The Protege

Christian Gillette, a multimillionaire and succesful CEO of Everest Capital is get caught up in a conspiracy when he received a proposal of a FBI agency to use one of his companies like a cover up to develop "some inventions" in the nanotechnology sector. As Gillette went deepening in his investigatiion about this proposal, he find out that his person and company are victims of a very dangerous conspiracy on the part of that FBI agency that doesn't hesitate to use the Mafia as their executioners in the blackmail, murder and deceits to carry out their purposes. A very dynamic novel developed in the world of the high finances with intrigues, industrial espionage, conspiracy and murders as main ingredients of the plot.

Generally a good read. I have read more than 6 of S. Frey's novels and have personally rated most of them excellent. Business oriented, fast paced have kept my interest. Appreciate many of his books are in large print, while expensive, make for easy reading. The Protege is a little bit of a stretch but the ending came quickly. Keep writing and I'll keep buying.

At some point over the last couple of years Stephen Frey made the transition over to my list of "must read" authors. Frey writes what might be best characterized as "financial thrillers." He has been toiling in this field for some years now, and it is somewhat ironic that while publishers are currently seeking "large concept" novels, Frey has been ahead of that particular curve for years. I mean, what concept could be larger than moving around huge amounts of money to someone else's detriment? What is great, fabulous and wonderful about Frey is his ability to render a concept that could be boring in lesser hands completely riveting. And he is at his absolute best to date with his new novel. THE PROTÉGÉ heralds the welcome return of Christian Gillette, first introduced in THE CHAIRMAN. Gillette is the endearingly ruthless Chairman of Everest Capital, New York's most successful private equity firm. A master at multi-tasking, Gillette is in the middle of taking Everest --- and himself --- to even greater heights when he is approached by an enigmatic stranger with a cryptic proposition. The man, a representative of a shadowy government agency, offers Gillette what is possibly the only thing that means more to him than money: information about his mother --- a woman he never knew --- and the real cause behind his beloved father's suspicious death. All Gillette has to do is permit one of Everest's many companies to be used as a "cut out" to mask the agency's development of a nanotechnology project with significant repercussions for national security. While Gillette is weighing his options, he has other problems to consider. David Wright, his brilliant and aggressive young protégé, has been acting increasingly erratic. Unbeknownst to Gillette, Wright is being blackmailed --- and he is paying not in money, but in information about Gillette and Everest. Meanwhile, Allison Wallace, a freewheeling heiress of a large investing family, has bought her way into a place at the table of Everest, ostensibly for the purpose of learning the private equity business. Wallace, however, appears to have an agenda that goes beyond simply learning the ropes. The plot takes a stunning turn when seemingly random events connect, with potentially dire consequences for Gillette and Everest. Gillette suddenly and inexplicably finds himself pursued by the mob, law enforcement and government agents --- with no one to rely on but himself. While the reader can bet on Gillette, half the fun of the book is following him as he extricates himself from a seemingly inescapable trap. Frey is masterful throughout, rendering the complex immediately understandable while spinning a compelling tale of how the rich get richer, but at a cost. THE PROTÉGÉ ends with at least a couple of loose ends that undoubtedly will be addressed, if not resolved, in future Gillette novels. Hopefully THE PROTÉGÉ will be Frey's breakthrough novel, giving him the audience his work deserves. Recommended. --

Fun, Fast Moving. I am really surprised that Stephen Frey doesn't sell more books. I wouldn't put him in the category of James Patterson but he is close. The best Financial Thriller I can find!

Mr. Frey has done a ecellent job with this book it is the continuation from the previous book " The Chairman " I would definitely recommend that you read that book first. Be forewarned that if you continue with this reveiw i will be giving away some info from the chairman book. Christian Gillette is saga continues in this work of fiction,he is the CEO of Everest Capital a private equity fund Mr. gillette assumed this position after the founder and former chairman is killed in a plot to takeover Everst Capital there was a attempt on christian life also but was foiled. The chairman seems to have everything going for him he is one of the youngest Ceo has just put the finishing touchs on the biggest private equity funds ever 15 billion dollars, named one of the top fifty bachelors in peoples magazine and has a hot popstar girlfriend and of course all kinds of money. But they do not realize all the stress and problems that come with running this firm. But mr. gillette has some help with a real up and comer David wright who is on his way to becoming partner but unknown to christian david has a dark secret that could prove to be the demise of he equity funds. Then there is Allison Wallace who comes from a mega-rich family who wants to invest 5 billion into the new fund with the stipulation that Allison is made a partner, she seems hell bent on being the next Ceo. Christian is also approached by a couple of men from a secret goverment agency who want to hide a company that is specializing in nanotechnology research in one of the companies owned by Everst Capital and in exchange for this they will deliverinfromation on the suspicious plane crash that resulted in the death of his U.S. Senator father and they all so have information on his the where abouts of his birth mother. All these events are on a collsion course along with other events that make this book really moving it seems that a few too many story lines but they are brought together in a real well. SO give this a read but again i recommend that you read The Chairman first.