The Fourth Order

by: Stephen Frey

Published by: Ballantine

Reviewed by Bob Pike CSP, CPAE

Michael Rose is the 43-year-old CFO of Trafalgar Industries, a multinational conglomerate. He has a reputation for acquiring companies and has fueled Trafalgar’s growth aggressively for ten years. His next target, CIS Industries will be his biggest acquisition yet.

But as soon as his plan becomes known, all hell breaks loose. Sheila, his wife, dies in a car accident on the way home from meeting her lover. Was it really an accident? Innocent people are being detained, interrogated, and tortured—but by whom and for what purpose? Is the beautiful woman named Kat who thrust her phone number into Michael’s hand the night of Sheila’s death merely attracted to a wealthy, handsome man—or part of someone’s manipulation? What secrets are hidden with CIS that some would kill to protect—and others kill just as quickly to uncover?

Two opposing forces, both secret, both off the books. Is one good and the other evil? Or are both bad choices, but one must still choose the better of two evils? The reader is confronted with scenarios that may well be happening based on today’s political scene.

Frey does a wonderful job of creating a strong story and keeping multiple plot lines weaving through one another. Unfortunately there is no one in the story that you can really root for. Michael, as the protagonist, spends too much time lying and thinking below the belt rather than with his brain for the reader to really empathize with his plight.

Armchair Interviews says: Strong story, however characters don’t make you connect with them.