Black Cabs [Paperback]

John McLaren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2000

The big guns at Skidder Barton investment bank plot a huge take-over to revive their fortunes, but forget there is one place they can be overheard. Len and his cabbie mates embark on a dangerous attempt to profit from the next big take-over. Will the cabbies beat the suits at their own game?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John McLaren was born in Edinburgh in 1951. He was a diplomat and venture capitalist and a director of two major investment banks. He is the founder of Masterprize, the international competition for symphonic composition, and Chairman of the Barchester Group. His previous books are PRESS SEND, 7th SENSE, and BLACK CABS. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

In this quirky caper novel, London cabbies pool their talents to raise money for Poppy, a young girl with cystic fibrosis, who desperately needs a life-saving operation. Their not-altogether-legal scheme involves them in a brokerage's ruthless internal politics and murder. The events are improbable, the tone light, even satiric, but not without pathos. Gordon Griffin throws himself wholeheartedly into this fare, making the unbelievable believable and evoking plenty of sympathy for the working stiffs and their noble goal. Y.R. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (September 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671022830
• ISBN-13: 978-0671022839
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,254,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Black Cabs, December 26, 2010

By 

Timothy E. Kirch (Bonita Springs, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black Cabs (Paperback)

Great Book, though I started this book listening to a "Books on Tape", and finished it by purchasing the actual book, I found this both enjoyable and entertaining. I mention the two different media, because they're are several characters, and the narrators, change in voices, made it easy to identify. I found the different financial companies and they're relation to each other, also a little confusing.
Its kindof David vs. Goliath when 3 London cabbies hatch a plan to eavesdrop on they're high power financial clients to play the stock market. Just a kinda of hobby for them, it turns urgent, when one of they're daughters needs life saving treatment in the states. Pooling they're life savings they get dragged into a murder among the financial gurus. The cabbies comraderie and loyalty to each other is heartwarming vs. the selfish "cross and double-cross played by the high rollers. Their personalities are entirely different and work well to compliment each other, in their team effort to save "Poppy", (The sick daughter who is the lovable, but stubbornly adorable in her own way).
The language is a little difficult (at first), because of the unfamiliar british slang, but you pickup most of it. Subtle humour throughout the book, with drama, mystery, and richness. Some descriptive sex, nothing vulgar.
Highly reccomended

5.0 out of 5 stars Insider Trading, Intrigue, Murder, March 27, 2010

By 

J. Bayless "Honest Abe" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Cabs (Paperback)

An excellent story with insider trading, intrigue, murder intertwined to keep the reader guessing until the very last page.