ABOUT
I was born in Warrington, Cheshire in 1968, and grew up in Suffolk.
After A-levels I went to the University of Glamorgan and studied Urban Estate Management. I finished my degree in 1992, in the midst of one of the worst real estate recessions in history. That was my first real life experience of the finance world’s penchant for ‘boom and bust.’ Like most of the student cohort that year, hundreds of letters and applications didn’t even fashion an interview, never mind a job. I stayed put, and three years later submitted my PhD thesis on real estate investment. The fickleness of the financial world – and the eclectic group of characters drawn into it – had made its mark. I was hooked.
The next two decades saw me working at major fund management houses in the City of London and Frankfurt. I was head of fund management for a major real estate business when the Global Financial Crisis struck and my early experiences of market instability paled into insignificance!
After A-levels I went to the University of Glamorgan and studied Urban Estate Management. I finished my degree in 1992, in the midst of one of the worst real estate recessions in history. That was my first real life experience of the finance world’s penchant for ‘boom and bust.’ Like most of the student cohort that year, hundreds of letters and applications didn’t even fashion an interview, never mind a job. I stayed put, and three years later submitted my PhD thesis on real estate investment. The fickleness of the financial world – and the eclectic group of characters drawn into it – had made its mark. I was hooked.
The next two decades saw me working at major fund management houses in the City of London and Frankfurt. I was head of fund management for a major real estate business when the Global Financial Crisis struck and my early experiences of market instability paled into insignificance!
Unfortunately, the demands of the job and the arrival of twin boys didn’t allow much spare time – certainly not enough for writing fiction.
In 2016 I made a change. I took a deep breath, stepped back from full-time employment and started writing. I have never looked back! I also returned to live in Suffolk; on the coast in Woodbridge with my wife, Michelle; twin boys, Tom and Charlie; and a black Lab – rapidly approaching middle age – called Barney.
In 2016 I made a change. I took a deep breath, stepped back from full-time employment and started writing. I have never looked back! I also returned to live in Suffolk; on the coast in Woodbridge with my wife, Michelle; twin boys, Tom and Charlie; and a black Lab – rapidly approaching middle age – called Barney.
BOOKS
PASS THE PARCEL
Pass the Parcel is the first of a series of financial thrillers that I have set out to write. It explores the human costs involved in financial fraud and draws heavily from my days working within, and alongside, some of the largest financial institutions in the world. It was certainly inspired by true events and real people!
BUY ON AMAZONA hedge fund manager has just placed the biggest bet of his investment career. Market manipulation is suspected, but can he discover who is trying to destroy him before it’s too late?
A hard-working Mexican couple are fighting foreclosure to save their house in San Francisco.
A hard-working Mexican couple are fighting foreclosure to save their house in San Francisco.
In London, a banker discovers his employer is about to embezzle assets from his brother’s property business.
And, the rising star of British politics is being blackmailed by an ex-professional footballer. When the former player is murdered, the politician and his wife become key suspects.
And, the rising star of British politics is being blackmailed by an ex-professional footballer. When the former player is murdered, the politician and his wife become key suspects.
Pass the Parcel is a financial thriller that explores the human psychology around financial decisions and how the lives of a group of people were changed beyond recognition by the financial crash.
THE ALPHA PORTFOLIO
Lottie Sacramento works for her uncle’s fund management business and life couldn’t be better ….. until that is, her fiancé is killed in suspicious circumstances. As Lottie’s adult world unravels and her childhood is revealed as a charade, she doesn’t know whom she can trust anymore. But she is determined to unpick her past, even if it threatens to destroy her future. The Alpha Portfolio is a tale of greed, lies and dark family secrets …..
BUY ON AMAZONIt’s October 2007, months before the Global Financial Crisis strikes and Lottie Sacramento (25) is about to marry her fiancé Dan. She would consider herself one of life’s lucky ones: working for her uncle’s business in the gilded world of European property fund management, and Celestial has an investment track record to die for. Unfortunately, her fiancé does just that – in mysterious circumstances on a business trip to Frankfurt – and her world is thrown into turmoil.
A cryptic message and a spreadsheet – sent from Dan on the night of his demise – is all that Lottie has in order to pursue the truth. Jonathan Small, (27), is an old University friend of Lottie’s and an investor in a Celestial fund. He’s convinced that the investors are being cheated via a ‘second’ portfolio that they know nothing about.
A cryptic message and a spreadsheet – sent from Dan on the night of his demise – is all that Lottie has in order to pursue the truth. Jonathan Small, (27), is an old University friend of Lottie’s and an investor in a Celestial fund. He’s convinced that the investors are being cheated via a ‘second’ portfolio that they know nothing about.
The stakes are high for Philip Sacramento, (57), CEO and founder of Celestial Asset Management. He helped raise Lottie following her mother’s death and is as amiable and charismatic as he is manipulative and ruthless. Floating around the edges is Grandma Alex, (76), surrogate mother to Lottie and a woman who has no illusions about what her son will do to hang onto success. She’s one of Lottie’s best friends, but has a ‘terrible’ secret of her own.
But as the financial crisis unfolds and Lottie searches for the truth about Dan and Celestial, she begins to unravel a series of dark family secrets and her mother’s death is at the heart of it. When the family gathers at Philip’s house in Richmond, it’s time for the truth.
But as the financial crisis unfolds and Lottie searches for the truth about Dan and Celestial, she begins to unravel a series of dark family secrets and her mother’s death is at the heart of it. When the family gathers at Philip’s house in Richmond, it’s time for the truth.
DIGITAL STREET
A single house stolen through title fraud, is a personal tragedy.
Thousands of UK homes appropriated by international terrorists, would be a national disaster.
BUY ON AMAZONThousands of UK homes appropriated by international terrorists, would be a national disaster.
The UK government’s initiative to digitalise the Land Registry has been transformative and houses are now transacted in minutes rather than months by using blockchain technology and smart contracts that automatically update the Land Register.
However, the mastermind behind a small equity-release mortgage company has hacked the system and large swathes of the UK housing market are now unable to be sold. It is revealed that criminals, drug lords and international terrorists now own parts of country’s housing stock. As a result, the economy grinds to a halt, the equity market collapses and those people unable to sell their homes face financial Armageddon, with horrifying consequences.
However, the mastermind behind a small equity-release mortgage company has hacked the system and large swathes of the UK housing market are now unable to be sold. It is revealed that criminals, drug lords and international terrorists now own parts of country’s housing stock. As a result, the economy grinds to a halt, the equity market collapses and those people unable to sell their homes face financial Armageddon, with horrifying consequences.
As her husband, Richard, vies for the Prime Minister’s seat, Kate’s life unravels when her job as a private banker intertwines with a sinister plot against the British government, orchestrated by her vengeful Russian client.
With her family’s safety in jeopardy, Kate must navigate dangerous waters. But can she risk everything to prove her innocence while protecting those she loves?
With her family’s safety in jeopardy, Kate must navigate dangerous waters. But can she risk everything to prove her innocence while protecting those she loves?
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