Strangely Humorous

Maxxed Out
David Collins
William Morrow (2009)
Hardcover, 320 pages
Rated 4 stars of 5 possible

Billionnaire Robert Maxx does not want to be seen as a nice guy. He wants to be seen as a winner. With the scruples of a rat, Maxx does not mind trampling the litte guys on his way to the top.  Except that now, his empire, built on a framework of lies, is crumbling. His finances are a mess and he needs a huge loan to acquire Rockefeller Center... and has nowhere to turn.

Maxxed Out examines the day-to-day dealings of big business and portrays one thoroughly unlikeable guy (Robert Maxx) beside a few more likeable characters. While the book isn't particularly long, it is also not fast-paced. The motivations and the lives of the characters are examined in so far as the characters interact with one another. Nearly everyone has a motive to kill Robert Maxx, and at least three people visited him on the last night of his life...

Recommended reading for those who would like a glimpse into the world of big business with a little bit of mystery attached. This review has been simultaneously published on Dragonviews and LibraryThing.