FAILURE AT THE MISSION TRUST: A Novel About the Morality of Banks

Book by Ducker, Bruce

The hero of this likable second novel by the author of Rule by Proxy is Howard Adler, a 38-year-old bank loan officer in a Midwestern town, whose main goal in life is not to upset the status quo. His superiors at the Mission Trust order him to oversee a land-development deal with Marty Laughlin, a highly touted Wall Street speculator. It shortly transpires that the proposed development scheme, involving an island that's mostly underwater, is a fraud. The higher-ups at the bank nevertheless allow the con man to lead them down the garden path and invest $10 million in the project, despite Howard's warnings. This doesn't stop them from fixing the blame on Howard when their folly is finally too clear. This is not so much a novel about the ins and outs of high finance as it is a winning comedy of errors. In a cast of flamboyant characters, Howard stands out as a shrewd, decent Everyman. "I like to be committed to things in my life," Howard says. "It doesn't mean you have to like them."
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Commercial loan officer Howie Adler's peaceful Midwestern days and nights change when his bank, the Mission Trust Company, becomes involved with New York entrepreneur and land developer Marty Laughlin. Assigned to watchdog the fast-moving, fast-thinking Marty and the bank's money invested in an ill-fated resort development project, narrator Howie has a series of humorous adventures that take him to the West Coast, Florida, and Mexico. Meanwhile, Howie faces a midlife crisis in his happy marriage. By the author of Rule by Proxy, this highly readable, off-beat tale features plenty of banking lore, a strong sense of the Midwestern city where Howie lives, and interesting supporting characters. For most fiction collections. James B. Hemesath, Adams State Coll. Lib., Alamosa, Col.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.