Penny Rich

Advantages: The clever plots, and the amazing ending.
Disadvantages: None, its a superb book.

...This is the first book Archer had published, and by far the best. When my Dad gave it to me to read, I wasn't sure that I'd like it, but it was excellent. Its an humorous book which I'd definitely read again. The plot? Well it starts off with a young marketer attempting to sell shares for a new oil company. Little does he know that the companies a scam, and that anyone who invests is likely to loose their money. He convinces four men to invest heavily in this new company, but then the company shuts down, and they loose their money. Between them they loose £1 million, and they vow to get it back. Not a penny more, not a penny less. Together, the four men pull off a number of schemes to con the rich 'owner' of the company. Amusing and clever scams, designed to delight the audience. And its good to see the bad guy falling for them... Read review

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Advantages: A delightful read
Disadvantages: None

...One million Dollars – that’s what this delightful book is all about. Hey! Before you start jumping to wrong conclusions, let me clarify that it certainly does not deal about how to go about earning that kind of money. One million dollars - that's the figure that Harvey Metcalfe, lifelong king of shady deals has pulled off with empty promises of an oil bonanza and instant riches from four unsuspecting investors. Metcalfe is a street- smart self-made businessman who floats a bogus oil company and puts out eye-catching articles in the newspapers that his company has struck oil. This leads to a virtual “Gold Rush” and his company’s shares are lapped up by thousands of stars-in-the-eyes investors. Overnight, four men, the heir to an earldom, a doctor, an art dealer and an Oxford don, find themselves penniless, thanks to Metcalfe’s business... Read review

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Advantages: See opinion
Disadvantages: See opinion

...Harvey Metcalfe is one of the shadiest person I have read about (well the only one who doesn’t get caught in their particular book.) According to the book he is the only person to: · make a million legally · make a million illegally · and also to keep hold of that million. It also says that he doesn’t do it necessarily in that order. But then he tries to swindle the: · Heir to a earldom · A Harley street doctor · A bond street art dealer · And an Oxford don. All with empty promises of an oil bonanza and instant riches. But this time he swindled the wrong people, they decide to get their money back. In the same sort of way he took their money. So they shadow Harvey from the casino’s of Monte Carlo to the high stakes at Ascot. Their plan is to sting the crook for exactly what they lost, not a penny more, not a penny... Read review

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