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Stan Turner #6
Black Monday
In Black Monday (Lean Press, Trade Paperback, Summer 2005) one of Stan's clients, a widow, is found murdered in her home along with eleven of her twelve dogs that were living with her. When Stan reviews the old woman's will, he discovers she has appointed him executor of her estate and that her beneficiary is the SPCA. He could kick himself for agreeing to be executor of Lottie West's estate and has no desire to act in that capacity since he's already in the middle of a high profile murder case, but there is nobody else to do it so he accepts the job and starts to dig into her affairs. Although she is living like a pauper, Stan finds an ice chest full of gold and silver coins under her house. This piques his interest in this mysterious woman and he set out to find out who she is and why she was murdered. In the course of the investigation, Stan discovers that the woman's dead husband was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II who apparently stole priceless art treasures that were entrusted to his care during the Allied occupation of Germany at the end of the war. Further investigation reveals that the stolen art is the famous Ludinburg Collection, a collection that includes a 9th century version of the Four Gospels, the Reliquary, and other gifts from kings and emperors who ruled numerous German states in the 9th and 10th century. With this knowledge, Stan is determined not only to bring the woman's killer to justice but to find the famous Ludinburg collection that has been missing for over 40 years. Stan teams up with Detective Bingo Besch of the Dallas Police Department to search for clues as to Lottie's murderer and the whereabouts of the famous art collection. While interviewing legitimate art dealers in Dallas, Stan finds an entry into the art underworld where he learns two pieces in the collections have already been sold. But the dealers involved claim most of the collection remains in tact and is hidden somewhere in North Texas. As Stan continues to search for the Ludinburg collection, so does Lottie's murderer and it's only a matter of time until their paths cross. While Stan is chasing down Lottie West's killer and looking for the Ludinburg Collection, he and his partner Paula Waters are also in the midst of the defending Jimmy Bennett accused of the murder of his father-in-law, the Chairman of Metroplex Savings and Loan. To further complicate matters Stan is drawn into a turf fight between the FBI and CIA involving the Iran-Contra Scandal and digs up information that could get him killed.
396 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
William Manchee
39 books192 followersWilliam Manchee is an attorney by trade and practices consumer law in Texas with his son Jim. Originally from southern California, he now lives in Plano, Texas. He is the author of 25 novels including the Stan Turner Mysteries, Rich Coleman Novels, and the Tarizon Saga.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 23, 2021
3.5 Stars
A long time ago when I was new to Goodreads, I entered a giveaway for a book titled Black Monday. I won. Little did I know that I had entered for a copy of an audio book, at a time when I barely knew what an audio book was. Since that time, I have started to indulge in an occasional audio read. Recently, I finally got around to listening this one. A day late and a dollar short, my apologies to the publisher for not living up to my promise to quickly read and review my gift.
I listened to this book while traveling to visit my cousin. He has cancer and I have been trying to see him every two or three weeks. An audio book helps pass the three hour drive each way. This one took two trips to finish. I had never heard of or read anything by William Manchee. Nor did I realize that this was book number six in a series. Even with all this baggage, I enjoyed this read.
The one thing that kept coming into my mind was the old Dragnet TV show, were detective Joe Friday says, “tell me the facts, just the facts”. This story was very straight forward, very little character development, just the story. Fast paced and easy, the facts just the facts, and it worked. Will I read another by Mr. Manchee, who knows, I won’t seek one, but I won’t not pick one up if it crosses my path.
A long time ago when I was new to Goodreads, I entered a giveaway for a book titled Black Monday. I won. Little did I know that I had entered for a copy of an audio book, at a time when I barely knew what an audio book was. Since that time, I have started to indulge in an occasional audio read. Recently, I finally got around to listening this one. A day late and a dollar short, my apologies to the publisher for not living up to my promise to quickly read and review my gift.
I listened to this book while traveling to visit my cousin. He has cancer and I have been trying to see him every two or three weeks. An audio book helps pass the three hour drive each way. This one took two trips to finish. I had never heard of or read anything by William Manchee. Nor did I realize that this was book number six in a series. Even with all this baggage, I enjoyed this read.
The one thing that kept coming into my mind was the old Dragnet TV show, were detective Joe Friday says, “tell me the facts, just the facts”. This story was very straight forward, very little character development, just the story. Fast paced and easy, the facts just the facts, and it worked. Will I read another by Mr. Manchee, who knows, I won’t seek one, but I won’t not pick one up if it crosses my path.
July 18, 2014
Black Monday by William Manchee is a first read win and I am giving my honest opinion. All of the other books of Manchee that I read by Manchee were his science fiction books about Tarizon. This is his first thriller that I'm reading. It is excellent. Stan Turner and his business partner Paul's Waters, are attorneys. Stan is married to Rebecka and they have 4 children. Paula has a crush on Stan but knows it's a lost cause so she accepts Bart's marriage proposal. Stan is asked by a former CIA client to help the operatives who's having garnishment problems with the IRS. He's also executor of Loftier West's estate. Paula asks him if he's okay she wants to represent Jim who is charged with murdering his father-in-law and his mistress, the major owners of a savings and loan who has to call in his questionable loans. All three of these cases have them wandering all over Texas and Washington D.C. The story takes you every where. You won't be disappointed reading this book.
