The Deal

published	May 1st 2008 by Ocean View Pub
binding	Hardcover
isbn	1933515139 (isbn13: 9781933515137)
ebook
pages	456
description	Everything about Jonah Gray screams success movie-star good looks, expensive clothes, a Park Avenue penthouse, and a seven-figure income. A cutthroat,...more [close] Everything about Jonah Gray screams success movie-star good looks, expensive clothes, a Park Avenue penthouse, and a seven-figure income. A cutthroat, rainmaking New York city commercial real estate broker, Jonah craves opulence and power. He beds models, romps the globe on the weekends and sees the world as his for the taking. Jonah Gray has it all. Or at least he had it all. When a friend presents Jonah with the deal of a lifetime, Jonah jumps at the chance. All Jonah has to do is act quickly, invest half a billion dollars in prime NY office buildings, and collect a huge payoff. But this golden opportunity is anything but. Within days of signing on, Jonah is mysteriously thrust into the epicenter of an international and personal scandal. Forced to explore a whole new territory where he can trust no one, and where danger, death and deception lurk at every corner, Jonah will learn some painfully hard lessons about the quest for easy money. Closing this deal could mean losing everything. [close]
date added	02-08-08 edit book

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other reviews (showing 1-11 of 5)

Kevin rated it:

05/02/08

Read in April, 2008

When I first heard about the new novel from Adam Gittlin, The Deal, I thought it had an interesting hook: big time commercial real estate in New York City. Seemed like an interesting backdrop to a thriller. That turned out to be true, but the heart of The Deal isn't real estate but trust and priorities. Who can you trust and what is most important to you.

The Deal is an fast paced thriller with an interesting setting and a creative twisting plot. But I will confess that the main character tu...more When I first heard about the new novel from Adam Gittlin, The Deal, I thought it had an interesting hook: big time commercial real estate in New York City. Seemed like an interesting backdrop to a thriller. That turned out to be true, but the heart of The Deal isn't real estate but trust and priorities. Who can you trust and what is most important to you.

The Deal is an fast paced thriller with an interesting setting and a creative twisting plot. But I will confess that the main character turned me off and this hampered my enjoyment of the book.

The commercial real estate business in New York provides the setting for the novel and it also helps introduce us to the central character Jonah Gray. Jonah not only works in the business but grew up around it as his father is a mover and shaker in the same field. Jonah's life and career is centered on this world. And a central aspect of the plot is focused on a real estate deal.

But once the plot really picks up steam the real estate aspect begins to fade away. At this point the traditional thriller aspects take over and the setting is just background. In some ways this is natural, and the setting provides a creative way to kick the plot off. But the author, who works in the business, also spends time having the character talk shop in ways that cause the plot to drag and may not interest readers.

I realize there is a fine line between a realistic setting and too much background, and the shop talk involved wasn't that distracting, but Gittlin might find the industry more fascinating than the average reader. For me, the book took a while to really get in a rhythm. Once it hit its stride it was a fast paced story and quick read, but it dragged a bit in setting the stage.

What really hampered my enjoyment of the book, however, was the main character Jonah. Jonah is an arrogant, narcissistic, jerk who depends on alcohol and drugs to keep him moving. He is consumed with making money and with showing his own wealth and power off in ostentatious ways whenever he gets the chance.

Gittlin in many ways set Jonah up this way so that when his life comes crashing down around him he will be forced to think about what really matters. Fine, but this doesn't change the fact that the character is a major league jerk. Maybe this is my Midwestern perspective coming through, but I grew tired of Jonah's constant descriptions of the accoutrement's of wealth and privilege and of his drug fueled drive for power and wealth.

As with the real estate aspect, much of this tone and style faded when the plot kicked in to second gear. But I found myself tired of Jonah over the first third of the book. Circumstances may force Jonah to think about what really matters in his life but he still ends the book unwilling to face the consequences of his actions or take responsibility for the destruction he has caused. He may care more about the people in his life but still comes off as an amoral spoiled brat. The entire story seemed almost unconcerned with concepts of right or wrong and Jonah reflects this perspective and seems to endorse it.

But I will fully admit I may be in the minority on this one. If you don't mind this kind of central character, The Deal is an entertaining thriller - particularly after the central plot twist is revealed. The twists in the plot effectively intertwine Jonah's personal and professional lives and ratchets up the tension. There are enough questions and mysteries involved to keep the reader off balance and guessing about how it is going to play out.

All in all The Deal is a competent thriller with a unique setting and main character. If you have an interest in high stakes commercial real estate or the powerful personalities who thrive in that environment you will enjoy it.
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Terra57 rated it:

06/02/08

bookshelves: reviewed-for-front-street-reviews

Read in May, 2008

The Deal by Adam Gittlin is an action packed work of fiction from beginning to end. Not being my usual type of read I will have to say this book just sucked me in, tied me up and held me hostage all the way through. It really is a very intense storyline that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.

Jonah Gray is a handsome, powerful and wealthy New Yorker that knows the In's and outs of the real estate market better than most brokers. He has worked his way up the ladder to become one o...more The Deal by Adam Gittlin is an action packed work of fiction from beginning to end. Not being my usual type of read I will have to say this book just sucked me in, tied me up and held me hostage all the way through. It really is a very intense storyline that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.

Jonah Gray is a handsome, powerful and wealthy New Yorker that knows the In's and outs of the real estate market better than most brokers. He has worked his way up the ladder to become one of the leading brokers and is highly sought after in the market. He can have any woman he wants and has the wealth to which most of us would find mind boggling. Unfortunately for Jonah, his few vices will get him into a precarious situation that will send his life careening into a whirlwind of turmoil.

Andreu Zhamovsky is a close friend of Jonah's from childhood. Handsome, wealthy beyond even his friend, Andrew is a force to be reckoned with. Russian by birth and Russian to the present day does nothing to affect the young men's friendship.

Andreu presents Jonah with a deal to broker some New York real estate that could cause far too many problems. Does Andreu seek out Jonah for his broker skills or is it something more devious? Could the real estate just be a cover up to something so much larger or is everything as innocent as it seems?

Jonah finds himself in a new fury of activity that is quite the rush. This activity with it's pressures increases his use of drugs and Gin to a point that he really starts to question himself about if this is becoming more of a problem. What he used to use for focus and relaxation is now getting out of hand. Will Jonah be swallowed by his lifestyle or rescued by his conscience.

The storyline has us making more twists and turns than a two lane highway through the Smokey Mountains. Sharp unexpected curves could very easily lead to a life and death decision for Jonah. We can only hope that whatever ultimate decisions he makes will be the right ones but how good would our story really be if everything were so easy.

Our author has given us a story of intense emotions, international dangers and mind blowing action that make this is a book that should not be missed.
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hugbandit7 rated it:

05/19/08

bookshelves: books-to-review

Read in May, 2008

I'm nearly half way through this book and it is definitely keeping me on the edge of my seat especially with the latest twist!

Ok, I finished this book over the weekend and it was really really good. I did not see some of the twists coming but some I did pick up on. There were some times where it seemed to drag or I wondered if some of the scenes could have been deleted but over all it is a good book and worth reading

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