Terminal Value

by Thomas Waite

Alternate Cover Edition for B007948PI4.

“Be careful what you wish for.” That’s a warning Dylan Johnson should have listened to. When his mobile tech company is bought out by Mantric Technology, a red-hot firm about to go public, it seems like a dream come true for the young entrepreneur and his partners. But the closer they get to payout, the more uncertain Dylan becomes.

Something doesn’t feel right. When his colleague is found dead on what should have been their night of triumph, Dylan is determined to find out what happened. But asking questions plunges him into a digital web of deceit and betrayal that will shake everything he thought he knew…

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime

234 pages, ebook

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

THOMAS WAITE is the bestselling author of the celebrated Lana Elkins thriller series. Lethal Code was declared "Taut, tense, and provocative" by Hank Phillippi Ryan, the Agatha, Anthony, and Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author, who quickly added "...this frighteningly knowing cyberthriller will keep you turning pages--not only to devour the fast-paced fiction, but to worry about how much is terrifyingly true."

Trident Code followed in form. "Scary good," according to King Features columnist Dale Dauten: "The science and technology are as convincing as they are chilling, with an original trifecta of cyber, nuclear, and environmental terrorism all worked into one wild ride of a plot."

Unholy Code, the third novel in the series, received similar praise. "Rarely does a novel pull me down and strap me in for the long, beautifully turbulent ride like Unholy Code did," said Vincent Zandri, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Remains and When Shadows Come.

Waite's first novel, Terminal Value, reached #1 at Amazon. One reviewer wrote, "Terminal Value is to the corporate world what John Grisham's The Firm is to lawyering: a taut, fast, relentless thriller. A most impressive debut novel."

Shadowed, the follow-up to Terminal Value, was released October 2, 2018. Dale Dauten of King Features wrote "Thomas Waite has already established himself as a preeminent writer of riveting thrillers and Shadowed is no exception. From the murky depths of Boston's Charles River to the harrowing wild lands of Kenya, Waite takes readers on a ride so real they'll feel as if they're flying in the co-pilot's seat!"

Waite is a board director of, and an advisor to, a number of technology companies. His nonfiction work has appeared in The New York Times, the Harvard Business Review, The Boston Globe, and The Daily Beast.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Waite has a keen understanding of the high tech corporate world, circa 2013, and has created a credible, dynamic mystery/thriller within that world that kept me up late, turning the pages. Even my admittedly limited computer skills enabled me to understand the issues involved with the merger of a small mobile communication start up in Boston with the flashy, high tech corporate player in NY. Visions of mega dollars from the IPO and new mobile "cloud" computer technological opportunities quickly devolve into murder, fraud and deception, proving once again that money and power will still corrupt, even in this enlightened age we live in. This is a complex, well crafted and very entertaining first novel from a very talented new author I hope keeps publishing. I don't know what the kindle price is but I paid $1.99 for the NookBook version, which added "terminal value" to my too thin wallet!..............Ed

[BlackOxford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technology is often dangerous. Technology plus finance is too often lethal. This is a tale about why the modern combination of practical science and money goes off the rails. Tightly written with a compelling plot, Waite's debut novel is more than a good read. It's an acutely observed social commentary about the world of the high-flying, high-tech entrepreneurs who turn the abstract ideas of physics and logic into cash... or at least stock prices. And it's about how easily "wanting to make a difference" slides into greed, obsession, and self-promotion. Clearly Waite has been on the inside of this culture which is so incessantly reported but rarely understood. He knows the 'types', the Bernie Madoff, the Steve Jobs, the Jeff Skillings who inhabit the this world of wealth by innovation. And he knows what can happen when they mix: the tragedy of success, quite literally Terminal Value.

Michael Black
Oxford

[latybug]

I received this book as a First Reads promotion.
I enjoyed reading the book. The author keeps you guessing as to which characters can be trusted and which ones cannot.
When I first started reading, I thought that I might have trouble enjoying the book because I am not very knowledgeable about technology or Wall Street. I was pleased to find out that, while there were some terms and scenarios I didn't quite comprehend, you don't really need to understand every detail to get the idea of what's going on. The author does a good job at creating drama and mystery for the average reader. And I would imagine that it's just icing on the cake for those people who do understand the technology and financial aspects.
Overall I thought it was a good book. I would definitely read other titles from this author.