August 13, 2019
This is a Read Now Book I received from Net Galley.
This is the 1st book that I have read by this author and I am definitely impressed. This story has multiple plots with Stan involved in one while Paula is involved in the other.
The 1st plot starts with Stan attempting to get funds from a bank released for money that the IRS has put a hold on. This request that Stan receives is from a client who needs to get $135,000 to protect his partner who would be killed if the proceeds are not delivered. This activity has Stan dealing with the IRS and interfacing with a Congressman who also s involved with the plot that Paula is handling. This winds up with the FBI, Police and CIA agencies being involved. To top matters off, Stan also winds up as an executor on another murder case which involves stolen items taken from Germany in WWII.
Paula case involes a double murder where her client is the son-in-law of one of the victims. While pursuing the leads on this and once the trial has begun, Paula's client Jimmy goes into hiding and winds up dead. With his death, the judge considerers this cas closed. Meanwhile, through her efforts, she is able to unmask the real killer and also vindicate Jimmy.
To find how this all comes about, then you need to read the book which I highly recommend.
This is the 1st book that I have read by this author and I am definitely impressed. This story has multiple plots with Stan involved in one while Paula is involved in the other.
The 1st plot starts with Stan attempting to get funds from a bank released for money that the IRS has put a hold on. This request that Stan receives is from a client who needs to get $135,000 to protect his partner who would be killed if the proceeds are not delivered. This activity has Stan dealing with the IRS and interfacing with a Congressman who also s involved with the plot that Paula is handling. This winds up with the FBI, Police and CIA agencies being involved. To top matters off, Stan also winds up as an executor on another murder case which involves stolen items taken from Germany in WWII.
Paula case involes a double murder where her client is the son-in-law of one of the victims. While pursuing the leads on this and once the trial has begun, Paula's client Jimmy goes into hiding and winds up dead. With his death, the judge considerers this cas closed. Meanwhile, through her efforts, she is able to unmask the real killer and also vindicate Jimmy.
To find how this all comes about, then you need to read the book which I highly recommend.
August 9, 2019
This could have been a really interesting read. Two separate murders, the 1987 stock market crash, snippets of the Iran-Contra Affair, illegal banking and dirty politicians all come together to make for an interesting story. However, I don't know if it is the edition that I received but there was a serious lack of editing. The changing point of view between the two main characters Stan and Paula is confusing and not a style that is easy to use well. But the errors in the story are blatant and they aren't just typos or bad grammar. Stan checks into a Howard Johnson on one page but two pages later a cab driver is driving him to the Holiday Inn after supper. In chapter 29 an art thief admits to buying two stolen pieces for $250,000 and selling them for $750,000. The detective says to him "So, you made a quick $250,000?" No wonder it is taking so long to solve the case. Then in chapter 40, the detective is talking to one character but calls that character Lottie, a character that was murdered in chapter one. This goes on for a few paragraphs. This type of error makes for a confusing and frustrating read.
This book had so much potential but in the end it is mediocre because of the lack of editing.
Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.
This book had so much potential but in the end it is mediocre because of the lack of editing.
Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 11, 2011
This is a limited edition MP3 version of the sixth in a series of Stan Turner mysteries. It took a long time to get through since my mind tends to wander during recorded books so they get " read " in dribs and drabs. To think I used to listen to the radio for hours as a kid and never missed a word!
Anyway, in addition to my wandering mind, the recording itself has some problems. There are only two narrators, Jeffrey Kafer, whose voice is very droning and lacking in expression, and Arika Escalona, who is very perky and probably a good voice for the attractive law partner, Paula Waters. They take turns reading the various chapters --unfortunately, that means that he takes on the voices of women in his chapters and she takes on the voices of men in hers and neither are very good at it. As a result it was most difficult to keep track of the various characters to say nothing of how irritating and tedious the numerous iterations of " he said " , " I said ", " she replied " became.
The cases the two persued were interesting and I think I'd have enjoyed the hard copy book. As already noted this is the sixth in the series so it is imagined that the attraction between the married Stan and the seductive Paula has been developed along the line. It comes to a head here--she's engaged, the boyfriend is nice but just can't arouse her the way Stan can. So a gratuitous semi-sex scene in the janitor's closet at her night before the wedding party is thrown. Then the next day, Stan, hung over from too many Bourbon and 7's--the man has absolutely no taste and I hope he drinks rot-gut bourbon--isn't really sure what happened. Hate blaming bad behavior on too much to drink--she's getting married tomorrow? and she's seducing a guy in a closet? And he's married and hopes Rebecca doesn't get where the lipstick on his collar--what a cliche--came from. Please, leave out the sex and seduction--it takes away from the story and is the weakest part of the writing. Hopefully, now that they are both married they can either work together professionally or they can break up the partnership and show some maturity in marriage.
This was a goodreads giveaway and I've since won #10 in the series. I'm looking forward to reading it. My review here is more on the quality of the format than the actual literary quality, which is at least average and appealing.
Anyway, in addition to my wandering mind, the recording itself has some problems. There are only two narrators, Jeffrey Kafer, whose voice is very droning and lacking in expression, and Arika Escalona, who is very perky and probably a good voice for the attractive law partner, Paula Waters. They take turns reading the various chapters --unfortunately, that means that he takes on the voices of women in his chapters and she takes on the voices of men in hers and neither are very good at it. As a result it was most difficult to keep track of the various characters to say nothing of how irritating and tedious the numerous iterations of " he said " , " I said ", " she replied " became.
The cases the two persued were interesting and I think I'd have enjoyed the hard copy book. As already noted this is the sixth in the series so it is imagined that the attraction between the married Stan and the seductive Paula has been developed along the line. It comes to a head here--she's engaged, the boyfriend is nice but just can't arouse her the way Stan can. So a gratuitous semi-sex scene in the janitor's closet at her night before the wedding party is thrown. Then the next day, Stan, hung over from too many Bourbon and 7's--the man has absolutely no taste and I hope he drinks rot-gut bourbon--isn't really sure what happened. Hate blaming bad behavior on too much to drink--she's getting married tomorrow? and she's seducing a guy in a closet? And he's married and hopes Rebecca doesn't get where the lipstick on his collar--what a cliche--came from. Please, leave out the sex and seduction--it takes away from the story and is the weakest part of the writing. Hopefully, now that they are both married they can either work together professionally or they can break up the partnership and show some maturity in marriage.
This was a goodreads giveaway and I've since won #10 in the series. I'm looking forward to reading it. My review here is more on the quality of the format than the actual literary quality, which is at least average and appealing.
July 17, 2014
(3.5 / 5)
I found Black Monday to be a good, fast-paced read overall. The book also had reasonably well-rounded characters - which I always consider to be a plus.
Having said that, I had one issue that I found to be a distraction - especially considering that I took the book to be a final, store shelf copy instead of an advance one - and that is: grammar. A couple of mistakes here and there throughout a book are not too big a deal. After all, not every issue can be caught ahead of time.
However, the issues I had are as follows:
1) Overuse of the question mark. There were instances throughout the book (off-hand I can think of at least 3, there may be more) where a sentence that read as a statement (or answer) was turned into a question.
2) Quotation marks. Some dialogue in the book lacked part of the quotation marks, either at the beginning of the character's dialogue or at the end. (Yes, sometimes it is correct to not have quote marks at the end of a dialogue, but not when the next bit of dialogue is said by a different character.) Also, some non-dialogue sentences (or at least sentences that did not read as part of a dialogue) had quote marks in part.
3) There were also two instances that popped out for me: a) One sentence had a word missing altogether and b) another only had part of a word missing.
Altogether a good read, but I found the grammar issues to be a touch too distracting.
I found Black Monday to be a good, fast-paced read overall. The book also had reasonably well-rounded characters - which I always consider to be a plus.
Having said that, I had one issue that I found to be a distraction - especially considering that I took the book to be a final, store shelf copy instead of an advance one - and that is: grammar. A couple of mistakes here and there throughout a book are not too big a deal. After all, not every issue can be caught ahead of time.
However, the issues I had are as follows:
1) Overuse of the question mark. There were instances throughout the book (off-hand I can think of at least 3, there may be more) where a sentence that read as a statement (or answer) was turned into a question.
2) Quotation marks. Some dialogue in the book lacked part of the quotation marks, either at the beginning of the character's dialogue or at the end. (Yes, sometimes it is correct to not have quote marks at the end of a dialogue, but not when the next bit of dialogue is said by a different character.) Also, some non-dialogue sentences (or at least sentences that did not read as part of a dialogue) had quote marks in part.
3) There were also two instances that popped out for me: a) One sentence had a word missing altogether and b) another only had part of a word missing.
Altogether a good read, but I found the grammar issues to be a touch too distracting.
July 21, 2014
For a thriller, this book isn't very thrilling. I thought the story was decent and I probably would have liked it more if I wasn't so distracted by the typos and mistakes in this book. Obvious typos start on page one and get progressively worse throughout the book. Most of them are easy mistakes to spot- missing quotation marks when someone is speaking, extra quotation marks in random places, words misspelled... halfway through the book the font changes completely. There were also mistakes in the story, for example at one point Stan checks into the Howard Johnson, but on the next page he's at the Holiday Inn. The story was also hard to follow because the POV changes every other chapter (this was very confusing and I had to reread parts to figure out which character was telling the story). Halfway through the book the POV changes from each character narrating every other chapter to each chapter being narrated randomly. The book was written in a jerky, mundane way- the sentences don't flow together. The characters need to be developed more, I found myself not caring about what happened to any of them. I think this book has potential, but it is in desperate need of an editor.
