The Devil's Company: 3 (Benjamin Weaver) Paperback – 20 April 2010

As usual David Loss has produced an amazing mixture of fiction interwoven with historical facts.

High expectation small reward... One gets more exciting info just by reading wikipedia on the subject of the East India Company.

Excellent. Back on track David. This title is on a par with the excellent 'Conspiracy of Paper'. Benjamin's world continues to intrigue in this novel, following the lesser 'A Spectacle of Corruption'.

This is a vastly entertaining read! As an historical novel, it smoothly interweaves the history of the times in Europe, outlines what lure brought the Jews from Spain to Amsterdam, and emphasizes Amsterdam’s exciting history in finance, particularly the stock market. The fictional characters’ development by the author is delightful. After first reading the author’s books “The Whiskey Rebels” (I live three miles from the historical site of the whiskey rebellion in Pittsburgh) then “The Coffee Trader”, I am now immersed in the author’s four-book series of his Benjamin Weaver character, and equally delighted and greatly entertained with its intrigues. Thank you, David Liss!

I was always surprised all along the book, and I felt that the author feels a delectation at telling us the most unprobable situations. The style in itself is a delicacy. Of course I learned a lot, though in a very pleasant way, about business history and 18th century England.

What a great story! David Liss gets right into great authentication of the time in every way, from language to dress and lodging etc. one feels you are part of the scene.I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it deserves five stars

Our anti-hero, Benjamin Weaver, finds himself entangled in a power struggle between the East India Trading Company and the English Government. Not only is Benjamin used as a pawn in this elaborate scheme of conflicting interests, but his family and friends are also in danger. Further complicating this scenario are the presence of English spies, French agents, and even an Indian agent added to the mix.This is a multilayered account of the deceit and betrayal of what the Company is willing to do to stifle entrepreneurship in the person of Absalom Pepper, thought to be dead, who had plans to develop an engine which can weave cloth from cotton harvested in the American colonies and would be competitive in price from cloth shipped from India. These plans are eagerly sought by all concerned and Weaver is caught in the thick of it.The plots are convoluted with a huge amount of characters and situations in play, but the writing is excellent and Benjamin's narrative keeps my interest. One new character is Celia Glade, who I believe will finally make Weaver forget Miriam. He does engage in violence, either for his defense or for the benefit of others, but it is quite evident here that Benjamin has a moral compass. He tells his friend, Elias Gordon, " The Company is a monster, and it is for Parliament to decide the size and shape of its cage." Benjamin is able to rescue family and friends, but is defeated in his desire for justice due to the various agendas of parties involved. It is expediency that wins in the end. Tough read, but worth it.

Not as fascinating as the coffee trader or conspiracy of paper. It was a bit preachy. Big corporations vs a freer market of inventors and entrepreneurs.