicago, IL
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