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads program.
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads program.
July 16, 2014
*received free from Goodreads First Reads
Overall it a a quick, enjoyable read. I finished it in about a day. I have to say it did keep me guessing for the most part. Up until the end I wasn't sure who committed the murders, but I did figure it out a few pages before it was revealed.
I wasn't sure what exactly some of the legal terms meant, but that wasn't really the book or authors fault. There were a few typos but I believe this is an advance copy, so hopefully those get resolved. There was also a passage where the name Lottie was used when it was actually meant to be her mother, Loretta, that confused me for a moment before I figured out the problem.
The one thing that sort of bothered me was the whole plot line hinting at Stan and Paula having romantic feelings towards each other (more her than him though) despite both being in serious relationships. The whole 'partners having feelings for each other' thing feels a little overplayed to me, a bit cliche. But that is just a personal preference.
The ending did feel a bit rushed to me, but overall it was a pretty good story, lots of action and drama. Not sure how realistic any of this actually is but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
Overall it a a quick, enjoyable read. I finished it in about a day. I have to say it did keep me guessing for the most part. Up until the end I wasn't sure who committed the murders, but I did figure it out a few pages before it was revealed.
I wasn't sure what exactly some of the legal terms meant, but that wasn't really the book or authors fault. There were a few typos but I believe this is an advance copy, so hopefully those get resolved. There was also a passage where the name Lottie was used when it was actually meant to be her mother, Loretta, that confused me for a moment before I figured out the problem.
The one thing that sort of bothered me was the whole plot line hinting at Stan and Paula having romantic feelings towards each other (more her than him though) despite both being in serious relationships. The whole 'partners having feelings for each other' thing feels a little overplayed to me, a bit cliche. But that is just a personal preference.
The ending did feel a bit rushed to me, but overall it was a pretty good story, lots of action and drama. Not sure how realistic any of this actually is but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
November 11, 2013
Volume 6 of the Stan Turner mystery series was pretty mediocre. Manchee begins his tale on October 19, 1987 when the stock market crashes. Known by all as Black Monday. I was in law school then and remember the job market tightening in the next few years as a result. Don Baker, the President of Metroplex Savings and his girlfriend are killed that same day. Don had many enemies. His son-law Jimmy is arrested and represented by Paula Waters, Stan's partner. Stan is mixed up in the Iran Contra mess through a client who is shifting money and then disappears. Stan also represents a lady with a lot of dogs who is found dead, along with all her dogs, as a result of a gas leak...or was it? Turns out she has a lot of European art her deceased husband stole in her home that is missing.
Lots of unconected stuff going on. The Iran Contra tie in was pretty weak. Manchee has books that are so much better. I also don't like how Stan walks the line of having an affair with his law partner Paula. He goes over the line in my opinion in this volume. Come on Stan, get your stuff together.
Lots of unconected stuff going on. The Iran Contra tie in was pretty weak. Manchee has books that are so much better. I also don't like how Stan walks the line of having an affair with his law partner Paula. He goes over the line in my opinion in this volume. Come on Stan, get your stuff together.
July 13, 2014
First the disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book thru Goodreads' "First Reads" giveaways.
I have one very important thing to say to the author - please please please find an editor or proofreader next time you want to publish a book. There was literally not one single page without errors, either typographical, grammatical, or what appeared to be the author's own confusion. The mistakes were so prevalent they went beyond simply annoying, hindering understanding in many cases. As an example on page 181 there is an entire paragraph where the names of an FBI agent and an assassin are reversed; it took me four reads through that passage to figure out what was supposed to have happened.
I could possibly have overlooked the numerous mistakes if the story had been more compelling or the characters less two-dimensional. The plot line was confusingly full of what turned out to be irrelevant twists and attempts at political/international intrigue. By the time the protagonists had figured out the killer's identity I no longer cared.
Sorry, Mr. Manchee, but I won't be reading any of your other works.
I have one very important thing to say to the author - please please please find an editor or proofreader next time you want to publish a book. There was literally not one single page without errors, either typographical, grammatical, or what appeared to be the author's own confusion. The mistakes were so prevalent they went beyond simply annoying, hindering understanding in many cases. As an example on page 181 there is an entire paragraph where the names of an FBI agent and an assassin are reversed; it took me four reads through that passage to figure out what was supposed to have happened.
I could possibly have overlooked the numerous mistakes if the story had been more compelling or the characters less two-dimensional. The plot line was confusingly full of what turned out to be irrelevant twists and attempts at political/international intrigue. By the time the protagonists had figured out the killer's identity I no longer cared.
Sorry, Mr. Manchee, but I won't be reading any of your other works.
