The Black Book (Patterson novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | James Patterson, David Ellis |
| Products | Thriller novels |
The Black Book is a thriller novel authored by James Patterson and David Ellis, marking the inaugural entry in the Black Book Thriller series.
Plot
The narrative shifts between current events featuring Chicago detective Billy Harney and flashbacks from his past. It begins with the discovery of three deceased individuals in an apartment: Billy, his colleague Detective Kate Fenton, and Assistant District Attorney Amy Lentini. The crime scene is soon joined by Billy’s father, who serves as the chief of detectives, along with his sister Patty, also a detective. Billy is found alive but critically injured.
At first, it seems that Billy was responsible for Amy’s death and that he and Kate shot each other when she arrived. Upon regaining consciousness, Billy suffers from amnesia regarding both the incident and what led up to it. Before losing his memory, Billy and his team had been stationed outside a brownstone suspected of involvement in murder and prostitution. During this stakeout, the mayor and several prominent city officials entered the building. Despite potential risks to his career, Billy chose to initiate a raid. Following arrests inside, Kate searched for a black book believed to contain addresses of clients.
The plot centers on the mystery surrounding this black book. Multiple individuals suspect one another—or Billy himself—of having taken it. After Billy's discharge from the hospital, two additional murders occur, further implicating him. The suspenseful storyline revolves around accusations tied to the theft of the black book and these subsequent killings.
Reviews
Kirkus Reviews commended the novel and coauthor David Ellis, stating: "Although many readers will likely solve the mystery before the two investigators do, the story remains genuinely suspenseful and stands out compared to Patterson’s recent works." Publishers Weekly remarked that numerous readers consider this to be Patterson’s "finest work in 25 years." Joe Hartlaub from bookreporter observed that despite a somewhat bittersweet conclusion, the surviving characters are well-positioned for potential continuation beyond a standalone story.
Vox Magazine pointed out certain imperfections but emphasized its engaging momentum: "While it may lack the emotional depth or character complexity of Jane Austen’s novels, readers might find themselves turning pages as eagerly as watching a popular TV thriller series."
On the commercial front, The Black Book achieved the number one spot on the New York Times "Combined Print & E-Book Fiction" bestseller list for both April 16 and April 30, 2017.