A Silicon Valley fixer investigates a billionaire founder's death while pursuing her own agenda in this twisty, sharply observed debut mystery from a tech world insider.
In her job solving problems for Silicon Valley's most ruthless venture capitalist, Mackenzie Clyde's used to playing for high stakes. Even if none of the jaw-dropping sums in play ever seem to make it into her hands.
But her new assignment is something else entirely. The lightning-rod CEO of tech's hottest startup has just been murdered, leaving behind billions in "dead money" frozen in his will-and as the company's chief investor, Mackenzie's boss has a fortune on the line. Which means that solving this impossible crime has just become her problem.
Mackenzie's a lawyer, not a detective. But suddenly she finds herself riding shotgun with the FBI, guiding the agent in charge through Silicon Valley's halls of power. And as secrets are revealed and the true stakes of the case come to light, it seems that she's just getting in deeper and deeper over her head.
But Mackenzie's used to being underestimated. In fact, she's counting on it.
Because the way she sees it, this isn't just an investigation. It's an opportunity. And she'll do anything it takes to seize it.
Anything at all. Jakob Kerr is a lawyer and communications executive who's spent his career immersed in the tech industry. He was one of the first employees at Airbnb and spent over a decade shepherding the company from tiny startup to global phenomenon. He has also been a bartender, sportswriter, and-for one disastrous afternoon-the driver of an ice cream truck. After fifteen years in San Francisco, he recently returned to his native Pacific Northwest, where he now lives with his wife and children. Dead Money is his first novel.