[Blake Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the corporate espionage genre and this book has everything - intrigue, murder, business story line and success (or failure) based on the ethical (or non-ethical) actions of a few main characters, multiple candidates for 'who done it?', and multiple plots to evolve and finally be solved - murder, corporate fraud, etc. A great debut novel, written with the finesse and style of someone who has authored dozens of books. Each chapter created excitement and anticipation to immediately read the next one. Terminal Value is effortless to read and pulls you through the book without distraction. The writing style, plot and character development intertwine to make a most enjoyable read. Hopefully, Tom Waite has a few more plots in the making and will be publishing another novel soon.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Terminal Value. It was fast-paced and mostly well done. There were four things that bugged me about it, though. One, the police didn’t immediately take Tony’s work hard drive like they did his home computer giving the company time to wipe it. Two, a certain character not attending Tony’s funeral was mentioned before Tony’s funeral happened. Three, one of the culprits was such a side character that when it was revealed he did it, it took me a minute to place him making the big reveal fizzle a bit. Four, the sex scene is weirdly placed and completely unnecessary. Otherwise, it was good. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read thrillers.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terminal Value, a first novel by Tom Waite, is a murder mystery based in the world of technology and high finance. As the story starts, four friends Dylan, Tony, Rob and Meredith are selling their start up wireless consulting group to a larger firm that is about to IPO, when a murder interrupts. The characters are believable, the plot intriguing, and the fact that it was set in identifiable Boston made it a lot of fun. It was one of those books I just couldn’t put down

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Tom Waite's first novel and highly recommend it! If you love mysteries by Grisham and Crichton, this book is a must. Looking forward to reading Waite's next one. The only problem is that I'll get nothing else accomplished because it'll be tough to put the book down.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredibly engaging from start to finish. I couldn't put it down! Action packed and keeps you guessing all the way to a surprise ending. Well done, Mr. Waite! I am looking forward to your next book, and the one after that .....

[Walt Mccluskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terminal value

One of the best reality mysteries I've encountered.. The interactions between sellers and buyers in a merger gone bad were reminiscent of things I observed in my corporate life, not once but several times and were based on pure greed of truly little people.

[Suzanne Jessup · Rating 5 out of 5]

A contemporary mystery of a corporate take-over of a successful smaller enterprise, this should be on M.B.A. students' reading list for a reality-check of what's happening. Shades of Mad Men!

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The babbler’s death had come easily, a gunshot to the back of the head.
Maybe the workshop will hold other clues for forensics.
1/7, Art Williams (Mantric Technology Solutions head) had called a board meeting to order.
Those that attended were: Christine Rohnmann (CFO), & Sandeep Nigam (Indian, Tony’s boss, Mantric Technology Solutions Chief Tech Officer, India Institute of Technology).
Hyperfōn was MobiCelus’s biggest client.

Dylan Johnson (23, Mantric Technology Solutions, MobiCelus tech co. president/CEO, Wharton Business School; MBA, MIT; CS), & Rob Townsend (Mantric Technology Solutions Sr. VP Operations) made sure it stayed that way.
Tony Caruso (24, MobiCelus tech co., co-owner, former Mantric Technology Solutions, MIT; CS), & Matt Smith (Dylan’s go-to consultant) had joined up with them.
The next meeting consisted of Art Williams (CEO), Frank Crowley (Mantric’s internal tech),
Christine, Sandeep, Tony, Ivan Venko (Mantric’s Chief Security Officer), & Stephanie Mathers (Chief People Officer), & Dylan (tech co., co-owner, Sr. VP Mobil division).
MobiCelus projects had been transferred to Mantric Technology Solutions.
Bob Gianno (stock trader) was watching Mantric’s stock.

