Power Play
by Joseph Finder
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 207)
Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
suspense, mystery, thriller, action, lovers
WOW -
Power Play is a clever, action packed read that’s firing on all cylinders…intelligent, intriguing and absolutely entertaining– a boardroom blockbuster that demands to be read in single sitting and leaves you breathless, yet wanting more.
When CEO, Peter Rawlings, suffers a fatal heart attack while golfing at Pebble Beach, Cheryl Tobin is named as his replacement. In Hammond Aerospace’s male dominated executive suite, this wrinkles more than a few oxford button downs. Then a...more
Power Play is a clever, action packed read that’s firing on all cylinders…intelligent, intriguing and absolutely entertaining– a boardroom blockbuster that demands to be read in single sitting and leaves you breathless, yet wanting more.
When CEO, Peter Rawlings, suffers a fatal heart attack while golfing at Pebble Beach, Cheryl Tobin is named as his replacement. In Hammond Aerospace’s male dominated executive suite, this wrinkles more than a few oxford button downs. Then a...more
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Read in August, 2008
At the last minute Jake Landry is asked, or rather required, to attend an "off-site" with the top executives of Hammond Aerospace Corporation. This comes as a bit of a surprise to Jake because he's far from a top executive. But he finds himself en route to this resort in Canada where there are no phones or computer lines, not even cell phone reception. And while he's in the lush, lavish company jet, he's summoned to the CEO's private quarters. Here he encounters an old girlfriend, Alli...more
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Just bought from Audible.com
What the Critics Say
"[This is Finder's:] most entertaining and compelling novel of adventure and intrigue yet." (Boston Globe)
Publisher's Summary
It's the perfect retreat for a troubled company. No cell phones. No BlackBerrys. No cars. Just a luxurious, remote lodge surrounded by thousands of miles of wilderness.
All the top officers of the Hammond Aerospace Corporation are there, plus one last-minute substitute: a junior executive named Jake...more
What the Critics Say
"[This is Finder's:] most entertaining and compelling novel of adventure and intrigue yet." (Boston Globe)
Publisher's Summary
It's the perfect retreat for a troubled company. No cell phones. No BlackBerrys. No cars. Just a luxurious, remote lodge surrounded by thousands of miles of wilderness.
All the top officers of the Hammond Aerospace Corporation are there, plus one last-minute substitute: a junior executive named Jake...more
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Finder, the CEO of the corporate thriller and the winner of the Best Thriller Novel from the International Thriller Writers for Killer Instinct, pens another winner in this tale that takes us out of the workplace and on to a corporate retreat for the top management of an airplane manufacturing company. One of the head honchos has a conflict, so he sends his assistant, Jake Landry, in his place. The retreat is at a very swanky lodge in British Columbia, but while the food and wine may be amazin...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in March, 2008
Wall Street Journal describes this book as "The action is swift ... keeps the plot bubbling and the pages turning." I agree!
I thought it was really good! I liked Jake - a multi-layered character with a great head on his shoulders After all he'd been through, he doesn't take to bullies, and I like how he deals with them.
I thought the plot different and never ending. Just when you think you know what's going on and who's behind it all, out pops something else that has you second-...more
I thought it was really good! I liked Jake - a multi-layered character with a great head on his shoulders After all he'd been through, he doesn't take to bullies, and I like how he deals with them.
I thought the plot different and never ending. Just when you think you know what's going on and who's behind it all, out pops something else that has you second-...more
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Read in March, 2008
Jake Landry is a junior executive for an aerospace company. Jake is the kind of guy who prides himself on flying beneath the radar; doing his job while keeping his head down and not drawing any undue attention to himself. At an unexpected meeting with one of the company bigwigs, Jake is "ordered" to attend a weekend retreat at the company’s offsite. The location is completely out of the way; complete with no cell phone reception or internet access. Once there, Jake is immediately...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
mature YA's, adults
Although this wasn't the best book I've ever listened to, it was entertaining. The plot isn't anything new either, kinda a rehash of things done and redone, but still, I enjoyed this book.
The reader did a fine job which always helps to keep my interest.
The reason I liked this book (the reason I like many books that are 'like' this one) is because it allows me to 'put myself in that situation' and ponder what it is I would do. I think maybe it's a guy thing. But I'd like to think all this ...more
The reader did a fine job which always helps to keep my interest.
The reason I liked this book (the reason I like many books that are 'like' this one) is because it allows me to 'put myself in that situation' and ponder what it is I would do. I think maybe it's a guy thing. But I'd like to think all this ...more
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Read in April, 2008
I typically like Joe Finder books. I've now read three (and I'll review them as I find time). The most recent one, Power Play was good... but the least favorite of the three.
