This book had a very new and fresh premise. The story revolves around Mackenzie, an attorney for a venture capitalist who is placed on a murder investigation by her boss when a business associate is murdered. The story arc is unlike others in thriller that I have encountered. As someone who works in the city, I really felt like the book captured a lot of San Francisco's vibe, and wrapped up much about tech and the vibes in the area without being too kitschy. I would definitely recommend this book because the twists and turns are absolutely not something you would be ready for, and were surprising, fun, and gave the entire book that much more going for it.

This ebook was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Dead Money" had me hooked from the moment I learned the clever meaning behind its title. This isn’t your typical murder mystery—it’s a smart, sharp thriller set in the high-stakes world of venture capital. And trust me, it delivers.

We follow Mackenzie, a badass fixer and investigator who handles the kind of messy, high-profile problems no one else would likely want to touch. When the CEO of one of her firm’s biggest investments, Trevor, is found murdered, Mackenzie is thrown into the thick of it, working alongside the FBI. Trevor recently changed his will, adding a condition that freezes all his assets until someone is convicted of his murder. Talk about *dead money*!

The plot is packed with twists and turns, and I have to admit—some of them totally caught me off guard. It’s not just smart; it’s fun, unpredictable, and set in a world we don’t often see in mysteries. If you’re into sharp whodunnits with a unique setting, I’d definitely recommend this one.

3.5

This started off super strong. There was a good mystery that was relevant to the times. A good cast of characters. Technology that was pertinent. A setting that made sense. I was pretty engrossed in it until about 3/4 of the way through, and then it started to fall off. All the things that seemed so good in the beginning started wearing on me, and finally got to the point where I didn't care as much.

The story follows Mackenzie, an investigator for a large and important venture capital company. She's sent to help investigate the murder of the CEO of one of the biggest companies on the planet. She teams up with an FBI agent to help him navigate the tech world, while also updating her boss on the progress of the investigation. At first, everything was interesting and relevant. The victim was the CEO of Journy, a ride share company that could easily be swapped out for Uber or Lyft. It has its differences, but it's more or less the same thing. The suspect list is small, the motivation seemingly obvious. There are some twists to all this of course, but it kept going at a good pace. However, it started grating on me as it got closer to the end, Petty people fighting over billions because they think they're owed something in life? Eh. It didn't help that some of them had to let you know just how special they were, because they worked in tech and had a minimalist house and treated everyone as if they were beneath them. I get it; it's San Francisco and technology. Most people involved in that are insufferable. It also helped show how tech bros have ruined so many things. The Burning Man sections really hammered that home. And speaking of hammers, Hammer Angel is the dumbest name on the planet. Technology has advanced so much and brought so many good things to peoples lives, but at the same time it definitely has its downfalls, which I think more people are beginning to realize.

The ending absolutely was not for me. It made sense for how the rest of the story went, but I didn't enjoy it. I feel as if I'll be the outlier on that, but I could be wrong.

This will appeal to people who enjoy mysteries with a tech flair. It is well-written, and I think I would have rated it higher had it not been for the end.

Book review 📖

📜Dead Money
✍️Jakob Kerr
📠Random House/Ballantine Bantam
📚Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: January 28, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @randomhouse for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to @jakob_kerr for penning this masterful and wild ride. Excuse me while I go twist my head back on straight…

✨Unofficial “fixer” for one of Silicon Valley’s most successful venture capitalists, Mackenzie Clyde, is used to dealing with high stakes. However, the CEO of one of the hottest tech companies is murdered, leaving a pile of “dead money” tied up in his will. Mackenzie’s boss is a chief investor in the startup.

✨Going head to head with some of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest and most ruthless power players, Mackenzie finds herself in over her head. At the end of the day, she’s a lawyer, not an investigator. Teamed up with Special Agent Jameson Danner from the FBI, they begin to unravel the inner workings of the multi-billion dollar techie underworld. Ultimately it all comes down to one thing—money—and who is greedy enough to kill for it.

✨This book had me hooked from page one! A cross between Showtime’s Billions
and John Grisham’s The Firm, this had a healthy mix of wealth and power, the tech industry, and a high-end criminal investigation. I soaked up every second of this twisty thriller, and the twists keep comin’ till the very last page—what an ending! Pure genius!!

#netgalley #deadmoney #jakobkerr #randomhousepublishing #ballantine #bantam #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #winterreleases #thrillerfiction #readthisnow

A well woven mystery! The pacing was great. I enjoyed the glimpses to the past that help uncover the whole story. There were plenty of suspects, all of which were capable of having committed the murder. And the twists were done well! I enjoyed the story a lot. I thought the book was well written and thought out. I would definitely read more from this author. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

As someone who works in the telecom industry and has worked with Silicon Valley companies, I really enjoyed this book. I like the lead character a lot and enjoyed all the twists and turns. At times, I thought the dialog was a bit stiff and not natural but overall I thought the story was unique and different with a twist I did not see coming.