September 4, 2011
I got this book/recording from the First Reads program, and I felt a little lost sometimes since it's not the first book in the series. (And also, there were references to previous events in the series, and it was a little distracting since it seemed like a lot of crazy stuff to happen to someone who just runs a small-time legal practice)
The book told a fun story, and unravelled in a way that makes it possible that a reader might guess the killer (I hate when a book ended with Surprise! The killer is a character mentioned once on page 162 and nowhere else!) Though I have to say this: What is Paula's hang-up with Stan? She needs to get over herself.
The reading was very good, with two voice actors, one reading Stan, and one reading Paula. Both were quite talented and kept up a good pace.
Though I do have to mention there were a handful of small editing problems. For example, at one point Stan reminisces that he's staying in the same Howard Johnson that he had stayed in on a previous trip... but the cab took him to the Holiday Inn.
The book told a fun story, and unravelled in a way that makes it possible that a reader might guess the killer (I hate when a book ended with Surprise! The killer is a character mentioned once on page 162 and nowhere else!) Though I have to say this: What is Paula's hang-up with Stan? She needs to get over herself.
The reading was very good, with two voice actors, one reading Stan, and one reading Paula. Both were quite talented and kept up a good pace.
Though I do have to mention there were a handful of small editing problems. For example, at one point Stan reminisces that he's staying in the same Howard Johnson that he had stayed in on a previous trip... but the cab took him to the Holiday Inn.
July 6, 2014
I received a free copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads giveaways.
Black Monday (A Stan Turner Mystery #6) is another good summer read. I received an audio version of this book and the production was pretty good. This was my second Stan Turner book and I really appreciate how the author provides both of Stan's and Paula's viewpoints. I still can't stand hearing/reading Paula's fascination with Stan, as I find it distracting from the main storyline. Please move on Paula and focus on your new life. I liked this storyline a lot better than Deadly Distractions. I do not remember Black Monday or much of the Iran-Contra Affair, but the author has done his homework and provides a good historical synopsis on what happen. I also liked the WWII treasure hunt that Stan finds himself on and found this part of the novel to be a good twist in the storyline. All in all, I look forward to reading another of the Stan Turner books and William Manchee is on my permanent reading list.
Black Monday (A Stan Turner Mystery #6) is another good summer read. I received an audio version of this book and the production was pretty good. This was my second Stan Turner book and I really appreciate how the author provides both of Stan's and Paula's viewpoints. I still can't stand hearing/reading Paula's fascination with Stan, as I find it distracting from the main storyline. Please move on Paula and focus on your new life. I liked this storyline a lot better than Deadly Distractions. I do not remember Black Monday or much of the Iran-Contra Affair, but the author has done his homework and provides a good historical synopsis on what happen. I also liked the WWII treasure hunt that Stan finds himself on and found this part of the novel to be a good twist in the storyline. All in all, I look forward to reading another of the Stan Turner books and William Manchee is on my permanent reading list.
July 28, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
This is the second book I've read by William Manchee and I liked this one a lot more. Black Monday is a well plotted and tightly written novel. The two main characters, Stan Turner and Paula Waters, are lawyers that act a lot like private detectives, and get into a lot of tight spots and routinely escape danger by the skin of their teeth.
The plot of this installment in the series is complicated with two seemingly separate cases, each with multiple suspects and complications, intersecting now and again. This keeps Stan and Paula quite close which isn't the best thing for their non-work relationships. Will they or won't they? Hmmm.
Herein there's spies, affairs, desperate murders, hookers, drugs, and even a little closeted kissing to keep one interested and entertained. Pretty exciting for a book that starts off by criticizing Reagan's economic policy and discusses the stock market.
This is the second book I've read by William Manchee and I liked this one a lot more. Black Monday is a well plotted and tightly written novel. The two main characters, Stan Turner and Paula Waters, are lawyers that act a lot like private detectives, and get into a lot of tight spots and routinely escape danger by the skin of their teeth.
The plot of this installment in the series is complicated with two seemingly separate cases, each with multiple suspects and complications, intersecting now and again. This keeps Stan and Paula quite close which isn't the best thing for their non-work relationships. Will they or won't they? Hmmm.
Herein there's spies, affairs, desperate murders, hookers, drugs, and even a little closeted kissing to keep one interested and entertained. Pretty exciting for a book that starts off by criticizing Reagan's economic policy and discusses the stock market.
April 30, 2015
Goodreads Win
This starts off on the infamous Black Monday October 19, 1987 when the stock market fell.
Stan Turner has always dislike Mondays since his clients has the weekends to think up questions. He probably should have stayed away that fatal Monday but it is too late now.
He finds himself asked by the CIA to help an operative unravel an IRS garnishment and ends up being caught between the CIA and the FBI. Stan then finds himself the executor of Lottie West who has no surviving relatives but who died in a suspicious manner and that she and her deceased husband was rumored to have stolen art. Then a visit by his law partner that she wants to defend a man accused of killing the chairman of one of the troubled thrifts.
We watch Stan as he uncovers information which leads him to get hurt along the way as he travel to DC and find corruption by government and people in power. A riveting read as we are drawn into the story and the characters.
This starts off on the infamous Black Monday October 19, 1987 when the stock market fell.
Stan Turner has always dislike Mondays since his clients has the weekends to think up questions. He probably should have stayed away that fatal Monday but it is too late now.
He finds himself asked by the CIA to help an operative unravel an IRS garnishment and ends up being caught between the CIA and the FBI. Stan then finds himself the executor of Lottie West who has no surviving relatives but who died in a suspicious manner and that she and her deceased husband was rumored to have stolen art. Then a visit by his law partner that she wants to defend a man accused of killing the chairman of one of the troubled thrifts.
We watch Stan as he uncovers information which leads him to get hurt along the way as he travel to DC and find corruption by government and people in power. A riveting read as we are drawn into the story and the characters.
July 7, 2011
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. Thanks!
This was my first experience with an audio book, and I really struggled initially with the format. I didn't feel comfortable with the pace and character voices until about Chapter 11. I will go back and listen again, as I really enjoyed the story.
Black Monday is a well written legal/political thriller with detailed financial aspects. The politics of the 1980's play an important role in the story as well, so it can be a bit of a history lesson. The IRS, FBI and CIA all have roles in the story, working on parallel tracks but with somewhat different agendas.
Other than a couple of continuity errors (the name of Stan's motel briefly changes from a Howard Johnson to a Holiday Inn, and the actors occasionally slipping our of their accents), this was a well done production.
Thanks again, I enjoyed it!
This was my first experience with an audio book, and I really struggled initially with the format. I didn't feel comfortable with the pace and character voices until about Chapter 11. I will go back and listen again, as I really enjoyed the story.
Black Monday is a well written legal/political thriller with detailed financial aspects. The politics of the 1980's play an important role in the story as well, so it can be a bit of a history lesson. The IRS, FBI and CIA all have roles in the story, working on parallel tracks but with somewhat different agendas.
Other than a couple of continuity errors (the name of Stan's motel briefly changes from a Howard Johnson to a Holiday Inn, and the actors occasionally slipping our of their accents), this was a well done production.
Thanks again, I enjoyed it!
July 30, 2011
This was a First Reads book. I received this book as an audio file, which was a first for me.
I read the First Stan Turner novel but not the books in between. I think my thoughts about Black Monday are similar to the first in the series. While having an audio book gave it a different perspective, and I didn't notice the amateur writing that I did in the first book. Another good story line but there just doesn't seem to be as much depth to the characters as I would like to see. As a woman it's difficult for me to get past that Stan is so easily tempted by other woman almost all of the time, it's almost embarrassing. The parts of the book that include sexual undertones almost always seem to be trashy and difficult to believe. I also struggles with the lack of depth in Paula and her constant brooding over Stan.
Overall, this was a good story line just could have been executed better.
I read the First Stan Turner novel but not the books in between. I think my thoughts about Black Monday are similar to the first in the series. While having an audio book gave it a different perspective, and I didn't notice the amateur writing that I did in the first book. Another good story line but there just doesn't seem to be as much depth to the characters as I would like to see. As a woman it's difficult for me to get past that Stan is so easily tempted by other woman almost all of the time, it's almost embarrassing. The parts of the book that include sexual undertones almost always seem to be trashy and difficult to believe. I also struggles with the lack of depth in Paula and her constant brooding over Stan.
Overall, this was a good story line just could have been executed better.
October 8, 2013
William Manchee has a great way of writing page turners. I'm hooked on Stan Turner mysteries from the beginning until the end. And, I mean the very end. I'm always wishing I would get some clue to figure out how the mystery will be solved, but the drama last until the last page. Black Monday is an example of how devastating it can be to lose a lot of money when stocks go south. Not only do people lose their money, their business, their home, and their reputation can also be taken away. In this story some victims are involved with drugs, some with selling arms to Iran, some with banks, and the FBI. It turns out the closer the person is to a high political position, the more they get away with. Greed and family business keep Stan and his partner Paula Waters on the run planning for their day in court. I loved it.
October 24, 2014
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com giveaway
I had to look over and over again to be sure that this wasn't an ARC rather than a published novel! I had to stop reading at so many times because of grammatical errors and spelling errors. To top it off, there were times when the wrong character's name would be used; that was totally confusing!
I thought the idea for the mystery was clever (spelled "cleaver" in the novel). It was set during the Iran/Contra Hearings in the 80's and wove that into the story. The characters were believable and well-written. Even though this is the 6th in the Stan Turner Series, I didn't feel as though I needed to read the others to read this one.
If it would have been edited well, I would've been able to give this book at least two more stars. Because this was the 6th in the series, I certainly am surprised at all of the errors.
I had to look over and over again to be sure that this wasn't an ARC rather than a published novel! I had to stop reading at so many times because of grammatical errors and spelling errors. To top it off, there were times when the wrong character's name would be used; that was totally confusing!
