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Power and Money #4
Fatal Error
In the dotcom boom it was easy to make millions … and then lose them. And some people are not good losers.
The year is 1999 and Internet companies are springing up everywhere. Anything seems possible for those who think big.
David Lane – a quiet, cautious banker – is invited by his old friend Guy Jourdan to help start up ninetyminutes . com. He decides that for once he will do something daring, something dangerous.
If only he’d realized quite how dangerous. Guy falls out with Tony Jourdan, his father and their biggest investor, bringing the company close to collapse. Then Tony is murdered – and David's roller-coaster ride in to danger and disaster begins.
The year is 1999 and Internet companies are springing up everywhere. Anything seems possible for those who think big.
David Lane – a quiet, cautious banker – is invited by his old friend Guy Jourdan to help start up ninetyminutes . com. He decides that for once he will do something daring, something dangerous.
If only he’d realized quite how dangerous. Guy falls out with Tony Jourdan, his father and their biggest investor, bringing the company close to collapse. Then Tony is murdered – and David's roller-coaster ride in to danger and disaster begins.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2003
157 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Michael Ridpath
68 books309 followersBefore becoming a writer, Michael Ridpath used to work as a bond trader in the City of London. After writing several financial thrillers, which were published in over 30 languages, he began a crime series featuring the Icelandic detective Magnus Jonson. He has also written five stand-alone thrillers, the latest of which is The Diplomat’s Wife, published in February 2021. He lives in London.
And if you want a free copy of his novella, The Polar Bear Killing, and to sign up to his quarterly newsletter, just click this link: http://eepurl.com/dlzgFH
And if you want a free copy of his novella, The Polar Bear Killing, and to sign up to his quarterly newsletter, just click this link: http://eepurl.com/dlzgFH
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 12, 2017
Boy from a not so privileged background, usually not from London, and a bitter, rather than a lager, drinker to make him more down to earth does good and in adult life, joins a firm where the privileged are abhorrent and murder ensues. The boy tries to figure out what is going on getting into scrapes on the way. As he says in this book ‘I would have to start my own personal crusade for justice’. There will, of course, be a girl in there somewhere as well for a bit of romance. That is a normal Ridpath novel. They are always entertaining. No brain power is involved. Just sit back and enjoy. The pace is fast and the plot is clear.
Fatal Error is not really any different from the normal Ridpath. The ‘Boy’ in this case is David. His family holiday in a caravan in Devon rather than having a home in the south of France. The arrogant capitalist Chairman of the firm he has founded with his friend, Guy, is soon murdered. We go back and forth between 1999 and a major event in 1987 involving all the characters. David becomes detective trying to work out exactly what has been going on. It is all silly high-velocity fun.
Fatal Error is not really any different from the normal Ridpath. The ‘Boy’ in this case is David. His family holiday in a caravan in Devon rather than having a home in the south of France. The arrogant capitalist Chairman of the firm he has founded with his friend, Guy, is soon murdered. We go back and forth between 1999 and a major event in 1987 involving all the characters. David becomes detective trying to work out exactly what has been going on. It is all silly high-velocity fun.
February 4, 2020
Един от най-хубавите трилъри , които прочетох последно време , заслужава си да се прочете .Техническите революции обикновенно стават в мазета , извършват се от недоволни млади хора пълни с идеи, но някъде във всичката тази романтика стават фатални грешки
April 14, 2018
As always, I enjoyed this Michael Ridpath novel. It is not quite so good as his first works, which really gripped me when I read them years ago - and again upon re-reading. However, it's not worth rejecting a Ridpath because its not at the top of the pile.
The male and female characters are interesting, meeting while they are young and at university and then at the beginning of their careers. The novel works between these early developments and their coming together again in a an dot.com business, devised by the wealthy student, Guy. David, his friend and admirer on a scholarship when they first meet, is a fairly successful banker in a boring job. Guy offers him a renewed life, with the prospect of great wealth. David, to do him justice, is more interested in the former than the latter, although he has enjoyed the holiday with Guy in which he experiences great wealth, his first sexual encounter, fear at possible reprisals and anxiety about his relationship with Guy.
The women, Megan and Ingrid, join the holiday, a later almost disastrous plane trip, and eventually the business. Both have careers that are relevant - Ingrid is a successful magazine editor and Megan is a lawyer. In the background is Guy's odd brother and his competitive father.
Murders, threats and the development of the dot.com business and its possible failure move the story along at the fast pace expected from a Ridpath novel. At the same time, the relationships between the characters are, at times, complex and a valuable contribution to creating a novel which is really worth reading. Guy and David's relationship has various strands, seemingly superficial with its rich boy vs poor boy theme. In reality, both men have character flaws which the other exploits and forgives. The relationship between the siblings, David with his largely ignored sister and Guy with his brother for whom he seriously cares, is a case for reconsidering the simple interpretation of the two as a 'good' poor man and 'bad' rich man.
Fatal Error can be read a thrilling quick read, or with more attention to the complexity of the characters. I read it for both, and as an aside, enjoyed the focus on the dot.com businesses.
The male and female characters are interesting, meeting while they are young and at university and then at the beginning of their careers. The novel works between these early developments and their coming together again in a an dot.com business, devised by the wealthy student, Guy. David, his friend and admirer on a scholarship when they first meet, is a fairly successful banker in a boring job. Guy offers him a renewed life, with the prospect of great wealth. David, to do him justice, is more interested in the former than the latter, although he has enjoyed the holiday with Guy in which he experiences great wealth, his first sexual encounter, fear at possible reprisals and anxiety about his relationship with Guy.
The women, Megan and Ingrid, join the holiday, a later almost disastrous plane trip, and eventually the business. Both have careers that are relevant - Ingrid is a successful magazine editor and Megan is a lawyer. In the background is Guy's odd brother and his competitive father.
Murders, threats and the development of the dot.com business and its possible failure move the story along at the fast pace expected from a Ridpath novel. At the same time, the relationships between the characters are, at times, complex and a valuable contribution to creating a novel which is really worth reading. Guy and David's relationship has various strands, seemingly superficial with its rich boy vs poor boy theme. In reality, both men have character flaws which the other exploits and forgives. The relationship between the siblings, David with his largely ignored sister and Guy with his brother for whom he seriously cares, is a case for reconsidering the simple interpretation of the two as a 'good' poor man and 'bad' rich man.
Fatal Error can be read a thrilling quick read, or with more attention to the complexity of the characters. I read it for both, and as an aside, enjoyed the focus on the dot.com businesses.
June 28, 2017
A decent enough financial thriller, builds tension in the first half but then slightly meanders in the second half. Ridpath is quite a good thriller writer so more on my list
April 22, 2020
Michael writes such exciting books and this one is no exception. His characters come to life on the page to you. As I was reading along I found the fatal error! I was sure of it! Until I kept reading and then oh no there is another fatal error. I found a few more before the final Fatal Error was revealed at the end.
This is really an excellent book and Michael Ridpath is an excellent author. Highly recommended!
This is really an excellent book and Michael Ridpath is an excellent author. Highly recommended!
January 31, 2021
A financial thriller is exactly what it is!
Well worth more than 5 stars as this is a full on thriller. An interesting read that keeps you hooked and the financial side easy to follow.
A group of friends start up a dotcom company and we follow the rise and problems that are incurred. Plenty of back story to exp!ain the action as it unfurls. Love, deceit and death all play a part along the way with plenty of twists and turns.
Just a brilliant read!
Well worth more than 5 stars as this is a full on thriller. An interesting read that keeps you hooked and the financial side easy to follow.
A group of friends start up a dotcom company and we follow the rise and problems that are incurred. Plenty of back story to exp!ain the action as it unfurls. Love, deceit and death all play a part along the way with plenty of twists and turns.
