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Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
The conned: an Oxford don, a revered society physician, a chic French art dealer, and a charming English lord. They have one thing in common. Overnight, each novice investor lost his life's fortune to one man. The con: Harvey Metcalfe!!
A brilliant, self-made guru of deceit. A very dangerous individual. And now, a hunted man.
With nothing left to lose four strangers are about to come together-each expert in their own field. Their plan: find Harvey, shadow him, trap him, and penny-for-penny, destroy him. From the luxurious casinos of Monte Carlo to the high-stakes windows at Ascot to the bustling streets of Wall Street to fashionable London galleries, their own ingenious game has begun. It's called revenge-and they were taught by a master.
A brilliant, self-made guru of deceit. A very dangerous individual. And now, a hunted man.
With nothing left to lose four strangers are about to come together-each expert in their own field. Their plan: find Harvey, shadow him, trap him, and penny-for-penny, destroy him. From the luxurious casinos of Monte Carlo to the high-stakes windows at Ascot to the bustling streets of Wall Street to fashionable London galleries, their own ingenious game has begun. It's called revenge-and they were taught by a master.
305 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
About the author
Jeffrey Archer
466 books11.3k followersJeffrey is published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, with more than 750,000 5* reviews with international sales passing 275 million copies.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,523 reviews
April 23, 2024
Ah, those Milton Friedman eighties, replete in a very wet summer with a bumper crop of towering fungi - the grabbers, takers and brutal levellers of the Me Generation.
And meanwhile, my own Me was just simply lost and bemused. I didn't fit into their mold (ouch, very punny).
And this confused little me was now at the mercy of relentlessly whirling data tapes at our workplace computer centre.
The data tapes would feed the mainframe and spit out gobbledygook onto punch cards. And every new mail delivery from the female droids of our in-house data centre would herald a vast torrent of illegible cards - stacked imperiously in any available corner of our file-heavy desks.
Sauve Qui Peut!
I was a newly-appointed Supply Manager -
Who didn't know doodleysquat.
Help!
You know, there was a silver lining - as there always is... And help is always at hand.
The incredibly high-voltage stress of that hole out of hell was breeding Christian converts as quickly as old Milton could turn out grabby cookie-cutter Power Mushrooms. The fungus was amongus! I went in for bible readings like a drowning sailor.
Was Resistance, Rebellion and Death our motto? No. Leave that to our Union bosses - and they were rife in that place.
Ours was only a parcel of peace in the midst of the maelstrom.
A modicum of shared comfort and quiet.
But my own young hormones were raging - and my devils owned my back, nattering down at me - so of COURSE I read stuff like this on my lunch hour.
Jeffrey Archer has known plenty of hard knocks in his life. None of us is a saint, but if you're into politics in a big way (like Archer) the media hounds will do their doggoned best to take you down. And he fell - for a while.
But Archer's a Me-Genner and he fought back. Was he cock-sure? Maybe.
Cause most of us start out that way, but not insecure me. I started weak, gradually worked up a heavy head of steam, and, in retirement fell down deep - eventually, into the perfect peace of a clear conscience.
For when the workplace Christian Club knocked on my door, I had opened it.
Not a penny less?
The Big Guy upstairs wasn’t sweating the small stuff like that!
In fact, He gave me my Whole Life back again, restored to Grace -
Free of charge.
And likewise, this archly comic novel gave me - and can give you - a Freetime Noonday Pass to a superbly superficial Great Escape!
And meanwhile, my own Me was just simply lost and bemused. I didn't fit into their mold (ouch, very punny).
And this confused little me was now at the mercy of relentlessly whirling data tapes at our workplace computer centre.
The data tapes would feed the mainframe and spit out gobbledygook onto punch cards. And every new mail delivery from the female droids of our in-house data centre would herald a vast torrent of illegible cards - stacked imperiously in any available corner of our file-heavy desks.
Sauve Qui Peut!
I was a newly-appointed Supply Manager -
Who didn't know doodleysquat.
Help!
You know, there was a silver lining - as there always is... And help is always at hand.
The incredibly high-voltage stress of that hole out of hell was breeding Christian converts as quickly as old Milton could turn out grabby cookie-cutter Power Mushrooms. The fungus was amongus! I went in for bible readings like a drowning sailor.
Was Resistance, Rebellion and Death our motto? No. Leave that to our Union bosses - and they were rife in that place.
Ours was only a parcel of peace in the midst of the maelstrom.
A modicum of shared comfort and quiet.
But my own young hormones were raging - and my devils owned my back, nattering down at me - so of COURSE I read stuff like this on my lunch hour.
Jeffrey Archer has known plenty of hard knocks in his life. None of us is a saint, but if you're into politics in a big way (like Archer) the media hounds will do their doggoned best to take you down. And he fell - for a while.
But Archer's a Me-Genner and he fought back. Was he cock-sure? Maybe.
Cause most of us start out that way, but not insecure me. I started weak, gradually worked up a heavy head of steam, and, in retirement fell down deep - eventually, into the perfect peace of a clear conscience.
For when the workplace Christian Club knocked on my door, I had opened it.
Not a penny less?
The Big Guy upstairs wasn’t sweating the small stuff like that!
In fact, He gave me my Whole Life back again, restored to Grace -
Free of charge.
And likewise, this archly comic novel gave me - and can give you - a Freetime Noonday Pass to a superbly superficial Great Escape!
February 16, 2017
This is Jeffrey Archer’s first book. And what a great book it is! I have read it during my teenage years and decided to re-read again.
The ultimate revenge novel! When four men lose their life savings to a wealthy Boston swindler in a stock market scam, how will they get their money back? That's the plot of this highly entertaining novel that can best be summed up as, don't get mad, get even! Their goal is to recoup exactly the $1 million they collectively lost, hence the title of the book. With revenge that can be described as "playful" rather than mean-spirited, the book has a light-hearted tone that will leave readers upbeat.
