The novel starts off with a bang, literally.  A bomb goes off at the Madrid Airport. This, however, is but a test scenario of more disastrous events to follow, all under the auspices of Nebibi “The Panther” Hashem who was born in Milan but considers himself a Muslim. His education was bought and paid for by the terrorists – Oxford University followed by an MBA at Georgetown. His plan is to change the path of western financial history. His modus operandi is to start the Milestone Fund, a multi-billion dollar fund which secretly supports illicit Islamist activities and which will ultimately destabilize the dollar. 

The Panther legitimizes this fund by meeting with investment bankers from London. In his way is Kate Molares, an MBA analyst in the Latin American Section of the Defense Intelligence Agency. She and Nebibi were lovers in grad school but have not seen each other for six years. Unknown to Kate, Nebibi broke off the relationship when his twin brother was caught in Rome planning to blow-up the Vatican.

Ted Morton, alias Muran, was born a Methodist in California but gravitated to Islam and now serves as the international spokesperson and media mogul for the group. Wall Street billionaire Sam Coldsmith wants to partner with Nebibi and ease into retirement. The plot concludes at the Gibraltar Sovereignty Summit during which England and Spain will negotiate oversight of "The Rock" with the princes of England and Spain in attendance.

 The Fund is an esoteric, historical, scientific, financial thriller. I learned that in 711 AD, the Muslim General Tariq claimed the "Pillar of Hercules" and named it Gibr Al-Tariq = Rock of Tariq = Gibraltar. Narea also provides historical information about Granada and the Alhambra.

Scientifically, the terrorists use bioengineered toxoplasmosis serum created in Cuba and provided to the terrorists through their association with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Chavez is involved so that he can maintain higher oil prices for his country. Narea provides a look at the finances of terrorism and suggests "No Money, no terrorism" which supports these financial weapons of mass destruction. He also discusses the importance of the internet as a communication tool for al-Qaeda.

Manhattan, Caracas, Havana, Gibraltar, Greenwich, Granada, and Lugano are just some of the colorful settings described vividly by Narea. There is a modest amount of financial jargon which minimally detracts from the story. The more you know about derivatives, "financial side-bets" the more realistic the story becomes. The Fund is a shockingly realistic debut novel, albeit with somewhat methodically detailed construction, which provides a disturbing possibility of our economic future.

--Jerry Solot