The Bank

Miriam Verbeek's intriguing crime thriller, The Bank: Breaching the Underworld, is the first entry in a series, and it follows Saskia van Essen, a compliance risk manager at the Friendly Society Bank in Lyon, France. Initially thrilled about her new job, Saskia's life takes a dramatic turn when she finds herself accused of murder and embroiled in a web of cybercrime while tracing suspicious money trails linked to Europe's criminal underbelly. As she digs deeper into her investigatory work, her loved ones receive death threats, pushing her to navigate a treacherous terrain filled with danger and deceit. With a tight deadline, Saskia must utilize her skills and uncover the truth while protecting those she loves — or can she?  

The novel presents a rich cast of characters, with Saskia as the determined heroine caught between her professional responsibilities and personal dilemmas. Her intelligence and resourcefulness are tested as she faces challenges that require technical know-how and emotional strength. Characters like Antoine Aubert, her unsupportive boss, and Clint Bailey, a colleague whose mistakes lead to chaos, contrast Saskia's character. Other figures, such as the enigmatic Isabelle García and the supportive Madame Claire, represent various facets of support and threat in her life, augmenting layers to Saskia’s narrative and forcing her to determine who can be trusted in a world filled with betrayal.  

The Bank explores themes of trust, morality, and the impact of corporate responsibility on individual lives. The conflict of good versus evil emerges as Saskia fights to uncover corrupt banking practices intertwined with organized crime and human exploitation. These more extensive issues resonate throughout the plot, portraying how financial systems can manipulate lives while drawing attention to human rights abuses, particularly regarding vulnerable minors. The setting of Lyon offers a stunning backdrop but also enriches the narrative with a sense of place, emphasizing the juxtaposition between the city's beauty and the darkness lurking in its financial systems. Verbeek writes in gorgeous prose and features unforgettable characters in this richly drawn, perfectly paced thriller.