The Bankster

Title of the book: The Bankster
Author: Ravi Subramanian
Author's website which includes details of where the book is available: Ravi Subramanian


Gist of the book as available on the author's website:

Bankers build their careers on trust, or so everyone thinks, till a series of murders threaten to destroy the reputation that the Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) has built over the years. Who is behind these killings, and what is their motive?

When Karan Panjabi, press reporter and ex-banker, digs deeper, he realizes that he has stumbled upon a global conspiracy with far reaching ramifications—a secret that could not only destroy the bank but also cast a shadow on the entire nation. With only thirty-six hours at his disposal, he must fight the clock and trust no one if he is to stay alive and uncover the truth.

My views:

Ravi Subramanian, is actually a banker, but he prefers to call himself the John Grishman of banking. With books revolving around life in the banking industry such as The Incredible Banker, If God was a Banker and Devil in Pinstripes, I guess he can term himself that. After all, bankers are also good marketeers. :D

THE plot is layered and multi-dimensional, yet interlinked. What is more, the plot deals with real life incidents, but in a fictional setting, this is what makes the book very interesting. In fact, on reading the book, I began to wonder whether many of the so-called activists do have a hidden agenda. In this case, poor Krishna Menon became a pawn in their hands and all that he wanted was safety for the residents around the proposed nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu State, especially after the major accident in Fukushima, Japan. It was the so called activist – the local do-gooder who was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, not only was he fronting for countries like USA and Germany which were apprehensive of India setting up this plant but at the same time was also in league with Israel for sale of arms and ammunition.

Caught up, either knowingly or unknowingly, in the entire racket of blood diamonds, money laundering, political games are the people working in Greater Boston Global Bank. One wonders who is the master mind, is it smooth talking top management guy - Vikram Bhal or is his name being mis-used?

Zinaida, the new kid (albeit sexy kid) in the retail banking block grabs a huge account, an account which sends alarm bells ringing in the minds of the internal fraud controller Raymond, but who will listen to him? After all, Zinaida, the relationship manager in the Bandra branch, was recommended by Vikram, or so everyone thinks. The alarm bells are ignored, Harishta, the committed senior relationship manager at the same branch is sidelined, and decides to go to Vienna for a vacation with her husband where she and her husband meet an untimely death – a vehicle accident. Raymond is found hanging at the pier in Sewri with a suicide note in his pocket. And let us not forget the very first ‘so called hit and run case’ where another employee had been killed.

In walks Karan Panjabi, a journalist with a leading daily newspaper and a former employee of this bank, he manages to bull-doze his way into the cabin of Indrani, the bank head, who has paid no heed to the incessant phone calls made to her by Raymond. In fact, she had denied him access and not picked up a single call.

Fearing a media backlash, she seeks Karan’s help to unravel the truth which he does with aplomb. The jigsaw pieces begin to fall together, the accidental deaths are now confirmed as murder. Finally the real culprit at Greater Boston Global Bank is identified.

The book was a thrilling page turner.



Author's bio:

Ravi has worked with various multinational banks (Citibank, ANZ Grindlays Bank and HSBC) for over 18 years. As a result of his extensive background in foreign banks, writing about banking comes quite naturally to him. He currently lives in Mumbai with his biotechnologist turned banker wife, Dharini and his daughter Anusha.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!