Nick and his brother Roger are the sons of former billionaire Victor Heller now serving time in the Altamont Correctional Facility for embezzlement. Much like Ben and Alex Treven in Fault Line by Barry Eisler, the brothers do not like each other. But when Nick is called by his 14 year old nephew, Gabe, to help find Roger who went missing one evening after dinner in a Georgetown restaurant, Nick comes to Washington, DC.  

Roger and his wife Lauren work at Gifford Industries. Lauren is the administrative assistant to the CEO and Roger works in the financial department. Is it possible that Roger was attempting to extort his boss? Is this somehow connected to the missing billion dollars? Nick must utilize all of his skills as an investigator, sophisticated technology and help from his colleagues to discover the sinister plot in which his brother is involved. Nick even resorts to visiting his estranged father in prison.  

Vanished is a well-written modern financial/technological thriller. In some instances, there is an excessive amount of technological jargon and equipment but in 2009 this is probably more truth than fiction. Joseph Finder presents the reader with a series of unexpected twists leading to a surprise ending. Some reviewers have compared Nick Heller to Jack Reacher but Nick is much less of a loner than Reacher. But like Reacher, Nick Heller is the featured action hero in Finder's new series of corporate intrigue. Reading Vanished will give you all the background you need for the next installment.

--Jerry Solot