In 'Meltdown,' Duncan Mavin describes the rise and fall of Credit Suisse, a financial behemoth. The book delves into the petty squabbles, grifts, and mistakes that plagued the bank for decades, as well as its involvement in shady financial activities. The story highlights the role of Swiss bank secrecy laws in attracting clients seeking to hide their money and the negative impact on clients' interests. Ultimately, Credit Suisse's history of corruption and bad bets led to its collapse and merger with rival UBS.