Short

"Former energy trader McMeel offers a frightening look inside the world of energy trading in his high-octane debut about a swarm of traders, brokers, and execs all looking for the big score. The main players are promising young trader Gallagher and his boss, Andrews, who assesses that Gallagher is sharp, has great instincts, and just might pass muster at Allied Power, but he worries that the young man's first loss will bring him crashing down. Early on, Andrews learns that his nemesis, 'the Ghost,' will be taking over as head trader and that he must fight desperately for his survival. Indeed, there are vendettas, plots, and schemes behind every Bloomberg terminal and enough liquor and cholesterol consumed to turn your blood into pudding. McMeel gets into the nitty-gritty of the energy trade racket (there's a glossary and a brief guide explaining how the whole sordid business works), but keeps the pace quick and the writing tight, though more care could have been taken in fleshing out the main characters, who could use more defining traits than sheer greed. (Dec.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright PWyxz LLC)