The Successor: A Novel (Christian Gillette)

by Stephen W. Frey

Book Overview

Make-or-break decisions involving millions of dollars are all in a day's work for Christian Gillette, chairman of Everest Capital, New York's most renowned private equity firm. He's taken on the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345480635
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

The Successor

The book was excellent. The book arrived in as good or better condition as stated by the vendor. The mailing was timely. I would recommend this book and this vendor to anyone who likes Steven Frey's books.

The Successor By Stephen Frey

Thank You I enjoyed the book I got the first 3 due to a cousin given me the First book of the Chairman and I have enjoy each book since.

The Successor by Stephen Frey

The Successor continues the saga of Christian Gillette and his co-worker, Allison Wallace. Christian believes at this point in his career, he needs to do a patriotic act for his country. The leader of Cuba has died and when the President of the U.S. offers him a chance to go to Cuba to support a group of Cuban professional in a coup to take over the government, he agrees to the challenge. However, during the planning of this escapade, there are plots and counter-plots, one of which is to kill Christian Gillette. Meanwhile, on the corporate front, he plans to promote Allison to vice-chairman in the event that he doesn't survive this "secret" mission. The action moves from one plot to another and keeps you in suspense as to whom are the really "bad guys." I thought the ending was a little abrupt and disappointing, but it is a good read and definitely keeps you on your toes.

4 1/2 Stars

Is Christian Gillette wise to leave protégé Allison Wallace in charge of Everest Capital while he runs off on another scary international mission? Though this has little to do with most of this novel, it has about all there is to do with Everest. I thought this to be a highly entertaining 'Christian Gillette' novel. Sure, this time it was more political thriller than financial thriller. I welcome the change. Sure I questioned Christian's relationship with the 'younger woman'. It made no sense logically, but the author tried to convince the reader he would do it because of his sister. I'm sure there will be another novel featuring C. Gillette, and I think it will be full of surprises. Including bringing back someone. You know who.

A surprising new direction for Christian Gilette

THE SUCCESSOR is quite different from Stephen Frey's previous books featuring financial kingpin Christian Gillette. Unlike its predecessors, THE SUCCESSOR focuses more on political intrigue and less on the shadowy world of finance. At first this may confound longtime Frey fans, but ultimately they will be pleasantly surprised. The book kicks off with Gillette being called to meet with U.S. President Jesse Wood. As readers of THE POWER BROKER will recall, the men have a history; Wood initially had offered Gillette the vice-presidential slot only to later withdraw the opportunity. Gillette, however, is pragmatic enough not to hold a grudge and accordingly positions himself to receive an offer that, if anything, is more exciting than the vice-presidency. Word has reached Wood that Cuban premier Fidel Castro is dead and that plans are already afoot in Cuba to install a government friendly to the interests of the United States. Wood wants Gillette to meet with the men in Cuba who are surreptitiously planning the new government and to give the plan either his approval or his condemnation. Subplots abound. There is a group of power brokers who want the President's plan to succeed so they can bring him down. A down-and-out Oscar winner has been hired to worm her way into Gillette's life, apparently in order to keep track of his whereabouts. And a deadly, somewhat bent assassin is trailing Gillette, retained by an unknown principal who is about to discover that the leash the assassin is on may not be short enough. Meanwhile, Gillette is torn between his professional life managing Everest Capital and his personal life, which is practically nonexistent. He has picked his protégé, Allison Wallace, as his successor in business and yearns to have her as his partner in life as well. But can Gillette mix his professional and personal lives with the same aplomb as he does mega-corporations? This novel answers that question and more, even as it creates new ones. THE SUCCESSOR may well be the last of the Gillette novels; if not, then future installments undoubtedly will be far different from what has gone before. The conclusion may be a bit rushed, but it's fascinating, leaving several unexpected resolutions and the promise of new and different worlds. The one sure thing is that Frey is a talented and unpredictable storyteller who, after more than a dozen novels, is still worth reading. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub