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Cover of The Black Book by James Patterson and David EllisThe Black Book
Modern · Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

The Black Book

by James Patterson and David Ellis
2017 · 448 pages · Fiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 11 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Chicago detective Billy Harney, son of the Chief of Detectives, is left for dead in a shootout with his former partner and a district attorney. He survives but remembers nothing. The investigation leads to an exclusive brothel serving Chicago's most powerful people, and its little black book.

Why it's worth reading

It spent 2 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. James Patterson and David Ellis deliver twist after twist.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It moves between past and present. It's the first Billy Harney book.

By the numbers

69.4Must-Read Score
  • Readers65 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller40 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (2 weeks at #1)

Reads as

Gripping

How we rank

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →

Quick answers

Is The Black Book worth reading?

Yes. It spent 2 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #1,374 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.4 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The Black Book about?

Chicago detective Billy Harney, son of the Chief of Detectives, is left for dead in a shootout with his former partner and a district attorney. He survives but remembers nothing. The investigation leads to an exclusive brothel serving Chicago's most powerful people, and its little black book.

How long does it take to read The Black Book?

About 11 hours (448 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after The Black Book?

If you liked it, try The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis, Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson or The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly.