Cram Down

3J Legal Thriller

De: Mark Shaiken

Narrado por: Jimmy Moreland

Kansas City attorney Josephina Jillian Jones, 3J to her friends, has dealt with people perpetrating online disinformation, white supremacists, and clients hiding assets, so when a couple who heads up a company that builds inner city housing for marginalized communities comes to her for legal help because their longtime banking partner has shut off their funding, the case appears at first blush to be tame by comparison. But when the bank president disappears and his greed-driven brother seems the likely culprit, things heat up. And when it appears the Kansas City mob is involved, the race is on to save both the company and the bank president. Lives are at stake and the clock is ticking. 3J has a reputation for being fierce and determined, but she’s going to need both help and a little luck to save the day this time.

©2013 Mark Shaiken / 1609 Press LLC (P)2023 Mark Shaiken

Emotional attachment

“Cram Down” may be author Mark Shaiken’s most recent in the 3J Legal Thriller Series, but it reads easily as a standalone. Like his other reads, history plays a large role in the sequence of events that play out across the page. Both as readers discover more about 3J’s upbringing and family, as well as the history of the Browne brothers.

The Commonwealth Savings and Loan Bank has a commendable past. Focusing on black owned businesses and providing services to minority customers throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. But Abode is one business relationship in particular that has made Commonwealth president Amadi Washington Browne proud. Abode, founded by Bella and James Franklin, is a non-profit aimed at building homes for lower middle-class families as they seek to provide homeownership to groups historically omitted from this piece of the American Dream. However, in his moment of despair, Amadi was forced to sell his controlling interest in the bank to his twin brother, Jordan Lincoln Browne.

Jordan and Amadi couldn’t be more different. Jordan is committed to putting money in his own pocket, and doing business with non-profits such as Abode are no way to line your pockets. As Jordan demands Abode find financing elsewhere, Josephine Jillian Jones, or 3J as everyone refers to her, is forced to step in. With a cram down bankruptcy plan 3J finds herself emotionally attached to Abode’s mission, but Jordan Browne has other plans.

As a banker, the emotional attachment, belief in company values, and relationship to those Amadi works with was an entirely representative portrayal. It is clear Shaiken’s past, working closely with bankers and their various clients, lends well to the accuracy of the story within. However, as the stakes grow and Jordan’s power ignites, characters begin to get in over their heads, creating a thrilling, emotional, and suspenseful ride.

“Cram Down” may be the legal term for 3J’s bankruptcy strategy within, but the action-packed gamble that Jordan makes comes back to face him. As 3J, Abode, and Commonwealth square off, larger players begin to emerge as the plot thickens. Immediately falling for Amadi’s character, Abode’s beliefs, and Commonwealth’s history, Shaiken plays to the readers emotional side as “Cram Down” takes shape.

Fun Story!

Creative story, a lot of fun. I look forward to reading more by this author!

Legal and banking thriller set in Kansas City.

This book makes me want to visit Kansas City. There is a great deal of KC history throughout the well written story of banking, bankruptcy, and the mob.

If you know a lawyer, if you know Kansas City…

This was a good ride in Kansas City, past and present! It is also a familiar ride if you know a lawyer and how their minds work. I enjoyed the ride!