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Adam Cassidy is a good-hearted 26-year-old, unmotivated to get ahead in his low-level position at Wyatt Telecom. A loading dock guy, Jonesie, working at the same firm, is retiring. Unsure even of his own motivation (although Adam suspects it may in the nature of 'a raised middle finger') Cassidy arranges, at the firm's expense, an unauthorised birthday bash for the retiree. Unfortunately, Wyatt's CEO keeps more of an eye on detail than Adam credited and pursues, with heavy threats, payment in kind from Cassidy. If he wishes to avoid prison with its potential for physical abuse, Adam must spy for the Wyatt organisation at Trion Systems. He will be supplied with useful information about technology by Wyatt but must, in return, worm himself as far into the inner sanctum of Trion as possible and keep Wyatt abreast of any secret moves by the rival organisation. A series of actions, some positively serendipitous, sees Adam lodged in an advantageous position within his target and he discovers an unsuspected propensity for spying and double-dealing. He relinquishes his past life and friends, caught up in the glamour of the life of a fast-moving young executive. On another level, however, Adam must question his actions in the light of the idealism and vulnerability of the CEO of Trion. To say the suspense within this novel is intense is something of an understatement. I had to remind myself to breathe at times as Adam found himself in hair-raising situations. Something unheard of occurred -- I even had to look at the ending of a chapter before I could bear to read the details of some of the situations in which this anti-hero found himself. What may appear impossible to a casual reader is made all too conceivable within the boundaries of this novel. The psychological aspect is very convincing, as is the characterisation of the actors in the drama. The plot is beautifully constructed with an amount of technological detail sufficient to convince the most informed reader of the validity of the science involved. Just in case anyone is in any doubt prior to reading PARANOIA, Joseph Finder is something of an authority on espionage -- he is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. It is unfortunate for aficionados of suspense fiction that Finder came relatively late to the genre. One trusts he will write quickly and attempt to make up for his slow start.
Reviewed by Denise Pickles, June 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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