The 500 and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more

Buy New

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Buy Used
Used - Very Good See details
Price: £1.97
Fulfilled by Amazon

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book
Start reading The 500 on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The 500 [Hardcover]

Matthew Quirk (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
RRP: £11.99
Price: £6.46 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £5.53 (46%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want it Thursday, 20 June? Choose Express delivery at checkout. Details

Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £3.91   -- --
Hardcover £6.46   -- --
Paperback £4.42   -- --
Audio, CD, Audiobook £20.21   -- --
Audio Download, Unabridged £11.24 or Free with Audible.co.uk 30-day free trial
Books Trade-In
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more.

Book Description

Publication Date: 24 May 2012

Mike Ford was following his father into a life of crime, when he chose to go straight and instead worked his way through Harvard Law School. Now he's landed the ultimate job with the Davies Group, a powerful political consulting firm run by the charismatic Henry Davies. Rubbing shoulders with Washington's heavyweights and with more money and privileges than he's ever imagined, Mike believes that everything has finally come right.

But he's about to discover that power comes with a price. Henry Davies is looking for a protégé for a crucial deal and one that must go right no matter what. Mike soon learns that being on the side of the lawmakers doesn't mean your work is legal. And there's no place for a moral code when you're on the devil's payroll.

THE 500 is a fast-paced thriller that takes the reader on a journey through the corridors of power to the crack dens of Washington and the corrupt underbelly of American politics.

Frequently Bought Together

The 500 + Agent of the State: A Groundbreaking New Thriller by the Former Commander of Special Branch (John Kerr 1)
Price For Both: £15.42

Buy the selected items together

Product details

  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Headline (24 May 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0755387406
  • ISBN-13: 978-0755387403
  • Product Dimensions: 16.2 x 3.1 x 24 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 417,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Matthew Quirk
Matthew Quirk

Product Description

Review

'THE FIRM goes to Washington, only with a whole lot more action' (James Patterson)

'THE 500 is a riveting page-turner in the tradition of John Grisham's THE FIRM. It's smart, intriguing, packed with action and heart, and loaded with detail on the hidden workings of Washington. It's going to be the big debut thriller of the year' (Jeff Abbott)

'What an absolutely phenomenal, kickass thriller. I can't remember the last time a novel has left me this breathless. This one's going to be huge' (Joseph Finder)

'THE 500 delivers a whole new level of urgency and political relevance - and high-octane storytelling - all in the smart, sharp voice of a con-man turned Washington insider. Get ready to cancel appointments for this one. Full of fascinating detail, gritty action and the ever-appealing lure of the con, THE 500 won't let you put it down' (Zoe Ferraris, author of Kingdom of Strangers and City of Veils)

'A thundering David-and-Goliath tale of corruption...This is a real page turner, with high stakes action that doesn't stop' (Booklist (Starred Review))

About the Author

Matthew Quirk studied history and literature at Harvard College. After graduation, he spent five years at The Atlantic magazine reporting on crime, private military contractors, the opium trade, terrorism prosecutions, and international gangs. He lives in Washington D.C.
Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced thriller set in Washington politics 23 April 2012
By Brian R. Martin TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Mike Ford, a student working his way through Harvard Law School, is recruited by a powerful public relations firm, headed by Henry Davies, and his assistant Marcus. However, the company is not what it appears to be and fulfills its clients' dubious briefs by putting pressure on members of the 500 of the title (the top 500 of the political elite in Washington DC). They do this by payoffs and blackmail; using information about sexual activities, financial irregularities etc, and we learn in the opening pages that the Davies Group is prepared to use extreme violence, including murder, to achieve its gaols.

The plot is similar to that of John Grisham's thriller `The Firm', but the details are different. Thus, Mike has a history of petty crime when a juvenile that has made him hungry for success, so initially he goes along with minor illegalities to `prove' himself to Davies. Only gradually does he realize the true nature of Davies' activities when he helps him try to get a law changed so that a notorious Serbian gangster, `Rado', cannot be charged for war crimes committed in Bosnia. This involves influencing a Supreme Court Judge called Haskins. A complication is the involvement of Rado's daughter Irin with the judge and ends with the murder of both Irin and Haskins by Davies' men.

Up to this point the story is interesting, and there are many other complications that I have not mentioned that keep the reader's attention, some involving a beautiful co-worker of Mike's called Annie. But from now on the plot becomes frenetic and there are too many improbable actions favouring Mike, starting with his escape from the murder scene. Mike decides that his only option to survive is to play off Davies and Marcus against Rado, who is seeking revenge against whoever murdered his daughter.... Read more ›
1 Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner 27 May 2012
By Wendy Jones TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
This is the first book by Matthew Quirk and I really hope it will not be his last. Mike Ford has escaped form his background of a family in crime, and after working hard to graduate from Harvard law school has landed a job in a prestigious Washington firm. The job and the income seem like a dream, but he soon comes to realise that he is in it right up to the top of his new designer suit. His supposedly "honest" firm is not what it seems and Mike is playing a part that he wasn't expecting to play and certainly doesn't want to play. I can't say much more without giving the plot away, but no one is who they seem and who are the good guys and the bad guys? As I say nothing is apparent. This is a well written book, with a good writing style. I could really identify with all the characters, good ad bad and they are certainly well scripted. There Re a lot of twists and turns which kept me reading. It is not a long book, but the book does not suffer for this. It is not your usual blood and guts thriller, with dialogue being used to paint the picture of what is happening, but some scenes are quite gruesome. I loved this book and would highly recommend it
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Poking the beehive 8 May 2012
By Maria2222 TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Mike lands a job in one of the foremost consulting groups in Washington at an extremely convenient time where he is otherwise working hard to finish his studies as well as doing a part time job to keep the debt collectors at bay.