I thought the idea for the mystery was clever (spelled "cleaver" in the novel). It was set during the Iran/Contra Hearings in the 80's and wove that into the story. The characters were believable and well-written. Even though this is the 6th in the Stan Turner Series, I didn't feel as though I needed to read the others to read this one.
If it would have been edited well, I would've been able to give this book at least two more stars. Because this was the 6th in the series, I certainly am surprised at all of the errors.
August 24, 2016
Black Monday by William Manchee
Have read other series from this author and loved the books, enough that I went and bought the other 2 in the series.
Starts out 1987 black Monday for the stock market. He's involved in many things going on, an executor for an old woman who has passed away and the proceeds will go towards her dogs, another needs IRS to unfreeze his accounts or a man overseas could die...
Like the family time at home and the kids interactions. Alternating chapters about other cases using a male/female narrators.
Female narrated portions are about Paula, Stan's partner at the business and she's handling a murder trail.
Really good read, wish I had read it from the first in the series but I didn't feel left out as they told us what we needed to know about their past working together.
Have read other series from this author and loved the books, enough that I went and bought the other 2 in the series.
Starts out 1987 black Monday for the stock market. He's involved in many things going on, an executor for an old woman who has passed away and the proceeds will go towards her dogs, another needs IRS to unfreeze his accounts or a man overseas could die...
Like the family time at home and the kids interactions. Alternating chapters about other cases using a male/female narrators.
Female narrated portions are about Paula, Stan's partner at the business and she's handling a murder trail.
Really good read, wish I had read it from the first in the series but I didn't feel left out as they told us what we needed to know about their past working together.
July 15, 2011
I received “Black Monday: A Stan Turner Mystery” by William Manchee for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Although a good mystery, I found this audiobook a little slow for me. I think that perhaps I should have first listened to or read "Undaunted", book 1 in the Stan Turner Mystery series just to understand the dynamics of the characters relationships. Very strange relationship that the married Stan Turner has with co-worker Paula Waters. She has a major crush on Stan yet she is involved with Bart, a man she could quite possibly marry. But all and all I liked the book. I think that I would have liked the book better had a actually been reading so I could go back to specific details.
Although a good mystery, I found this audiobook a little slow for me. I think that perhaps I should have first listened to or read "Undaunted", book 1 in the Stan Turner Mystery series just to understand the dynamics of the characters relationships. Very strange relationship that the married Stan Turner has with co-worker Paula Waters. She has a major crush on Stan yet she is involved with Bart, a man she could quite possibly marry. But all and all I liked the book. I think that I would have liked the book better had a actually been reading so I could go back to specific details.
June 23, 2011
Won this from Goodreads First Reads giveaway!
*update: this was a good old fashioned mystery. It definately wasn't the most rivoting book, but it was entertaining, if somewhat predictable. While there wasn't any explicit sex scenes, there was definately a lot of implied sexual activity, most of it immoral (men having affairs, one night stands, pre-marital sex, married men daydreaming about women other than their wives). I found this to be completely unneccessary and it definately lowered the book's rating in my opinion. I was especially uncomfortable with the incident that took place at the very end of the book, it was inappropriate and in no way contributed to the plot or storyline. It is always too bad when a good book is spoiled by such things.
*update: this was a good old fashioned mystery. It definately wasn't the most rivoting book, but it was entertaining, if somewhat predictable. While there wasn't any explicit sex scenes, there was definately a lot of implied sexual activity, most of it immoral (men having affairs, one night stands, pre-marital sex, married men daydreaming about women other than their wives). I found this to be completely unneccessary and it definately lowered the book's rating in my opinion. I was especially uncomfortable with the incident that took place at the very end of the book, it was inappropriate and in no way contributed to the plot or storyline. It is always too bad when a good book is spoiled by such things.
November 24, 2014
I won this Stan Turner mystery Book/Audio disc from the Goodreads Program. Thank you so much.
I had some trouble keeping track of what was happening since it was a audio which I can have some trouble concentrating on. I along with others didn't realize this was a audio disc instead of the book until i got it.But it started to pick up some as the story went along.
I particularly liked Deadly Distraction better.This is the second book that i have read by this author and not my last.
It has some historical remembrance from when the stock market crashed known as Black Friday.This is a good book to at least try if you have any interest in the stock market at all.
This was still a good mystery book even though there was constant mention of having affairs.
I had some trouble keeping track of what was happening since it was a audio which I can have some trouble concentrating on. I along with others didn't realize this was a audio disc instead of the book until i got it.But it started to pick up some as the story went along.
I particularly liked Deadly Distraction better.This is the second book that i have read by this author and not my last.
It has some historical remembrance from when the stock market crashed known as Black Friday.This is a good book to at least try if you have any interest in the stock market at all.
This was still a good mystery book even though there was constant mention of having affairs.
June 27, 2011
So excited to win this and have it arrive on CD! I listen to audiobooks every day during my commute and had just finished my last audiobook so was looking for the "next one" - perfect timing.
