Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
by Jeffrey Archer
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jeffrey ArcherEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-05-16
ISBN: 0312997132
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780312997137
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Book Reviews of Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Book Review: Delightful
Summary: 5 Stars
When four men lose their life savings to a wealthy Boston swindler in a stock market scam, how will they get their money back? That's the plot of this highly entertaining novel that can best be summed up as: don't get mad, get even. Their goal is to recoup exactly the $1 million they collectively lost, hence the title of the book. With revenge that can be described as "playful" rather than mean-spirited, the book has a light-hearted tone that will leave readers upbeat.
As the reader of more than half a dozen novels by Jeffrey Archer and one collection of short stories, I thought it was about time to read his very first novel.
Often, after I have sampled an author and decided I like their writing, it is fun to go back and read their first efforts - seeing how they have matured over the years and polished their craft. But in this instance, I had another reason as well: the man himself fascinates me. I realize his personal life is as scandalous as his fictional characters, and if you happen to be a Brit, he probably ranks right up there with the royal family in terms of tabloid coverage. But you have to hand it to the guy: for someone who was on the brink of bankruptcy and forced to step down from political office in financial disgrace, he didn't sit around and moan. He took up pen and paper, wrote his first novel, and launched a stellar writing career.
I have no idea if the novel was simply catharsis for him, or if he was confident enough in his abilities to think he could regain his fortunes with just a single book. For those that don't know the story, he invested $1 million of his own money in the early 1970s in a Canadian company that turned out to be a scam. He found himself almost penniless overnight and although he did not ultimately declare bankruptcy, he came awfully close.
But the rest, as they say, is history. The fact that he sat down to write rather than just curl up in the fetal position tells me something about the tenacity of the human spirit in this man. So, it was with much anticipation that I got my hands on a copy of "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less," Archer's first novel. I was looking forward to seeing the book that started a remarkably prolific career. And I suspected that more than a few details in the book would be drawn from his personal experience being swindled out of his own life's savings.
The book is a wonderful read. Comical, witty, well-paced and well-plotted, Archer shows his skill as one of the world's foremost storytellers. The ending is highly satisfying and includes a twist on the very last page (literally) that puts the icing on the cake.
Summary of Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
The conned: an Oxford don, a revered society physician, a chic French art dealer, and a charming English lord. They have one thing in common. Overnight, each novice investor lost his life's fortune to one man. The con: Harvey Metcalfe. A brilliant, self-made guru of deceit. A very dangerous individual. And now, a hunted man.
With nothing left to lose four strangers are about to come together-each expert in their own field. Their plan: find Harvey, shadow him, trap him, and penny-for-penny, destroy him. From the luxurious casinos of Monte Carlo to the high-stakes windows at Ascot to the bustling streets of Wall Street to fashionable London galleries, their own ingenious game has begun. It's called revenge-and they were taught by a master
With nothing left to lose four strangers are about to come together-each expert in their own field. Their plan: find Harvey, shadow him, trap him, and penny-for-penny, destroy him. From the luxurious casinos of Monte Carlo to the high-stakes windows at Ascot to the bustling streets of Wall Street to fashionable London galleries, their own ingenious game has begun. It's called revenge-and they were taught by a master
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