Detective Melanie Baldwin (Boston PD Homicide), & Detective Jackson (A/A, (Boston PD Homicide) came to talk with Dylan.
He was told to not release any information until the investigation was concluded.
Boson, MA. Tony had been taken to the hospital ER. He was DOA.
Boston, MA. Radius restaurant. What were Dylan, & Art discussing?
5/7, Tony’s Catholic eulogy, funeral/burial, in Mount Auburn Cemetery (Cambridge, MA) were held.
The memorial dinner was held at Clink restaurant/Alibi bar (Liberty Hotel).
Dylan called another video-conference call meeting.
Rob, Matt Smith (MobiCelus Sr. consultant), & Hailey Parker (web designer) voiced their opinion.

Will the murder mystery be solved & someone brought to justice?
Will Mantric Technology Solutions survive?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written tech thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great tech thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Marlborough Press; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Titaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author Thomas Waite's first novel is a commendable effort full of potential murder suspects. The story begins somewhat slowly but continues to gain speed right to the end. I was pleasantly surprised at the end when the revealed killer was not who the book seemed to be constantly pointing to, which would have been an amateurish mistake.

I have a few minor complaints, such as dialogue tags used too often. In reality, when people talk they usually don't say each other's names. That happens too much here. Also, the dialogue in general was often too bland, with characters saying predictable everyday things. How about spicing up the dialogue a bit?

This is not a nail-biting thriller, but a much more realistic story of tech company start-ups and the greed that often comes when money is involved. At its heart, it's a murder mystery.

I received this e-book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[brittnreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it was selected for my book club's book of the month. I don't typically read these types of books so I was happy to try something different. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who enjoy this genre. I am 100% a mood reader and I struggled to read this one solely because I wanted to read something else. That is not the fault of the author or this book in any way. I am just trying to be real. The first 1oo to 150 pages were a little slow to me. It definitely picked up about half way through and I got to the point where I needed to keep reading to see what happened.

[Pat Button · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review

Very well written. Kept me guessing right up to the end. Enjoyed it a lot. Will read Thomas Waite again.

[Jools · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good techno thriller! This will really keep you guessing as to who did what. I read faster and faster so I could find out :-)

[Kendra Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a Thriller

I definitely did not see where this one was going as I was reading it. Loved the ending, even though it did have a bit of romantic fluff.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good mix of technology & thriller! Looking forward to more by this author!

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started out slow, but about 1/3 of the way through it began picking up speed; the last half was fast moving and engrossing. This is the author's debut novel, so I took that into account with the rating. For a debut novel, I thought it was above average. There are the normal issues with plot and character development, and some editing issues (like Dylan wondering why Sandeep was not at the funeral; only problem is, Dylan didn't first learn of that until 2 pages later), but the author's technical/business knowledge was very good. I suspected who the perpetrator was, but I wasn't entirely sure and I enjoyed that the author kept me guessing. I would definitely read this author again.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a debut novel. Fairly sold mystery set in the context of a technology start-up company acquired by a company that's not what it seems to be. What's that about something that seems too good to be true?

Character development overall is pretty good although there are a few pretty significant characters not developed nearly enough. Improved development of at least two of those characters would have greatly enhanced the story.

Two MAJOR complaints, one content and the other editing. From a content standpoint, this mystery revolves around both a murder and financial shenanigans. The police acknowledge early on that the murder is a murder, not a freak accident. While it might be credible that the financial goings-on were discovered and investigated by a couple of technology business whiz kids, it's preposterous to believe that the police aren't actively involved in investigating that murder. And yet the police completely disappear -- and I do mean vanish entirely -- at about the midpoint of the novel, never to be seen or heard from again. Might have been nice if they'd popped up again at some point.