Finished the audio -- it was ok. There are 2 murders that Stan is trying to solve and I actually liked the lesser of the two, wish he would have spent more time on that one. Also clearly written by a man -- why is Stan's female co-worker so smitten with Stan? Maybe earlier books in the series explained that. She kept coming across as weak when I felt like a woman in her position should have been stronger.
Finished the audio -- it was ok. There are 2 murders that Stan is trying to solve and I actually liked the lesser of the two, wish he would have spent more time on that one. Also clearly written by a man -- why is Stan's female co-worker so smitten with Stan? Maybe earlier books in the series explained that. She kept coming across as weak when I felt like a woman in her position should have been stronger.
September 9, 2014
This was the first Stan Turner story I have read, actually listened to. I won the MP3 audio version as a First Read on Goodreads. This is a legal mystery and while I had not read the first 5 books in this series, I really enjoyed the mystery and soon will go back and read the books that led up to this one. The readers who read the book did a great job and the mystery had great twists and turns. Since I am retired and no longer have a commute to work, it took me quite awhile to finish listening but I still anxious to get in the car and listen every time I ran errands. It is definitely a series I will pick up in the future.
November 6, 2014
I won Black Monday: A Stan Turner Mystery by William Manchee from Goodreads.
As the law firm of Turner and Waters takes on a case defending a man accused of murder, helps the friend of a friend with an IRS garnishment, and settles the estate of a murder victim, Stan and Paula find their very lives at risk again.
Black Monday is a complex mystery with overlapping plots and lots of tension. Great characters, a good amount of action, and three complicated mystery plot lines make this novel a great read.
Black Monday by William Manchee is a book for readers who enjoy stories set in the recent past (1980s) as well as anyone who loves mysteries with plenty of plot twists and turns.
As the law firm of Turner and Waters takes on a case defending a man accused of murder, helps the friend of a friend with an IRS garnishment, and settles the estate of a murder victim, Stan and Paula find their very lives at risk again.
Black Monday is a complex mystery with overlapping plots and lots of tension. Great characters, a good amount of action, and three complicated mystery plot lines make this novel a great read.
Black Monday by William Manchee is a book for readers who enjoy stories set in the recent past (1980s) as well as anyone who loves mysteries with plenty of plot twists and turns.
August 21, 2013
Stan Turner is a North Texas lawyer during the time of the Reagan administration. One Monday starts off with a bang. The stock market is way down, a client has died with Turner becoming the executor of the estates, and a CIA agent hires him to unfreeze a bank account that the IRS has seized. He is soon caught in a battle between the CIA and FBI. It took 8 hours and 12 minutes to listen to the story. I usually read much faster when reading a paper book. This was a free advance copy thru Goodreads.
May 1, 2017
I won this book in a first reads giveaway.
Overall I enjoyed this story. For me it's a run-of-the-mill, first person, P.I. mystery with not much else going for it. I do like the genre and wasn't disappointed with the book at all, but there really isn't anything special about it either.
I did appreciate the historical aspect of this story. It takes place in 1987, and the details are true to the period.
There isn't necessarily anything memorable about this story, but it is worth reading for readers who like this genre. I'm glad I got to read it.
Overall I enjoyed this story. For me it's a run-of-the-mill, first person, P.I. mystery with not much else going for it. I do like the genre and wasn't disappointed with the book at all, but there really isn't anything special about it either.
I did appreciate the historical aspect of this story. It takes place in 1987, and the details are true to the period.
There isn't necessarily anything memorable about this story, but it is worth reading for readers who like this genre. I'm glad I got to read it.
June 14, 2011
I received this book from a goodreads giveaway.
This was a nice mystery that kept you in the story. This book had almost movie like characters that were very believable. This wasn't my favorite book because I felt it was pretty predictable however it had nice character development. The pros of this book heavily out weighed the cons and overall i would recommend this book for anyone looking for a nice mystery.
This was a nice mystery that kept you in the story. This book had almost movie like characters that were very believable. This wasn't my favorite book because I felt it was pretty predictable however it had nice character development. The pros of this book heavily out weighed the cons and overall i would recommend this book for anyone looking for a nice mystery.
July 9, 2011
I won this book from Goodreads. Did not realize it was MP3 Audio until it arrived. I had a trip planned so I waited until then to listen to the book. It is very entertaining. Wonderful way to pass the time while driving. I Love mysterys so I throughly enjoyed this book. While there are no twists or surprises it is a very entertaining mystery.
February 8, 2013
A FirstReads GoodReads Book.
Just received this today.
It is MP3 audio, not a book -- I know I should read the details more carefully.
We are driving for vacation this summer and this will help pass the time.
How fun!
Finally remembered to take this MP3 on a road trip.
It was an okay mystery book, and served its purpose on the long drive.
Just received this today.
It is MP3 audio, not a book -- I know I should read the details more carefully.
We are driving for vacation this summer and this will help pass the time.
How fun!
Finally remembered to take this MP3 on a road trip.
It was an okay mystery book, and served its purpose on the long drive.
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