Death by Wall Street: Rampage of the Bulls
Theodore Jerome Cohen
AuthorHouse (2010)
ISBN 9781452079455
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (09/10)
Theodore Jerome Cohen has chosen to use the medium of the novel as a platform to express his repugnance for the brazen manipulation of the stock market in the field of biotechnology. As a result of the collusion among pharmaceutical developers, unscrupulous doctors, Wall Street stock analysts and inaction by government agencies, the lives of innocent victims are put jeopardy. “Death by Wall Street” is a work of fiction. The story is based upon real events.
Three separate murders appear to be related because the heads of the victims were severed and left to be discovered in prominent places. One is found pinned to the horn of the bronze sculpture “The Charging Bull” in Bowling Green Park near Wall Street. Another is left in the lap of Robert Aitken’s statue “Future” at Federal Triangle on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. The final of the trio is propped against the window on the driver’s side of his black Mercedes-Benz, which is parked near the delivery dock behind the Delacourt Theater in Central Park.
The public, the mayor’s office, and the chief of police are all clamoring for results, a quick arrest, and closure to these heinous crimes. Feeling “strangled” himself, Homicide Detective Lou Martelli of the NYPD is forced to think outside the box to solve the case.
Cohen proves to have an innate ability to instill believability in his fictional characters. Steve Jacobs, John Williamson, and Tricia Fournier represent the various levels of stock market analysts. They demonstrate the corruption, greed and lack of ethics often resulting from affluence.
Dr. Broussard is the embodiment of the persona without moral fiber. Ruthless and unprincipled, he smears the reputation of all his peers in the medical profession.
Detective Martelli and his support team of experts in crime detection, although somewhat devious on occasion, are examples of the finest in character, dedication, and loyalty to public service.
I especially appreciate Cohen’s strong characterizations and attention to detail. I admire his boldness to speak out with a keen sense conviction on the unethical practices flagrant in industry and government today.
Detailed footnotes document instances where facts are introduced into the fictional account. Important background information on Wall Street practices, drug research, and investigative procedures added to my personal enjoyment of Cohen’s writing style. This is a book that should be added to the reading list of college and university classes in ethics, political science, finance, business, law, science, and medicine. Detailed footnotes document instances where facts are introduced into the fictional account. Important background information on Wall Street practices, drug research, and investigative procedures added to my personal enjoyment of Cohen’s writing style. This is a book that should be added to the reading list of college and university classes in ethics, political science, finance, business, law, science, and medicine.
“Death by Wall Street: The Rampage of the Bulls” will be enjoyed by mystery readers who enjoy matching wits with the protagonist and by concerned citizens eager to see reformation in steps to enforce the laws regulating US financial markets and the nation’s health care practices.
…Cutting edge reporting, important insight, timely, and relevant… “Death by Wall Street: Rampage of the Bulls” is destined to firmly establish Theodore Jerome Cohen as a fresh voice in literary journalism.
