Like many, I was glued to my television a few weeks ago when Carli Lloyd's hat trick lead the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team to their first World Cup in sixteen years. An epic feat to cap off a thrilling and consistently awesome run.
In sports like hockey and soccer, a "hat trick" occurs when a player scores three goals in a single match. They are special events to be celebrated because of their infrequency and the incredible achievement of the player. To give you an idea of their rarity, the average NHL season sees only 15-20 hat tricks, in total. They culminate in fans throwing their hats onto the field or the ice.
Like in sports, authors have tried on many occasion to complete a literary hat trick, but rarely do readers get to experience the satisfaction of a book trilogy where each book is equal to or better than the last.
Enter: one of my favorite authors, Eliot Peper, and the final book in his Uncommon Stock trilogy, Exit Strategy. It was with great anticipation that I cracked into Exit Strategy in advance of its official publication this week, and it blew me away!
Peper is best known for introducing a new genre to the literary community: the startup thriller. In a world that has become fascinated with startups and entrepreneurship, Peper's Uncommon Series introduces a fast-paced thriller, with its protagonist living in the world of entrepreneurship and the startup industry.
The Uncommon Series follows entrepreneur Mara Winkel as she chases down her founder dreams -- and in the process, gets her hands dirty understanding how to pitch, develop business plans, plot customer acquisitions, and have awkward equity conversations. It follows her as her company gets investors, as she expands her company, and as she navigates the growing pains. Through her we can all feel the stresses, challenges, and triumphs of success.
However, marrying the startup and thriller worlds, Peper has crafted a whole new meaning to the concept of "win or die."
By the third novel, Winkel is the hottest player in the startup/tech industry. Her company, Mozaik, is crushing it as the fastest growing startup in the world, and it's heading quickly toward a record-breaking IPO. But there's one little snag standing in the way of Mara and her team realizing their dreams as a company: criminal conspiracy on a global scale.
And that's a whole new level of startup stress.
What resonates most with me about the Uncommon Series is in the beauty of Peper's writing; he invites readers to be a member of Winkel's startup team, and brings us into the fold so that we feel a slice of the emotion involved in chasing down the startup dream with the eye of the tiger. We celebrate the highs, we find ourselves thinking of our own proposed solutions during the lows, and we root for Mara in her investment pitches and for the overall success of her company, as if we have a stake in it. We learn about the art of the pivot, we think through the negotiations as we follow Mozaik's rocket-ship trajectory, and we become emotionally invested in the success of both Mozaik and in Winkel as its founder.
Though startups are the backdrop, the trilogy (or as I like to call it, the "thrillogy") introduces readers to a roller-coaster murder mystery of intrigue and incredible character depth and richness.
Exit Strategy completes an incredible three book cycle -- Peper absolutely nailed the startup thriller and the Uncommon Series is a gift to readers. The depth of Peper's understanding of the startup world, coupled with characters that will remain with us for years to come, offer readers a special lens into a unique, intriguing, and page-turning world.
For three books, I was rooting for Mara Winkel. Having thoroughly enjoyed Exit Strategy, I now take my hat off and throw it onto the field to celebrate Eliot Peper and his hat trick of the Uncommon Series.
A must read book, a must read trilogy.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.