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    Power Play: A Novel
    Power Play: A Novel
    Power Play: A Novel
    Audiobook8 hours

    Power Play: A Novel

    Written by Joseph Finder

    Narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    An off-site corporate event gone disastrously wrong. The largest ransom in history. The price-tag: dead or alive. Now, in Joseph Finder's explosive thriller Power Play, it's up to Jake Landry-a modest, steady guy with a dark, hidden past-to save them all...

    It was the perfect retreat for a troubled company. No cell phones. No BlackBerrys. No cars. Just a deluxe lodge surrounded by thousands of miles of wilderness and a desolate seacoast.

    Jake Landry is a junior executive at the Hammond Aerospace Corporation, a steady, modest, and taciturn guy with a gift for keeping his head down—and a turbulent past he prays he's put behind him. Ordered to fill in for his boss at the annual offsite, he's out of his element. He's uncomfortable with the lavish accommodations and especially with the arrogant, swaggering men who run the company and the only person he knows there is the new special assistant to the CEO—who happens to be Jake's ex.

    Then a band of hunters, apparently lost in the woods, crash the opening-night festivities. Soon the execs of a billion-dollar company, cut off from the rest of the world, find themselves at the mercy of a group of men with guns...and a cunning plan to take Hammond Aerospace for all it's worth.

    But the hostage takers aren't who they appear to be and neither is Jake Landry. The high flyers hadn't wanted Jake to come along. Now he's the only one who can save them.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateAug 21, 2007
    ISBN9781427201249
    Power Play: A Novel
    Author

    Joseph Finder

    Joseph Finder is the author of several New York Times bestselling thrillers, including Buried Secrets, High Crimes, Paranoia and the first Nick Heller novel, Vanished. Killer Instinct won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Thriller, and Company Man won the Barry and Gumshoe Awards for Best Thriller. High Crimes was the basis of the Morgan Freeman/Ashley Judd movie, and Paranoia was the basis for 2013 film with Liam Hemsworth, Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman. Born in Chicago, Finder studied Russian at Yale and Harvard. He was recruited by the CIA, but decided he preferred writing fiction. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Association for Former Intelligence Officers, he lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

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    Reviews for Power Play

    4/5

    204 ratings16 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Finder is a good story teller and this tale about a corporate off-site is gripping. I found myself wonder who, really, was the bad guy. The plot kept my interest and the research on the characters is marvelous. I really liked the Jake character. As the story goes, we learn about a reform school survivor who made good... Enjoyed the story.
    • 3/5
      This book had so much potential with the plot but, fell way short in the story telling. The beginning takes way to long to get to the point.
    • 1/5
      I’m still entertained that I read this. Even more so that I actually finished it. But when you are half-way round the world in a hotel room, and jet lag is making sleep all too illusive, and you just refuse to pay the equivalent of $15-$20 for a paperback in English, well, you sift through the spouse’s backpack and read whatever you come across. This is one such book.

      Power Play is a he-man sort of book. The kind that sadly feeds men’s insistence that women really only like bad boys . . . even reformed bad boys. Let me make it clear to Mr. Finder: there is nothing romantic or mysterious (in a good way) about knowing that your man once killed someone.

      The plot stays on its carefully crafted tracks throughout. So I can’t have much to complain about there. It’s the track itself that bothers me. In this story, a man who knows quite a bit about airplanes happens to get sent to his company’s executive, good-ole-boys yearly retreat at some cabin in the middle of nowhere. I’ll spare you the detailed contrivance that gets him there. Conveniently for the author, the protagonist’s lost true love, who is not an executive and who broke up with him because he never shared anything about his personal life, also magically, contrivedly, appears on scene. Within precious few hours, the cabin has been taken over by a band of renegades seemingly bent on taking the entire executive staff hostage so as to make off with much of the company’s money. And of course, they are unopposed to using far more violence than necessary to accomplish their goal.

      Of course, just to keep it interesting(??), Mr. Finder also adds liberal dashes of executive in-fighting, whining, and crotch-scratching stopping just shy (or not) of chest thumping their masculinity. Actually, I think the rescue from the almost-rape scene of the protagonist’s long lost love that crosses the chest thumping line. Or is it her overly heart-felt reaction–her desire to be touched by the protagonist so soon after the ordeal who only saves her by exercising brute strength force. I guess that’s how some men feel manly, by protecting their women folk.