Joe Finder typically writes corporate thrillers. This particular one involves an executive assistant with an airplane manufacturer. He is pressed into a trip with the very top executives of the company, where there is serious political turmoil... and more.
The love story feels forced, and the main character's back...more
Joe Finder typically writes corporate thrillers. This particular one involves an executive assistant with an airplane manufacturer. He is pressed into a trip with the very top executives of the company, where there is serious political turmoil... and more.
The love story feels forced, and the main character's back...more
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Read in February, 2008
Although less complex than Paranoia, this fast-paced thriller will keep you up 'til midnight, and ruin your work week. The premise is not new: a group of ordinary people being held at gunpoint, in an isolated location, by a gang of hardened criminals. However, the helpless captives are so realistic, real corporate types, that you can recognize them immediately. The story is limited in its viewpoint, but the protagonist, young Jake Landry, is a quick decision maker, who risks his life to save ...more
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Read in August, 2008
While I enjoyed the book, it didn't really kick in until half way through (which is why I only gave it four stars). I thought that the first half could have been made considerably shorter, as a lot of it didn't add anything to the story and went into lots of details about aircraft that wasn't necessary. That being said, when the story did get going, it was very good, with lots of tension. Good characterisation too, with the main character being fleshed out with back-story that revealed his early...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
readers who like corporate dramas or action stories
This is a fun, engaging novel "starring" a low- to mid-level corporate employee who gets caught up in corporate intrigue and an "offsite" gone wrong. I'm not going to say more for fear of spoiling the plot. I very much enjoyed the book; I found the primary characters engaging (and almost every one of the secondary characters had a key role to play in the book; there were few mere "extras"). I'd call it a "page-turner."
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Read in August, 2008
Action starts slowly and builds up to fast-moving climax. Raises too many questions not answered in the novel - why Jake and Ali broke-up; where did Jake learn the deadly skills he used to defeat the trained hostage-takers. I doubt if a graduate from a "juvie" center would have learned enough to take on and defeat a Special Forces ex-soldier.
Good enough to read while waiting for the Metrolink train.
Good enough to read while waiting for the Metrolink train.
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This book plainly escaped unaltered from Mr. Finder's subconscious. A subconscious constantly obsessed with fantastical scenarios in which Joseph Finder (barely disguised as a "character") proves his superiority -- intellectually, emotionally, physically, everything -- over other alpha males in the the presence of one or more beautiful women. Pathetic and transparent wish fulfillment in a dust jacket.
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of good thrillers
Fast paced, smart, well-researched with a likeable central character. Melds the world of aircraft manufacturing, corporate retreats and kidnapping for ransom.
Pace stays brisk throughout, but never gets to a bite-my-nails level of tension
All in all, for the newness of the concept and the clarity and smoothness of the writing and the depth of research, I'd recommend this strongly.
Pace stays brisk throughout, but never gets to a bite-my-nails level of tension
All in all, for the newness of the concept and the clarity and smoothness of the writing and the depth of research, I'd recommend this strongly.
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Read in January, 2007
Engineer Jake Landry joins the retreat for the management team of Hammond Aerospace as they gather in a remote lodge off the coast of British Columbia as a last minute replacement for his boss. When the group is taken hostage, Jake suspects something more sinister is going on.
Another fast-paced, edge of your seat thriller by Finder. Highly recommended.
Another fast-paced, edge of your seat thriller by Finder. Highly recommended.
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Pretty good hard-boiled thriller. Hero is a fairly good amalgam of the Robert B. Parker-Nelson DeMille tough-guy type without some of their annoying mannerisms. Interestingly, Finder does a complete biographical weaving of the protagonist into the story that would seem to preclude using him again, or at least often, in other books.
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Read in June, 2008
This read like one of those action movies that you see on tv on a thursday night after 10pm ;-) That said, I practically read the book in one sitting and enjoyed the edge of your seat action. Yes, its predictable but it did it's job keeping me entertained. A thoroughly enjoyable airplane read!
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I enjoy suspense thrillers, but this one was a little too violent and graphic for my taste. It had an interesting plot, but it sometimes dragged and got hung up on technical stuff like the engineering description of an airplane. Would be a good read if you don't mind the gory descriptions.
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Jeffrey by:
New York Timesrecommends it for: people who like thrillers and corporate backstabbing and engaging hereos
Definite page turner of corporate kidnapping at isolated resort and young hero with shady background coming to rescue. The plot is full of twists and turns and the author knows his weapons technology. I thought the book lacked only a little more characterization.
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Read in February, 2008
I like Joseph Finder books. They satisfy my need for suspense and intrigue without the normal spy/thriller format. His characters are usually normal people put into challenging circumstances -- primarily because some element of big business and corruption.
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