Just a brilliant read!
July 27, 2020
A really good read. He has been off my radar for a while. I read six of his financial thrillers 20 years ago. He then moved into stories based in Iceland, which I found less persuasive. But I re-discovered Fatal Error as I was cleaning a bookshelf, sat down to read it and finished it five hours later. I repeat that it is a really good read. So I looked him up and see that he has written a couple of spy novels.
Guess what?
Guess what?
August 29, 2020
Dot Com......rollercoaster
The brave new world of the internet as it grows and the dot com rise and fall. The rise more rapid and heady than ever before known; and the fall like no other. Factor in youth, sex and infidelity, the suspicions of guilt and harrowing murders......now that's a story.
The brave new world of the internet as it grows and the dot com rise and fall. The rise more rapid and heady than ever before known; and the fall like no other. Factor in youth, sex and infidelity, the suspicions of guilt and harrowing murders......now that's a story.
September 22, 2023
OK Financial Novel
The mystery keeps one guessing but overall it was difficult to feel attached to the characters in the story. It skips around a lot mulling over multiple years for about the first half of the book in an attempt to build suspense and character development but in the process loses continuity in the story.
The mystery keeps one guessing but overall it was difficult to feel attached to the characters in the story. It skips around a lot mulling over multiple years for about the first half of the book in an attempt to build suspense and character development but in the process loses continuity in the story.
January 6, 2018
Gripping to the end
I loved thus book; its well written, with believable characters. The plot twists back and forth in time, linking the main characters lives well. The ending is startling but inevitable.
I loved thus book; its well written, with believable characters. The plot twists back and forth in time, linking the main characters lives well. The ending is startling but inevitable.
April 27, 2020
Surprise
I had a hard time putting this book down. Every time I thought I had it figured out the author threw in a twist. I still thought I had it figured out until the very end. Great book.
I had a hard time putting this book down. Every time I thought I had it figured out the author threw in a twist. I still thought I had it figured out until the very end. Great book.
January 20, 2021
Ein sehr gutes Buch, was mich keine Minute gelangweilt hat!
Neben der eigentlichen Geschichte (dem Mord an Guys Vater Tony) fand ich es auch super interessant zu sehen, wie es mit Ninetyminutes voran ging.
Sehr zu empfehlen!
Neben der eigentlichen Geschichte (dem Mord an Guys Vater Tony) fand ich es auch super interessant zu sehen, wie es mit Ninetyminutes voran ging.
Sehr zu empfehlen!
February 5, 2021
Не съм очарована. Книгата започва добре и увлича бързо. Но в един момент става прекалено протяжна, преповтаря се едно и също. Образите са недоразвити, тропат на едно място, въпреки развитието на действието- млади хора, кариеристи, новатори, но остават с намеренията си да променят света.
July 12, 2017
I enjoyed the book
February 20, 2018
Very good thriller. Nice idea to set action in the internet boom time.
April 7, 2018
This for me was a 'not quite' book. The plot was 'not quite' plausible; the characters were 'not quite' believable; the tension was 'not quite' thrilling. Quite good but, in the end, humdrum.
September 7, 2018
Really good mixture of cerebral mystery and action thriller.
September 3, 2022
This is a follow the money theme only it is difficult to fifure out where the money is at any given time
May 24, 2020
Michael Ridpath first wrote “Fatal Error” almost 20 years ago, just as the last embers of the first dot.com hype were dying out, and he has recently made it available for free to his fan club on Kindle. For full disclosure, I am one of them, having first met him through work and read his series of Icelandic crimes.
Ridpath has a distinctive calmness to his crime writing that makes his books effortless page-turners. He observes his characters always from a slight dispassionate distance, and yet allows them to develop with forgiving empathy ... even when they are killers! The reader is drawn in by these characters that could be amongst their everyday acquaintances.
