The book The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer is a story about two brothers. One brother is Charlie Caruso, who is a low level employee at the exclusive bank Greene & Greene. The other brother is Oliver Caruso, who is the youngest associate at the entire bank. Charlie and Oliver soon begin planning the perfect crime. The bank at which they work, Greene & Greene, is so private and exclusive that a customer needs two million dollars to simply create an account. However, when they realize that the path they are on does not lead to success, they decide to make a life changing decision. Three million dollars in an abandoned account is just calling their names, begging to be taken. Nobody at the bank is aware that the funds exist, and if Oliver and Charlie do not take the money then the funds will just be transferred to the state of New York. The crime is foolproof. With three million dollars they could even begin to pay all of their bills and then become completely out of debt. After their father walked out on them and their mother, he left them with a lot of bills to pay, on top of bills that they were already obligated to pay. After they hesitantly go through with the crime and steal the money, their lives instantly turn to chaos. Before they can even make sense of what is going on their friend is brutally murdered. All of a sudden the bank, Secret Service, and a female private investigator are closing in on them. What invisible alarms were attached to that account? How are the two brothers going to prove that they are innocent? Why is the Secret Service trying to kill them? Trapped in a fast paced race to stay alive, Charlie and Oliver are about to discover a secret that will test their trust and forever change their lives. This book is a well written mystery novel because it keeps the reader on edge and is constantly surprising the reader. As soon as the reader is introduced to the bank robbery plot, the whole book changes themes. In the book before the bank robbery all that is described is the normal life of employees who work for an exclusive bank. However as soon as they steal the money the whole theme becomes one of mystery and drama. Before the robbery Oliver is a careful guy who hates to break the rules, but after the robbery his character changes. Oliver’s character then changes to somebody who is always alert, worried, and most of all reliant on his brother. They are both in this mess and both have to find a way to get out of it. Before the robbery Oliver did not really have to rely on his brother for anything other than being family. Now they are relying on each other to stay alive. This book was very enjoyable to read because it has the perfect blend of mystery and suspense. It is also enjoyable because the whole story is something that could actually happen and the author is showing that the economy is rough now and some people who have always been good citizens turn to crime. In short this was a fantastic book to read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading mystery and suspenseful books.
This novel really deserves more stars, but I am trying to go back to my original concept that three stars covers a bell-shaped curve that includes all books worth reading, reserving 4 stars for books that everyone ought to read and 5 stars for books that I think everyone must read. If we had a decimal system, I guess this one would be rated at 3.9999+. I am continually amazed at Meltzer’s abilities as a writer, and I am delighted to note that his picture on the back cover flap suggest he is young enough to provide many more novels in the future. Meltzer’s novels are filled with very interesting characters and his TV-show writing experience shows throughout; this novel is eminently filmable and I am amazed that some Hollywood firm has not snatched it up … just as I am forever puzzled that Lucas has not purchased and filmed The Mote in God’s Eye, which would be perfect for him. I will admit that I thought I saw a couple of the denouement surprises coming, but they were pure guesses on my part. On the other hand, I thought I found a grievous error on the author’s part, but when I went back and checked I found that he covered it completely and I had missed it. The story is told in little vignettes as small chapters of just a few pages, with the plot developing as the different people in each different chapter get closers to each other, until they all wind up in an exciting climax behind the scenes at Disney World. The last 110 or so pages were so engrossing that I could not stop reading, despite the late hour and a real need to do other things. Meltzer thanks 116 people (I may have missed a few) in his Acknowledgement section, and the difference shows between this resulting novel and the E-books that are written by single authors at their kitchen tables.Oliver Caruso and his younger brother, Charlie, work in a very special bank in New York City--a bank that only deals with very wealthy clients. One day they discover that an account with a little over three million dollars in it, belonging to a dead person, is about to be turned over to the state as abandoned funds. At the same time, Oliver discovers that his boss has been lying to him for years about trying to help him get into business school, and in his anger he decides to transfer the money in the abandoned account to a secret account he has set up in Anguilla. Everything goes well, despite a pressing time problem as they rush down to the last minute for the transfer … but the next morning the Secret Service wants to talk with them, and they go on the run, leaving a dead associate behind, not knowing that they are also being chased by a very efficient insurance-company private detective.
What do You think about The Millionaires (2002)?
After reading non-fictions as well as consuming empty, constantly changing RSS feeds of tech magazines on my iPad I got the urge to read something fictional, possibly in the pop genre. So I looked up a few "best in -corporate thrillers". I wasn't really ready for this. Even Jeffrey Archer books have more substance in them than The Millionaires. Brad Meltzer has one and only one goal in mind, and he's not alone because I'm reading Top Producer by Norb Vonnegut and he's the same, to grab interest of anyone in Hollywood who will produce a movie based on his book which will yield some cash. That's it. The writing is grade 8 elementary school, I hope I'm not offending any elementary student. The plot is the same as Fast and Furious 1,2,3,4,5,6,7...
—Adam
I had a hard time getting through this book. It wasn't that it wasn't fast moving. Maybe it is because I just like reading for entertainment and relaxation and this was definitely not a relaxing book. It was also kind of depressing even with the brothers' banter. Then, I noticed how the author had them mind reading each other and that was annoying. So, I guess I had a hard time finishing the book because I wasn't really enjoying it. I did finish it and the plot twist did take me off guard. If you like Meltzer's style of writing, you will like this book.
—Sally Myers
Going through the large amount of books i have accumulated out of seemingly nowhere, I started this book thinking it was going to be a disappointment. The last book I started with a title very similar was a non-fiction about how to actually live and become, a millionaire. To many big words and, well I just don't math if I don't have too. So with very low expectations, this book BLEW my mind. I was soon addicted. The way the words seem to climax with each sentence, the thrill always there, always lingering even to the last drop. Just when I think it's hit a area that would be suited as a stopping place - so i can get to class on time - something staggeringly stupendous would happen and I would literally have to pry myself away. Its got the book smarts, the action, the dumb wit, the murder, the mystery, it has a lot to offer and totally worth all of it.
—Nicole
