‘The Fear Index’ by Robert Harris

My Review (4 stars out of 5)

Alex Hoffmann doesn’t care about money, but he has the means to make lots. Having developed an algorithm to generate millions on the financial markets, his method works by targeting fear. When an intruder cracks Hoffman’s elaborate security system, the millionaire is thrown into a world of violence and paranoia. Can he track down the culprit before it’s too late?

I’ve read a few books by this author, most recently ‘Fatherland’ and ‘The Ghost’. While this one is every bit as exciting, the technical details did go over my head a bit and detracted a little from my enjoyment. The plot is inspired by the financial crash of 2010 and takes place over the space of a couple of days. While it is a good story, I’d say the writing isn’t quite as tight as I’ve come to expect from Mr Harris, and I sometimes felt he’d lost sight of the story. What is also slightly unbelievable is how Hoffman’s security systems could be altered without his direct involvement.

Anyway, a great read, especially for lovers of technical details.

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  3 comments for “‘The Fear Index’ by Robert Harris

  1. 20/01/2023 at 3:08 PM

    Hi Colin, an interesting review. I’ve had to realize that I don’t need to include a lot of technical detail in a book but just enough to get the gist across. Readers don’t want the detail.

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