For people like me, the story has a nostalgic element, taking the reader back to the hyper-intense years of over-hyped finance at the end of the 1990s. The characters in the book all seem like people we knew at the time (except Owen!). The two principal characters and founding partners of “ninetyminutes.com” - Lane, the cautious accountant making the sudden decision to jump into the helter-skelter world of the internet in search for excitement and a certain validation that he too can be “cool”; the manic Jourdan investing his whole existential raison d’etre in the venture in an attempt to prove his worth to an overbearing father who has been subsidising his previously wasteful life - both neatly encapsulate that 1990s era.
Ridpath has a distinctive calmness to his crime writing that makes his books effortless page-turners. He observes his characters always from a slight dispassionate distance, and yet allows them to develop with forgiving empathy ... even when they are killers! The reader is drawn in by these characters that could be amongst their everyday acquaintances.
For people like me, the story has a nostalgic element, taking the reader back to the hyper-intense years of over-hyped finance at the end of the 1990s. The characters in the book all seem like people we knew at the time (except Owen!). The two principal characters and founding partners of “ninetyminutes.com” - Lane, the cautious accountant making the sudden decision to jump into the helter-skelter world of the internet in search for excitement and a certain validation that he too can be “cool”; the manic Jourdan investing his whole existential raison d’etre in the venture in an attempt to prove his worth to an overbearing father who has been subsidising his previously wasteful life - both neatly encapsulate that 1990s era.
May 10, 2016
Fatal Error is a slow-burn crime novel with a brooding back-story. This is adrenalin-pumping action, and is somewhat different to Ridpath’s other thrillers, but the thin plot redeems itself with an exciting climax.
When David Lane tries to ride the dot-com bubble with school friend Guy Jordan, things start well. and their ninetyminutes.com football website gains good feedback and increasing visitor numbers. But dot-com start-ups eat money, and raising funding is paramount.
Guy reluctantly persuades his father, property tycoon Tony Jordan, to invest heavily, and Tony Jordan and his lawyer join the board. But when the pair tries to force a change of direction in order to quickly generate cash, Guy so violently objects that he resigns. Without him, ninetyminutes.com will fail, but then Tony Jordan is conveniently killed by a hit-and-run driver, Guy rejoins, and the company continues.
The police fail to find the culprit, and Lane’s suspicions that Guy was somehow involved in the death threaten their working relationship. Underlying his unease are memories of a holiday to France with Guy and other school friends years before. They stayed in Tony Jordan’s holiday mansion, and his new wife was killed during their visit. With no perpetrator ever found, Lane was suspicious of Guy and his brother.
Lane realises he must put his doubts about his partner to rest if they are to work together effectively, so sets out to discover who was behind the two deaths. He soon finds himself the victim of threats and violence.
As the truth begins to unfold, the brooding backstory about what happened in France increasingly casts its ominous shadow across events.
When the dot-com bubble bursts and it becomes clear that ninetyminutes.com will be unable to raise the cash it needs, Lane demands the company cuts back in order to survive. This trips Guy {over the edge} and things accelerate towards an exciting climax and an unexpected twist.
This is an enjoyable story, even though the action is slow and the plot feels thinner than in Ridpath’s other novels, which have richer storylines and better pace. If you’ve not read any of his books before, start with See No Evil or The Predator, which seem more typical of Ridpath’s style.
When David Lane tries to ride the dot-com bubble with school friend Guy Jordan, things start well. and their ninetyminutes.com football website gains good feedback and increasing visitor numbers. But dot-com start-ups eat money, and raising funding is paramount.
Guy reluctantly persuades his father, property tycoon Tony Jordan, to invest heavily, and Tony Jordan and his lawyer join the board. But when the pair tries to force a change of direction in order to quickly generate cash, Guy so violently objects that he resigns. Without him, ninetyminutes.com will fail, but then Tony Jordan is conveniently killed by a hit-and-run driver, Guy rejoins, and the company continues.