A very fun Silicon Valley murder mystery, where a Tech CEO is found dead and a distaff Micheal Clayton fixer is tasked by her boss to solve the crime. The author spent their career in this world, and you get the sense that the book is filled with fictionalized accounts of real life gossip. It twists and turns in interesting ways and has a really exciting final stanza. One of the cool things about great crime fiction is that it can be a chance to learn about a specific place and time, and this captures the world of megalomaniacal tech overlords in the perfect time in history for it.

This debut, suspence novel provides an in-depth view into the unique culture of the tech world with some venture capital thrown in. When a tech leader is murdered and it's discovered that he set up his will to freeze his assets until the murder is solved, several interested parties race to find out what happened.

I was hooked from the beginning and was engrossed the whole way through. I will be on the lookout for more from Jakob Kerr.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse for a free copy of #DeadMoney by Jakob Kerr. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this suspense novel for several reasons. The plot revolves around venture capital and start-ups, something of which I knew little but learned quite a bit about here. The start-up at the center of the intrigue dealt with cutting edge technology and was interesting in itself. There were several twists in the plot that changed the entire plot trajectory. Some of those were near the end. There were flash backs as we learn how two of the characters came to know each other. Secrets were revealed little by little. Mackenzie is a flawed character but one I came to be rooting for as I saw her determination.

This is a well written novel for being a debut effort. Kerr is an author I will be watching.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

What a awesome debut novel by Jakob Kerr. This was so filled with twists and turns and clear defining of the characters. He keeps you on the edge of your seat that you just want to keep reading. This book was set in Silicon valley and it involves the CEO Trevor Canon found dead in his office. Jameson Danner is the FBI special agent tasked to find the killer. Mackenzie Clyde works at Hammersmith Venture and she has some secrets on the company. This is definitely a must read! Thank you so much Netgalley!

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving a honest

I would like to start off this review by thanking Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine|Bantam and #JakobKerr for allowing me to read this book, Dead Money, via #netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

This has been my favorite read so far this year. Every time I thought I had this mystery figured out, a new twist would arise, and I literally kept guessing until it all finally came together in the last twenty pages.

The story begins with the murder of a CEO and co-founder of a company that is the biggest start-up in Silicon Valley history. A huge lead is uncovered when it is discovered that he changed his will to freeze any company money and assets in the event of his murder until a trial begins with the murder suspect. This gives the executives of his company a lot of reason to kill him if they didn't know about the abrupt change in his will, reasons of about $100 million worth. After the San Francisco Police Department is unable to solve the crime, the FBI is asked to take over. With this, the venture capitalist, Roger, who invested over $5 billion into the start-up company, Journy, asks his head investigator, MacKenzie Clyde, to be an advisor, so she can feed him information. Without much of a choice, MacKenzie agrees, but she soon realizes she may be in over her head.

This book, as mentioned previously, had so many twists and turns. However, I wasn't left feeling like any of them were too far-fetched. It was just good writing. Because of this, I gave the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I highly suggest people read it when it comes out next week on January 28!

#BrenBreathesBooks #brenreviewsbooks #ARCReader #thriller #thrilleraddict #kindlereads #netgalleyreviewer #5starreads #comingsoon #Reader #readerlife #booknerd #bookworm #bookstagram #bookstagramcommunity #bookcommunity #bookish

Well... this book took me all round the houses, dragged me this way and that, keeping me just the right side of confused until, bam - all the truth came flooding out! But I get ahead of myself.
The Dead Money of the title refers to the proceeds of a will. Which has been frozen until a clause has been satisfied. The will in question belongs to Trevor Canon, the CEO of tech's hottest startup who has just been murdered. Found dead in his office. The police are floundering which doesn't bode well for releasing the assets as the clause in question refers to bringing his murderer (yes he covered all the bases) to justice. But in the meantime, the shares in the company have not transferred so there is worry about profit and share price etc etc, which, in turn, worries main investor, venture capitalist Roger Hammersmith who brings in his best "problem solver" Mackenzie Clyde to fix things...
And so begins a rather convoluted, interconnected, and intricate tale that had me spinning around chasing my tail all the way through. We start a couple weeks after the murder but then also go back in time to follow Mackenzie's education and career path. Quite how all that stacks up with the present day action I will leave for you to discover in all its glory.
One important thing I do have to say is that don't worry if you know nothing about any of this investment, money, venture stuff. I didn't. I do now, a bit, and it's fascinating. But rest assured the author explains all you need to know to follow the story as it progresses without getting boring or too complicated. A great balance there.
Characters are brilliant - some rather larger than life, but I guess we do get some big personalities in this field. All played their parts very well and I wouldn't be averse to reconnecting with some in future books.
After finishing, which by the way, left me wholly satisfied, I did the usual and checked out the author's back catalogue and was shocked to find out that this is a debut book. Well... blow me down. I'll be even more shocked if it doesn't make top 5 debut books of 2025, currently at position one!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was a complicated mystery with a some thrills here and there that made my heart race. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into and boy was it a roller coaster ride. This turned into a complex money thriller that had many twists and turns that really kept me focused and intrigued. I felt like reading this was the way to go because of the complex nature of the storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the gifted e-ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this investigative suspense novel. The insights into venture capital and the tech start-up culture created a unique backdrop to a fairly traditional murder mystery. The middle of the story dragged a bit - there is a lot of dialogue and it became tedious and repetitive. However, the ending had an explosive conclusion with lots of fun twists and surprising reveals.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