The story is so descriptive, informative, greatly entertaining and hilarious at times. It covers the whole spectrum of no integrity, but how strangers can become friend if fighting for the same cause. I particularly liked the scene during the wedding at the end of the book, it was highly intense and super hilarious.
Have you ever wanted to get even? I mean really even. Then you should read this novel :)
The ultimate revenge novel! When four men lose their life savings to a wealthy Boston swindler in a stock market scam, how will they get their money back? That's the plot of this highly entertaining novel that can best be summed up as, don't get mad, get even! Their goal is to recoup exactly the $1 million they collectively lost, hence the title of the book. With revenge that can be described as "playful" rather than mean-spirited, the book has a light-hearted tone that will leave readers upbeat.
The story is so descriptive, informative, greatly entertaining and hilarious at times. It covers the whole spectrum of no integrity, but how strangers can become friend if fighting for the same cause. I particularly liked the scene during the wedding at the end of the book, it was highly intense and super hilarious.
Have you ever wanted to get even? I mean really even. Then you should read this novel :)
April 27, 2013
Britanci su po ovom romanu snimili vrhunsku seriju... davno, davno...
July 10, 2021
Pretty decent story from '76 with only a few shortcomings. 7 of 10 stars
April 7, 2020
A stand alone thriller By Jeffery Archer first published 1976.
I think this was Jeffery Archer’s first book and it reads like it should be. The word that comes to mind is ‘farcical’.
Everybody is so stiff upper lip English even the American and French characters manage that peculiar English affectation.
What you have is a bunch of highly successful characters, an Oxford Don, a Harley Street Physician, an international Art Dealer and a Peer of the Realm all, you would assume, having more than a modicum of intelligence. All these characters have one thing in common, that being, that they have been reduced to near penury by Harvey Metcalfe an unscrupulous American stock market manipulator.
After the local police tell the oxford Don that they know that Harvey Metcalfe was behind the scam but they just can’t prove it, yet. The Don decides to get in touch with the other three victims. The four cohorts are in full agreement; they want their money back and will do what ever is necessary to that end.
Being fine upstanding, law abiding citizens all they want is exactly what was taken from then, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less.
So each of the four desperados have to hatch a plan to extract the money back from Metcalfe but without Metcalfe knowing that he is being taken for a ride.
What follows is pure farce and if you enjoy farce you’ll enjoy this but for me it was just too farcical for words.
The whole thing reminded me of the 1980’s move ‘The Sting” but, alas, without the panache.
Look, I read it to the end so it couldn’t have been too bad but I’m really glad that Jeffery Archer has, with the passage of time, improved greatly as an author.
3 stars because I got to the end without going on a caffeine bender.
I think this was Jeffery Archer’s first book and it reads like it should be. The word that comes to mind is ‘farcical’.
Everybody is so stiff upper lip English even the American and French characters manage that peculiar English affectation.
What you have is a bunch of highly successful characters, an Oxford Don, a Harley Street Physician, an international Art Dealer and a Peer of the Realm all, you would assume, having more than a modicum of intelligence. All these characters have one thing in common, that being, that they have been reduced to near penury by Harvey Metcalfe an unscrupulous American stock market manipulator.
After the local police tell the oxford Don that they know that Harvey Metcalfe was behind the scam but they just can’t prove it, yet. The Don decides to get in touch with the other three victims. The four cohorts are in full agreement; they want their money back and will do what ever is necessary to that end.
Being fine upstanding, law abiding citizens all they want is exactly what was taken from then, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less.
So each of the four desperados have to hatch a plan to extract the money back from Metcalfe but without Metcalfe knowing that he is being taken for a ride.
What follows is pure farce and if you enjoy farce you’ll enjoy this but for me it was just too farcical for words.
The whole thing reminded me of the 1980’s move ‘The Sting” but, alas, without the panache.
Look, I read it to the end so it couldn’t have been too bad but I’m really glad that Jeffery Archer has, with the passage of time, improved greatly as an author.
3 stars because I got to the end without going on a caffeine bender.
Read
March 30, 2017I found the narrative voice impossibly wooden, providing a long, dull recap of the villain's life before introducing the main characters with a lot of facts and very little personality. Other than cliche French from the Frenchman, they all talked alike.
It was so dull I began to skim, hoping the story would pick up. It didn't.
The revenge was a drop in the bucket--I doubt the villain even noticed--and furthermore, it only came off because of a deus ex machina delivered by the narrative voice withholding certain facts.
And yet it was a phenomenal best seller. Wow!
March 8, 2016
Most popular books have durability but this one is not among them. Reason is that the last 3 chapters or so were stabs at comedy that went wide off the mark. Although my enjoyment and my remembrance of this book and my smile faltered near the end, for most of the story I pronounced it a perfect 5/5. I enjoyed it immensely. Nevertheless the plot in retrospective seems less clever in the cold light of the day. It was one of those books that don't have much staying power and cannot be enjoyed a second time. I should mention though that as an author, Jeffrey Archer has grown on me and I'm curious about his books. Watch this space.
June 30, 2021
Among the various things I liked about Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer is the way the plot unfolds; the author gives the reader just a brief picture of the plans before each of the them are carried out. And when the plans actually unfold they are simply brilliant! It keeps the reader intrigued and in anticipation. The plans are so meticulous and perfectly timed that it seems like a scene from a thrilling movie!
The other thing I liked about the book is that all the characters in it are richly described. All the main characters have a background story to them and all of them seem very real and interesting. We also see how the Four come up with different plans; each with a plan suited to his character and ability.
Overall the book is a very good read with a brilliant plot and rich and interesting characters, with a bit of humour and romance added in.
