A Conspiracy of Paper cover art

A Conspiracy of Paper

Benjamin Weaver Series, Book 2

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A Conspiracy of Paper

By: David Liss
Narrated by: John Lee
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Benjamin Weaver is an outsider in 18th-century London: a Jew among Christians; a ruffian among aristocrats; a retired pugilist who, hired by London's gentry, travels through the criminal underworld in pursuit of debtors and thieves.

In A Conspiracy of Paper, Weaver investigates a crime of the most personal sort: the mysterious death of his estranged father, a notorious stockjobber. To find the answers, Weaver must contend with a desperate prostitute who knows too much about his past, relatives who remind him of his alienation from the Jewish faith, and a cabal of powerful men in the world of British finance who have hidden their business dealings behind an intricate web of deception and violence. Relying on brains and brawn, Weaver uncovers the beginnings of a strange new economic order based on stock speculation - a way of life that poses great risk for investors but real danger for Weaver and his family.

In the tradition of The Alienist and written with scholarly attention to period detail, A Conspiracy of Paper is one of the wittiest and most suspenseful historical novels in recent memory, as well as a perceptive and beguiling depiction of the origin of today's financial markets.

©2000 David Liss (P)2019 Tantor Historical Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting
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The story, set in a historic London, gave the feeling of being there, the scene setting is detailed but not boring. You get a real feel of what life was like and told from the first person get a birds eye view of the undercurrent of life.

Interesting and gripping

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The story is interesting, covering the South Sea Bubble and the squalor and crime of Georgian London. amidst the early stock trading.

The only downside is its far longer than it needs to be. Chapters and chapters of nothing much happening except the protagonist going back and forward to the same people. This is quite tedious in the middle and it takes a long time to get to the conclusion which could have been done much earlier.

Narration is excellent as usual from Lee.

Interesting mystery, great narration but too long.

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This was an intriguing and interesting history lesson. Have to admit I hadn’t thought about the origins of the stock exchange. I assume the author knows his stuff and has delivered the information correctly and interwoven with a constantly changing ‘whodunnit’.
John Lee was an ideal narrator for this book, he has an unusual delivery which doesn’t work for everything.
I’m torn between thinking it was overlong and could have done with a firm editor to feeling sorry when it ended.
However, I am a tad miffed to discover there are a further three books in this series none of which are on Audible. Why do you do this Audible? They are also hard to find in any format. Feel like I’ve been led on.

Intriguing

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Interpreting story, beautifully read, and with a wealth of characters (sometimes a confusing wealth!). A long and complex story that made great entertainment whilst I was doing some decorating.

Complicated, but engaging

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I enjoyed how the authors' description of the inception and growth of London's stock market was all cleverly weaved into a thrilling story of murder, greed and incredible subterfuge in 18th century London. All intertwined with the protagonist, Ben Weaver, internally and externally battling extreme anti Semitic prejudices. Whilst brilliant narrated by Jonathan Lee. Loved it, hope the other adventures of Benjamin Weaver will be brought to life in audible.

The plots twists and turns kept me enthralled

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