Subprime Factor

Jeffrey D. Schlaman
Synergy Books (2008)
ISBN 9780981546254
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (7/09)


By the end of page one I was already “hooked” on Jeffrey D. Schlaman’s suspense thriller “Subprime Factor.” Schlaman accurately foretells the economic crisis we are facing today in this powerful fictional expose.

Doug Boyd, a CPA, pressed by his boss to sign off on an audit with dubious rating assigned to investment funds, refused to bend the rules. This refusal sets into motion an attempted hit on Doug’s life and an evidence gathering marathon involving Doug and three former college classmates: Martin Cheyne, an ardent blogger and economics instructor, Phil Schultz, a deeply-in-debt FBI agent, and Paul La Brach, an unprincipled real-estate broker. They soon find themselves caught up in a web of collusion, conspiracy and modern-day monetary manipulation. Add to this corporate espionage, controlled media coverage, government corruption, mortgage and real-estate fraud and the expected result is economic disaster.

Even while exposing the greed of financial institutions and individuals clamoring after the shallow trappings of success. Jeffrey’s writing is refreshing with a subtle underlying theme that transcends and redefines success as Doug, Martin, and Phil re-examine the dead-end struggles and personal sacrifice they have made in their chosen career paths to become successful.

I appreciated Schlaman’s careful attention to detail in his descriptions of the various locales in the story, from South San Francisco Bay, the communities in and around Sacramento and Auburn, California, the historic Jekyll Island Resort Club, several Southern sites and the Washington D. C. area.

Articulate and knowledgeable in areas of accounting, banking, finance, and real estate, Schalaman engages the reader by using stimulating dialog, a popular blogging technique, and rapid-fire action.

The novel is highly entertaining, often humorous and packed with information. “Subprime Factor” By Jeffrey D. Schlaman is a powerful thriller combining authentic characters, high drama, romance, unexpected plot twists, and final closure. This makes for a great combination for a top-notch story with amazing movie potential.

Read interview with Jeffrey Schlaman

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