Sorry, the first book isn’t all world building, it just starts off slower because of that. Several characters are introduced in their own parts of the world and various places in society which makes it feels a bit disjointed. It starts coming together eventually then you’ll know if it’s worth carrying on or not.
The switching of PoVs can be a bit frustrating, especially when you’re starting to attach yourself to one character and then you’re thrown into the shoes of another. The audiobook perhaps makes that worse with the switching of narrator between the male and female leads. It certainly threw me off at the start but I grew to appreciate it.
I pity the guy somewhat. It would be absolute gut wrenching knowing you’ve lost a life changing amount of money. But this reeks of desperation and taking out your anger on somebody else for your own mistake. Now he’s suing the council after failing to bribe them with something that may or may not be recoverable. And if successful, lines his own pockets at the expense of his community’s.
Accept the expensive life lesson for what it is and move on… It sucks but it’s your own flaming fault and nobody owes you a thing.