Finance insider delivers tale of big money, high ambition, and low morals in the financial world in new book, “Chameleon.” Hains, a 20-year veteran of the business who runs a substantial private hedge fund that invests in the major global financial markets, created Chameleon as a tale that exposes the indulgences of the financial community. Intricately-plotted with unexpected twists and hair-raising turns, Chameleon is the story of Jon Phillips, a highly successful Wall Street bond trader whose excesses a lavish Upper East Side apartment, gorgeous women with expensive drug habits, fancy cars, and his desire for millions know no bounds.

Chameleon

Richard Hains
Beaufort Books (2006)
ISBN 0825305101
Reviewed by Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (11/06)


Jon Phillips is a trader in government bonds for the Bank of Manhattan. He has come up with a get rich quick scheme by cornering the market on bond trading on a particular day. As long as nothing goes awry, he should be free and clear and able to leave his job a very rich man. However to do this his bank has to make a deal with a very shady U.K. Trading Company. Jon needs them to help buy up all the bonds. The day arrives and things are going great. Jon has control of all the bonds and is just getting ready to start selling them off, when word comes down that the head of the Federal Reserve has had heart trouble. This news throws the market into frenzy and Jon has to sell all his bonds at a loss.

Jon knows that his time at the bank is now limited; he expects to be fired. Sure enough, he is called for by the board and is let go. Jon's friend Robert Baldwin dies in a strange accident right before he is let go. Then there is a smear campaign to destroy Jon's character, saying he is a drunkard, cross dresser and drug addict.  He emails an old friend Penny Jordan and asks her to look into the U.K. Trading Company for him. Jon's brother David comes to visit on his way back to Australia. The brothers had not seen each other for a long time. While Jon was gone David was killed in his stead. From then on Jon goes after the people who framed him and killed his friend and his brother. As a chameleon changes color Jon is able to change his appearance and stay one step ahead of those pursuing him. With the help of sharks, a sabotaged mainsail, a hunt in the English countryside, and a sabotaged plane. From the U.S. to England to Australia greed, murder and romance are played out.

Jon slips away to anonymity and tries to find ways to launder his ill- gotten gains. There is plenty more to the story but you will have to read the book to find out.

“Chameleon” is a very well written book that keeps you in suspense with all the different characters and twists and turns it takes. The writer shows he has knowledge of the stock market and the trading that goes on. I would recommend the book highly and thoroughly enjoyed it.