Taking Stock

by C.J. West

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976778815
• ISBN13: 9780976778813
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: 22 West Books
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

C.J. West is one of the best up-and-coming writers!

C.J. West is one of the best writers I have read in quite a while.

Taking Stock

Taking Stock is a page turner. The story takes place at a family owned Corporation. Money is being embezzled by employees. One woman tries to find the culprit, while another is being set up to take this fall. C.J. West shows greed and envy can lead to lies, self destruction and murder. And intense read.

Another Gem from C.J. West

Taking Stock, West's second published novel was actually written first by the author though released after the outstanding "Sin And Vengeance". The author just has a knack for keeping you on the edge of your seat during the non-stop action and suspense. This book was a two-sitting book for me, and only because I started one night after 11:00 PM, so I needed to finish it up in the morning. C.J. develops his characters brilliantly and makes them easily identifiable with and believable, unlike so many characters who seem to need a cape and cowl to do what they do in suspense novels. I only hope he has another book out soon as I am eagerly waiting for more from this unsung author. Everyone I have leant a copy of either book to has been ecstatic in their reviews. All I can say is buy it and hold on to your hat.

A fast-paced thriller for the technological age.

Taking Stock is a suspenseful novel about high-stakes thievery and fraud. When, $200 million disappears from the electronic accounts of Boston's number one money management firm, Erica Fletcher must unravel the secret behind the missing money. Bogged down with a heavy workload, plagued by mysteriously vanishing research, Erica uncovers evidence that points to her as the culprit - forcing her to prove her innocence and find the robbers before they find her. Fans of author C.J. West's previous novel, "Sin and Vengeance", will be delighted to see the return of hero Charlie Marston in Taking Stock. A fast-paced thriller for the technological age.

Financial intrigue

Reviewed by AJ Cooper for Reader Views (6/07) Erica, the computer whiz, has been given the daunting task of developing a new program to allow ease of use for financial advisors in entry and completion of financial transactions. Unbeknownst to Erica, her boss Brad is setting her up for ruin, as well as jail time. Brad is working undercover and with the protection of a man who has great power over him, to steal from the company and his brother-in-law who heads up the entire company. Brad has access to every room and department in the company and is ensuring that he frames Erica for all of the money that is quickly disappearing from the customer's accounts. Meanwhile Greg, the manager of customer services, has what he thinks is a hopeless crush on Erica and would do anything to get her attention and time. Greg finally wins Erica over and they start a slow but sure romance. Brad has to move fast to get all of the money for his secret partner and get out of the country as quickly as he can. Brad tries to escape his secret partner but realizes his secret partner has a large reach and even greater power than Brad. Brad makes an attempt on Erica's life and things seem even more complicated with Greg when Erica makes a trip to Greg's family farm. It all heats up as Brad attempts to escape and is caught and sent back to get the final payment for his partner. Brad also tries a last-ditch attempt at ensuring Erica is investigated by the company. The security department in the company is torn between Brad and Erica. Sarah, the new security member, is convinced by Brad that Erica has been stealing money from the company. Greg and Erica convince Stan, the long security member, something else is going on and that Erica is being framed. Stan solicits the help of the local police and catch Brad red-handed attempting to shoot what he thinks is Erica. "Taking Stock" will interest anyone who enjoys a good mystery and a small glimpse into investing. I would recommend this book to any of my friends. I enjoyed trying to figure out the identity of the secret partner and what would happen next. Until the author identified the secret partner I did not have any idea who it was. I like it when I am not able to figure out the entire book prior to the end. I also really enjoyed that the author touched on the characters personal lives. The scenes from the farm allowed me to picture in my mind the layout of the land. It was very interesting at the end of the book for the author to offer an opportunity for two readers to solve the puzzle at the end and be able to meet the author and be a character in a future book.