Black: A Novel [Hardcover]

Christopher Whitcomb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 2004

Special Agent Jeremy Waller is elated to be chosen as a member of the FBI's most elite group: the Hostage Rescue Team. But quickly Waller finds that his missions are taking him off the map, off the grid, off the books, and into the world of black ops-where nobody is who they seem, and no rules apply. Sirad Malneaux is a beautiful killer who may be working for the CIA-or at least the CIA would like to think so. Jordan Mitchell controls one of the largest personal fortunes in the world, as well as some dangerous secrets-and seems to have a propensity for dealing with pretty nasty Saudis. Elizabeth Beechum was head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, but now she's been framed for the murder of a National Security Council attorney. All of them are on a collision course not just with a terrorist mastermind, but with their own demons. As Sebastian Junger has said, 'Chris Whitcomb's writing has the hard, flat trajectory of the weapons he was trained to fire.' Written with insider expertise that only Whitcomb possesses, BLACK is the most exciting debut thriller in years.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Whitcomb (Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team) parlays the experiences and expertise of a 15-year career with the FBI into a cutting-edge counterterrorism thriller. Imaginative plotting, rock-solid prose, fascinating technology and blasts of furious action will hold readers hostage until the last surprising pages. Whitcomb deftly shuffles a quartet of intriguing characters—Jeremy Waller, a member of the elite, top-secret FBI hostage rescue team; Sen. Elizabeth Beechum, chair of the Senate intelligence committee; Jordan Mitchell, the cold, brilliant CEO of Borders Atlantic, the world's largest telecommunications company; and beautiful Sirad Malneaux, an executive in the Borders Atlantic Atlanta office—who, except for Mitchell, soon face extraordinary danger. Jeremy must kill or be killed in Yemen; Senator Beechum is attacked in her home and later charged with murdering her attacker; and Sirad has a secret agenda that pits her against her employers. Only Mitchell, the puppet master, remains in control. His new Borders Atlantic super cell phone boasts "a totally secure, low-cost encryption system that would allow virtually any subscriber to communicate without fear of interception," which, of course, makes it a perfect tool for terrorists. Eventually, the four related stories meld into one, and on the final pages jaws will drop as readers find that everything they thought they knew about the story was wrong. This is a stellar thriller from an exciting new voice.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

FBI special agent Jeremy Waller finds himself plunged into the Black, the agency term for an off-the-books mission with no backup. His job is to get to the bottom of the most explosive scandal in American political history. Elizabeth Beechum, the presumptive Democratic nominee in the upcoming presidential elections and the chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is accused of murdering a National Security Council attorney. The key issue surrounding her case is her opposition to a new, encrypted cell-phone technology that is virtually impossible to tap. Since 80 percent of U.S. intelligence is gathered via intercepted communication, the new technology could be devastating to national security. Is Beechum being framed, and if so, by whom and why? Whitcomb, a former FBI agent and author of the nonfiction best-seller Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (2001), uses his insider knowledge of the bureau and the Beltway to create a compelling context--character assassination taken to the next level--for a political thriller. Entertaining election-year reading. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1St Edition edition (June 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316601012
• ISBN-13: 978-0316601016
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,601,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another one hit out of the park, May 30, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Black: A Novel (Hardcover)

As a follow up to Cold Zero, Black obviously tells the story that couldn't be told in non-fiction. A great story that will keep you turning pages well into the night, and then as you stay awake replaying the "could that really happen" scenarios in your head, you're sure to be exhausted the next morning. If you weren't sold on Whitcomb's talent as a writer from his first book or numerous magazine and newspaper articles, Black will definately convince you. Let's hope we don't have to wait long for the next book by this guy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New age intrigue, June 1, 2004

By 

John M. ccc (Franklin, VA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black: A Novel (Hardcover)

Black grabs you immediately, then takes you on a high speed international trip at race pace.
The characters met, detailed precision technology presented, the introduction of new age weaponry, all combine to capture, maintain and escalate the reader's interest.
As the main characters paths weave in and out Black builds continually through to the very last page.
Combining of the multiple plot threads is masterful.
When you do reach the end you will anxiously await a follow on.
A great read, done by someone that obviously knows the subject matter very well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BLACK: a timely adventure., May 30, 2004

By 

Mike Kalette (Stafford Springs, Ct USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black: A Novel (Hardcover)

As a fan of W.E.B. Griffin and Tom Clancy's style of writing, I found BLACK engrossing, fast paced, and unpredictable. I am always drawn to stories where I feel I am being brought alongside the adventures of the characters, and not told of them.

The main characters in BLACK kept me looking forward to the next page and next stage of adventure. If you have read "Cold Zero", by this author, you will feel right at home with the FBI'S Hostage Rescue Team, and associated personnel. Jeremy Waller is a new member of "HRT" and is faced with many twists and turns on a professional level as well as trying to cope with the emotional toll his new assignment brings.

The plot takes us from the political intrigue of Washington, to the deserts of Yemen. You will need your own passport to keep up with the contents of this book!