The police fail to find the culprit, and Lane’s suspicions that Guy was somehow involved in the death threaten their working relationship. Underlying his unease are memories of a holiday to France with Guy and other school friends years before. They stayed in Tony Jordan’s holiday mansion, and his new wife was killed during their visit. With no perpetrator ever found, Lane was suspicious of Guy and his brother.
Lane realises he must put his doubts about his partner to rest if they are to work together effectively, so sets out to discover who was behind the two deaths. He soon finds himself the victim of threats and violence.
As the truth begins to unfold, the brooding backstory about what happened in France increasingly casts its ominous shadow across events.
When the dot-com bubble bursts and it becomes clear that ninetyminutes.com will be unable to raise the cash it needs, Lane demands the company cuts back in order to survive. This trips Guy {over the edge} and things accelerate towards an exciting climax and an unexpected twist.
This is an enjoyable story, even though the action is slow and the plot feels thinner than in Ridpath’s other novels, which have richer storylines and better pace. If you’ve not read any of his books before, start with See No Evil or The Predator, which seem more typical of Ridpath’s style.
March 14, 2016
Michael Ridpath takes us into a world about which I know very little. His story though feels very credible.
Guy Jourdan, failed actor, has the idea for a startup dot.com company, a website that will deal only with football, and will atract those who not only want to see results, but articles to read, and merchandise. It will eventually become the number one site for European football fans.
Guy's father is a millionaire, a very successful businessman and Guy wants to follow in his footsteps, and to outdo him. The dot.com boom offers a way to make quick money, but in order to do that you have to borrow lots and then manage it well. And that is where his old boarding school roommate, David Lane, comes in. David will provide the financial expertise, and Guy's brother Owen will be the technical wizard.
There have been a couple of incidents in the past, one where Guy's stepmother was killed, and one where Guy nearly crashed a plane into a mountain, which have resulted in estrangement between Guy and David, so David is very surprised when Guy contacts him about the new venture. Between them they manage to put together a small amount of money to get started,
When the first lot of money runs out Guy approaches his father Tony for a two million pound loan. Tony, who dislikes David, obliges but wants an 80% share of the company. Shortly after he and Guy have a big argument Tony is killed by a hit and run driver. David reflects that something or someone keeps coming to Guy's rescue. And that is where things begin to get interesting and dangerous.
Quite a good thriller with some anonymous death threats providing mystery and spice. David thinks he knows who is behind them, and they serve to show what a dangerous world this is.
March 8, 2016
Fatal Error is by Michael Ridpath. It is a thriller and deals with the psychology of people. It is a really good book and definitely keeps your attention. You want to know the answers to many questions as you read.
David Lane had known Guy Jourdan for seventeen years and had worked with him on Ninetyminutes.com from the beginning. Now it seems that all their work was for nothing unless they could get additional funding. When Guy had the idea of creating “the foremost soccer website in Europe”, he came to David to get advice and help. David worked for a bank in acquisitions and knew something of the way businesses were set up and how they obtained money. David liked the idea of getting in on something at the start and anything to do with the Internet seemed to be a safe choice. Guy, his brother Owen, Ingrid Da Cunha, and Mel Dean all worked on the website. They borrowed startup money from Tony Jourdan, Guy’s dad. Tony had 80% of the stock. When David and Guy brought Orchestra Ventures offer and conditions to the Board, Tony struck them down. He wanted to get the website into porn which Guy refused to do. Instead he resigned.
David and Ingrid tried to figure out a way to get Tony to go with Orchestra Ventures and to get Guy back. They went to talk to Tony and got fired for their efforts. Tony did what he wanted. Tony left for another meeting as David and Ingrid were leaving. David and Ingrid heard the crash as Tony was struck by a hit and run driver and killed. Now what would happen to Ninetyminutes.com. Was all this connected to something that happened the summer the guys graduated? David is determined to find out.
