The Analyst

…The Analyst takes the reader on a diverting foray into the cutthroat world of investment dealing and what people will do for money and power. The work moves slowly at times, has needless background diversions, and the plot is somewhat predictable; it is, nonetheless, worth persisting with if you love getting immersed in financial double-dealing. P.T. Dawkins clearly knows his business and the workings of the share market. His writing is fluid, easy to read and does enough to keep the reader interested.

December 10, 2011

Reviewed by Stefan Vucak for ReadersFavorite.com

When money is on the table, people can get vicious. “The Analyst” is a thriller set along Wall Street and the cut throat business acumen that goes down between it all. David, trying to help his family overcome rough financial times, dives head first into Wall Street and quickly understands the cutthroat world and is faced with a clash of illegal trading and joining those who would do it, or be the target of those who would do it. “The Analyst” is a riveting read of Wall Street intrigue, highly recommended.

November 29, 2011

Reviewed by Bethany Cox for The Midwest Book Review

David Heart is caught in a quandary. His grandfather needs a costly surgery and his mother is panicked by her inability to cover the costs. Facing eviction she turns to David for help. David is a young investment analyst who secured his position based not on expertise but by nepotism, a favor for Uncle Charley. Inexperienced and naïve he becomes coerced into changing research positions on a biotech drug company and then taking the blame when the report proves to be wrong. Easily bullied and intimidated, he is taken advantage of by predator Sandy Allen, a savvy and unscrupulous trader. On the pretense of mentoring him, she uses David to facilitate an illegal insider trading scheme. The further into it she gets, the lower she drags David down as an unknown accomplice. As he tries to extricate himself, he learns life’s lessons the hard way. Dawkins presents a very interesting tale of a sheep headed for slaughter. David is a good-hearted but immature young man placed in a precarious position by trusting the wrong people. At first, I found him to be a likeable schlemiel, but became irritated at his dependence on other people. If he would have acted on his own instinct instead of allowing other people to lead him, his circumstances might have been different. David developed his own strategy to succeed using the acronym “PERK” when referencing it. The whole concept of infusing this philosophy into the story actually diminished it for me. The reader will find this tactic unsuccessful and clearly annoying. The story can stand very well without it. Also nicely woven into the novel is the chronicle of Alexei Baikov, the CEO of Baikov Biopharma, whose company is the focus of the SEC investigation. His history and motivation are well developed as are those of the other characters portrayed. The author is careful to show that there are often hidden circumstances that drive one’s action. It is those shades of gray that make “The Analyst” so good.

November 11, 2011

Reviewed by Enid Grabiner for RebeccasReads

It’s a dog eat dog world out there in the midst of today’s economy and nobody knows that better than those who are working at wall street. Wen you’re dealing with the public’s money who can you trust? It’s each man for their self and they do not care who gets hurt in the process. David Heart grew up usually asking one question all the time. Why? Why did he get picked on? Why did his dad have to die? Why did his mother not have the money to live on? After a family friend helped him get a job as an analyst in a little shop off Wall-Street he is still asking that question. Not really knowing a thing about analyzing a business, he is learning. Now at the mercy of one abusive man better known as Blackie around the place he is soon learning that no one is there to help anyone. There is one person however that seems to want to help him. Sandy Allen, who claims she has gone up against Blackie and beat him down, but can she be trusted? Does she have a vendetta against Blackie? When a deal is made to David he has a choice to make. After he has learned the truth from his grandfather just why his mother is broke, will he make the correct choice? The money sounds good but he knows in his own mind that it would be breaking the law and he can’t help his mother if he is in jail. Now the mentor has turned against him, framing David and he alone is left to face the consequences of a crime he refused to be a part of. How will David manage to get out of this? This is a very interesting read .One has to feel for David. It seems his growing up years he was what one would call the nerdy boy of the bunch. One who never would stand up for himself and would question every action. It was always why do things happen, and that is still happening in his job. There is the occasional use of coarse language throughout the book which I always like to state so that if someone is offended by it they will know that it is in there. If you like books dealing with Wall Street and the Investment world with a thrilling tone to it then I feel you will enjoy reading “The Analyst”.

August 16, 2011

By Reviewer “Lynn”

The Analyst is a legal thriller, along the lines of “Wall Street,” and set on Wall Street. This is not my normal genre, but I found the book interesting.David was such a good hearted man who sincerely made an attempt to do the right thing, even when he was totally clueless.Several times I wanted to slap him for being stupid, but he eventually ‘grew a pair’ and got it together. The story had four main characters, all of whom showed new sides as the story progressed. I was pleasantly surprised by some. It was not always clear how the different character fit into the overall puzzle initially, but Mr. Dawkins tied it all up in the end. I enjoyed stretching my reading range with this book and give it 4 out of 5 clouds for good writing, strong story bones, and generally interesting filling.

By Reviewer Anonymous