The other thing I liked about the book is that all the characters in it are richly described. All the main characters have a background story to them and all of them seem very real and interesting. We also see how the Four come up with different plans; each with a plan suited to his character and ability.
Overall the book is a very good read with a brilliant plot and rich and interesting characters, with a bit of humour and romance added in.
October 27, 2011
I come by my love of mysteries and thrillers naturally, as both my mother and grandmother are addicts of such books. This book was among their highly recommended reads. I thoroughly enjoyed it the first time around a few years ago, and it was just as much fun this time.
The story features a Bernie Madoff-type villain named Harvey Metcalfe who, despite all his previously ill-gotten millions, takes the opportunity to con a few naive investors in a stock market scam. Among his latest victims is an American math genius teaching at Oxford. Realizing he's been had, he recruits three other victims (a handsome doctor, a French gallery owner, and a playboy lord of the realm) to steal back what Harvey took from them -- not a penny more, not a penny less.
The cons of the con man are exciting, clever, and delightfully poetic. Since the book was originally published in 1976, there are no cell phones or computer hacking or electronic spying. Instead, expect walkie-talkies, disguises, and tailing. The action is exciting, while comic, along the lines of "Ocean's 11." There's no violence, but there is some romance (though it too is a product of its time).
All in all, a good fun read.
The story features a Bernie Madoff-type villain named Harvey Metcalfe who, despite all his previously ill-gotten millions, takes the opportunity to con a few naive investors in a stock market scam. Among his latest victims is an American math genius teaching at Oxford. Realizing he's been had, he recruits three other victims (a handsome doctor, a French gallery owner, and a playboy lord of the realm) to steal back what Harvey took from them -- not a penny more, not a penny less.
The cons of the con man are exciting, clever, and delightfully poetic. Since the book was originally published in 1976, there are no cell phones or computer hacking or electronic spying. Instead, expect walkie-talkies, disguises, and tailing. The action is exciting, while comic, along the lines of "Ocean's 11." There's no violence, but there is some romance (though it too is a product of its time).
All in all, a good fun read.
September 26, 2013
Jeffrey Archer: The Truth?
A brilliant, self-made guru of deceit. A very dangerous individual. And, now, a hunted man. Fiction or autobiography ("Jeffrey Archer: The Truth?"), you be the judge. And if the author doesn't like the answer, he can sue us for everything we've got, not a penny more, not a penny less.*
*
A brilliant, self-made guru of deceit. A very dangerous individual. And, now, a hunted man. Fiction or autobiography ("Jeffrey Archer: The Truth?"), you be the judge. And if the author doesn't like the answer, he can sue us for everything we've got, not a penny more, not a penny less.*
*
March 4, 2024
Sweet and refreshing like a spring breeze.
A book about gentlemen and non-gentlemen, about fools and charlatans, written in a light key, with a happy ending in which no one loses.
Not even the reader...
A book about gentlemen and non-gentlemen, about fools and charlatans, written in a light key, with a happy ending in which no one loses.
Not even the reader...
September 15, 2020
Cine nu si-a dorit vreodata sa se plimbe la costum pe Wall Street si sa fie un as al tranzactiilor la bursa? In mod cert exista multe filme ("Wall Street" cu Michael Douglas sau "Margin Call" cu Kevin Spacey) si carti care hranesc aceasta dorinta iar cea de fata ne prezinta in amanunt pasii care trebuiesc urmati spre succes fiind un must-read pentru pasionatii de Wall Street, finante, Rockefeller, bursa si tunuri financiare.
Primul capitol incepe cu regula de aur de pe Wall Street: "A face un milion de dolari in mod legal a fost intotdeauna greu. A face un milion de dolari in mod ilegal a fost intotdeauna ceva mai usor. A pastra milionul dupa ce l-ai facut este probabil cel mai dificil dintre toate". Eu as aduga la asta ca este important si cu care din ele incepi. Romanul il are in prim plan pe Harvey Metcalfe, un rechin de pe Wall Street care a pornit de jos si care si-a murdarit mainile in toate felurile pentru a ajunge foarte sus. Un tip fara scrupule de o inteligenta iesita din comun care nu stie sa piarda si care joaca dupa sloganul: inseala, loveste, pleaca. Dupa ce cucereste tot ce se poate in America, Harvey hotareste sa dea un tun si in Anglia infiintand o societate care se ocupa cu exploatarea petrolului din Marea Nordului. Gaseste un tanar entuziast pe care-l pacaleste cu un raport geologic masluit si care la randul lui gaseste alti naivi care sa investeasca in actiunile companiei. In momentul in care se epuizeaza vanzarea actiunilor Harvey lichideaza compania si pretul actiunilor se prabuseste, investitorii ramanand in faliment.
Ceea ce nu ia in considerare Harvey este ca profesorul Stephen Bradley, doctorul Robin Oakley, proprietarul de galerii de arta Jean-Pierre Lamanns si lordul James Brigsley se unesc pentru a-si lua revansa de un milion de dolari. Ei vor nascoci planuri inteligente si pline de indrazneala pentru a recupera tot ce au pierdut. Nu pot sa dezvalui finalul dar va garantez ca "face toti banii".
Mi-a placut foarte mult ca am regasit numeroase detalii din sfera artei, in special despre Van Gogh dar si despre cazinoul din Monte Carlo si jocul de Blackjack, despre tenisul de la Wimbledon precum si cursa de cai de la Ascot. Profesorul Bradley mi-a castigat respectul prin faptul ca a calculat totul pana la ultimul penny si a dorit sa recupereze de la Harvey doar ce a pierdut, desi s-ar fi putut alege cu mai mult. Cred ca oricine altcineva in situatia lui ar fi profitat.
Mi-a mai ramas in minte si faptul ca in carte sloganul universitatii Harvard este: "Arata ca un englez, gandeste ca un evreu".
In ceea ce priveste coperta exemplarului meu, ce infatiseaza o mana care da cu banul, m-a facut sa-mi aduc aminte de Harvey Dent din Batman, care seamana putin cu protagonistul cartii ca si caracter.
Primul capitol incepe cu regula de aur de pe Wall Street: "A face un milion de dolari in mod legal a fost intotdeauna greu. A face un milion de dolari in mod ilegal a fost intotdeauna ceva mai usor. A pastra milionul dupa ce l-ai facut este probabil cel mai dificil dintre toate". Eu as aduga la asta ca este important si cu care din ele incepi. Romanul il are in prim plan pe Harvey Metcalfe, un rechin de pe Wall Street care a pornit de jos si care si-a murdarit mainile in toate felurile pentru a ajunge foarte sus. Un tip fara scrupule de o inteligenta iesita din comun care nu stie sa piarda si care joaca dupa sloganul: inseala, loveste, pleaca. Dupa ce cucereste tot ce se poate in America, Harvey hotareste sa dea un tun si in Anglia infiintand o societate care se ocupa cu exploatarea petrolului din Marea Nordului. Gaseste un tanar entuziast pe care-l pacaleste cu un raport geologic masluit si care la randul lui gaseste alti naivi care sa investeasca in actiunile companiei. In momentul in care se epuizeaza vanzarea actiunilor Harvey lichideaza compania si pretul actiunilor se prabuseste, investitorii ramanand in faliment.
Ceea ce nu ia in considerare Harvey este ca profesorul Stephen Bradley, doctorul Robin Oakley, proprietarul de galerii de arta Jean-Pierre Lamanns si lordul James Brigsley se unesc pentru a-si lua revansa de un milion de dolari. Ei vor nascoci planuri inteligente si pline de indrazneala pentru a recupera tot ce au pierdut. Nu pot sa dezvalui finalul dar va garantez ca "face toti banii".
Mi-a placut foarte mult ca am regasit numeroase detalii din sfera artei, in special despre Van Gogh dar si despre cazinoul din Monte Carlo si jocul de Blackjack, despre tenisul de la Wimbledon precum si cursa de cai de la Ascot. Profesorul Bradley mi-a castigat respectul prin faptul ca a calculat totul pana la ultimul penny si a dorit sa recupereze de la Harvey doar ce a pierdut, desi s-ar fi putut alege cu mai mult. Cred ca oricine altcineva in situatia lui ar fi profitat.
Mi-a mai ramas in minte si faptul ca in carte sloganul universitatii Harvard este: "Arata ca un englez, gandeste ca un evreu".
In ceea ce priveste coperta exemplarului meu, ce infatiseaza o mana care da cu banul, m-a facut sa-mi aduc aminte de Harvey Dent din Batman, care seamana putin cu protagonistul cartii ca si caracter.
October 13, 2018
Τον Jeffrey Archer τον γνώρισα από τη σειρά "Τα χρονικά των Κλίφτον". 7 βιβλία σε audio books, που με διασκέδασαν αφάνταστα, στην αρχή της χρονιάς.
Στο σταθμό των ΚΤΕΛ στον Κηφισό, υπάρχει ένα βιβλιοπωλείο, το οποίο κάπου κάπου, κάποιος ξέμπαρκος το επισκέπτεται. Πουλάει κυρίως τη μοντέρνα ελληνική λογοτεχνία (?) αλλά, επειδή πιστεύω ότι πάντοτε μπορεί κάποιος να ανακαλύψει ένα ασημένιο δαχτυλίδι μέσα στην άμμο (εναλλακτικά "μέσα στο βούρκο", για να μη θίξω υπολήψεις), ρίχνω μια ματιά στα έξωθεν καλάθια πριν επιβιβαστώ στο όχημα.
Κάπως έτσι βρέθηκε στα χέρια μου το βιβλίο, έναντι 3 ευρώ, (το 1982 προς 200 δραχμές) από τις εκδόσεις Bell. Φαντάζομαι ότι είναι εξαντλημένο.
Από ό,τι είδα εκ των υστέρων, είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο του συγγραφέα, τότε που ήταν άμαθος και άσημος. Με αυτό όμως το βιβλίο, έγινε ευρύτερα γνωστός και σύντομα πάμπλουτος.
Η συνταγή είναι γνωστή : μια εύπεπτη ιστορία εξαπάτησης και εκδίκησης, με ωραίους, πλούσιους και κυρίως έξυπνους πρωταγωνιστές. Glamour, αστακοί και γούνες, κότερα και βίλες, ακριβά ρεστοράν και πανάκριβα ποτά κάθε είδους. Βασίζεται πολύ στο αίσθημα δικαίου του αναγνώστη και τη δίψα για εκδίκηση που τρέφουμε όλοι τον καιρό αυτό της κρίσης. Εμείς δε μπορούμε να εκδικηθούμε το φορολογικό σύστημα αλλά ουφ! κάποιοι τα κατάφεραν με τα δικά τους θέματα. Είναι παρήγορο.
Το βιβλίο είναι ψυχαγωγικό, ευχάριστο για να περνά η ώρα και να φαντάζεσαι τον εαυτό σου στην Bond street να χαζεύει βιτρίνες.
Μερικά σημεία του είναι κακοστημένα και κάπως ψεύτικα αλλά είπαμε, ανήκει στα ψυχαγωγικά βιβλία και οι αβαρίες εμπεριέχονται στο easy reading και το happy end.
