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Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less was Jeffrey Archer's first novel, first published in 1974. It was said to have been inspired by Archer's real-life experience of bankruptcy, and is regarded by many to be his best novel to date.
Harvey Metcalf, over a forty year career, has mastered the art of the shady deal in advancing from messenger boy to mogul. But this time, by selling inflated oil stock, he has cheated the wrong men--Stephen Bradley, an American professor teaching at Oxford, Dr. Robin Oakley, a Harley Street physician, Jean-Pierre Lamanns, a French art dealer with a gallery in London, and James Brigsley, heir to an earldom. Each has bought the oil stock, and suffered financially when the stock failed. Bradley learns of Metcalfe's responsibility, and organizes the other three to seek to get their money back from Metcalfe.
Throughout the story, they disguise themselves through various daring schemes involving a fake painting, a fake operation, and fake Oxford University officials--and fleece Harvey Metcalfe and eventually get back what they've lost - except for $1.24. Yet--as the book concludes, an oil strike sends the oil stock to a record high, and they realize they will need to give the money back again!
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