The following link at Amazon.com should direct you to the book at Amazon’s web site. Simply look at the number of Customer Reviews and click on Customer Reviews to read them directly. Below the line, I will periodically copy and paste them here
At the moment, the rating is 5 out of 5 STARS. I hope you will pick-up a copy and rate it yourself. Thanks.
Top customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars – The Level Playing Field
By Sara Hnasko on August 21, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition – Verified Purchase
Our American government is run by the people, for the people and I couldn’t imagine living a life outside the United States. While policies and procedures are totally different from ours from country to country, we have been set in our ways for hundreds of years and I have been a resident since my birth. What would life be like if the government was run by a secret agency that was totally secret?
“The Level Playing Field,” by John D. Kingston, is a mind bending novel that will have you glued to your seat until the end. It tells of a secret agency in Japan that runs the government. The agency is run by the emperor himself. While the requirements to join this agency are quite extensive, the people who are inducted are forced to not speak of this secret agency or death will occur. Scott Maxwell, an American, discovers the existence of this agency and while death seems inevitable, he pursues his mission to make things right and fair for the Japanese citizens.
I enjoyed reading this book! It has a very interesting story line that I have never read or heard about before so, it was a very interesting read. The ending is quite a shocker! I would highly recommend this novel to everyone who enjoys action, murder or mystery novels!
5.0 out of 5 stars – Fantastic debut novel!
By Brian on August 22, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition – Verified Purchase
With a substantial, wide-ranging background in matters financial and cultural, author John D. Kingston seems uniquely equipped to write this stunning novel. Examining an eclectic variety of themes, I’m both surprised and pleased by the lucidity of his explanations. Even better, Kingston has avoided becoming overly-technical in his descriptions of finance and trade, making it imminently relatable to an untrained audience.
In our modern world, the biggest wars are no longer fought and won with fists, swords, or rifles. No, what the author is examining here is war from a different perspective: The struggle for political and economic power. As Japan continues to dominate the world economic climate, main character Scott Maxwell becomes suspicious of the deeper reasons behind this supremacy. Finding a dark underbelly to Tokyo’s economic and political might, Maxwell sets about “leveling the playing field”… And the results are spectacular.
The author has alluded that a follow-up book may be in the works; if so, I’m certainly game to read it. By turns fascinating, informative, and exciting, “The Level Playing Field” was a fantastic read. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in macro-economic and/or political power and balance.
5.0 out of 5 stars – Action, Intrigue, Secret Societies! You simply MUST keep turning the pages!
By Amazon Customer on August 26, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition – |Verified Purchase
Japan has always had the upper hand when it comes to foreign trade. What if the diplomats in charge of Japan’s trade agreements for foreign trade weren’t the ones really making the decisions? What if the Emperor has secretly kept the old traditions and ways of doing business alive – even though they had agreed to a democracy? This underground society has operated for years in secret, training its members in the harshest of ways to manipulate the world trade agreements so the Japan comes out on top. But, young Sachi has uncovered the very location of this secret society’s training compound in Tokyo and has seen the most powerful of people enter through its doors. He tells only his cousin Tori in Toronto about what he has discovered and sends him tapes of conversations he has overheard. Soon, Sachi is killed for his knowledge and the need to keep the society – the shaki – a secret. Scott Maxwell manages financial portfolios for business and individuals in Florida. He’s also developed an economic trade formula for dealing with Japan. Scott has seen some oddities with Japan lately and as a favor, as asks his old associate Bruce Hadden in Toronto for his perspective. Bruce knows quite a lot as it happens. Tori works for Bruce in Toronto. As Tori tells the tale of what Sachi uncovered, all three soon become targets because the shaki knows they have damning information. Thick with intrigue, this story unfolds at a rapid pace. The reader simply must keep turning the pages to see how Japan will stop at nothing to keep the old ways alive – even if it means murdering anyone in the way. But, Scott has a plan and he is determined to bring the secrets to light so that America finally can have a level playing field in its dealing with Japan.
5.0 out of 5 stars – Cat and Mouse…
By Amber on August 29, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition – Verified Purchase
If you’re up for a little game of cat and mouse, this is the perfect book! An American businessman, Scott, and a Canadian film director, Tori, team up in a most unlikely combination to take down a secret Japanese society. This secret society of businessmen, the Kani, has created a cult-like group complete with secret meetings, spies and assassins. Scott seems to have all the connections, Governors, private planes, new identities, even a call from the President; but will that be enough to save him. From Tokyo to Washington D.C., Florida to Toronto, the middle of the Pacific Ocean to private geisha “restaurants” this book has it all.
Will Scott’s speech and trade formula save them? Will the Kani get to them first? How many times will they escape death? How many people will have to die? Twists and turns with every flip of the page, endless excitement and action, and a battle continuing to unfold all the way to the last page. I was constantly debating with myself who was going to win in the end. This book is high octane thrills and I absolutely loved it! It’s also a good read for those that like economics, Scott’s formula provided with in depth analysis.
5.0 out of 5 stars – I really really liked this book
By Brendan Vu on September 1, 2017
Format: Paperback – Verified Purchase
Wow. With a title The Level Playing Field there are high expectations, I really really liked this book. John D. Kingston is a good writer and this book seems felt very carefully researched and thought. Although it’s labeled as novel it helps us understand Japan/Economics better in many ways. We tend to look at Japanese of an earlier era as bad. This books makes you think of that whole mindset is wrong, both sides are people. The premise is like Man from high castle in the sense of what if Japan/Germany won the war but the similarities end there.
I love how Kingston combined culture and economics in the book. It feels brilliant because like like it’s supposed to make you feel awkward.
The characters are also really interesting. Scott Maxwell is really interesting.
My main aim in in reading this book for pleasure and it has been. I was hoping not for too much because it’s fiction and not history. I was pleasantly surprised it’s a thought provoking book. I studied political science in school and wouldn’t be surprised if the author did too. Compelling read I must admit. I don’t want to be cliche and say “page turner” especially because it was read on my kindle app so I will say potboiler because it could serve just as well, if not better, for the sort of book where once you put it down, you can’t pick it up.