Στο σταθμό των ΚΤΕΛ στον Κηφισό, υπάρχει ένα βιβλιοπωλείο, το οποίο κάπου κάπου, κάποιος ξέμπαρκος το επισκέπτεται. Πουλάει κυρίως τη μοντέρνα ελληνική λογοτεχνία (?) αλλά, επειδή πιστεύω ότι πάντοτε μπορεί κάποιος να ανακαλύψει ένα ασημένιο δαχτυλίδι μέσα στην άμμο (εναλλακτικά "μέσα στο βούρκο", για να μη θίξω υπολήψεις), ρίχνω μια ματιά στα έξωθεν καλάθια πριν επιβιβαστώ στο όχημα.
Κάπως έτσι βρέθηκε στα χέρια μου το βιβλίο, έναντι 3 ευρώ, (το 1982 προς 200 δραχμές) από τις εκδόσεις Bell. Φαντάζομαι ότι είναι εξαντλημένο.
Από ό,τι είδα εκ των υστέρων, είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο του συγγραφέα, τότε που ήταν άμαθος και άσημος. Με αυτό όμως το βιβλίο, έγινε ευρύτερα γνωστός και σύντομα πάμπλουτος.
Η συνταγή είναι γνωστή : μια εύπεπτη ιστορία εξαπάτησης και εκδίκησης, με ωραίους, πλούσιους και κυρίως έξυπνους πρωταγωνιστές. Glamour, αστακοί και γούνες, κότερα και βίλες, ακριβά ρεστοράν και πανάκριβα ποτά κάθε είδους. Βασίζεται πολύ στο αίσθημα δικαίου του αναγνώστη και τη δίψα για εκδίκηση που τρέφουμε όλοι τον καιρό αυτό της κρίσης. Εμείς δε μπορούμε να εκδικηθούμε το φορολογικό σύστημα αλλά ουφ! κάποιοι τα κατάφεραν με τα δικά τους θέματα. Είναι παρήγορο.
Το βιβλίο είναι ψυχαγωγικό, ευχάριστο για να περνά η ώρα και να φαντάζεσαι τον εαυτό σου στην Bond street να χαζεύει βιτρίνες.
Μερικά σημεία του είναι κακοστημένα και κάπως ψεύτικα αλλά είπαμε, ανήκει στα ψυχαγωγικά βιβλία και οι αβαρίες εμπεριέχονται στο easy reading και το happy end.
October 22, 2018
"The conned: an Oxford don, a revered society physician, a chic French art dealer, and a charming English lord. They have one thing in common. Overnight, each novice investor lost his life's fortune to one man. The con: Harvey Metcalfe!!
A brilliant, self-made guru of deceit. A very dangerous individual. And now, a hunted man.
With nothing left to lose four strangers are about to come together-each expert in their own field. Their plan: find Harvey, shadow him, trap him, and penny-for-penny, destroy him. From the luxurious casinos of Monte Carlo to the high-stakes windows at Ascot to the bustling streets of Wall Street to fashionable London galleries, their own ingenious game has begun. It's called revenge-and they were taught by a master."
A brilliant, self-made guru of deceit. A very dangerous individual. And now, a hunted man.
With nothing left to lose four strangers are about to come together-each expert in their own field. Their plan: find Harvey, shadow him, trap him, and penny-for-penny, destroy him. From the luxurious casinos of Monte Carlo to the high-stakes windows at Ascot to the bustling streets of Wall Street to fashionable London galleries, their own ingenious game has begun. It's called revenge-and they were taught by a master."
May 13, 2019
اولین کتابی بود که از جفری آرچر میخووندم!
جفری آرچر نویسنده کتاب «کین و ایبل» یا «هابیل و قابیل» است و کتاب «پیچشی در داستان» است.
«نه یک پنی بیشتر،نه یک پنی کمتر» اولین کتابش در پائیز 1974 بود که برای رهایی از ورشکستگی نوشت.
و البته کتابِ جالب و حتی خاصی بود.
از کتابهای آرچر،تاکنون ۳۳۰ میلیون در جهان فروخته شده!
جفری آرچر نویسنده کتاب «کین و ایبل» یا «هابیل و قابیل» است و کتاب «پیچشی در داستان» است.
«نه یک پنی بیشتر،نه یک پنی کمتر» اولین کتابش در پائیز 1974 بود که برای رهایی از ورشکستگی نوشت.
و البته کتابِ جالب و حتی خاصی بود.
از کتابهای آرچر،تاکنون ۳۳۰ میلیون در جهان فروخته شده!
February 15, 2020
I wanted to give this book 4 stars for the plot, which I think is really well done. However, the sexism here is so glaring, yet so casual, that I took off one star for that. While there are almost no female characters in the book, there is one, Anne, who is the love interest of James, one of the four main male characters. Although Anne's not at all developed as a character, she ends up playing an important role in the plot. She's a gorgeous model, and that's about it for character background or development. At one point she says something to James about not gaining weight. He basically tells her she better stay thin. At another point he spanks her because he's upset by something she did, and she responds with a very weak protest. And, he basically says he'll do it again if she steps out of line. Ick! Another of the main male characters, who's married with two young children, indulges in casual adultery, and the other male characters act as though it's perfectly fine. And it appears as though he will continue to do so. It was written as if this were a norm.
I read this book in the late 1970's when it first came out. All I remembered before re-reading this book was the engaging plot and good writing. I don't remember the blatant sexism, but maybe because in the 70's it was more the norm, and the women's rights movement was just beginning to raise people's consciousness. But, from the perspective of 2020, not only is the sexism in this book dated, but it's also offensive.
I read this book in the late 1970's when it first came out. All I remembered before re-reading this book was the engaging plot and good writing. I don't remember the blatant sexism, but maybe because in the 70's it was more the norm, and the women's rights movement was just beginning to raise people's consciousness. But, from the perspective of 2020, not only is the sexism in this book dated, but it's also offensive.