He is no stranger to trouble as his dad went to prison when Mike was a young boy yet he is not prepared for the complete ruthlessness and unlawfulness he encounters at his new work place where all tricks and methods are acceptable as long as the clients are happy and the company gets money in the bank and Mike eventually has to decide whether to stay, ignore his moral dilemmas, and make lots of money or whether he dares risk it all and go against the group with potentially fatal consequences for him and his family.

The story is good if not particularly new or exciting and the writing is good - although I found it very difficult to relate to - or like - any of the characters in the book. There is also a fair bit of stereotyping that I tried to ignore, but still weighs down on the overall score.

This is probably one of the few books that I would imagine works better as a film - which is good as it seems that the manuscript has already been sold...
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A promising debut 8 May 2012
By Andy Edwards TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
It must be tough being a thriller writer, trying to come up with an original plot. In a crowded genre, it seems that almost every base has been covered, so one option is to take an old idea, and try to add to it, which is the path chosen by Matthew Quirk here. He takes Grisham's idea for "The Firm", replacing a law firm with a political lobbyist and adding a back story for the hero and a larger dose of action - and he pretty much pulls it off.

The writing style is pacy and Quirk is brave enough to set up the ending before he tells the story, which has just enough complexity to avoid standard action thriller status. This is where that back story for the hero works well, adding depth to Mike Ford's character as well as the plot. The minor characters are also well fleshed out, although at times, the villians are a little too stereotypical, while the basic premise for the plot will please conspiracy theorists, without strainiing too hard at credibility.

It is only as the denouement approaches that things begin to get a little stretched, but until that point, this was a good a thriller as I have read in a long time. If you read "The Firm", try this, I think you'll like it.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars The Firm meets......
This tells the story of Mike Ford who seems to know everyone, have amazing skills. It's like James Bond meets Rambo! Read more
Published 1 month ago by A. Douglas
5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced and explosive
This is a fast paced book, full of action. Beginning with an explosive prologue, Quirk opens things in the way he intends to go on and gives you a taste of what lies ahead. Read more
Published 2 months ago by J.E.T
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable thriller
The Firm on steroids. Fast-paced and original storyline, maybe a little unbelievable at times - not the whole political saga, I'd believe anything about corruption in high places,... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Maggie
4.0 out of 5 stars A bit like The Firm?
Saw this book on the shelf in my local supermarket and thought it looked like a good read. Great stuff a really good book full of twists and turns. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mike Jenkins
2.0 out of 5 stars Do you want to feel dirty?
Mike Ford is one of those edgy types - destined to do interesting things. He is either going to go down a path of crime like his dad, or he is going to use his straight As and top... Read more
Published 6 months ago by MisterHobgoblin
4.0 out of 5 stars 500 - Fast Paced Fun
Although not the most literary of current authors he does know how to tell a fast paced and entertaining yarn. Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. D. Naylor
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Debut Novel
An enjoyable and unusual story told in the first person, reminiscent of the old detective pulp fiction genre. Read more
Published 7 months ago by John Richard
4.0 out of 5 stars Heading for 6 stars before a fade
Mike Ford is a struggling and debt-ridden graduate who ends up in an extremely successful but brutal lobbying firm where ethics matter little. Read more
Published 7 months ago by johnverp
5.0 out of 5 stars Bears comparison to The Firm very well.
From reading the blurb the comparison to The Firm leapt out. It is a story about a young graduate joining a mysterious cconsultancy in Washington DC. Read more
Published 8 months ago by JoMaynard
3.0 out of 5 stars Cracks along ok if a bit 'sketchy'
This is a reasonable read that is well enough written and cracks along at a good pace, although don't expect to be particularly stretched by any literary spark of... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Zip Domingo
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

    Your Shopping Basket is empty.

    Give it purpose -- fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    There's a problem previewing your shopping basket at the moment.

    Check your Internet connection and go to your cart, or try again.

    View Shopping Basket (0 items)

      Customer Discussions

      This product's forum
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      No discussions yet

      Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
      Start a new discussion
      Topic:
      First post:
      Prompts for sign-in
       


      Active discussions in related forums
      Search Customer Discussions
      Search all Amazon discussions
         
      Related forums

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback


      Amazon.co.uk Privacy Statement Amazon.co.uk Delivery Information Amazon.co.uk Returns & Exchanges