Quick Synopsis

“A stone-cold banger of a novel—a twisty journey through Silicon Valley’s dark side, wrapped in a stunning mystery package with some wild surprises along the way.”—Blake Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter

Publisher’s Synopsis

Don’t call me a fixer. This isn’t HBO. 

In her job as unofficial “problem solver” for Silicon Valley’s most ruthless venture capitalist, Mackenzie Clyde’s gotten used to playing for high stakes. Even if none of those tech-bro millions she’s so good at wrangling ever make it into her pockets.

But this time, she’s in way over her head—or so it seems.

The lightning-rod CEO of tech’s hottest startup has just been murdered, leaving behind billions in “dead money” frozen in his will. As the company’s chief investor, Mackenzie’s boss has a fortune on the line—and with the police treading water, it’s up to Mackenzie to step up and resolve things, fast.

Mackenzie’s a lawyer, not a detective. Cracking this fiendishly clever killing, with its list of suspects that reads like a who’s-who of Valley power players, should be way out of her league.

Except that Mackenzie’s used to being underestimated. In fact, she’s counting on it.

Because the way she sees it, this isn’t an investigation. It’s an opportunity. And she’ll do anything it takes to seize it.

Anything at all.

Featuring jaw-dropping twists and a wily, outsider heroine you can’t help rooting for, Dead Money is a brilliant sleight-of-hand mystery. Written by a longtime insider, it is also a dead-on snapshot of the Valley’s rich and famous—and a glimpse at the darkness lurking behind the tech world’s cheery facade.

Book Review

Dead Money is a Silicon-Valley-based mystery that kicks off with the murder of the CEO of tech’s hottest start-up, Journy (think: Uber + Lime + golf carts). When the CEO’s will is read, everyone is surprised that the company, along with all his assets, are frozen due to a dead money clause that requires his murder to be solved. A lawyer-turned-investigator, Mackenzie Clyde, from the VC firm that invested $5 billion into Journy is put on the case with a list of suspects that reads like a who’s-who of tech’s power players.

I was initially under the impression that Dead Money was a thriller rather than a mystery. But I think it is solidly a mystery and does not have the required quick pace of a thriller for a majority of the book. The exception to this is the portion of the novel that takes place at Burning Man. (After all, what is a book about tech-bros without burning man?) 

I found Dead Money to be an interesting look behind the veil of big tech. However, I never felt fully invested in the story because there was not anything at stake, other than some rich people becoming richer. I think if at least the main character was more developed, I would have felt that there was more at stake in the novel. 

Sure, the plot is solid and had convincing red herrings, but there were limited likable characters or reasons to care about the outcome. In addition, the big twist did not blow me away, partially as it was slowly revealed. While I enjoyed the twist, it was nothing new or spectacular. 

Overall, Dead Money is a solid debut novel that diverges from the typical mystery in subject matter. While I recommend it, I caution that if you need to feel really invested to enjoy a book, this one might not be for you.

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