The Black Book by James Patterson Summary
Overview of The Black Book
In "The Black Book," a Chicago thriller so explosive Patterson himself declared it his "best in 25 years" - earning rare dual starred reviews from industry critics. Discover the missing brothel ledger that captivated Lee Child and left Jeffrey Deaver guessing until the final page.
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Key takeaways
A Bullet to the Brain, A Memory in Pieces
Detective Billy Harney wakes up in a hospital bed with a bullet lodged in his brain and a fractured memory that stops four months before the shooting. As consciousness returns, he learns through whispered conversations that he's the sole survivor of a triple shooting that has rocked the Chicago Police Department. His partner Katherine "Kate" Fenton and prosecutor Amy Lentini are dead-and all evidence points to Billy as their killer. Gunshot residue on his hands, ballistics from his service weapon, and a mysterious motive he can't remember or deny. After fourteen grueling weeks of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Billy insists on leaving despite his doctors' objections. A jagged scar runs across his partially shaved head, his athletic frame has lost twenty pounds of muscle, and he walks with a carbon fiber cane. But the physical damage pales compared to the complete amnesia blocking his memory of the shooting and the events leading up to it. His last clear memory is from months earlier-investigating a murder at a high-end brothel in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. As fellow officers eye him with suspicion, Billy realizes he must maintain the facade of a harmless, brain-injured victim while secretly investigating what really happened. But with his memory in fragments and his own mind potentially compromised, can he trust himself to uncover the truth? Or is he hunting for answers better left buried?
The Raid That Shook Chicago's Power Structure
Partners Crossing Dangerous Lines
The Prosecutor Who Changed Everything
A Web of Corruption and Betrayal
The Book That Could Burn Chicago
The Truth That Shatters Everything
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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