Customer Reviews
A fantastic pre-Alex Cross/WMC novel from Patterson - By: KM, 18 Apr 2008 
'Black Market' (also known as Black Friday) is one of the first of James Patterson's many novels, originally published backin 1986. The story beginsin the early hours of a cold December dayin New York City where several of the biggest banks & investment & financial buildings on Wall Street are blown up by a terrorist organisation called The Green Band, a highly skilled group of Vietnam veterans who have a personal vendetta against the United States & plan to attackin one of the worst ways possible, by causing a complete financial crash where literally billions of dollars will be lost. FBI agent Archer Carroll & Wall Street lawyer Caitlin Dillon are on the case to find out the identities & the motive behind Green Band's terrorist acts.
Out of all of the pre-Alex Cross & Women's Murder Club novels, this is definitely the best (with Hide & Seek at a very close second). The action is fast & exciting & the usual short chapters kept me flying through the pages until I got to the end. There's the usual Patterson twistin the last few pages that was a real shockin the story when I read it. The bombings of the Wall Street buildings is scarily like the 9/11 events, with America beingin a total crisis as they hadn't had a terrorist attack on them before. Being writtenin the mid-80's some of the facts about Wall Street are now a bit out of date, but this aside it is a great read from the master of the thriller genre & one that anyone who has read & enjoyed any of Patterson's more recent novels should enjoy.
AMAZING AUTHOR..... - By: emma, 25 May 2007 
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE JAMES PATTERSON BOOKS, THE FIRST I READ WAS 'ALONG CAME A SPIDER' (WHICH I BORROWED FROM A FRIEND) AND I HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK. I'D LIKE TO WRITE A REVIEW FOR ALL OF HIS BOOKS I HAVE READ BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY SO I WILL WRITE A GENERAL REVIEW. JAMES PATTERSON WRITES IN SUCH A WAY THAT KEEPS THE WRITER GRIPPED FROM START TO FINISH, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING NEXT. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL HIS BOOKS, MANY OF WHICH I SELL AT A LOW PRICE, CHECK THEM OUT. THANK YOU.
slow slog - 2 and a half stars! - By: RD, 16 Apr 2007 
I know I'm not the fastest readerin the world but considering I've been on holiday for the past week with nothing to do but read & this book has taken up a large portion of it. Therefore, I'm going to apologise now for my rant & hope you still find some useful informationin this review.
What most authors would have had as a climax somewherein the middle happens virtually on page three - the bombing of multiple buildingsin the finincial district of New York. A warning was givenin order to allow for an evacuation but there were no demands, no reasons why & therefore no way to stop it happening.
Out of nowhere a terrorist organisation (Green Band) no one has ever heard of threatens to cause a market crash that will make the Great Depression look like a walkin the park.
The race is on the prevent the complete collapse of the Western Economy. It revolves around finding & neutralising Green Band swiftly but they somehow manage to stay one step ahead of the cops.
The ensuing cat & mouse sounds greatin theory. In reality the book is long & tedious to get through.
Somehow a cop with 4 kids whos turning into an alcoholic following the death of his wife has everything fall into place for him. Archer Carroll finds a woman, survives a shoot-out, running into a burning building, being hit over the head a few times & a helicopter crash! How he finally makes the connection as to who is behind Green Band is glossed over. One moment he's thinking 'let me review my case notes' & the next page he's practically found his man.
Shockingly bad writing as it failed to keep me on my toes. I only finished this book out of sheer stubborness & a desire to know if I'd figured out the final twist.
A final piece of information - it's a little complicated to understandin parts! The financial world is central to the story & i must admit there were bits that just went over my head. I imagine people with a background knowledgein economics may enjoy the book more than me.
Paceful, Prime Patterson - By: , 17 May 2005 Black market is a truly fast, paced thriller that engages one from the very start & does this continously throughout the book.
An unexpected twist is beckoned upon the reader at the end & it is a truly delightful read, a pleasure to read.
Different from the others - By: Kirsty, 28 Jul 2003 As an avid fan of James Patterson's detective charcter Alex Cross I looked forward to reading one of his earlier works without mr Cross, I wasn't disappointed! The plot was great following the possibilty of what would happen if there was a stock market crash, a very scary prospect! The main character Arch Carroll, a police man, was a very likeable police man who tries to figureout the mystery surrounding 'Green Band'. However the plot may confuse some peoplein places who may not follow stocks & shares & the economy as they are several complictaed partsin the plot concerning this, stick with it though you dont need to be a mastermind on it to enjoy the plot! a great novel, one of Patterons best! A must read for JP's fans!