September 6, 2020
Μια μέρα... ούτε μέρα παραπάνω δεν μου πήρε για να διαβάσω το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο.
Ένα βιβλίο γρήγορο, περιεκτικό με έξυπνη, ενδιαφέρουσα και πρωτότυπη πλοκή που ενώ γράφτηκε το 1976 διαβάζεται άνετα και σήμερα.
Τέσσερις άντρες και ένας απατεώνας που με έξυπνο τρόπο τους εξαπατά με στόχο να αυξήσει την παρουσία του.
Τέσσερις διαφορετικοί χαρακτήρες θα ενωσουν τις δυνάμεις τους για να πάρουν τα χρήματα τους πίσω...ούτε δεκάρα παραπάνω αλλά ούτε και μια δεκάρα λιγότερη.
Το εξυπνο χιούμορ, τα πολλά απρόοπτα και οι ανατροπές κάνουν το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο τόσο απολαυστικό που δεν μπορείς να το αφήσεις από τα χέρια σου.
Ένα βιβλίο γρήγορο, περιεκτικό με έξυπνη, ενδιαφέρουσα και πρωτότυπη πλοκή που ενώ γράφτηκε το 1976 διαβάζεται άνετα και σήμερα.
Τέσσερις άντρες και ένας απατεώνας που με έξυπνο τρόπο τους εξαπατά με στόχο να αυξήσει την παρουσία του.
Τέσσερις διαφορετικοί χαρακτήρες θα ενωσουν τις δυνάμεις τους για να πάρουν τα χρήματα τους πίσω...ούτε δεκάρα παραπάνω αλλά ούτε και μια δεκάρα λιγότερη.
Το εξυπνο χιούμορ, τα πολλά απρόοπτα και οι ανατροπές κάνουν το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο τόσο απολαυστικό που δεν μπορείς να το αφήσεις από τα χέρια σου.
November 11, 2009
This was his first novel and a very critically acclaimed one, turned in to a TV series and a movie too. Though his list of bestsellers is long , this one according to me, holds the top spot [OK.. Kane And Abel ties with it for the first place :) ]
Though his later day novels turned in to kind of similar concepts predictable twists and turns , his earlier works were really, really good. Archer knows how to hold the attention of the reader with right amount of surprises at the right time and its very clear in this one.
Coming to this book
My Views:
If a plot can be so good as to hold your attention up to the last page then its definitely worth reading. This book falls in to that category.You must be feeling I am glorifying it a little too much :) When have finished reading it ,you will be saying the same. All the characters are well researched and there is hardly any opportunity to find flaws in the technicalities. Language is simple thus making it a easy read.Give it a try and tell me what you felt about this book
Though his later day novels turned in to kind of similar concepts predictable twists and turns , his earlier works were really, really good. Archer knows how to hold the attention of the reader with right amount of surprises at the right time and its very clear in this one.
Coming to this book
My Views:
If a plot can be so good as to hold your attention up to the last page then its definitely worth reading. This book falls in to that category.You must be feeling I am glorifying it a little too much :) When have finished reading it ,you will be saying the same. All the characters are well researched and there is hardly any opportunity to find flaws in the technicalities. Language is simple thus making it a easy read.Give it a try and tell me what you felt about this book
April 29, 2021
My 3rd re-reading of the book and it was as enjoyable as the first reading. While I was in awe of the quartet's clever plans when I read it the first time, this reading had me analyzing the flaws in their plan and how lucky they were tp get away. Nevertheless I enjoyed every bit of it. I liked the way they got their revenge without any violence, and without the victim realizing that he had been conned.
The debut novel has all the tropes that Jeffrey Archer repeats in every book. Love at first sight, sweet romance, a dramatic wedding, collection of rare paintings, lessons in English aristocracy, corporate politics...
This is way better than his recent novels. It does not try too hard to sound very clever. There are no punchlines in every line, but humor sprinkled throughout.
It was a fun and quick read. I guess I will re-read his earlier books like 'Kane and Abel', 'The fourth Estate', than reading the latest ones.
The debut novel has all the tropes that Jeffrey Archer repeats in every book. Love at first sight, sweet romance, a dramatic wedding, collection of rare paintings, lessons in English aristocracy, corporate politics...
This is way better than his recent novels. It does not try too hard to sound very clever. There are no punchlines in every line, but humor sprinkled throughout.
It was a fun and quick read. I guess I will re-read his earlier books like 'Kane and Abel', 'The fourth Estate', than reading the latest ones.
January 15, 2018
Male chauvinism at its most shameless. Never will I read Archer again💁
Edit: I get that this was published in 1976, and the kind of misogyny in here was tolerated way more back then, but I'm shocked that nobody's reviews reflect how not okay this book is. The sexism was *not* subtle...especially the part on page 231 which seems in favour of domestic violence if it is 'called for'???
'But once they were in the Alfa Romeo he took Anne by the scruff of her neck, threw her across his legs, and spanked her so hard that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"What's that for?"
"Just in case you ever forget after we're married who's the head of this household."
THEN (SPOILER ALERT) THEY GET MARRIED. HIS BEHAVIOUR IS TAKEN AS A JOKE???
That's only one example of dozens throughout this book. I certainly hope that Archer's current novels are nothing like this one, but I won't be opening one to check. I need an Austen to soothe my nerves.
Edit: I get that this was published in 1976, and the kind of misogyny in here was tolerated way more back then, but I'm shocked that nobody's reviews reflect how not okay this book is. The sexism was *not* subtle...especially the part on page 231 which seems in favour of domestic violence if it is 'called for'???
'But once they were in the Alfa Romeo he took Anne by the scruff of her neck, threw her across his legs, and spanked her so hard that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"What's that for?"
"Just in case you ever forget after we're married who's the head of this household."
