KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site, so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
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THE LIES WE TRADE
Christian Financial Thriller
BY KRISTINE DELANO
BLURB
A high-powered Wall Street career, a beautiful family in a quiet suburban neighborhood―she seems to have everything. Which means she has everything to lose.
Meredith Hansel should be having the best week of her life. After establishing herself as a portfolio manager at a prestigious Wall Street firm, she’s in the national spotlight for the innovative funds she created. But as Meredith prepares to celebrate, the plates she’s kept spinning for years begin to crash: Her strained marriage reaches a breaking point. Her conscientious teenage daughter acts out under mysterious pressures. Someone vandalizes her home with disturbing graffiti. And Betsey, her most trusted ally at the financial firm, goes rogue, and Meredith is forced to sign a restraining order against her.
Then her worlds collide when she receives a thumb drive and a cryptic note from Betsey threatening to reveal a secret that could have devastating effects on Meredith’s family . . . unless she can figure out what Betsey wants and deliver it in time.
As Meredith begins to dig into the data, however, she begins to suspect that it’s no coincidence her life is crumbling. That maybe what’s happening to her family is connected to what’s boiling beneath the surface at her investment company. Soon Meredith realizes there’s only one way to avoid taking the fall, and it all hinges on Betsey’s true motives. Was she really threatening Meredith or trying to warn her?
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LIES WE TRADE
Christian Financial Thriller
BY KRISTINE DELANO
Excerpt
ONE WEEK BEFORE
I always watch for the pivot— I sense it before I see it and I notice it before the crowd. The unusual hire, the buried earnings report, the hitch in the speaker’s voice that covers a lie. We each have our own unique superpower. It won’t be until much later that I’ll realize I’ve misplaced mine.
“So, Meredith.” The host’s British accent is gustier than when we spoke off-air. “A lot of investors are wondering— did anyone see this market correction coming? Were you caught napping like the rest?”
My smile tightens. “Markets are unpredictable by nature. The goal is never to predict every move. It’s to manage risk appropriately.”
“Right, right. But your mid-cap funds were still overweight in tech last quarter, weren’t they?” He arches a brow. “Any regrets?”
“Selective overweighting,” I correct him and speak to the green light above the camera lens. “These mutual funds are new to my portfolio, but we’re confident in our allocations.”
His smirk twitches, as if I sidestepped a premeditated trap. “Some might argue that sticking with tech at all was risky. Wouldn’t a more conservative approach have protected your investors better?”
There it is. He’s been waiting all segment to imply that I’ve been reckless. That, perhaps, I’m not quite up to the job. I ignore the drip of sweat careening down the back of my neck. “Markets reward conviction, not hesitation. If I’d shifted entirely, I assume you’d be asking why I missed the upside?”
A flicker of irritation crosses his face. “Fair point,” he concedes, though clearly he doesn’t think so. “Let’s talk liability. How did you convince your firm to risk their reputation on a wager?”
The recording light blinks yellow, signaling the interview is nearly over. With everything in me, I need off this stool. I speak into the camera, careful not to scowl. “As you know, Garman Straub is a powerhouse on Wall Street, but we’re also a trusted asset manager. We invest in individuals and institutions, from high-tech companies to innovators drilling wells in remote communities. We drive innovation.” Straightening my spine, I shift my gaze back to the host. “We don’t wager. Why did we launch two exchange-traded funds, called ETFs? Because our clients’ financial success is our priority, and our track record speaks for itself.”
The host plasters on his broadcast smile. “Well, I suppose we’ll find out if your strategy holds. Meredith Hansel, portfolio manager from Garman Straub, it’s been a pleasure.”
“Likewise. Thank you for having me.”
A shrill bell pierces the air of the New York Stock Exchange.
“That’s a wrap. Great job, everyone,” a voice booms from behind me.
I take my first full breath in twenty minutes. Hardwin could have warned me. Our chief legal counsel set this up through his contacts in London. Ever the statesman, he’d never admit motive, but he likely wanted this interview to remind me of my place— dependent on guys like him who’ve been at this far longer and have paid all their dues.
Flashing an untroubled smile, I shake the hand of my smooth-talking host, and then peel the wires from around my right ear. My hair snarls. Definitely too much spray. The more I pull, the bigger the tangle. I glance over my shoulder. The host smirks. Never fails, at some point I lose my poise.
As I stand at the sound booth teasing out single strands of hair from the earpiece, Betsey marches toward me.
“That was outstanding, Meredith. They want you to stay on.” She yanks a folder from her bag, her heavily made- up eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Not a chance. This one’s yours.” I shove her notes back at her.
“But that producer said—”
“We don’t care what any producer says, Betsey. You’re up next, and you get the friendlies.” I tighten my shoulder blades, willing her to match my posture. “You’re ready. You know our funds as well as you know the warm- up at your kickboxing gym.”
“Probably better. I do want to do this.” She bites her bottom lip, painted a pretty coral, and then lowers her voice. “But Meredith, do you think they want me to do this?”
“Of course they do.” But I know who she’s talking about. It’s not the producers or the teams here. Although she’s helped me raise a billion in assets, I had to use an undue amount of political capital to get her here. If she missteps, it’s a hammer to both our reputations.
“Not everyone wants us to succeed,” she whispers.
About Author Kristine Delano…
Kristine Delano is a former Wall Street executive turned award-winning author of domestic thrillers set in the high-stakes finance world. She hosts the We Talk Careers podcast and mentors women on work-life balance. When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys scuba diving, playing games with friends, and chasing her family down the ski slopes of western Maine.
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Links to Kristine’s websites, blogs, books, #ad, etc.:
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/4pPyjsL
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/4qYXo5q
Amazon Library Binding: https://amzn.to/3YKEq6C
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The book looks and sounds like a good read looking forward to reading a print copy of book
Thanks for sharing. Your book sounds intriguing.
Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, Kristine. Your book sounds intriguing. I don’t often get a chance to read a thriller in the financial arena. I can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for sharing it with us today!
Oh my! A Backstabbing afoot!
The backbone of a good tale…
Nice to meet you, Kristine.
Good morning, your book sounds and looks very intriguing! Thank you for sharing the excerpt. I will be adding it to my TBR. Have a great day and a great week.