      My review jumps around because the story also jumps around. There are numerous flashbacks designed to let the reader into the mind of the protagonist, so that naturally by the end we understand who he is much better than those around him. And of course, he gets the girl in the end.

      Contrived, contrived, contrived. While I really didn’t enjoy the actual story line, I will say that Mr. Finder knows how to write a story that moves along. He was neither too light nor too heavy with the dialog, and his general structure was well-written. In my preparation to write this review, I discovered that he has at least half-dozen acclaimed books released before this particular novel. I’ll have to ask my husband if they are all cast from the same sort of mold. Or if this was a blip in an otherwise good repertoire.

      When I completed the book, I looked at my spouse and commented on the total unbelievability of the plot and wondered whether men really buy that kind of thing. And he silenced me well and good by querying the same thing of women for most of my favorite chick lit books. Touché.

      But I can’t help thinking that few of the books that I choose to read for their modern fantasy appeal are half as ridiculous as Power Play.
    • 2/5
      was unavailable for the company’s annual executive retreat at a sports lodge in Canada. The purpose of the retreat was team building and to ensure attendees paid attention to that task only, there was no contact with the outside world, in person or by electronic device, during the program.The new CEO, Cheryl Tobin, called on his assistant, Jake Landry, to substitute for him since Jack knew more about their new 880 model than anyone else.While he really didn’t want to go–he was nowhere near the financial or social level of the other participants–he had no choice.When the previous CEO died suddenly, the board hired Cheryl, an outsider, to take over the job. That did not sit well with the rest of the executives who openly resented that they had been passed over for promotion and that she was a woman. While they were airborne in the luxurious company jet, Cheryl told Jake his real job there was to help learn about illegal activities being carried out by staff members, particularly the executives. The agenda quickly changed when a group of mountain men burst in and held the entire group hostage. Arguments quickly began as to how to defuse the situation. POWER PLAY has many meanings in this book. Flashbacks show how Jake became the man he now was. It is used to demonstrate the company dynamics and the dynamics when the attackers enter the story.The story has many twists and surprises and is basically a good read. There is a lot of information about the airline industry. For example, most companies today use parts that are outsourced and do the assembly in the US. However, many of the characters are stereotypes and the situations unrealistic. In addition, the book has too many unnecessarily short chapters, often taking place at the same place and the same time. I automatically deduct one star for that because I think it insults the reader’s intelligence and is too unecological.
    • 3/5
      It was the perfect retreat for the top pfficiers of the Hammond Aerospace Corporation, no cell phones, no BlackBerrys and just a luxurious remote lodge surrounded by thousands of miles of wilderness, with one last minute substitue-a junior executive "jake Landry". When a band of backwoods hunters crashes the opening-night dinner, holding them hostages to get their hands on the largest ransom in the history.
    • 4/5
      Jake Landry is a trouble shooter for an airplane manufacturer. He makes sure things run smoothly and pieces are made solidly. He gets tapped to go on an "offsite" with upper management when his supervisor can't make it. The new CEO asks him to spy on the others at the retreat because she suspects they are trying to sabotage her and cover up some illegal actions. But then the retreat takes a turn that nobody expects.Fun, easy read.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoy Joseph Finder's books. His take on corporate America and all the machinations that take place in the boardroom is always interesting. I have to say though, that this is my least favorite book. The level of violence in it is unusual for Finder, and we don't learn nearly as much as usual about the main characters. He knows how to pace a book, though, so I enjoyed it even with what I see as flaws.
    • 4/5
      Intriguing Story I was delayed at an airport during a layover flight and I bought this book. I don't usually read thrillers, but the plot of Power Play perked my interest. I was intrigued with the story of a group of aerospace executives meeting in a Canadian hunting lodge for a bonding session and are held hostage by what appears to be some redneck hunters who stumbled across the opportunity to make some money. The book turned out to be a real page turner and I enjoyed it very much.
    • 5/5
      Finder is a good story teller. Jake Landrey is the hero at an upscale resort in Canada; where his company is having a special deal for upper Management and Jake substitutes for his boss who is sick.
    • 4/5