THEN (SPOILER ALERT) THEY GET MARRIED. HIS BEHAVIOUR IS TAKEN AS A JOKE???
That's only one example of dozens throughout this book. I certainly hope that Archer's current novels are nothing like this one, but I won't be opening one to check. I need an Austen to soothe my nerves.
May 18, 2021
Well, it had been 20 years since I first read this novel.
When I first read it, I had no clue about how stock market operated, why some art from certain artists cost so so much and what is the big deal about those anyway (I still wonder), what was a casino like and what was blackjack, and how the English Earls lived. But, probably understanding those were not important to enjoy this thriller drama of conning the con. I have watched many movies like Ocean's Eleven or Khosla ka Ghosla on similar theme - elaborate plans, last minute goof-up, chance recovery, to swindle a con man, but for me 'Not a Penny More, Not a penny less' would always remain special, as it introduced me to the world of enjoyable novels.
As I read for the second time this one, with my current understanding of the world, I could appreciate the different aspects of the con that I mightn't have comprehended then. Probably, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did then, but still it would retain its earlier ratings. First impression lasts long.
In the early days of my reading, this book had become a catalyst in my discovery of joy of reading. So, I did recommend to read this to the students of the book club, who have started on a similar journey. I hope they like it as much as I did then.
-------------------------------------------------
(few years back)
The first story book I ever read was from Jeffrey Archer, and I had become an instant fan then.
This is the first full-length novel I read of Archer, and I remember the story, the characters even after 15 years. And that speaks a lot about this book. Doesn't it?
I would surely recommend this book to everyone who would like to know why Jeffrey Archer is so popular in the fiction world.
When I first read it, I had no clue about how stock market operated, why some art from certain artists cost so so much and what is the big deal about those anyway (I still wonder), what was a casino like and what was blackjack, and how the English Earls lived. But, probably understanding those were not important to enjoy this thriller drama of conning the con. I have watched many movies like Ocean's Eleven or Khosla ka Ghosla on similar theme - elaborate plans, last minute goof-up, chance recovery, to swindle a con man, but for me 'Not a Penny More, Not a penny less' would always remain special, as it introduced me to the world of enjoyable novels.
As I read for the second time this one, with my current understanding of the world, I could appreciate the different aspects of the con that I mightn't have comprehended then. Probably, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did then, but still it would retain its earlier ratings. First impression lasts long.
In the early days of my reading, this book had become a catalyst in my discovery of joy of reading. So, I did recommend to read this to the students of the book club, who have started on a similar journey. I hope they like it as much as I did then.
-------------------------------------------------
(few years back)
The first story book I ever read was from Jeffrey Archer, and I had become an instant fan then.
This is the first full-length novel I read of Archer, and I remember the story, the characters even after 15 years. And that speaks a lot about this book. Doesn't it?
I would surely recommend this book to everyone who would like to know why Jeffrey Archer is so popular in the fiction world.
June 3, 2023
In 1974, Jeffrey Archer suffered a substantial loss as a result of an investment fraud. In 1975, he wrote Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less about four strangers who band together to get their money back after being the victims of a 'pump and dump' investment scam. The novel was intended to save him from bankruptcy, and of course it was the first offering in a long career as one of the most successful writers of all time. Archer has a gift for pulling his life out of the fire - he has done it a few times - and this skill translates into eminently readable, fast-paced thrillers, mostly featuring variations of quick-thinking, resourceful men like himself on the road to success.
I still say 'The Clifton Chronicles' (a 7 novel series) was his best work, but NAPM, NAPL was still good despite being almost 50 years old. There were a few dated references - the inflight movie that the characters watched was 'The Sting' - but I enjoyed the absence of cell phones and texting. The plot moved along, despite the lack of technology. Many of the scenes were still pretty funny, the characters were distinct and humorous.
The downside: the premise was that each of the four needed to come up with a plan to steal back $250,000 from the culprit, and some of the scams were a bit unbelievable. The cagey master of the universe who stole the money became conveniently gullible on a few occasions, that sort of thing. But it was a good laugh and I enjoyed it.
I still say 'The Clifton Chronicles' (a 7 novel series) was his best work, but NAPM, NAPL was still good despite being almost 50 years old. There were a few dated references - the inflight movie that the characters watched was 'The Sting' - but I enjoyed the absence of cell phones and texting. The plot moved along, despite the lack of technology. Many of the scenes were still pretty funny, the characters were distinct and humorous.
The downside: the premise was that each of the four needed to come up with a plan to steal back $250,000 from the culprit, and some of the scams were a bit unbelievable. The cagey master of the universe who stole the money became conveniently gullible on a few occasions, that sort of thing. But it was a good laugh and I enjoyed it.
Read
October 1, 2019This was Jeffrey Archer's first novel,men who are the victims of a swindle seek their revenge.Archer himself lost his money in real life and it forced him to turn to writing in a bid to improve his financial health. After having read it several years ago,I picked it up again but didn't find it particularly compelling.
September 9, 2019
Harvey Matcalfe , the king of successful financial con's , has conned a million dollar with empty promises of oil bonanza and instant wealth. Overnight, four men - the heir to an earldom, a Harley Street doctor, a Bond Street art dealer and an Oxford don find themselves penniless. But this time Harvey conned the wrong people. They unite and device a plan of revenge.
Their plan is simple: sting the crook exactly for what they lost – not a penny more and not a penny less.
A nice easy read with nice realistic descriptions and stereotypical characters.
Their plan is simple: sting the crook exactly for what they lost – not a penny more and not a penny less.
A nice easy read with nice realistic descriptions and stereotypical characters.
