When the CEO of a tech company is murdered, there are a lot of suspects. But no one expected that he'd have a 'dead money' clause in his will which basically means that all of his assets are frozen until someone stands trial for his murder. The value of his assets is about $20 billion and affects the entire company's executive team as well as the VC firm that invested in him. The VC firm's owner tasks Mackenzie to partner with the FBI to investigate the CEO's death. As she digs, she finds out that there are more people who disliked the man and could be responsible for his death.

Mackenzie was a great MC. There is also a lot more to her story as the book jumps back in time in Mackenzie's life as she becomes a force to be reckoned with in the VC/Tech world. As a woman, she's used to being underestimated, but she has always wanted to make a name for herself, so she's intent on helping the FBI find the person responsible.

As a debut novel, this was very well done. Lots of twists, lots of suspects, and a satisfying ending.

Jakob Kerr’s debut novel is “Scandal” meets Blake Crouch set in Silicon Valley and it has earned alllll the buzz it is getting (the rights have been acquired for a TV adaptation and both Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly gave it a starred review).

Mackenzie is a lawyer working as a fixer (even though she doesn’t like that title) for the head of a venture capital firm. When the founder of tech’s top startup (and startup funded primarily by said venture capital firm) is murdered, Mackenzie is tasked with working with the FBI to solve the crime.

This book is so fabulously twisty and I never saw what was coming. I was constantly surprised and yet it all made sense and came together in the end, perfectly tied up in a bow.

If you like your mysteries/thrillers/suspense novels whip smart then you’re going to love this book.

This is a murder mystery, a tech thriller, a labyrinth of deceit, corporate greed and opulence, unfolding at a breakneck pace. I loved this book and was surprised that it was a debut novel because it did not give any of the typical debut novel vibes. Great characters, multiple twists and turns, and it kept me guessing right to the very end. I blasted through this in one day. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for an advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for an e-ARC of this page-turning debut, available everywhere January 2025.

Try as you may, nearly everything leaves behind a paper (or digital!) trail. Following it is exactly how Mackenzie Clyde landed her current position as the “unofficial” problem solver for Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capitalist. Up until this point, her assignments have been limited to investigating tech-bros. All that changes when the founder of the hottest start-up has been murdered, leaving behind billions of “dead money” frozen in his will. With the SFPD unable to come up with any leads and her boss’s fortune at stake, Mackenzie joins forces with the FBI to crack the case, and she has to do it quickly in order to retrieve the funds. But it won’t be easy. With billions at stake and the competition to have the next big thing ruthless, everyone is a suspect.

I really liked this novel. It’s definitely engaging, and keeps you hooked all the way through. However, there’s not a ton of action scenes, so I could see that being a turn-off for some readers if that’s more your interest. Mackenzie was a great character, and it was interesting to go back and forth between her past and present to learn more about her motivations.

Dead Money is a fast-paced thriller that I could see optioned as a screenplay. It had twists around every corner and has a bunch of bad actors from silicone valley CEOs, Russian oligarchs and the FBI. The tech companies in the book as well as the character of Eleanor were copied from their real life counterparts. It was a good concept but it could use some refinement in its writing. It took me a while to get into the book, while it only picked up the pace halfway through.

I was really intrigued by this one, and liked the way it began, but ultimately found it to be a little too tech-heavy for my personal taste. It opened strong, with compelling characters and an interesting mystery. Unfortunately I started getting mired in the technology and atmosphere of the tech world, and that's where it lost me. There's nothing wrong with it - I'm just not the right reader.

DEAD MONEY was a twisty thriller set in the high-pressure world of venture capital and fast-moving technology. Trevor Canon, who has taken an idea into a multibillion-dollar company is found murdered in his office.

Mackenzie Clyde is assigned by her boss Roger Hammersmith to look into the case. Educated as a lawyer but now working as Hammersmith's investigator, Mackenzie has unique inside knowledge of the technology business. Hammersmith wants answers because his venture capital business has lent Canon's Journy $5 billion.

When the San Francisco Police seem to come to a standstill, Hammersmith pressures the FBI to get involved and pressures them to include Mackenzie as a liaison. It looks like a complex case and Mackenzie and FBI Agent Jameson Danner begin interviewing Canon's top executives who would have been the only ones with access to his office after hours. All of them are eccentric techies and all of them have tight alibis. But the dead money clause in Canon's will which freezes his assets removes one of the major reasons why one of his crew would want him dead.

I enjoyed this thriller. I loved an inside peek into the technology industry and the world of venture capitalism. I could understand Mackenzie's desire to succeed and what she was willing to do to reach that success. I liked the flashbacks to earlier points in time which showed Mackenzie's character.

I also really liked the twist at the end.

Original, suspenseful and twists that kept me guessing, Dead Money was a thrill of a read! Despicable characters abound, in this story of the murder of a Silicon Valley genius. Well written; lots of technical talk that was easy to understand; unique storyline. Highly recommend!

Dead Money - Jakob Kerr
Pub Date - 1/28/25
Rating - 3.5 rounded up to 4/5
Summary - Mackenzie is a problem fixer for venture capitalist Hammersmith whose sole job is to ensure the work is done, no matter the cost. When Silicon Valley's biggest tech startup's CEO is murdered, Hammersmith puts MacKenzie on the case along with the FBI due to a "dead money" clause in the CEO's will stating that his stock is frozen until his killer if found. Hammersmith has given billions of dollars to this company and wants his money back. In search of the killer, there is loads of lying, fraud, scheming, and more.

Thoughts- Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book - it was giving Suits vibes with fixers, fraud, and a whole lot of workplace drama. MacKenzie is a badass main character with her own secrets and lies and I loved how she was portrayed as a strong independent woman who is out to get what she deserves. Initially I thought I knew before the last chapter everything there is to know about this story, but boy was I wrong! Great read!

2.5 stars, rounded up. A Silicon Valley thriller with sloppy writing and meh characters, this book still managed to keep me reading till the end. There's definite potential with the plot, I just needed more well-rounded characters, a little less obvious reveals, and more attention to detail. Two small examples: Kerr refers to his female character as an "alumnus" (the masculine form of the word), and Kerr names a side character, who is an Indian-American man, "Indira," which is a woman's name in India and not one that I've ever heard used for a man. It was jarring every time I saw Indira's name on the page. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital review copy.

Oh Yes!! This will be a break out hit in January. A fresh story centered in Silicon Valley that keeps you guessing. The writing and the story are tight, compulsively readable and not at all formulaic. You want to read this one...

#DeadMoney #NetGalley.

"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