The editing problem made it next to impossible to follow dialogue. When characters are having a conversation and the speaker changes, that deserves a new paragraph. Throughout this book, when one character spoke, the response was in the same damned paragraph. For example: "Blah, blah, blah," Dylan said, mulling over what had happened. "Yada, yada, yada." Can you tell whether that second quote is Dylan speaking or Heather? Of course you can't. In fact, every rule of grammar and style tells you that the second quote is Dylan. Nope, not here. Most of the time (not all, which just makes the problem worse) it was Heather. And all that had to happen was a paragraph break before the second quote to make it obvious, even without a speaking identification, that it was Heather speaking. It's really annoying to feel like you have to constantly reread whole passages just to decipher who's saying what, especially when it would have been ridiculously simple to make it clear without changing or adding a single word of text.

But Waite did have a good story to tell, and I would be interesting in seeing what he can do in a second novel.

[A Book Vacation · Rating 3 out of 5]

To see my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...

If you’re into corporate espionage, murder mysteries, and mayhem, then this novel is for you. What was supposed to be the merger of a lifetime for Dylan Johnson, complete with a huge payout, ends in murder, deceit, and lie after lie, leaving Mantric Technology in the hot-seat and losing money faster than it ever gained. Filled with many intricate characters, Waite rolls out his story focusing on the upside of mergers and buyouts, eventually turning the coin and showing the downside, as we’ve all seen in recent years as large robust companies crumble from the inside out. Though I’m not really a technology guru, I was able to mostly follow the high tech world in which our characters reside, and I enjoyed much of the story, however, certain points were a bit unbelievable for me, such as the lack of police presence and investigation into the murder of Dylan’s friend and colleague. I also have to wonder exactly how much one duo would be able to uncover on their own in a huge company like Mantric, but then again, I’m not in a huge corporate business and, having never worked with a corporation like Mantric, I’m also not worthy of making a call concerning validity. In my personal world, it seemed a bit strange, but certainly not too farfetched, and I enjoyed the story overall, but think those with more knowledge of the inner workings of corporations, buyouts, and technology would enjoy this more than I.

[Chandni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really interested in the premise of this book. Coming from a Computer Science background, I was looking forward to the details of the “mobile computing business” even though others probably wouldn’t be interested. For those that aren’t fond of technical details, you don’t need to worry, there aren’t many. I did think the process of a start-up being bought seemed quite realistic and accurate. The beginning of the novel was a little slow and there were a couple of awkward passages. Also, some of the characters (like Rob) weren’t well-developed.

The plot moves at a decent pace, but I just felt it fell a little short when building up the intrigue. In fact, I’d classify this book more as a mystery than a thriller because the whole book revolved around a murder and there wasn’t much suspense after that. I wish that I had been on the edge of my seat to find out who the murderer was, but unfortunately, I wasn’t. In fact, determining the murderer was a surprise, but a surprise that came completely out of left field.

Overall, the novel didn’t surpass my expectations, but it definitely met them! I did like the novel and Waite created a really interesting technology related mystery and I’m glad I got a chance to read it. I recommend this for anyone interested in technology and ready to read a good mystery.

I received this book through the GoodReads FirstReads program.

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an excellent read. It definitely captured my interest, as I had to fight to put it down to get some sleep last night, and managed to finish it in its entirety within the 36-hour mark. The story wasn't too technical to where I couldn't follow along, but still had enough jargon throughout to where I felt the characters were actually a part of the world the author was trying to portray. I felt the use of the date/time/location stamps was very helpful in keeping everything straight, especially when the characters and/or storyline was bouncing back and forth.

Honestly, this was probably not a book I would have bought for myself upon first glance, as I would have probably thought it too technical for my liking. However, I'm definitely glad I won the giveaway and was given the opportunity to read it, as it was fascinating and educational, as well, for someone who admits to having no knowledge of the stock market (or much of the cutthroat corporate business world) whatsoever. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense thriller and mystery, or those involved in the types of business described throughout. They might find it a little enlightening. =)

[David Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had fun reading this book. And not just because one of the main characters stumbles on an idea that would make Nikola Tesla’s ears ring. Thomas Waite’s debut novel introduces us to the techno-thriller. Someone dies in his prologue – we don’t know who or by whom, or even whether the murderer or murdered is male or female. But we do know that it has something to do with the acquisition of a high-tech mobile computing firm started by four young friends, and the big conglomerate that wants them. The elation of becoming rich overnight soon gives way to suspicion, of each other and the shady characters that seem to emerge from every corner of the new firm.

