"Dead Money" by Jacob Kerr plunges readers into the heart of Silicon Valley, where ambition and innovation collide with the ruthless pursuit of fame and wealth. We find ourselves in the cut throat world of companies reminding of Facebook, Uber or Tesla.

Mackenzie Clyde, a sharp lawyer with a knack for uncovering secrets of powerful people, finds herself unexpectedly playing the role of sleuth after the CEO of a promising tech company is mysteriously murdered. As she delves deeper, Mackenzie uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal. Meantime, we discover her character and life story.

The novel keeps readers guessing about the true motives behind the murder, with the plot twisting and turning at every page. Just when you think you've figured out the culprit, Kerr throws in another unexpected revelation, making "Dead Money" an unpredictable and thrilling read. You will not be able to put down until the secret is fully revealed.

Enjoyable with a good twist

I liked this book, but the pace wasn't fast enough for me. It starts with the discovery of a murdered man, the head of a transportation start-up like uber plus rentals of other forms of transportation. The story plays out with switches from before the murder to after it. The main character, MacKenzie, is sent by her boss, a venture capitalist who had given a large amount of money to the murdered man's company, to try to see what was going on. She works with an FBI agent.

I did get a little bored in the middle and have to confess I skipped a few chapters. I picked it up toward the end, when MacKenzie is at Burning Man. The pace was a little faster then.

There was a good twist that I did not see coming.

I did like this, I just wish it had been a little faster read.

After reading blurb, and as a (retired) software engineer, I was very interested in reading Dead Money. I was not disappointed! One of the best books I've read this year! Engrossing, twisty mystery and not too over the top.

The book has a good pacing and kept me hooked. Typically, I only read at bedtime. Very rarely I make an exception, but I did with this book!

I don't want to put any spoilers here, but some chapters starting at 37 had overly drawn out descriptions and I found myself skimming the pages. However, the ending was very well done and satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for providing me with an advance copy. A great debut novel from Jakob and I cannot wait to see the next title he has in store.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a twisty, well-plotted story with an interesting premise and characters. I wouldn't say I really enjoyed reading this book, but I respect it for what it was. It definitely kept me guessing and left me thinking.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in this genre this year. Hard to put down, lots of twists and turns…not unanticipated, but I as never quite sure how it was going to work out. Finished in one day.

Hope to see more from Kerr soon.

Mackenzie is a fixer for a venture capitalist firm. When the CEO of a start-up they have invested a huge amount of money is murdered, so is sent by her boss to help with the investigation which has been turned over to the FBI. She is to use her tech world knowledge and connections but the more she helps the dig; the more Mackenzie realizes her own life is in danger.

This popcorn thriller was action packed and would make a great movie or tv show. I loved hearing about venture capitalism and the tech start up worlds (and this wasn't written as confusing or too detailed.) I really liked the character development and intertwining plot points that pieced the puzzle together. Highly recommend this one for readers of crime fiction with an action-based plot.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Very well written from this debut author.

The story is faced paced and twisty and kept me guessing until the end! My kind of book!

Mackenzie Clyde is a problem fixer for Silicon Valley's most ruthless venture capitalist. She knows how to play for high stakes. However, with this new job that has been assigned to her by her boss she becomes way over her head.

The CEO of tech's hottest startup has just been murdered, leaving behind billions in a "dead money" clause in his will which freezes the money in the company. Mackenzie teams up with a detective to solve this case.

This kept me guessing the whole way. Such a twisty story that I had no idea it was going to turn out the way it did. Also, loved the strong and smart female character of Mckenzie Clyde.

Jakob Kerr is on the top of my list for crime mystery thrillers! I cannot wait for more books by him!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam books for this complimentary copy for an honest review.

The rotten under belly of silicon valley and tech in the SF Bay Area. I enjoyed the character development, the mystery and intrigue. Some of the book seemed absolutely bonkers, it was fun and thrilling and smartly written.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review an electronic ARC of this book.

This book I predict will be the must-read book of 2025.. I'm just saying it is so good, I don't want to stop reading and get to life good. Jakob Kerr for a debut novel wow! What I loved about this book is that it takes place in San Francisco during the Silicon Valley boom and Jakob does an amazing job of writing about not only this lovely city but about this time. The characters in the book are well written and the way Jakob has you learn of their background is well done I found it very easy to get into. Even characters whom I was not fond of I enjoyed reading more about. I can't wait for more books written by Jakob Kerr. I am so grateful that Netgalley chose me for an ARC

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr is a slick, high-stakes thriller that pulled me in from page one. Mackenzie Clyde is the kind of protagonist I couldn’t get enough of—smart, gritty, and just a little morally gray. As she digs into the murder of a tech CEO, the layers of secrets, power plays, and deception unravel in ways that had me guessing the whole time. I loved how Kerr captured the cutthroat world of Silicon Valley without losing focus on the human cost of ambition and greed.

This book has it all—twists, tension, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for, even when the odds stack against her. If you’re into fast-paced mysteries with sharp writing and a badass lead, Dead Money is a must-read. It’s sleek, addictive, and left me wanting more of Mackenzie Clyde. ★★★★☆

This is an explosive story. The plot is filled with many twists and turns. The story is told from the perspective of several characters and from the past and the present. Mackenzie is the main character and the one who leads the tale. The story is set in Silicon Valley and features billionaires involved in murder and mayhem. The author is a great storyteller as he weaves a story that holds the reader’s attention. This a really exciting story that will leave you surprised.

Really enjoyed this! I hadn't really ever read anything about advanced AI technology.. and even though there was a murder mystery behind most of it - what was more intriguing was how the Kerr told a story within story!!

