Toby Gold and the Secret Fortune by Craig Everett
An infant is discovered one night on a commuter train from New York City during a stop in the sleepy town of Wallingford, Connecticut. The local police are summoned, but are unable to locate the boy’s parents, despite painstakingly questioning each person on the train. For some strange reason, none of the passengers can remember seeing his mother falling from the train – after falling victim to an assassin’s bullet.
Assigned the name “Toby Gold” by social services, the mysterious child grows up in Wallingford, moving from foster home to foster home, not knowing who his real parents are – or why he was born with such freakish skills with math and money.
Now a teenager, Toby’s money skills are noticed by the wrong people, and thus he is unwittingly sucked into a high-stakes financial conspiracy that puts his life, and the lives of his two closest friends, in great peril. Ultimately, Toby solves the crime, saves his friends, and even saves his school—all in one harrowing afternoon.
In My Opinion
Toby Gold and the Secret Fortune has two purposes. The first to educate and inform on basic financial principles. The second to entertain with an intriguing mystery/suspense plot that keeps you wanting to read more. Craig Leverett scores on both points.
The story begins with you knowing very little other than a killer is on the hunt, there is a mother and child and they came from Wall Street. Jump ahead 13 years and we are wondering what will happen the the orphan Toby Gold as he is placed with yet another family. This one with a violent bully who plays the good guy with his parents.
You are rooting for Toby from the first page and like him even more as the story progresses and you learn how noble and hard-working he is. Toby is ingenious in many ways while still being easy to relate to. The story comes together well, although the author tries to wrap it up and leave the story complete. The reader is left wondering if he might have a novel or two waiting for this cleaver kid and his friends. There is definitely a door left open in this reader’s mind.
On the note of financial literacy, which appears to be the original purpose of this book, the author spends a fair amount of time educating us on basic principles. Having done my share or research on the subject most of it was familiar. Even being familiar the information is presented in an understandable way. The most interesting part is when Toby starts dabbling in the stock market. It took me a little bit to understand the purpose of the hero’s plan but the author explains the complex world of stocks in a simple to understand way that gave me new insight into how stock prices rise and fall.
A fun read for anyone interested in intrigue and finances.
Buy the book today Toby Gold and the Secret Fortune
Twitter: craig_everett
says:
Theresa, thanks for the great review! Yes indeed there are more books planned for this series….