The Domino Effect. A Book Review.

Over the weekend I finished reading The Domino Effect by Davis Bunn. This is a storyline that could easily have been this morning's news broadcast, and Davis Bunn is a master storyteller. Anyone who can take a subject as complicated as banking and write a compelling story about it wins my vote!

This is the story of Esther Larsen, a brilliant risk analyst at one of the country's largest banking institutions. More and more, Esther is convinced that the economy is heading for a crash that will make the 2008 crisis look minor in comparison. More and more, Esther finds herself increasingly uncomfortable with the strategies her bank employs, and she is becoming increasingly certain that the markets are nearing a tipping point.

But Esther is only one person. What can she do to make a difference? Like her Biblical namesake, Esther finds her voice and begins to speak out. Like the Biblical Esther, Esther Larsen discovers that she is where she is "for such a time as this." However, once Esther begins to speak out, those she is seeking to expose do not stand idly by. Esther's life is in danger as she races against the clock to avert a financial disaster.

While the banking storyline is dominant in this book, there is also the back story of Esther's family, along with her developing relationships with Craig, a single father, and his daughters.

Looming worldwide financial disaster. Ghosts from Esther's past. A budding romance with Craig, the accountant turned divinity student. All these combine to make The Domino Effect a great read.

The characters are real, well-developed, and interesting. The main storyline, and the back story, are riveting. The book is fast-paced. This is a great read!

I received a free copy of The Domino Effect from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion.