Dec 24, Sherri Thacker rated it really liked it Shelves: James Patterson does it again!! Had me guessing until the very end. James Patterson has again teamed up with David Ellis, offering a wonderful standalone thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and up late into the night. While tailing a suspect, Harney makes the decision to raid a brownstone, which opens up a new and troublesome revelation; this is a brothel visited by the city's rich and powerful men.
During the raid, a 'little black bo James Patterson has again teamed up with David Ellis, offering a wonderful standalone thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and up late into the night. During the raid, a 'little black book' goes missing, with names that could bring even more of the rich and famous to their knees or serve as strong blackmail fodder. All eyes turn to Harney, who must try to clear his name, when it is presumed he pocketed it. As Fenton begins a power struggle with her partner, Harney must find out who is trying to frame him, adamant that he knows nothing of the book.
With the case against the defendants caught in the raid fast approaching, Harney works with a hot-shot prosecutor, Amy Lentini, to ensure his testimony is flawless. Her icy exterior soon melts and she turns up the heat with Harney, which only clouds both their judgements. In a parallel narrative, set in the 'present', Harney is found naked, in bed with Lentini, while Detective Fenton lays on the floor. All three have been shot and the two women are dead, with Harney clinging to life and a bullet lodged in his skull. As the story continues, it appears Harney is being blamed for the murder, unable to remember anything from the past as it relates to the lead-up to the shooting or anything he may have learned about the black book.
As the reader braces for an ever-evolving rollercoaster ride, the story takes twists and turns with everything centred around a list of names and the people will do anything to hold all the power. A powerful thriller that shows Patterson has the ability to rise to the occasion, with the right author at the helm. Highly recommended to any who enjoy losing themselves in quality writing. I have often said that James Patterson's writing has waned in the past few years, his lustre buried under many mediocre novels.
However, when David Ellis comes to partner, their cooperation produces stellar writing and offers the reader a literary treat. While it may be a standalone, the novel offers an array of superior characters, wonderfully crafted to push the narrative forward without getting caught up in the minutiae. Working with the parallel narratives, Patterson and Ellis keep the reader guessing, while forcing a constant mental gear switch as the story develops, layering a revealed past with a present that is just as murky. If the reader can handle this mix, they are in for a punch to the gut during the numerous plot twists, which only adds the the overall flavour of the piece.
Dark, but peppered with some dry humour to keep the reader smiling, Patterson and Ellis know the perfect recipe for a fast-paced thriller. Patterson and Ellis for joining forces again and showing that there is never an end to your abilities. I know I am in for a treat when your names grace the cover and hope to see more of your collaborative efforts soon. An ever-growing collection of others appears at: View all 10 comments. Jun 03, Chloe rated it really liked it.
Detective Billy Harney uncovers a prostitution ring by accident while following a murder suspect.
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A lot of powerful ,prominent people are caught in the brothel but the black ledger goes missing and people are looking for it. Meanwhile Billy is caught in a scandal of his own which leave the assistant district attorney and his partner dead. By far one of my favorite James Patterson book after a long time. A fast enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending that I didn't see com Detective Billy Harney uncovers a prostitution ring by accident while following a murder suspect. A fast enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending that I didn't see coming.
The time alternations kept it unique. A real page turner that I devoured in one day! This one was by far the best one of them all. I honestly had no idea who was the crooked cop and it was great to finally read a book and not have already guessed the ending. I've truly enjoyed this book. It's exciting, full of action, murder, deceit, dirty cops and ambition.
This story had me leaning towards the sister committing the crime but it was someone else and they showed no remorse once figured out. Families is the bond that should never be broken but as we see in this society, family can destroy you or make you stronger. Billy Harney found out the hard way about family, friends and life. He finds himself on trial for quadruple murder.
The only thing is he w I've truly enjoyed this book. The only thing is he was shot in the head and left for dead but survived and can't remember what happen that fateful evening until another traumatic event occurs now the truth hits him like a stick of dynamite and the truth will diminish some and destroy othets.
May 01, Tim rated it did not like it. Finally, I give up trying to find a good story by the Patterson brand. I will take my friend Terence's advice and dispense with Patterson in the foreseeable future. The stories all tend to be variations of the same dull, uninteresting, boring, anticlimactic and The mystery and the characters were well developed and the story was fast paced.
The ending was surprising and worth waiting for. Apr 07, Sheila rated it liked it. Bad cops, bad memory and bad decisions. Apr 19, Michelle rated it it was amazing. First Patterson book I've read in awhile. Love when he teams up with David Ellis! Apr 09, Michael Travis rated it liked it. Follows the recipe - Patterson keeps cranking them out. Easy read, but not memorable. May 26, Jeffrey Ward rated it it was ok.
It starts out very good, but it quickly derails. I do not care for this book, and I do not think it is just because I dislike Chicago. At times, it seems as though the authors are just trying to play to male fantasies. This is not the first book in which Patterson does this, and it did not bother me as much as the book's absurdity. I write "absurdity" because there are several instances in which Patterson and Ellis are unsuccessful at getting me to suspend disbelief.
Here are eight of them: I have seen the women he dates. Maybe this book should be in the humor section. I know the last three are vague, but I don't want to spoil anything. Apr 20, Sandy Kell rated it really liked it. I'm not very familiar with Patterson's books, but I do know that if David Ellis is involved, it's going to be good!
May 18, Melissa rated it really liked it. One of the best ones he has a written in a long time. I liked that this one kept me guessing and didn't give up too many clues right in the beginning. Apr 09, Freda Malone rated it it was amazing Shelves: The Harney twins, Willy and Patti, both 'family generation' cops, are thrown into a conspiracy involving a brothel, highly political officials, and a zealous reporter who just doesn't know when to quit.
Bodies are dropping, secrets are slowly being revealed, and everyone is confused. Until it takes a bullet to the head, for Willy to give us this explosive solve that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I couldn't put this book down. I had my hunches, I had my theories, I had my suspici The Harney twins, Willy and Patti, both 'family generation' cops, are thrown into a conspiracy involving a brothel, highly political officials, and a zealous reporter who just doesn't know when to quit.
I had my hunches, I had my theories, I had my suspicions, but very little prepared me for the ending.
Black Book (film) - Wikipedia
Twisted, epic and maddening! I loved the ending! I enjoy James Patterson's novels, when he takes the time to write a good one. Some I enjoyed, some I didn't but it wouldn't be intriguing if I didn't at least pick it up. This is a good one. Apr 03, Paula James rated it really liked it. I usually don't read James Patterson but I love the author David Ellis who wrote with him on this book.
It is a great book full of suspense and I hope it might be a series! May 15, Darlene rated it it was amazing. Who did the most writing in this? My guess is Mr Ellis, but we'll never know. In many Jews that tried to cross to liberated parts of the southern Netherlands were entrapped by Dutch policemen.
As in the film, crossing attempts took place in the Biesbosch. According to film producer Rob Houwer , who worked with Paul Verhoeven on previous films, it was not possible to get the job done for that amount of money. San Fu Maltha produced the film together with three other producers. He tried to economize on different parts such as the scenes in Israel, that could have been left out without changing the plot, but this was not negotiable for Paul Verhoeven.
Because of financing problems, the filming did not start as planned in but was delayed until August In October twelve crew members and businessmen started a lawsuit in which they demanded the bankruptcy of Zwartboek Productie B. Some of them were already waiting for more than a year to get their money, in total tens of thousands of euros. Production company Fu Works settled the case and promised to pay the creditors. The shooting of the film was delayed in due to financial problems [9] and Paul Verhoeven's health problems.
When van Houten was forced to return to the set, the theater company sued over the costly delay to their own production. In the opening scene a real pre-war farm was blown up in the municipality of Hardenberg. The farm had already been declared uninhabitable and ready to be demolished. Great attention to detail was paid in the film. Several stage props were reproduced from the s, such as signs, posters and the black book itself. During shooting, the general public were able to see making of scenes on their mobile phones and on the internet.
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The book was published in September by Uitgeverij Podium and contains photos and an afterword by Verhoeven and Soeteman. Spaink says about the book: Its form is in between the typical American novelization , only describing what the camera sees, and a literary novel. The novelization adds something to the film.
It gave Rachel Stein a past, memories and a house. In the film she did not have a personal space. The soundtrack was released on 2 October by Milan Records. The album contains four ss songs sung by Carice van Houten as she performed them as Rachel Stein in the film. Three are in German , one in English. The other tracks are written by Anne Dudley. The album was recorded in London and produced by Roger Dudley. Black Book had its world premiere on 1 September in Venice , as part of the official selection of the Venice International Film Festival.
Other prominent guests at the premiere were mayor Wim Deetman , minister Hans Hoogervorst , minister Karla Peijs and state secretary Medy van der Laan. It won in three categories: Black Book was the most awarded film of the festival. Most of the Dutch press were positive about the film. When Carice van Houten screams 'Will it never stop, then! The international press wrote positively about the film and specifically about van Houten. This being Verhoeven, there's lots of sex and a scene in which the extremely attractive star Carice van Houten bleaches her pubic hair.
That aside, hers is a star-making performance, putting even Scarlett [Johansson] in the shade. Furthermore, he writes in his review: With his basic instinct sharpened in California, Verhoeven demonstrates here the cinema as a medium of individual tragedy.
TIME magazine's Richard Schickel named the film one of the Top 10 Movies of , ranking it at 5, calling it a "dark, richly mounted film". While Schickel saw the film as possibly "old-fashioned stylistically, and rather manipulative in its plotting", he also saw "something deeply satisfying in the way it works out the fates of its troubled, yet believable characters.
Before the film was released, the rights for distribution had been sold to distributors in 52 countries. Black Book received a Golden Film , tickets sold within a record breaking three days [42] and a Platinum Film , tickets sold within three weeks after the Dutch premiere. Black Book had the highest box office gross for a Dutch film in , coming third overall in in the Netherlands, after the American films Pirates of the Caribbean: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Black book disambiguation. Gerard Soeteman Paul Verhoeven. Job ter Burg James Herbert. This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise. December Learn how and when to remove this template message.
There are no people who are completely good and no people who are completely bad. It's not very Hollywoodian. British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 7 August Retrieved 16 August Retrieved 25 November Written by Arnoud Tiele imdb tiele. Director Paul Verhoeven's self-confessed aim is to combine art and business, appeal to a broad audience, and yet still have some endurance.
The fame of films like Basic Instinct and Total Recall is lasting, yet they court criticism with their use of sexuality or by playing to the easily dismissible sci-fi genre.
The Black Book
Graphic sex and violence are common in his movies and, when you add the occasional major flop such as Showgirls, the work of Verhoeven often fails to be taken seriously. Yet Black Book deserves respect. It is a wartime resistance movie on an epic scale, freed of the conventions of British and American war movies, yet bringing their typically high production values to a uniquely Dutch film. A Holy Land Tours bus stops off at a Kibbutz. One of the passengers recognises a teacher there, Rachel, from times they had shared during the war. As her friend leaves, Rachel thinks back to Holland in She was an accomplished cabaret singer but also Jewish.
She was in hiding, waiting for the war to end. But chance misfortune means she has to try to make a getaway with some other Jewish people. They are ambushed, and she is almost shot. A little later she starts working for the resistance 'terrorists' as the Nazis call them and infiltrates the Gestapo, seducing a high ranking officer called Muntze.
What follows is a frantic game of cat and mouse, espionage and counter-espionage. Rachel now called Ellis is torn between the horrors inflicted on her friends close-by and the elaborate deceits she tries to play to save them. Gradually it becomes clear that Muntze, anticipating the end of the war, is risking his neck to try to minimize death and suffering on both sides, and one or more of the resistance fighters is selling out to the Nazis to reap rich profits.
Muntze, like Rachel, has had to overcome great losses. Their humanity is a bridge that brings them closer.
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Her character has to adapt to many contrasting situations yet there is an underlying determination and fast thinking that shines through and makes such changes seem in character and unscripted. We share her emotional struggle and watch her pit her wits against the Gestapo who are not exactly stupid. The movie is worth seeing for her performance alone. On the one hand, the film has been minutely researched, based on actual events and characters; on the other it still has the slightly larger than life gloss we might associate, say, with a James Bond film. The escapes are in the nick of time, the sex scenes are steamy, and the plot twists increase exponentially as we get closer to the end.
Not content to portray the unique conditions of Holland during the occupation, Black Book goes on to catalogue post war atrocities and Rachel's eventual journey to Israel.