I didn't understand all the financial narration about the NYSE, the markets moving up and down, but the plot line and the setting was intriguing. I'm now reading Reich's first book and will probably read through his list. They are suspenseful and the financial aspect is different and interesting. ( )

The Prince of Risk is a classic plot: the Chinese will take over the United States and the World through cunning, deception and terrorism. It smacks of the Yellow Peril. The basis for this take over is control over the country’s finances. Sound familiar?

Although this thriller is well written and well-plotted, it just didn’t capture my interest. In fact, it took me three weeks to read it - not a good quality for a thriller. I think that we just weren’t a good fit, but it is a good book. Guess that hedge funds and risking hundreds of millions of dollars on whether the yen will rise or fall is just too remote for me.

The dialogue is clever and the the characters well developed. Lots of famous players join the party: the FBI, Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, the White House, the CIA, Chinese Triads, the French Foreign Legion, Silicon Valley and scary computer Geeks. There are secret messages to track down, close calls and even cool tricked-out cars. The ending is tidy and fair. Not a bad book, just not my cup of tea. ( )

A fast paced book that was a little too rushed with something big constantly happening -- especially toward the end. The bit about Astor being a superhero -- being stabbed to the bone and then fingernails pulled out and yet kept on as if nothing happened was dumb. ( )

Great book!! I have read some of Mr. Reich's earlier books, and decided to give this a try, now I can't understand why I stopped reading him!!! This book gives a good insight of the financial markets plus throws in a good mystery and suspenseful plot which serve to keep the reader engaged!!! Can't wait to find some more Christopher Reich books to read!

I received The Prince of Risk by Christopher Reich free from Goodreads in exchange for a book review.

I have read a number of Christopher Reich's book and have always enjoyed them. The Prince of Risk is no exception. It's a rollicking joyride of a financial thriller. As usual, the financial aspects of the novel work better than the characterizations and interpersonal dialogue. The relationship that comes across best is the one between the protagonist, New York City hedge-fund manager Bobby Astor, and his right-hand man and best friend, Marv Shank:

Shank: You're sure?
Astor: Do you want me to pinkie swear?
Shank: Screw you. Shows what I get for caring.
Astor: If you want a friend...
Both: Buy a dog.

It might not be deep but it does come off as classic Wall Street bravado and very much in character for two old hands ruling over a successful hedge fund.

There was also a line between the two of them that I found amusing. When Astor decided to try to investigate his father's murder, Shank accused him of thinking he was Harry Bosch. A name familiar to mystery fans since that's Michael Connelly's lead character in his LA based detective series. I love when authors do shout outs like that though I realize some folk find it cheesey.

The plot is fast paced and quite enjoyable. From the conspiracy oriented start when 4 prominent men from the world of finance, including Bobby Astor's father, President of the New York Stock Exchange, are mysteriously killed while on their way to inform the President of the United States of a national threat to multinational corporations being used as building blocks in a diabolical plot this book rocks the way you'll view the world. ( )