I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.

I’m struggling to describe exactly what this book is about; it’s just so layered and complex. I suppose at its simplest, the story follows the lives of several people through the lead up, exposure and aftermath of a Ponzi scheme. But it’s also so much more.

The story shows what happens to the group who set up the scheme but also their victims. There is a pretty big focus on morality, guilt and... ghosts.

I read most of it in a single sitting, which is saying a lot (financial intrigue is not something I gravitate towards). Mandel just really knows how to draw a reader in.

The writing is really clever - if you’ve read Mandel’s previous book Station Eleven, you’ll recognize some familiar names and events. It’s very subtle; these stories don’t actually exist in the same universe. It gave me a couple of really neat ‘ah ha’ moments.

I found that the ending drifted a bit and I did wish it had a stronger resolution. But overall I really enjoyed it.