The Capitol Game

I found the book OK until the government agency character "Mia" entered the picture. Her bullish and bullying disregard for others made me stop reading the book 3/4 the way through. Just too American for my tastes.

Brian Haig has shifted gears and given his readers an outstanding "financial" thriller. It makes me harken back to President Eisenhower's warning about the "military-industrial complex." The story is well written, and meticulously researched. Although I miss Sean Drummond, I was captivated by the plot. It's got everything....graft, corruption, politics, big business, defense contracts, etc. My only criticism is that I wish the book had been centered more around Jack Wiley - because I want to learn more about this guy. I suspect we might get that opportunity in Haig's next effort.

I've read them all and this was his best. I enjoyed Sean Drummond but he was getting worn out. The new plot and characters weren't predictable nor boring. I rather liked the way he spun the story. Sean Drummond was a fast talking army officer with a quick dialogue. He is probably like his creator, Brian Haig. I hope so anyway. It took a lot of research to write CG. Had to know a lot about finance as well as politics. I think it was done quite well and hope he will hitch hike on these characters for future books. Way to go Brian!

There are three things that you can count on Brian Haig to do for you in each and every one of his novels: Enlighten You, Entertain You, and Enthrall You. And, with The Capitol Game, Brian has not only done it again (in spades) but he's actually managed to improved upon his brand. As the title suggests, his story is an ultra-fast-paced tale of double deal and dirty deal in the Shining City on the Hill, our nation's capitol. Jack Wiley is an ambitious young master of the universe who happens upon an opportunity that seems to be too good to be true and he decides to seize upon it. As Haig details the art of the deal, Jack enlists the Capitol Group, the world's largest and most secretive private equity firm, to be his partners in acquiring a small New Jersey chemical company that has developed a new product that could potentially land it the richest and most important Pentagon contract of all time and make the company's worth a thousand-fold what it is today. But, as Haig unfold his tale of unfriendly takeover - with an unfailing eye for detail and a verisimilitude that only a true insider could provide and a wit and style too few thriller writers are capable of - we come to realize that things that seem to be too good to be true often are, and we swept along trying to figure out exactly what the rules of the Capitol Game are and who exactly is in charge. This may well be one of the most entertaining thrillers since John Grisham's "The Firm" and far more timely!

At Caldron Security equity firm, no one has risen to the ranks of partner and senior vice president as fast as Jack Wiley has. The Wall Street guru thinks he has a great deal to set up as Arvan Chemicals is ripe for the taking. Jack approaches the Capitol Group with the opportunity to purchase Arvan to gain hold of their patent that enables the painting of polymer coating to make combat vehicles impenetrable. The company legally owning the product will make billions as the Pentagon will save so much more by not having as much replacement buys. The Capitol Group takes over Arvan; however harvesting the return on investment in a short turnaround proves unmanageable as the Pentagon investigates in order to find a civilian to take the incoming hit. The Capital Game will be short-listed as one of the best financial thrillers of the year. The key to this super tale is the deal as Brian Haig escorts the grateful reader through a critical path analysis leading to the project failure and the blame game as the top brass at the defense Department, Caldron Security and the Capitol Group need a fall guy to pin the tail onto the donkey. This is a winning suspense laden tale. Harriet Klausner

Just when you thought you couldn't love venture capitalists any more than you do comes this tale of obscene greed and institutional amorality. Jack Wiley is a slick deal maker, tough and aggressive, and he's got a proposal that will make billions for the former Washington elite who make up the Capitol Group. A small company in New Jersey has formulated a polymer that can repel heavy artillery when painted on military vehicles. The problem is the company is on the brink of bankruptcy. All the Capitol Group needs to do is move in and take over, paving the way for nearly unlimited government contracts. Washington lawmakers are primed and the legislative road is greased. This is one high octane thriller that unfortunately rings true. The plotting is intricate and the pace is relentless. You really don't want to miss this one.