These are my favorite kinds of stories where you realize something is happening behind the scenes and you just aren't quite sure yet? It reminds me of The Woman in the Library with it's complexity!

-Women in Stem read!!

**Thank you to Bantam for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I did not expect to be so drawn in by this mystery nor addicted to the point where I stayed up til 2am to get to the end. You are taken on a trail throughout the tech world and given little tidbits of info of Makenzie and Eden's relationship that makes you wonder if you're being taken on a ride with Danner. This tale is well thought out and has all the right nuance of someone who has been in tech. I was wholly unsurprised to find Jakob Kerr was formerly of the tech world given how well aligned it is to what being in the tech world is like. This is an amazing novel and I highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery full of intrigue!

Across the globe lies Jakob Kerr’s “Dead Money” (Jan. 28, Bantam, $30), an exhilarating and unpredictable thriller that delves into the shadowy depths of Silicon Valley. Mackenzie Clyde, a resourceful “problem solver” for a ruthless venture capitalist, finds herself investigating the shocking murder of a tech CEO whose frozen billions have left the Valley in chaos. As suspects pile up and secrets unravel, Kerr’s razor-sharp prose captures the adrenaline-fueled world of professional gambling while touching on themes of greed, loyalty and the cost of survival. Packed with jaw-dropping twists, a compelling outsider heroine and scathing insights into the tech world’s glittering facade, “Dead Money” is an electrifying debut that demands to be devoured.

An enjoyable read that keeps you guessing with carefully placed red herrings with a back and forth timeline. Tech & venture capitalists figure prominently in this twisty tale that cautions “ follow the money” along with the FBI and fearless interesting female characters. RECOMMENDED

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr is full of intrigue, espionage, plot twists, and danger. However, it was not for me. The language was too vulgar.

Releases Jan. 28th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a smart, fascinating book that kept me guessing. The main character is Mackenzie, a lawyer/investigator working for a venture capitalist firm named Hammersmith Venture. First, let me say that I didn’t know much about venture capitalists or the tech industry in San Francisco. But I learned a lot while reading this book. Mackenzie reports to Roger Hammersmith and investigates people and companies whenever he is interested.

The plot centers around the murder of a CEO startup that Hammersmith has funded. The FBI has taken over the investigation, and Mackenzie is a liaison working with FBI agent Danner. Their dynamic is tricky at first, but it smooths out over the course of the investigation.

A few things I loved about the book:
1. Mackenzie is intelligent and tough. I appreciate a strong female lead.
2. The back-and-forth shifts in time are seamless. Her past is interspersed with the present investigation – but everything in her past is relevant to the plot.
3. The cat and mouse of the investigation is done very well. Information is revealed just when you need to know it.
4. The reveal is excellent. It makes sense in the context of the story, and I didn’t see it coming at all. In fact, the last 50 pages or so are gripping.

This is incredibly well-written for a debut. I highly recommend Dead Money!

I liked the title of this book and the synopsis was definitely not something I usually read but why not expand my reading and I am glad I did. I enjoyed the expose on the inner workings of start-up tech companies and Venture Capital The reader was also exposed to the Burning Man Festival which I'd heard of but didn't know much about. The characters were fully developed and fleshed out. The ending of a book is very important, and this one was fitting, realistic and satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Bantam for this ARC.

Dead Money is a sharp, fast-paced thriller that pulls you deep into the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley, where money, power, and murder collide.

Mackenzie Clyde is Silicon Valley’s unofficial “problem solver” — a lawyer used to cleaning up the messes left by the ruthless elite. But when a tech startup CEO is murdered, leaving behind billions in “dead money,” Mackenzie must navigate a sea of suspects, all while keeping her own agenda under wraps.

With twists at every turn and a heroine who thrives on being underestimated, this book is a rollercoaster of secrets, ambition, and corporate intrigue. If you love mystery with a smart, unpredictable protagonist and a dive into the dark side of tech, Dead Money is a must-read.

I would give this deeply layered, surprisingly feminist, cerebral Silicon Valley thriller six stars if I could!

Mackenzie Clyde is a "problem solver" aka investigator for Roger Hammersmith, one of the largest venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. When the CEO of one of Hammersmith's largest investments is murdered, he appoints Mackenzie as a liaison to the FBI's agent investigating the unsolved murder. As she gains the federal agent's trust, the two discover multiple secrets floating around the executive team who surrounded the deceased CEO. Just as they think they have a handle on the case, new information throws them in different directions. And as the stakes ratchet up higher and higher, the story culminates into an explosive finale.

This book has so many elements to it that I loved, some that I can talk about, and some that you want to discover on your own. What I can say is that it's an incredibly enthralling exploration and commentary on Silicon Valley and the massive egos operating within it. Kerr's decade of experience in Silicon Valley is palpable throughout the story, and I loved how he packed in so many of the Silicon Valley archetypes while cleverly setting them up against each other. Outside of the wildly entertaining characters and the deep dive into the tech industry, the mystery at the heart of the plot evolves with perfect pacing, and delivers multiple satisfying reveals.

I could be wrong, but reading this made me realize I haven't seen or read many thrillers that take place in Silicon Valley, and I think that also made this story feel fresh and unique. I want to say so many other things, but again, it's worth it to go in with limited knowledge and unravel the mystery yourself alongside Mackenzie.

It's kind of hard to think of book comps for this one, but while I was reading, it really reminded me of the shows Billions and Halt and Catch Fire. If you love legal thrillers, mysteries/procedurals and deeply layered plots, you need to pick this one up!