The Armageddon Trade

by Clem Chambers

Jim is the working-class boy wonder who can read stock charts like 50-foot road signs. His uncanny talent has taken him from errand boy to trading superstar. Whether he's a genius, or a fluke, he doesn't know. The mysterious Max Davas, emperor of trading, makes billions dealing U.S. Treasuries using more computing firepower than NASA—but now his models are telling him that something is about to go catastrophically wrong. The same trading system that has made him one of the richest and most powerful men in the world is telling him that in a year's time, gold will be worthless, so will oil, so will Microsoft, and the dollar won't be trading at all. The Euro, the Pound, the Yen, sugar, wheat, coffee . . . all will fall down to zero. But are predictions fate? Or does this cockney kid hold the key to the Armageddon trade?

Genres: Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2009

About the author

http://www.noexit.co.uk/authorpages/a...

Chambers' slick novels follow young Cockney billionaire, and one-time 'super trader' Jim Evans around the world on audacious crime-busting exploits involving private jets, pretty women and crazed crims fixated on his vast wealth.

The Armageddon Trade is the first in the popular series of adventure-packed crime novels, followed by The Twain Maxim and Kusunagi.

The fourth installment is set for release in November 2012, and is available for pre-order now.

Pitting Evans against a mad scientist with bio-weapons on the verge of unlocking the secret to immortality, and a psychotic lab assistant with a penchant for dismemberment, 'Britain's Most Eligible Bachelor under 30' once again has attracted all manner of evil to his door - or his money has.

Chambers is CEO of stocks and shares site ADVFN. He is a regular face on global news networks (BBC/Sky/CNBC/Fox/Al Jazeera/BNN) appearing as a financial media commentator, whilst he's also penned a series of investment guides, including the Amazon best-sellers 101 Ways To Pick Stock Market Winners and A Beginner's Guide To Value Investing.

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised that this one was fiction, given the recommendations for it, but decided to read it anyway. I found it a very engaging epic of a plausable young trader who is given a chance to enter the world of high-flying trading only to find that he has an inate talent for technical analysis and projection. A good thriller.

[Monzenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I loved the first third, was meh on the second third, and was flabbergasted on the third part. Pretty much averages a three for me.

That first part was pure markets spectacle. Just what I would expect a financial fiction book to be, and more. Granted the characters are at most 1.5-note, but the setting and plot brought it home for me.

The second part - the one that dealt with financial science fiction - was initially jarring to me. Fourteen-dimensional trading? Ok, self-inserts can only be satisfying to a point where it crosses to indulgent. Still with the switch to a scifi perspective, I got used to it. At least the book would stay within markets... right?

I was walloped by the third part. Hey ho our MC turns to Jack Ryan, and the only prior justification given is that he ran fifteen miles an hour on a treadmill and grew up in the school of hard knocks? Too much self-indulgence for my tastes.

First part of the book is easily a 5, second part is maybe a 3, and that third part, oof, 2 is generous.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: Jim is a boy wonder who can read stock charts like 50-foot road signs. But now the emperor of trading Max Davas is predicting a disaster.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very well written. The main characters were well developed and interesting. Unfortunately, I didn't follow much of the financial and technical aspects so, while I was quite engaged in the action, I didn't understand much of it. Also, I found the climaxes (there are two) to be quite abrupt and unsatisfying. I would read another book by this author, who I believe sticks with similar themes, simply for his writing style. Hopefully the next will be able to explain the mysteries of international finance more simply.

[Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

First time reader of Clem Chambers. I will certainly be reading more. A page turner well into the night and early morning.