Black Maps (John March Mysteries) (Hardcover)

by Peter Spiegelman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
After a lengthy, but never boring, setup, Spiegelman's first novel pitches from one taut, suspenseful scene to another, with New York PI John March at the center but also including an impressive cast of allies, adversaries and interlopers. The author lays out the collapse of financial giant MWB (Merchant's Worldwide Bank) and the subsequent federal investigations in detail. March's friend, lawyer Michael Metz, hires him to help a client, an officer at a major investment bank. It appears that fallout from MWB's collapse has prompted a blackmailer to use information seemingly derived from MWB documents to threaten Metz's client with exposure that would ruin his career. Real or manufactured, this data would be damaging. March must be careful, of course, not to step on federal toes. From computers to shoe leather, March's dogged search is entertaining, plausible and ultimately dangerous. Nothing about this stylish, literate mystery reads like a debut, as Spiegelman handles the complex plot with verve and artfully sets the stage for a backstory with mere hints about the trauma that drove March from upstate cop to PI. John March is one of the most intriguing new PIs to come along in quite some time, and if this strong first outing is any indication, he should be in for a long and enjoyable run.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
A new thriller by a retired veteran of the financial services. John Marsh is a private investigator who gets a lot of work through a friend who is a partner in a Manhattan law firm. Marsh is introduced by him to Rick Pierro, a self-made financier who is haunted by the threat of blackmail which threatens his Wall Street career. It is all to do with a huge money-laundering conspiracy whose tentacles reach out everywhere. Pierro is desperate to stave off any problems until he has joined the executive committee of his firm and thus protected himself and all his various dependants from what he declares is a frame-up. It all adds up to an exciting tale with an intriguing hero. A first thriller which is always convincing. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 1st edition (August 12, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400040752
• ISBN-13: 978-1400040759
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #651,900 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars John March is a guy you want to know... , November 24, 2004

By	Robert Wellen (CHICAGO, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Black Maps is fine debut for Spiegelman. March is a very strong character, one that you look forward to growing with. The is not wholly original, but still a well done thriller. The ending has twists and turns that don't strain credibility (a huge advantage in this day and age of insane "top this" thrillers) and offer some geniune surprises. Spiegleman spends far too much time detailing the minute details of apartments and couches and features of minor characters, but that is typical of some first time authors. A good start to a promising series.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book -- Hard to Believe it is a Debut Novel, September 29, 2003

By A Customer

As an avid mystery reader, I am always looking for the next "new thing" in the genre. I think that I have found it. Black Maps is an exciting debut in what I hope will become a long series of mysteries set in my hometown of NYC.

The writer spins an exciting and complex tale that gives equal weight to atmosphere, character development, action, and of course, plot. He draws the reader into the world of banking and Wall Street. While he does present some pretty detailed and technical financial information, he does so with such style and ease, that it neither boring, nor difficult to follow.

John March easily has to be the most exciting new PI character to come on the scene in a awhile. Like most detective characters, he's tough, smart, and always skeptical -- but that's where the similarities end. He's the black sheep of a well to do family, plus he's also got a boat load of guilt to contend with, thanks to the untimely death of his wife. (Hopefully that story will be developed in a prequel someday!) He's also got some unusual hobbies for a PI -- running, music, and reading, to name a few, which make him quite interesting, and a true New Yorker.

Black Maps is a great read for any fan of fiction, mystery, NYC, or of great writing. In fact, I'd have to say that thing that most excites me about Spiegelman is his writing style. Its quality is well beyond what most people would expect in a book of this genre. If you love to read, get this book.

One last comment, if there are any Steely Dan fans out there reading this review, you should definitely read this book!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good debut!, June 29, 2005

By	L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Spiegelman clearly knows whereof he speaks and actually makes the world of banking interesting. He has created an interesting protagonist in John March, including a history revealed throughout the story. The story does start out slowly and one has to get through the information about the banking industry, money laundering and data security, which s interesting and relevant but not exciting. After that, the story definitely takes off and suspense builds to an exciting ending. I very much enjoyed this debut book and am looking forward to his next.