The actual plot of this story is truly excellent.

However, the overall narrative, which revolves around a crash on Wall Street orchestrated by a one-armed ex-soldier and involves elements such as explosions, terrorism, and a love story, is simply too unbelievable.

The dialogue throughout the story is rather ridiculous, and the character of Carroll seems to be a template for the later Michael Bennett series, albeit with more children.

Overall, while the actual plot had its merits, it was ultimately too far-fetched, and the characters felt like tired clichés.

The ending was also rather silly, leaving the reader with a sense of dissatisfaction.

It's a shame because the core idea of the plot had potential, but it was undermined by these various flaws.

Perhaps with a more believable storyline, better dialogue, and more developed characters, this could have been a truly great story.

As it stands, however, it falls short of expectations.

A muddled first half

finally gives way to a more standard Patterson thriller in the second.

This isn't anything too special

but as one of his earlier books,

it gives the reader the template for many of his later novels.

The first half of the story seems a bit chaotic,

with various plotlines and characters introduced in a somewhat haphazard manner.

However, as the narrative progresses into the second half,

Patterson begins to weave a more traditional and engaging thriller.

The pacing quickens,

the tension builds,

and the reader is drawn deeper into the story.

While this particular book may not stand out as a masterpiece,

it is an important early work in Patterson's oeuvre.

It showcases his emerging style and the elements that would come to define his later, more successful novels.

Readers who are fans of Patterson's thrillers will find this book an interesting precursor to his more well-known works.

It offers a glimpse into the evolution of his writing and the development of the formulas that have made him a bestselling author.

This book delves into the lives of disenchanted veterans of the Vietnam War.

It vividly portrays how they navigate through their post-war struggles and, interestingly, how they manage to have an impact on the financial markets in the US.

The author has done an excellent job of highlighting the plight of these veterans who return home burdened with PTSD.

The narrative is engaging, filled with decent action sequences that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

It's a quick read that offers a total masala of romance, action, and suspense.

The combination of these elements makes it an entertaining and captivating book that is sure to appeal to a wide range of readers.

Whether you're interested in the Vietnam War, the challenges faced by veterans, or simply a good story with a bit of everything, this book has something to offer.

It provides a unique perspective on a complex and often overlooked topic, making it a worthwhile read for anyone looking for something different.

Wtf just happened?

An end to the deception, indeed. Well, this deception, at least. It seems there has been some sort of revelation or uncovering of falsehood. But what exactly led to this?

P148: 5 international business -- 23.219,000,000. This could potentially be related to the situation. Maybe there was some shady business dealing that has now come to light.

P199: Carroll slowly sipped fresh-brewed coffee from a cracked revenge of the jedi mug. Carroll's actions here might be a sign of his calm demeanor in the face of whatever is going on. Or perhaps he is using the coffee as a distraction from the chaos.

P243: 'oh, i mink this will do me pretty well. ...\\" What exactly does this statement mean? Is it related to the deception or something else entirely? It's all very mysterious and leaves us wondering what the full story is.

BLACK FRIDAY presents a rather interesting story concept. However, its execution is truly dreadful, thus making it the silliest smart thriller I have ever come across. Just picture THE DAY OF THE JACKAL being penned by the author of FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY, and you'll get a sense of what I'm trying to convey.

The dialogues are of poor quality, the characters are mere B-movie stereotypes, the action is absurd, and everything that occurs is pushed to absurd and unbelievable extremes in a continuous effort to artificially heighten the stakes. The book is so eager to be the most adrenaline-fueled novel of the '80s that any semblance of depth or emotional impact is completely overlooked.

Regular readers of Patterson will notice that the main character, Arch Carroll, shares numerous traits with the series-regular Michael Bennett. There's even a Mary Katherine around to look after his children.

As糟糕 as it is, BLACK FRIDAY could have been even worse. The frenzied pacing prevents things from becoming TOO dull, and the plot holds sufficient potential that I can't help but hope it had been given to a more talented author.

Strong start? More like a blazing inferno of anticipation!

But then, alas, it descends rapidly into a cesspool of drivel. Our hero, a single father with a dead wife just like Alex Cross, is vying with a criminal mastermind, but that's where the similarities end.

Another cringeworthy love scene unfolds mere days after the hero was shot. The dialogue is appalling, and the general writing is a travesty.

The scenarios are ridiculous beyond belief. Take, for example, the British secret service cruising around the Falls Road stronghold of Belfast in a Bentley, looking for IRA terrorists.

I seriously want to know what Patterson is smoking because it must provide a complete and utter escape from real life. It's like a hallucinogenic dream that you never want to wake up from, but at the same time, you know it's all just a load of rubbish.

Overall, this book is a disappointment, a waste of time, and a prime example of how not to write a novel.

This thrilling tale was originally published in 1986.

It revolves around a Federal terrorist agent and the arduous fight by combined agencies. Their mission is to track down the elusive "Green Band", a mysterious group with a diabolical plan to destroy the financial markets in the US. They achieve this by bombing selected targets on Wall Street.

The "Green Band" makes no demands, yet they continue to wreak havoc on the financial institutions, which soon begins to have a ripple effect on the world monetary system.

The agencies often find themselves following clues that turn out to be red herrings, leading them into a panic mode. However, before things completely spiral out of control, some breaks occur. But the situation becomes even more complicated as they now have to deal with a Russian assassin/terrorist as well.

Things get worse before they eventually get better. This book is a page-turner filled with non-stop action, unexpected twists, and is an all-around great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

I was really looking forward to reading this particular book. I excitedly opened it, ready to immerse myself in its pages. However, as I started turning the pages, I soon realized that something was wrong. By the time I reached the 25th page, I simply could not get into it anymore.

The story seemed to lack the engaging elements that would have kept my interest piqued. The characters were not developed enough, and the plot was rather dull.

I tried to push through, thinking that maybe it would get better as I read further. But alas, my efforts were in vain.

Finally, I had to admit defeat and stopped reading. It was a disappointment, as I had high hopes for this book.

Perhaps it was just not the right fit for me at this time.

I will have to look for another book that can capture my imagination and keep me hooked from start to finish.

It's really quite funny.

Even though this book is, let's say, around 24 years old or so, it astonishingly reminded me of the things that are happening in the present day.

It's a very good story indeed. I thought I had everything all figured out by the end. However, I was extremely far off the mark!

That's precisely what I love to see in a book.

One that keeps me guessing right until the very end and then completely disproves my assumptions on every single level.

It makes the reading experience all the more thrilling and engaging.

I can't wait to see what other surprises this author has in store for me in their future works.

This book has truly left a lasting impression on me.

Like always, it is a good Patterson read.

Patterson has always been known for his engaging and thrilling stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

However, this particular book was not as suspenseful a read as I had hoped.

The plot had its moments of excitement, but overall, it lacked the intense anticipation and heart-pounding action that I have come to expect from Patterson's works.

Despite this, the book still had its strengths. The characters were well-developed and interesting, and the writing was smooth and easy to follow.

Patterson's ability to create a vivid and immersive world is still present, and I found myself drawn into the story from the very beginning.

While this may not have been my favorite Patterson book, it was still an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of the author.

I look forward to seeing what Patterson has in store for us in the future.

This Patterson crime-suspense novel from the late eighties remains an interesting read even today, from our perspective in the next century.

The plot, which involves a terrorist attack on New York City, the crash of the stock market, and consequently the world economy, seemed much more apocalyptic thirty years ago than it does now. This is probably because these events have actually occurred, and we have lived through them.

Of course, it didn't happen in the exact same way, or in the same order, and not by the same enemy, with a totally different outcome. Somehow, a secret government cabal in the computer age seems even less believable. However, many of the things he imagined have come to pass.

The world has endured suffering, people have lost their lives, and many other dangerous events undoubtedly lie ahead. But we have managed to stumble along and survive. I guess this shows that mankind always looks into the abyss of change with fear and trembling, but predicting the outcome is a formidable challenge.

I recently saw a cartoon of a robed man standing on a street corner, holding a sign with the cliché "The End Is Near". He was happily explaining to passers-by that it was his fifteenth anniversary on that corner. I guess that sums it all up.

Black Market by James Patterson offers an enthralling exploration of what could transpire in the financial realm if terrorists targeted Wall Street. This was the forewarning from an unknown source. As the crisis loomed large, Archer Carroll of the FBI special services and Caitlin Dillon, a brilliant and well-read lawyer, joined forces with the President of the US, the CIA, the FBI, and many others. Their mission was to locate the terrorists before the impending crash they knew was inevitable actually took place. Originally published in 1986, I discovered this to be a rapid-paced thriller with numerous characters. Although there were many players, it wasn't difficult to keep track of them. The story is filled with plenty of twists and an unexpected ending that left me on the edge of my seat. I'm truly glad to have finally read this book, which had been sitting on my physical bookshelf for over 8 years. It comes highly recommended for those who enjoy thrilling and suspenseful reads.