Introduction: The Concealers
, James J. Kaufman, Book Review
Early 2011, James J. Kaufman, a former judge, took the publishing world by storm with his first book, The Collectibles
, which I reviewed – over two years later, The Concealers, the second installment of the trilogy 
is out. I thoroughly enjoyed The Collectibles and felt like the story was complete. A year later, I learned that The Collectibles was a part of a trilogy. I don’t know if the book was originally a trilogy, or if the publisher decided that it should be a trilogy because the book was so well-received. I don’t think that I have had that conversation with Kaufman who I connected with because I was among the first to support his first book. 
James J. Kaufman sent me an uncorrected proof of his new book, The Concealers, to read, but I was unable to read it during the time frame. I have since received a final copy, which I have read, and I enjoyed it. Once again, the characters are well developed, the story line is believable, and I can relate to it because it's realistic and touches on a topic that many of us are passionate about – bank frauds, and regular people being swindled out of their savings. Kaufman's work experience has enabled him to write a book that's worth reading.
I don’t know if I am just plain cranky, but I am getting tired of all the trilogies. I want to read a book and be done with it. Despite this, I have to read the third book because I have an interest in the characters – I want to know what happens to the characters in the third book. For instance, I want to know if the toddler PJ adjusts to his hearing aid, and I want to know if Marcia and Preston Wilson resolve their differences. Can the relationship between Preston and his daughter Katherine withstand the first big test? Are you curious yet?
What is The Concealers by James J. Kaufman About?
In the prologue of The Concealers (The Collectibles Trilogy), in June 1988, we meet a 23 year old Preston Wilson. He is in hospital because of serious stomach pains, and they diagnose him as having diverticulitis (digestive disease), but it turns out that he is suffering from food poisoning. A young nurse, Beth takes very good care of him, and he wants to say thanks, by taking you out to dinner. They go out together and end up having a one-night stand. The story fast-forwards to April 1, 2012.
As you might have guessed, the one night stand has led to the birth of Katherine Kelly, but Beth has not been in contact with Preston. Today, her daughter is 23 years old, completing her Master’s Degree in Journalism. Katherine is interested in investigative reporting, she is very good at ferreting out the truth, and is dedicated. She wants to learn about the action sport Enduro so that she can write a story. What does she do? She registers to participate in an Enduro race. She meets Sean O’Malley who we will learn more about later in the story.
Over the years, Katherine has been asking her mom about her father, and has been repeatedly told that he died on a mission. Finally, she learns that Preston Wilson is her father, and they start to get to know each other. Katherine is very upset that her mother has lied to her about the identity of her father. Yes, Beth shouldn’t have lied, but Katherine’s response is over-the-top. She needs to get over herself – everyone lies, no one is perfect – and remember that she had a very good upbringing.
In The Collectibles, Preston’s company was in a financially vulnerable position, and Joe Hart was able to bring it back from the brim of bankruptcy. Before Joe took on the case, Preston had to agree to fulfill an unspecified promise when the time was right. He was asked to take care of four people, who most would view as wounded – Missy, Tommy, Johnny and Casey – who are Joe’s collectibles. Joe dies in the first book. Preston was also asked to also find Harry, another wounded soul.
Preston has not lived up to his end of the deal, which has been a sore point between him and his wife, Marcia. Once again, the marriage is in trouble. What we see in both books is that Preston’s doesn’t act very quickly, and things end up getting very bad for him. Preston is not a great leader and he is also not very decisive. Casey, his CFO quits. He has been telling Preston all along that Austin Disley, cannot be trusted. Disley went to college with Preston so there is that bond. Marcia has the same misgivings about Disley, yet Preston doesn’t listen. When will Preston Wilson learn from his mistakes? Or perhaps, he never will!
After graduation, Katherine is hired by Twin Forks Press and is investigating financial scandals on the side, in addition to the more mundane work given to the newly graduated. She proves herself, and in a very short time, a greater portion of her time is dedicated to writing stories on bank frauds. Readers, politicians, and law enforcement professionals are taking note of her work because she is so thorough. Her mentor at the university she attended, told her that she needed to find her emotional core. Having done that, her stories are a lot richer, as she weaves the human face into her stories.
Unknown to Katherine, Sean O’Malley, who is in the Secret Service, whom she likes a lot, is also investigating the financial scandals/bank frauds. Because of the nature of his role in the Secret Service, Sean who cares for Katherine, cannot disclose what he is working on. Because she is so thorough in her investigative reporting, he is keeping a file of her articles. Katherine is very good at what she does, she inspires confidence, and people trust her so they open up. Sean is also keeping a file on Katherine’s father, Preston.
During the story, when Preston tells Katherine the story of Joe Hart and his collectibles, she is very interested and wants to learn more. She has been making the effort to meet and learn more about them, unlike her father. She travels a great distance to meet Alice Hawkins, Joe Hart’s former secretary. Katherine learns that Alice has lost most of the money that she inherited from Joe, because of a bank fraud – she was swindled out of the money. The financial scandal is rampant throughout the US and not just in New York in the community that Twin Fork Press cover. So what can one journalist, a new graduate do? Katherine has been able to accomplish a lot because of her tenacity and dogged determination.
There are a few story lines in the book, and you will not be bored. At the end of The Concealers, there is an excellent cliffhanger, and the reader is left hungry for more. Can Wilson Holdings withstand another financial setback, in addition to public scrutiny? Katherine intends to publish an article even though it compromises her father who she has known for only a few months. Is blood thicker than water, and can we ever know what the right action is? If you were in Katherine’s position, would you suppress an article if it compromised a parent? She knows he isn’t guilty, it is perceived guilt – by association – because he didn’t heed the advice to get rid of Austin Disley. Talk about misplaced loyalty and naiveté.
I recommend The Concealers (The Collectibles Trilogy), and if you haven’t read The Collectibles, I recommend that you read that as well. At the very least, if you do not want to buy both books, read my review of The Collectibles and buy the second book. The book has questions for book clubs, but I never pay any attention to those questions in any of the books that I read. Next week, I will have the interview I conducted with James J Kaufman. Although I have spoken to James on the phone twice, and by email several times, I would like to think that you trust me enough to give you an objective review of The Concealers.
The Collectibles
The Concealers (The Collectibles Trilogy)The Conciliators (The Conciliators, Book 3 of The Collectibles Series)
