Black Market

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The threat was absolute. At 5.05 p.m., Wall Street would be destroyed. A multiple firebombing would wipe out the financial heart of America. Stop the world's financial system dead. Federal agent Archer Carroll and Wall Street lawyer Caitlin Dillon are pitched into a race against time.

null pages, Hardcover

First published June 5,1986

About the author

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JIMMY Patterson Books
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James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson

Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
39(39%)
4 stars
36(36%)
3 stars
25(25%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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It could be a scenario for an action thriller movie with a happy ending.

The main characters are rather typical, lacking any distinctiveness. They play the usual roles and engage in the expected actions. For instance, when a brave policeman falls in love with a pretty and intelligent woman, it seems like a cliché.

As a result, it was extremely easy to predict the end of the story. There were no unexpected twists or turns to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Overall, it was not a very surprising or engaging plot. It followed a predictable pattern that many movies have done before. However, despite its lack of originality, it could still potentially be an enjoyable movie for some viewers who simply enjoy the genre and don't mind the familiarity.
July 15,2025
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What a choppy, convoluted mess!!

This description perfectly captures the chaotic and disordered state of something. It implies a lack of smoothness, coherence, and clarity. The choppiness suggests a jerky and uneven flow, perhaps with abrupt transitions and discontinuities. The convoluted nature indicates a complex and twisted structure, making it difficult to understand or follow.

Such a mess can be frustrating and overwhelming. It may require significant effort to untangle and make sense of. Whether it's a written text, a plan, or a situation, the presence of choppiness and convolution can hinder progress and effectiveness.

To address this, one might need to carefully analyze the components, identify the sources of confusion, and work towards simplifying and streamlining. This could involve reordering, clarifying, and eliminating unnecessary complexity. By doing so, a more organized and understandable whole can emerge, leading to better outcomes and a more satisfying experience.
July 15,2025
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I truly have a deep love for James Patterson.

However, I must admit that this particular book was extremely difficult to hold my interest.

I simply couldn't seem to get fully engaged in it.

I was reluctant to just give up because there was another book that I had read a few years ago from James Patterson which also had a hard time keeping my interest initially, but it improved significantly towards the end.

Unfortunately, this book didn't follow the same pattern.

It took me an eternity to read it due to this lack of engagement.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that this one book failed to capture my interest, James Patterson remains my favorite author.

His previous works have had such a profound impact on me that I am willing to overlook this one disappointment and continue to look forward to his future releases.

I firmly believe that he is still a master storyteller, and this one book is just an exception to his otherwise outstanding body of work.
July 15,2025
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My first DNF of the year!

I've really given it my all and tried it on a daily basis. But unfortunately, this particular thing just isn't to my taste. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. No matter how hard I try, it just doesn't seem to click. Maybe it's the style, or the way it functions. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I know that it's not for me. It's a bit disappointing, but I guess that's how things go sometimes. I'll just have to move on and find something else that suits me better.

There are plenty of other options out there, and I'm sure I'll come across something that I really enjoy. For now, I'll just chalk this up as a learning experience and keep looking.
July 15,2025
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This is a rather intelligent book that is easy to understand and follow.

Although it may not be my personal favorite among James Patterson's works, I firmly believe that his die-hard fans are bound to love it.

The story is engaging and filled with interesting twists and turns that keep the reader hooked from start to finish.

Patterson's writing style is clear and concise, making it accessible to a wide range of readers.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is well-structured, which adds to the overall appeal of the book.

Whether you are a long-time fan of Patterson or new to his work, this book is definitely worth a read.

It offers an entertaining and thought-provoking experience that will leave you satisfied.
July 15,2025
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I had a great interest in the concept of economic warfare and the rapid tempo presented in the story. It was quite fascinating to explore a potential situation involving risks and physical menaces to the stock market.

That being stated, even though the book describes terror attacks against Wall Street, that isn't truly the central focus of this novel. I wouldn't classify it as a financial thriller or a terrorism thriller. Instead, it leans more towards being a post-Vietnam thriller. It contains numerous and rather superficial remarks about the ill-treatment of veterans upon their return from Vietnam. The book depicts a substantial number of vets as PTSD sufferers who struggle to integrate into ordinary society. This is most vividly personified by the antagonist of the story, Colonel David Hudson. He is a Rambo-like figure, yet he depends more on his intellect and leadership skills than on brute strength. I had the impression that the reader is expected to feel sympathy for Hudson as he is a patriot who was taken advantage of by his country, but I simply can't identify with a terrorist mastermind. The social commentary on Vietnam vets was well-meant, but it didn't quite resonate with me.

The character that I did appreciate was the law enforcement hero, Arch Carroll. He came across as a solid, down-to-earth kind of person.
July 15,2025
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A story filled with deception, secret government sects, global terrorism, a Vie-veteran guerrilla, and bomb threats on Wall Street - all set in the middle of the Cold War.

It sounds like it could be an exciting and thrilling tale. However, upon reading, it falls short. The pace is extremely slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. The twists and turns are overly convoluted, leaving the reader feeling confused rather than intrigued.

Moreover, the characters lack depth and are a bit too one-dimensional for my liking. They don't seem to have any real motivation or complexity, which makes it hard to connect with them on an emotional level.

In conclusion, while the premise of this story is great, the execution is poor. It's a sad truth that a potentially amazing thriller has been let down by its pacing, plot, and characters. I hope that the author can take these criticisms into account and improve upon the next installment.
July 15,2025
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I've read a significant number of James Patterson's more recent novels. After that, I made a decision to commence reading some of his earlier works. This particular one was published in 1985. Due to its subject matter, it turned out to be a rather eerie book to peruse.

Firstly, it delves into a crash of Wall Street, which is abetted by the avarice of the wealthy and the big banks.

Secondly, it tackles the topic of terrorism long before we were acquainted with Timothy McVey and Osama Bin Laden.

Thirdly, it deals with disenchanted veterans of the Viet Nam war who are suffering from PTSD.

It simply appears that James Patterson was in harmony with these events long before they became an integral part of our daily lives. It's truly creepy.

Overall, reading this early work of Patterson's gives one a sense of how far ahead of his time he was in addressing these complex and timely issues. It makes you wonder what other prescient insights he had in his earlier novels that are still relevant today.
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