Waite’s story builds as you get into the book, expanding the intrigue as Dylan and his partners struggle to discover how their company has become a pawn to both greed and murder. The tension builds even as we gain insights into the world of high-tech corporations about to go public. As the recent Facebook IPO shows, going public isn’t always as innocent and above-board as it seems. Waite brings his many years of business expertise into the story, and the reader is all that much better for it. I really got into the story and couldn't put the book down. Try this book. You will like it.

[Bruce Nieminski · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10 (234 pages)
Finished 4/18/14

Originally a Kindle only offering, Thomas Waite's first book recently was released in paperback as well. A techno thriller if you will, the book follows the activities of four young upstarts in the mobile computing world. Their start up company is quickly purchased by a larger company, and although there is natal success, not everything is on the level. When Tony, a member of our protagonist group winds up dead, and business practices begin to become mysterious, Waite's thriller begins to evolve.
I've read a lot of acclaim for Terminal Value, and while I admit it was an entertaining, fast paced reading, I felt things moved along a tad too quick. Not a great deal of development of the plot, nor the characters, and twists are fairly predictable if one reads closely. Kindle version is only 1.99, so I wold recommend for a plane ride or rainy weekend.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terminal Value by Thomas Waite proved to be a hard-to-put-down thriller. In the fashion of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, you will brazenly think you have figured out the big secret that sets the tone, pretty much, from the start. Trust me though, you won't have it right! Set in Boston and New York, readers familiar with these areas will enjoy the accurate portrayal of business and scenic landmarks. Without giving anything away, let's just say this realistic page-turner could truly happen anywhere in our computer-generated world. I judge a book based on my desire to pass it along and recommend it to friends. Terminal Value succeeds on both counts. Please Mr. Waite, don't make us "wait" too long for your next novel.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Thomas Waite (and it's not just because I met the author at my book club). It had a unique storyline, the characters were interesting, and while I did guess the murderer, there were enough red herrings to make you question whether there were others involved.

If you like reading about technology startups and how they are acquired by larger companies, as well mysteries, this is a good book for you. The author definitely did his research and combined with his own knowledge on the subject matter, presents a novel that you will have a hard time putting down.

[Ruth Mott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thriller in todays' social media and internet genius vernacular. These are people we know and rust with our cyber lives and in today's hacking environment, it is chillingly realistic. The characters are likable, funny, and brilliant. The suspense sets in about a third of the way in, just whne we are getting to know the players and like them all. Tom Waite has done a fine job of character development and story telling in this his first novel. I'm a thriller junkie and I pride myself on knowing who's who and whodunnit before the author tells us. But this is one I did not see coming. A great summer read.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn in from the beginning of this book. It has all the twists and turns of a murder mystery then throw in the cyber high finance world & you have quite a thriller! It kept me turning the pages. The characters were very well developed along with the story line. Very realistic. I could identify with the character Dylan feeling his frustration and anger. This book will keep you thinking, and you'll think about it even after you are done reading. I found it a great read! Tom Waite did a fine job with this novel.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a GREAT read! It was tightly written with a compelling plot. It gave us an intriguing insight of the high- flying world of technology and finance. The camaraderie between the four friends seemed so real and the characters very likeable. The murder plot unravels and things begin to get weird and crazy...

This is of those books that I stayed up all night trying to finish because it was so darn good and I had to know what was next. Kudos to you Mr. Waite and I'll definitely buy your next novel.

[Janice Spina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A techno thriller that will keep readers engrossed until the last page and leave them wanting more. Dylan is a young techie genius who has a successful mobile phone company. When another company offers him a lucrative buy off deal he jumps for it but this deal is not what he expected. Strange dealings are going on and when his best friend, Tony, is murdered Dylan realizes all the money in the world isn't worth his friend's life.

I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read and look forward to this talented author's next book. Highly recommended!