The Protege

By: Stephen Frey

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

Having survived his rise to chairman of Everest Capital, Christian Gillette is safely perched atop the financial industry. He's just accepted Everest's largest private investment, he's poised to take over his ex-rival's sinking firm, and he's buying the NFL's newest team. Plus, an ambitious deal-maker named David Wright has caught his eye. Wright reminds Gillette of his younger self. But everything comes to a screeching halt when a shadowy man calls Gillette to a meeting, offering new information about his father and his still mysterious death. As he becomes more entangled with the stranger, Gillette feels his grip on Everest weakening - and realizes his life is once more in danger. When all signs begin to point to Wright, what's a chairman to do?

Still breathing? Take another corporate thrill ride with CEO Christian Gillette.

©2006 Stephen Frey (P)2006 BBC Audiobooks America

Critic Reviews

"Reader Holter Graham keeps the listener on the edge, raising expectations and just as quickly dashing them. He has a voice of quiet authority, a voice to trust, a voice you'll want to hear again. The way he seamlessly shifts from Gillette's calm voice to the Australian lilt of his second-in-command or the wheedling tones of traitor David Wright is inspiring. This is a blue chip winner." ( AudioFile)

Christian Gillette Series

The Chairman, The Protegé, The Power Broker, and The Successor are the four novels that are the Christian Gillette Series. Read them in order to glean the most from this story. The stories will stand alone, but you'll miss connections and scratch your head with a lack of understanding. Plus, you'll miss out on some good storytelling.

Plot. Christian Gillette, a handsome 30-something genius, is unexpectedly elevated to Chairman of Everest, a money management firm, via the unexpected death of his boss. Through the four novels, you will learn that Christian is a brilliant financier, buying and selling companies, making his clients, and his staff, multi-millionaires. Deciding 'who to trust' is paramount to his success. Romance, deal-making, back-stabbing, life and death situations, friendships, self-doubt, questions of loyalty, judgement, good guys, bad guys - all swirl through a world of high finance.

Liked. Was prepared to be unenthusiastic about a story of high finance. Boring, right? Nope! This series will hold your attention, not one math problem. It's a terrific tale of suspense, intrigue, even political espionage. There is a lot to the character of Christian Gillette; he's not "just another pretty face". Narration is fine, no issues. A bit slow in tempo, so pumped the iPhone up to 1.3 - not an issue.

Not so hot? Sometimes Christian comes across as a bit immature - most of the time a brilliant alpha male, in charge. His character could have been smoother. A bit cliché, in places, but very readable.

Recommended. High finance can be exciting stuff!

Good Listen

I like this series, it is entertaining and unique.

What do you expect

When you want to open a casino in Vegas, you can expect to run into mob trouble. AND you want to own a new NFL team? More corruption and trouble.

Narration is great.

Great clean story

Enjoyed the struggle throughout the book with not enough time to get everything done along with untrustworthy subordinates. To top off the stress a girlfriend uncertain of his faithfulness and someone trying to kill him.

Not my cup of tea

Way too macabre for me. I barely got through the first paragraph. Then the F bomb started… I just couldn’t make it into the 2nd chapter.

Loved this book

I’ve never read a Stephen Frey but after The Protege I’m definitely hooked. Amazing storyline, simultaneously humorous and thrilling. Will definitely be picking up the rest of the books in this series.

Decent story, too many unneeded turns

Overwritten to the point of being disappointed that a dead character was really not. Too contrived. Too many dead ends. If cleaned up, it would have held well.

Amazing book really enjoying this series

As with the first book this one really kept me on edge. I can't wait to listen to the next. The author does a remarkable job putting together such a plot twisting story. I really loved the characters and the backstory. if you like conspiracies and business books this book is for you.

Series

I genuinely enjoy this series. I know I will be sad when it’s over. Normally I don’t like it when they change narrators but I actually like this one better. I know people love Scott Brick, but Holter Graham is fabulous!

Immature

Ugh, this was so boring. The characters are a bunch of idiots. I listened for 3 hours waiting for something interesting to latch onto but nothing presented itself so I quit.