May 6, 2013
Masa zaman belajar dulu, kawan sekelas aku sorang ni suka collect buku Jeffrey Archer. She recommended me this book and I'm hooked with Jeffrey Archer's books. Not A Penny More, Not Penny Less diterbitkan sekitar 1974. So bila baca buku ni mesti membayangkan suasana dan prasarana sekitar tahun2 yang begitu lah. Tak der alat komunikasi moden.
Harvey Metcalfe adalah businesman yang mengumpulkan kekayaan dengan cara 'mengenakan' orang. Ada 4 orang yang sudah 'terkena' dengan Harvey Metcalfe ni decide untuk bergabung idea dan tenaga untuk mengutip kembali setiap sen yang telah dirampas oleh Metcalfe. Bagaimana caranya? Cara yang diorang guna tulah yang membuatkan cerita ini menarik. 4 orang dengan kelebihan dan kebijaksanaan yang berbeza. Bukan calang-calang orang yang Metcalfe pekena. Sorang pensyarah Oxford, dia ni kira chief la. Dia kumpul balik 3 orang mangsa penipuan Metcalfe iaitu a doctor, sorang dealer artwork dan sorang anak orang kaya. Anak orang kaya tu memandangkan dia tak der kemahiran macam the other 3, dia guna pendekatan mengorat anak Metcalfe and married her :)
Cara-cara yang diorang guna akan membuat kita tersenyum dan memang sampai mati pun Metcalfe belum tentu perasan yang diorang tu dah dapat balik hak diorang, each and every penny.
sure fine whatever
Rinn
Harvey Metcalfe adalah businesman yang mengumpulkan kekayaan dengan cara 'mengenakan' orang. Ada 4 orang yang sudah 'terkena' dengan Harvey Metcalfe ni decide untuk bergabung idea dan tenaga untuk mengutip kembali setiap sen yang telah dirampas oleh Metcalfe. Bagaimana caranya? Cara yang diorang guna tulah yang membuatkan cerita ini menarik. 4 orang dengan kelebihan dan kebijaksanaan yang berbeza. Bukan calang-calang orang yang Metcalfe pekena. Sorang pensyarah Oxford, dia ni kira chief la. Dia kumpul balik 3 orang mangsa penipuan Metcalfe iaitu a doctor, sorang dealer artwork dan sorang anak orang kaya. Anak orang kaya tu memandangkan dia tak der kemahiran macam the other 3, dia guna pendekatan mengorat anak Metcalfe and married her :)
Cara-cara yang diorang guna akan membuat kita tersenyum dan memang sampai mati pun Metcalfe belum tentu perasan yang diorang tu dah dapat balik hak diorang, each and every penny.
sure fine whatever
Rinn
March 16, 2021
3.75⭐
"Don't get mean, get even."
The book lives up to this slogan. A simple and interesting read. It more or less reminds you of all the heist movies you watched.
4 men - the heir to an earldom, a Harley street doctor, a bond Street art dealer and an Oxford Don lose their life savings to Harvey Metcalfe, a lifelong king of shady deals. Instead of moaning over their losses, they band together and hatch a plan to get their money back. Actually 4 different plans.
The story and plot line has its own drawbacks. The initial narrative to introduce Harvey Metcalfe is too slow. You enjoy the plot while reading but in retrospective the characters and plot seem less intelligent. Also, you don't expect a clever swindler like Harvey to be fooled so easy.
Overall, a pretty neat thriller with no unforeseeable twists, so you can read without skipping a heart beat.
"Don't get mean, get even."
The book lives up to this slogan. A simple and interesting read. It more or less reminds you of all the heist movies you watched.
4 men - the heir to an earldom, a Harley street doctor, a bond Street art dealer and an Oxford Don lose their life savings to Harvey Metcalfe, a lifelong king of shady deals. Instead of moaning over their losses, they band together and hatch a plan to get their money back. Actually 4 different plans.
The story and plot line has its own drawbacks. The initial narrative to introduce Harvey Metcalfe is too slow. You enjoy the plot while reading but in retrospective the characters and plot seem less intelligent. Also, you don't expect a clever swindler like Harvey to be fooled so easy.
Overall, a pretty neat thriller with no unforeseeable twists, so you can read without skipping a heart beat.
October 15, 2017
I very much enjoyed this little romp of revenge - a shadowy businessman runs a sharemarket pump and dump scam stealing a million dollars from four investors. Upon realising they've been scammed the four people join forces to recover the exact amount, not a penny more, not a penny less, back through various schemes.
The various schemes and developments in the story line keep the pages turning as you keep wondering if they're really going to pull it off or if this is the time they'll get caught making for an entertaining and captivating read.
The various schemes and developments in the story line keep the pages turning as you keep wondering if they're really going to pull it off or if this is the time they'll get caught making for an entertaining and captivating read.
August 13, 2020
Rating: 1 star
This book was absolutely not for me. It was slow, I had no idea where the plot was going (nor did I know what the plot actually was in the first place), I could not care less about any other characters, and the ending was just another event in the story. This is my second Jeffrey Archer book, and I liked this one even less. I am going to put it down to personal taste, because I can't select any particular thing in either book that was bad, but rather the stories didn't match with me.
This book was absolutely not for me. It was slow, I had no idea where the plot was going (nor did I know what the plot actually was in the first place), I could not care less about any other characters, and the ending was just another event in the story. This is my second Jeffrey Archer book, and I liked this one even less. I am going to put it down to personal taste, because I can't select any particular thing in either book that was bad, but rather the stories didn't match with me.
December 31, 2020
Two stars for using a real life experience (look up author on Wikipedia) and using it as inspiration for your debut novel. No stars for chauvinism, sexism, casual physical abuse of female character. No stars for flat characters. Plenty of books written in 1974 in which women played roles beyond what was afforded them in this book.
November 4, 2018
An AMAZING book! I couldn't stop reading it!
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