THE FOURTH ORDER
Stephen Frey
Ballantine Books
Thriller
ISBN-10: 0345480643
ISBN-13: 9780345480644

It's been a while since a stand-alone work from Stephen Frey has been released. That state of affairs is remedied with THE FOURTH ORDER, a fast-paced and thoroughly readable potboiler (and that, from me, is a compliment) that continues the author's practice of piercing the complicated and complex veil of high finance.

The novel's protagonist is Michael Rose, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Trafalgar Industries, a major energy company that has gotten ever larger under his careful hand. Rose has set his hostile takeover sights upon Computer Information Systems (CIS), a large information technology company. What Rose doesn't know is that CIS is a "cutout," a company that is being used by the nation's intelligence services to funnel money off of the books in order to finance gray operations outside of Congress's oversight.

In this particular case, CIS is being manipulated by a shadowy government organization bent on combating terrorism by any means possible. If Rose is successful in his efforts to acquire CIS, then the revelations that would follow could not only cripple the fight against terrorism but also bring the government down. Rose accordingly must be stopped, either through manipulation or by murder.

As always, Frey does a masterful job of explaining the ins and outs of the financial world --- in this case, the steps to implementing your very own hostile takeover --- and has conceived a fanciful but nonetheless fascinating shadow organization answerable only to the president. If there is a flaw here, it's that things are wrapped up just a bit too quickly, almost as if Frey ran out paper or patience. A more thoughtful denouement might have served this exciting narrative better. This is a minor quibble though, considering that it is a riveting, engrossing read for the overwhelming majority of its pages.

Frey has established himself as one of the preeminent authors of financial thrillers, and THE FOURTH ORDER is the perfect place for those unfamiliar with his work to start. After reading it, leave room on your bookshelf for more.

   --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

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