Black Maps: John March Series, Book 1 » (Unabridged)

Peter Spiegelman worked on Wall Street for twenty years developing software systems for international banking institutions and retired in 2001 to devote himself to writing. He lives in Connecticut.

John March is a former cop now working as a P.I. in Manhattan. Haunted by his past, work is what keeps him sane, but his current case threatens to have the opposite effect. It involves an attempted extortion; an investment banker with some serious skeletons in his closet; and a money launderer diabolically adept at both psychological and physical intimidation. March is the perfect man for the job. His family's wealth comes from banking, so when he begins to follow the paper trail that might lead to the extortionist, he knows what he's looking at. But this paper trail is stained with blood - and scattered with powerful emotional echoes from his past - and before March has reached the end, his own blood may be added to it.

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. (Aug. 17) Forecast: With a 75,000-copy first printing and its fascinating picture of the financial world, this first mystery is a likely candidate for extra printings. BOMC selection. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.