I gotta say that this book is one of the scariest I've ever read! The idea that AI is going off the rails into the point of madness could very well be true, and this story could be non-fiction.
I absolutely loved how the story is written, how well the characters are developed and described, and how many twists and turns are woven throughout.
Carve some time out before you start this book, because you will need it.
Bravo, Mr. Kerr

My latest book review and first of 2025 is Jakob Kerr’s Dead Money takes readers deep into the shadowy, high-stakes world of Silicon Valley, where big money, cutting-edge technology, and deadly secrets collide. This twisty thriller centers around Mackenzie Clyde, a sharp and resourceful lawyer (though she bristles at being called a fixer), who works for the ruthless venture capitalist Roger Hammersmith. When the CEO and co-founder of one of tech’s hottest startups is found murdered, and the San Francisco police seem to be spinning their wheels, Roger tasks Mackenzie with solving the problem.

Teaming up reluctantly with an FBI Special Agent who’s not thrilled about working alongside a corporate lawyer, Mackenzie dives into an intricate and dangerous investigation. The plot weaves back and forth in time, creating a layered mystery that requires close attention but rewards readers with a richly detailed story. While the book has a slow-burn pace rather than nonstop action, Kerr’s writing and the depth of the characters kept me engaged until the very last page.

As a San Francisco resident, I particularly enjoyed the book’s setting, which felt vividly authentic and added another layer of intrigue to the story. The novel also explores timely themes like the influence of venture capital, advanced AI technology, and the morally murky world of Silicon Valley billionaires. But rather than preaching, Kerr uses these elements to raise thought-provoking questions about what’s on the horizon.

Dead Money is a smart, twist-laden thriller that peels back the polished surface of the tech world to reveal a gritty, dangerous underbelly. With its compelling characters, intricate mystery, and timely themes, this book is a must-read for fans of slow-burn suspense.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Jakob Kerr's "Dead Money" is a fast-paced and engrossing thriller that takes readers into the high-stakes world of financial crime and moral dilemmas. This novel centers around a young and ambitious hedge fund manager, Alex Caine, who gets entangled in a web of deceit, corruption, and danger as he uncovers a sinister plot that threatens his life and career.

Kerr masterfully weaves together a narrative filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and complex characters. Alex is a compelling protagonist whose journey from naive ambition to gritty determination keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The high-pressure environment of Wall Street is vividly depicted, making it easy to get lost in the intricate details of financial maneuvers and corporate intrigue.

The novel's exploration of themes such as greed, loyalty, and the cost of success is thought-provoking and engaging. Kerr's writing style is crisp and immersive, drawing readers into the fast-paced world of high finance and leaving them eagerly turning pages to see what happens next.

Highly recommended for fans of financial thrillers and anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful read. "Dead Money"" is a gripping novel that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Jakob Kerr's debut is a testament to his skill as a storyteller and promises great things to come in his future works.

A CEO of one of the fastest growing Tech companies is murdered in his highly secure private office execution style. The Executive team would inherit their shares of the company at that point except that shortly before he died he added a "dead money" clause that says his estate and the company is frozen until a suspect goes on trial for his murder, When the investigation starts to go cold, the Venture Capital firm that has funded the company for almost $5 billion sends their investigative attorney, McKenzie to join forces with FBI agent Danner. Fascinating glimpse into the tech world and the upper elite wealthy with so many twists and turns that leave you constantly guessing as to who murdered him but also what else was going on to make him that paranoid. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC! #deadmoney #netgalley

Wow. I can’t believe this is a debut novel! Mackenzie Clyde is a “problem solver” for a corrupt tech mogul in Silicon Valley. When the CEO of a successful startup is murdered, he leaves behind millions of “dead money” in his will. The police investigation is going nowhere, so Mackenzie is tasked by her boss to solve the problem.

This book was super twisty! It almost became a story within a story as it got more and more complex. I guessed most of the twists, but I wasn’t disappointed because there was always more to it. My biggest problem was not much happened in the first half of the book. I appreciated the character development and foundation laid, but it still dragged for me.

The ending was well fleshed out, and I can actually see this as a Netflix series. Overall, a good read and a fantastic debut of a novel that I will be recommending.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the gifted eARC!

Parts of this book were incredibly transparent but parts of it remained a complete mystery until the author decided it was time to let the reader in. That makes for a great, page-turning read. When will the reader be told what you think you already know? Like I said, I kept turning the pages. Don't let the tech world setting put you off. This isn't some big sci-fi exploration of what is happening. This was a solid who-done-it and why kind of mystery. There were a lot of done-its and whys making up a brilliant read! And, would it be in poor sport to think that I would love another book featuring Mackenzie. Clyde? What a great character! This was a longer than average book for me, but it was worth every page!