Book Review – Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer

A very extraordinary plot that will keep you glued to the edge of the seat and an exciting experience to accompany the author and the characters as if you were one of them. Jeffrey Archer is one of those authors who would take you with him from the beginning, introducing the characters in such a way that at the end of the story, you would really meet these characters and be a part of this well-planned and superbly woven story. . It is worth the time you spend reading this novel, the best I have read in a long time. I would recommend it to anyone and it will surely appear on your favorites list.

The story begins with the introduction of the main character Harvey Metcalfe as a 16-year-old messenger on the Stock Exchange. In a matter of time, you quickly understand the ups and downs of the stock market and take the leap to your first successful venture. At the age of 19, he makes his first million and Harvey Metcalfe, the super mind, does not stop.

The plot begins with Harvey making money from honest, innocent men who try their hand at stocks. Harvey puts some shares in a Prospecta Oil company of which his friend is a director and, with the help of his friends, informs the market that they have found an oil excavation somewhere in the North Sea. David Kesler, an innocent Harvard graduate, is drawn to this job and is marketed well for Prospecta Oil. David brings in money from Stephen, Robin, Jean-Pierre, and Lord James Brigsley, who are the scapegoats for Prospecta Oil. They know little about the stock market and believing that David falls into the trap of Harvey’s plans, who runs amok without leaving any clues.

The four led by Stephen, team up to plan a revenge against Harvey and recover the money they lost without Harvey’s knowledge. Stephen does extensive research on Harvey Metcalfe’s history, his work, routine, vacations, family, etc. and prepare 4 copies of the file.

The four agree to meet in 14 days, with a plan of their own that matches their caliber and profession to recover the million dollars plus interest and expenses spent in the imminent future, ‘Not a penny less, not a penny More.’ They also do a pact to maintain confidentiality and each character is included to fulfill the other’s plan.

The first step is directed by Jean Pierre, who is an artist by profession and has several painting exhibitions. Harvey’s fondness for a Van Gogh painting is the stepping stone to his plan. The four of them arrange to turn Harvey’s holiday into a well thought-out plan to lead him to a Van Gogh painting which is of course a replica of the original, but very convincingly sells it to him for £ 1.70,000.

The second investigation is carried out by Robin, a doctor by profession. He has a full workout pre-set for the other three to meet his plan requirements, from meeting medical needs, playing blackjack and casino games, and recording times to beat traffic. They all excel in their roles to defeat Harvey again by making him believe that he has a gallbladder stone and that he needs an emergency operation, saving his life for a whopping $ 1.50,000.

Then comes the brain Stephen, who is a professor of mathematics and his calculations take Harvey to the University of Oxford, meeting with the chancellor and the rector and honoring him with the Doctorate of Letters, raises another sum of $ 2.50,000.

Meanwhile, Lord James Brigsley, who does not consider himself good at any profession, dates a girl, Anne Summerton, and entrusts her with the secret mission they are on to avenge Harvey Metcalfe. To his absolute revelation, he discovers that Anne Summerton is Harvey’s daughter, who is named Anne Rosalie Metcalfe. He is shocked when he discovers that Harvey was unable to recognize James as he was in disguise in all three missions. James invites Stephen, Robin, and Jean Pierre to his wedding, before the final mission that he has yet to reveal. At the wedding, they get a lightning bolt out of nowhere when Harvey steps aside to gift his daughter at church to Lord James Brigsley. They go unnoticed by Harvey and he finally hands his daughter the wedding gift a check for $ 2.50,000 that she signs to Stephen from the 4th mission.

The author has reserved so many climax situations for himself and has presented each and every event in such a way that the reader can feel goose bumps and will surely forget everything to find out what happens next. Jeffrey Archer has all the details and settings set in a unique style, giving importance to the planning that really is the winner in the mastermind narrative.

Everyone rejoices in their accomplishments when they bump into the news of the Oil Prospecta, which has encountered an oil dig and the stock appears to have hit $ 12.75.

Jeffrey Archer is an extraordinary mind who has demonstrated the importance of planning and has told such an excellent story that the reader is sure to be a part of it. It surely returns every penny you spent on the book and the time you wasted reading this wonderful story. Now it has become one of my favorites.

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