Investigation Reads
By Rachel Organist
With social calendars lighter than normal, many of us have burned through our Netflix queues and are turning to that classic form of entertainment: curling up with a good book. My own reading choices are usually determined by my monthly book club, but with the goal of trying something different this time, I asked my fellow Workman Forensics staff and our colleagues in fraud investigation to recommend some favorite investigation-related reads—and they delivered! With some lighter picks, some thrillers, and both fiction and non-fiction, there’s sure to be something here that appeals to everyone.
· Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia – Not only is this a fun read, it’s definitely something we don’t see every day—a crime thriller starring a forensic accountant! Our CEO, Leah Wietholter, says, “I loved the author’s incorporation of real-world forensic accounting technicalities while still following what you expect and want out of a dramatic crime thriller.” And after you read it, check out the latest episode of our podcast, The Investigation Game, where author Mindy Mejia discusses her experience as a CPA and writer.
· The Assistants by Camille Perri – Amanda “Jo” Erven, president and founder of Audit. Consulting. Education. LLC, recommends this humorous novel that flips the script as the reader follows the perpetrators of a corporate embezzlement caper. The Skimm describes it as “Ocean’s Eleven meets The Devil Wears Prada.” Perfect for a beach read, or for lounging in your backyard pretending you’re at the beach!
· I’ll Be Gone In the Dark by Michelle McNamara – Less accounting and more true crime, this was a book club pick that I really enjoyed. Published posthumously by McNamara’s husband, comedian Patton Oswalt, I’ll Be Gone In the Dark chronicles McNamara’s years-long investigation of the notorious Golden State Killer. I’m no true crime junkie, but McNamara’s writing kept me hooked until the end. The book also inspired an upcoming HBO documentary series I’ll be sure to check out.
· The Firm by John Grisham – Many Grisham picks would have been a good fit for this list, but Lisa Stone, senior paralegal at T. D. Williamson, particularly recommends his second novel and first bestseller. This classic legal thriller tells of a young attorney forced to investigate his own employer after being contacted by the FBI.
· Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou – Another favorite around the Workman Forensics office, and not just because we had such a great time attending a talk he gave here in Tulsa and interviewing him for the podcast. Bad Blood is the result of Carreyrou’s investigation as a Wall Street Journal reporter unearthing the truth of the technology (or lack thereof) behind biomedical startup Theranos. Knowing the eventual outcome didn’t stop my anticipation from ratcheting up with each chapter as Carreyrou traces the paths of multiple employees before coming to the one who gave him his first tip. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and executive Sunny Balwani will be tried later this summer on counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, so stay tuned—this story isn’t over yet.
· The Cartel by Don Winslow – Recommended by Juan Carlos Venegas, director at FA Forensics Ltd, The Cartel is the second installation in the Power of the Dog series, although reviewers note the novel can stand on its own. Ex-DEA agent Art Keller is forced out of retirement when his drug lord archnemesis escapes federal prison. This series is praised by readers as thoroughly researched and thought-provoking in addition to being a page-turning read.
These should keep me busy for a while—hopefully you found something to add to your reading list as well!