David Lane had known Guy Jourdan for seventeen years and had worked with him on Ninetyminutes.com from the beginning. Now it seems that all their work was for nothing unless they could get additional funding. When Guy had the idea of creating “the foremost soccer website in Europe”, he came to David to get advice and help. David worked for a bank in acquisitions and knew something of the way businesses were set up and how they obtained money. David liked the idea of getting in on something at the start and anything to do with the Internet seemed to be a safe choice. Guy, his brother Owen, Ingrid Da Cunha, and Mel Dean all worked on the website. They borrowed startup money from Tony Jourdan, Guy’s dad. Tony had 80% of the stock. When David and Guy brought Orchestra Ventures offer and conditions to the Board, Tony struck them down. He wanted to get the website into porn which Guy refused to do. Instead he resigned.
David and Ingrid tried to figure out a way to get Tony to go with Orchestra Ventures and to get Guy back. They went to talk to Tony and got fired for their efforts. Tony did what he wanted. Tony left for another meeting as David and Ingrid were leaving. David and Ingrid heard the crash as Tony was struck by a hit and run driver and killed. Now what would happen to Ninetyminutes.com. Was all this connected to something that happened the summer the guys graduated? David is determined to find out.
May 14, 2016
I've read a number of Michael Ridpath's books over the years, and I have always enjoyed his stories, so I was very pleased to receive a free copy of Fatal Error, as an e-book, after promising to write a review. The story is wrapped around the creation of an internet football web site (Ninetyminutes.com) and the ups and downs of cash flow, dead bodies and relationships between the characters. It is an easy enjoyable read that encouraged me to keep reading, even though I should have put it down and go to sleep. If you like twists and turns linked to the internet and finance Fatal Error will meet your needs.
October 21, 2016
This book is surprisingly good. I found it compelling and a bit of a page turner. The baddie was unexpected although I was looking. The author starts by introducing most of the characters and I found this a bit confusing. Thankfully, this chapter was well into the story. The author then went back to the beginning and the characters were slowly put into place. I dont know why he did it this way. Maybe it was to keep the readers interest? I would have preferred a straight story. In any case, this book is a good read.
March 5, 2016
What a good book! Real edge of seat stuff. All the action stems from the internet boom.. Many new companies were set up in this dot.com time. However some were destined to fall by the wayside. Will that happen here? You have to read it to find the answer.
Of course, there is lots more to the plot than just computer business. Murder and deceit among other things.
You will want to keep turning the pages.
Of course, there is lots more to the plot than just computer business. Murder and deceit among other things.
You will want to keep turning the pages.
March 14, 2011
Fatal Error is a slow-burn crime novel with a brooding back-story. This is not adrenalin-pumping action, and is somewhat different to Ridpath’s other thrillers, but the thin plot redeems itself with an exciting climax. Certainly not his best, but an okay fairly gentle read.
I'm writing a more detailed review, which I'll post later.
I'm writing a more detailed review, which I'll post later.
April 22, 2013
En la explosión tecnológica de internet, dos amigos y dos amigas crean una empresa on line. Alrededor de muertes misteriosas explotará la burbuja y varias personas se esforzarán, con métodos ilegales, para asegurar la supervivencia de la empresa.
January 25, 2016
Quite a nice book that jumps about in time (not that it's a time travel story). Full of intrigue about dot com startups, rich people, and crimes they commit. Just a wee bit draggy toward the middle and end.
February 9, 2016
A odd suspense/thriller novel based on the dot com era with the main characters a group of people who grew up together and started a business. Unfortunately people close to the business that might do something to stop the business all seem to turn up dead.
February 11, 2016
A complex web spun around the dotcom bubble but with links back to the past. The storyline holds together well and few improbable aspects.
It worked for me.
Why not five stars? Just not quite that bite needed to make it a book you cannot drop.
It worked for me.
Why not five stars? Just not quite that bite needed to make it a book you cannot drop.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews