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58 of 61 found the following review helpful:
 Exciting and Relevant! Mar 16, 2009
By Tyler Rollins
The Insiders is the kind of book that will have you pondering for weeks after you finish reading. The plot and the characters are dynamic and entertaining, with all of the mystery and complexity one could ask for in a mid-sized novel. But the substance of the tale, and the reason it was written, I am guessing, is something of a call to arms. This is a story about exposing the elusive, entrenched, corrupt vested interests at the very top of our economic system. This task presents a tremendous challenge for the heroes in the book, with every sort of evil means being employed by the insiders conspiracy to to dissuade and destroy them. The unfolding process is fun and exciting because it's fiction, but it also lays bare the true-to-life methods and motives of these evil manipulators. The book is therefore a sort of indictment of our broken financial system, which rapes the producing classes and rewards the conspiring financiers. The reality of this problem is something that is pressing and relevant, and will remain to be dealt with long after the last page is turned. This awareness will stay with you and keep you in thought, and it will also make you yearn for the sequel. I read the book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. It has a sort of Brad Thor, Tom Clancy feel to it, as the anatgonist behave at times like greedy businessmen, at other times as the mafia or as domestic terrorists. What else can I say? Buy it and read it.
26 of 30 found the following review helpful:
 Decent conspiracy story Jul 24, 2009
By J. Lee
"imajeel"
I'm a fan of corporate thrillers, so when I saw all the 5-star reviews for this one I just had to get it. This is a decent financial-conspiracy-type corporate thriller. However, after reading it, I was a little surprised by all the "greatest book ever" type reviews. So, I just went back and looked at them, and this time discovered most of them are by reviewers who have only reviewed this one book or 'kid reviewers' hiding their identity. I'm not sure what that means - but it's definitely not usual. And though I enjoyed the book in general, it didn't live up to all of it's hype for me. (It's also, now that I started looking, featured on a lot of Listmania's with books from exceptional writers - which may have enticed me into purchasing it in the first place - and is a pretty well known scam of new authors.)
In any event, the premise of a young man trying to bring down a cladestine organization of the most powerful businessmen in the country is interesting. There's a lot of action - right from the start. However, on the downside it could have used some better editing. (it's a long book, unnecessarily so on occasion. It's also almost as if there's too much the author wants to convey. The backstory and current story cast of characters is also a bit long and occasionally unwieldy).
Bottom Line: A decent thriller. Those who like conspiracy theories and tales of the wealthy taking advantage of the masses will probably enjoy this one more than I. For those that prefer general financial corporate thrillers more - I'd recommend one of Joseph Finder's or Naked Option first.
14 of 15 found the following review helpful:
 First time I've ever wanted a refund! Aug 08, 2011
By PJ Kitzler
I can usually find something to enjoy about most mysteries and I read a lot of them - 2 to 3 a week for over 50 years! I started with the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew and worked my way up to Clancy, Grisham, etc.
I can honestly say this was the worst book I've ever read - I can read books that offer a point of view different from my own, but I don't like books that seem to be written simply to put forth a particular point of view. If I wanted to read that kind of a book, I'd read non-fiction (which I do). However, when I want to read fiction, I want to read fiction.
This book is a waste of time and money - and yes, I read it to its conclusion. The characters are vapid and the plot painstakingly transparent. Save your money for a real piece of fiction. The nicest thing I can say is that it follows the all too popular position of blaming someone else for your failures without taking responsibility. On the surface, the book seemed to take responsibility for its main characters, but if you read the entire thing, they simply blame others.
12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
If only I had known ahead of time Jun 03, 2011
By Edward R. Maxwell
"eddieredsox"
Read this book only if you like exchanges like this: "One more thing, I want access to the family chalet where it [the murder] happened." "Can't do that. It's a crime scene," Zemke said, his hard-bitten demeanor returning. Wilson turned around to squarely face the detective. "Who would you like me to call?" Zemke's eyes were suddenly on fire again, but he knew Wilson would eventually get what he wanted." The sentences are awful. And Zemke didn't know who Wilson was, so how would he know he would get his way. And what detective succumbs to the son of a murderer to get access to a crime scene. And I can't get my money back. Why didn't I stick with Elmore Leonard!!!
12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Thrill Ride Apr 20, 2009
By S. Cook
Fasten your seatbelts. The Insiders is a wild ride, but a thrilling one that is well worth taking.
I'm a long-time fan of Craig Hickman's non-fiction business writing, so I was very anxious to read his fiction debut. Although many authors struggle heartily with the move from non-fiction to fiction, Hickman's transition is seamless. With The Insiders, Craig Hickman emerges onto the fiction scene with a vengeance. I hope that we'll be reading much more fiction from Hickman in the (very near) future.
The Insiders grabs you in its opening scene and won't release you until its final pages. This thriller has it all - the suspense, the romance, and the plot twists that provoke and surprise throughout. Although I read it in just a few sittings (it was very hard to put down), its themes run deep. You'll continue to ponder its messages long after the book is retired to your bookshelf.
Although the book jacket says that this novel was in the making for a decade, The Insiders couldn't be more relevant in today's troubled times. As we watch financial markets crumble around us, we're searching for answers and insight - how could this all happen? In these uncertain times, The Insiders reveals what can happen when the financial elite are allowed to usurp disproportionate power and play it to their personal advantage.
Hickman creates a consistently compelling, thoroughly convincing, and ultimately frightening portrayal of what happens when greed, pride, and revenge become all consuming. To avoid spoiling the plot, suffice it to say that the personal toll is exceptional. Although fictional, his story clearly tests the boundaries of fact and fiction; one can't help but believe that the scenario Hickman creates might actually unfold in the real world.
Hickman's debut engages both head and heart. Hickman's extensive business experience enables him to create a convincing foundation for his thriller. But what makes The Insiders stand head-and-shoulders above the crowded field of thriller novels is a superior, suspenseful plot and rich, well-developed set of characters that engage your heart. It is rare to accomplish this. It is especially exciting and surprising to see this achieved in a writer's fiction debut.
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