      Jake Landry has to go on a corporate "team building" weekend. This isn't just for anyone, just the big shots at the corporate level at a company, and Jake isn't one of them. He doesn't want to be there, and the Powers that Be at the company don't want him there because they don't think he's worthy. As they are having their first banquet, some hunters come in and ruin the party. The problem is that they're not really hunters but major bas guys who have more than hunting on their mind. What they want to do is to kidnap all of the executives and an unGodly ransom. Jake is the only one who sees this is more than a simple kidnapping, something much much bigger. It's up to Jake to stop these men. If Jake can't do it, then pretty much everyone will be killed. The problem is that Jake isn't a pencil pushing desk jockey, he knows a thing or two. I don't want to say to much more in fear of spoiling the plot. I really liked the character of Jake. As the story unfolds, you read about his past and what made him the way he is. Why he pretty much don't take garbage from anyone. His character has depth. I also liked the leader of the bad guys, he has a lot of character depth as well. This is just such a fun read, I highly suggest it!
    • 4/5
      Jake Landry is a junior executive at California's Hammond Aerospace. His boss is unable to attend the corporate weekend planned at a secluded lodge in Canada, so Jake, somewhat reluctantly, takes his place. Immediately, the new CEO corners Jake and asks him to report any wayward conversations he may overhear. He doesn't get much of a chance - some hunters invade the lodge and discover these are well-off corporate employees. Jake immediately suspects foul play.While I enjoyed the thriller portion of the book, I had no interest in the beginning and end which focused on the corporate/business end. Since reading Power Play, it has come to my attention that placing characters in a variety of industries is Finder's trademark, so leading the plot so heavily in that direction makes more sense to me now. :) Due to topic, not necessarily writing style, I don't think I'll be picking up another by him any time soon. (3.75/5)Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy
    • 4/5
      Ah, the other reviewers have done an excellent job providing the plot of this novel.Mr. Finder is justfiably a best selling author. His plots are unusual- taking place in the business world- something I find very refreshing (and recognizable:>), with unusual plot twists. Business gone murderous. He is one of my favorite authors.
    • 4/5
      Jake is an underling at his company, so he is surprised to suddenly be told he is going to their private retreat with all the executives in the Candadian wilderness. Jake figures out why he was invited when he spots his ex-girlfriend Ali with the CEO as her personal assistant. Jake is not into playing the corporate power game, but the skills that he learned from his secret past may be the only thing that keeps him alive when a group of armed men take over the retreat center and hold all of the executives hostage for money.I loved the fast paced action of this book and the way the author gradually revealed details about the past that explained the present events. The author was great about revealing just enough to keep me guessing the entire way through. I loved this suspense and highly recommend this to those who like page-turners filled with thrills and suspense.
    • 3/5
      Power Play is a quick read, but make sure you have a few hours as its hard to put down. The book deals with corporate intrigue and hostage taking in our present day post Enron world. It’s set at a corporate retreat, where the guests have no email or telephone access. Sounds great until the execuitives are taken hostage by apparent local hunters.There is a high level of action, without too much complexity.
    • 5/5
      A fast paced thriller that I really enjoyed reading.This was my first book by this author after hearing a review on the radio.I shall certainly be reading some more.Not literature but a great page turner.
    • 4/5
      With Power Play, Joseph Finder continues the line of corporate thrillers he kicked off with the magnificent Paranoia. This thriller, though, features as much violent action as it does corporate intrigue, leaving me with the feeling that Finder was writing a thinly-veiled script for a movie blockbuster. Indeed, the similarities to Die Hard are impossible to ignore. Jake Landry, like the Bruce Willis Die Hard hero, is supposed to represent the blue collar everyman caught in the middle of a corporate hostage crisis. Unlike the top brass who attend Hammond Aerospace's fancy off-site at a secluded lodge, Jake's a mid-level manager who's invited for reasons other than his corporate pedigree. When the management team is taken hostage and ordered to embezzle $500 million from the corporate treasury in exchange for their lives, Jake finds himself the only guy in the company who is truly worthy of alpha male posturing. The plot barrels ahead with Jake and his ex-girlfriend Ali (who happens to have been invited to the off-site as the new CEO's special assistant) engaged in a desperate attempt to outmanuever their brutal captors. Interspered with the action are brief flashbacks to Jake's formative years, in which we learn the origins of his skill with weapons and willingness to tangle with dangerous men. The author also exploits the tension between the new female CEO and the all-male cast of senior executives. The last third of this book is as suspenseful as anything I've read recently, although the plot teeters in a number of places on the edge of impracticability (how combat-hardened can Jake really be, anyway) and many of the characters are thinly-developed corporate stereotypes. Nonetheless I continue to admire Finder's penchant for interesting plot premises and ability to find action and adventure amidst Sarbanes-Oxley and corporate boardrooms.