Suspense in a corporate setting

A few years ago, I picked up a book by Joseph Finder not expecting to like it. His books are a little bit like John Grisham in that the protagonists tend to be men in their early thirties up against some powerful force. Whereas Grisham's books have a legal setting, Finder's take place in the corporate world. I never really got into Grisham's work, but I really look forward to a new Joseph Finder novel.

Paranoia begins with Adam Cassidy, a bored white-collar cubicle rat, attending a retirement party for a man who worked on the loading dock for many years. The company is not aware that they threw such a lavish retirement party because Adam finagled an account to make the funds available. Unfortunately, someone does notice that Adam did this and he is called into a meeting with security, CEO Nick Wyatt and a human resources representative. The case is presented to him as are the consequences of embezzling funds from the company. He is looking at some heavy prison time...unless he does something for Wyatt. Wyatt wants him to go to work for their biggest rival, Trion which has been working on a top secret project. With prison as his only alternative, Adam agrees to the scheme. With a heavily padded resume, Adam gets a job with Trion. Soon he is working closely with CEO Jock Goddard. Adam loves the perks of his new job...a great apartment, fancy car, huge paycheck and a boss he actually likes and respects, but his conscience bothers him. He wants to come clean to Goddard, but can't. There is a twist at the end that I never saw coming. I love it when there is a twist I never see coming.

Killer Instinct starts off with Jason Steadman driving his car into a ditch while gabbing on his cell phone. He gets a ride home from tow truck driver Kurt Semko. They begin talking about the baseball game on the radio and hit it off. Semko has a military background and Jason is a salesman for an electronics company. They bump into each other again and Jason tells him there is an opening at work for a security position and encourages him to apply. Semko gets the job as head of security and soon things start going very well for Jason. The star salesman's car stalls on the way to an important presentation. Then there is a problem with his computer which makes his star begin to dim in the eyes of their bosses. If Jason suspects Kurt is behind it, he doesn't let on. When people begin to die, he no longer can. If Kurt Semko is a dangerous friend to have, he is an even more dangerous enemy.

Power Play takes place at a corporate retreat in the remote Canadian woods. Jake Landry is by no means a high level executive but his presence was requested by the CEO on this outing. She asks him to help her uncover some corruption in the group. Soon the cabin is attacked seemingly by a group of hunters and the executives are taken hostage. It soon becomes clear that these hunters know more about the group and their business and that they aren't your run of the mill backwoods hunters.

Watch for Vanished<> which comes out August 18, 2009.