BLACK MONDAY

by William Manchee

Trade Paperback   Lean Press   1-932475-08-7

August 2005

Volume Six of the Stan Turner Mysteries features legal sleuths Stan Turner and his partner Paula Waters. It's Black Monday, October 17, 1987, and there are three murders in Dallas that night. The chairman of a failed thrift and his girlfriend are found with their throats slashed and an old lady is found asphyxiated along with  her eleven dogs. Paula ends up defending the man accused of the double homicide and Stan discovers he is the executor of this ladies' estate and has to figure out who killed her and the dogs in such a bizarre fashion and why. If that isn't enough, with the stock market crash and the nation's banking system falling into crisis, Stan is asked by the CIA to help an operative unravel an IRS garnishment and ends up caught in a fire-fight between the CIA and the FBI.


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News Stories & Reviews

Amazon.com Review - Harold McFarland

September 18, 2005 Amazon Top 50 Reviewer (20)

Settle down to a good mystery from an excellent writer, September 18, 2005
I became a fan of William Manchee with his novel Plastic Gods. One of the tightest plots and best writing styles I had seen in quite a while I indicated that it would have been one of the best fiction books of the year except for such poor editing that it only received an average review. It appears that his editing problems are resolved with another publisher and his strong style shows through in this novel as well. The scene is set on Black Monday, October 19, 1987. As the stock market crashes and bank after bank collapses the hero, Stan Turner, is asked to unravel a small IRS problem for an FBI agent. Unfortunately, this starts his problems as he is caught up in a fight between the FBI and the CIA. With a multitude of well-crafted sub-plots and a writing style that keeps the reader glued to the book, William Manchee has really crafted a masterpiece of mystery. Always keeping the reader guessing though each twist and turn this is one of the most exciting novels I've read this year. Black Monday is highly recommended to everyone who enjoys passing the evening with a good mystery.
 

BN.Com Review - Harriet Klausner

A reviewer (harstan@ix.netcom.com), July 11, 2005, 5 out of 5 stars

Superb tongue in cheek legal thriller

Attorney Stan Turner hates Mondays because his clients have a weekend to think. However, this Monday, October 19, 1987, is worst than usual as the markets have nose dived from the opening bell and his clients are panicking like everyone else’s customers accelerating the drop. --- Stan faces a more horrendous BLACK MONDAY than most lawyers. Someone murdered client Lottie West, who named Stan as her executor and the SPCA as her beneficiary of an estate that includes the renowned Ludinburg Collection of art treasures allegedly stolen by a GI during World War II. As the stock market collapses and the Federal Reserve fails to react, Stan is caught up with hostile fire between the CIA and the FBI on an overseas matter he works involving the other espionage group the IRS. Finally his partner Paula Waters informs him she plans to defend Jimmy Bennett accused of killing his father-in-law, the CEO of Metroplex Savings and Loan. As Stan reflects on a law banning Mondays, he investigates Lottie’s murder with Dallas Police Detective Besch, struggles with Federal entanglements that tie Central America to Iran, assists Paula, and waits for Tuesday while someone wants him dead, but for which case he does not know. --- Stan’s the man as he does his best whether his clients are dead, government or that of his partner. The tongue in cheek story line feels like a historical Noir as Stan cynically pontificates on various 1980s events for instance he blames the market collapse on President Reagan’s tax cuts promised as part of his 1984 reelection debate. Legal thriller fans will appreciate 1987 as seen through the eyes of Stan unless President Regan is part of your pantheon of the Gods.

Dallas Observer: Friday, July 1, 2005

We get so jealous every time we watch Antiques Roadshow and see someone find out that some little drawing or painting is worth a pant load of money and is really a "test sketch" by Picasso or someone else amazing. It doesn't happen a lot, and admittedly we haven't seen a Picasso show up, but you get the idea. So what if you're a widower (and a recluse to boot) and you find out from Stan Turner (you know, your legal man, the one with the series of books about him) that your late hubby had been hiding stolen pieces, née treasures, of priceless art. Nice. It would probably be less enthusiastic a discovery than on the ol' Roadshow, we're guessing. Find out for sure by reading William Manchee's latest in the Stan Turner series, Black Monday. And if you're going to pick it up, why not do so between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday? And why not make it the Barnes & Noble at 801 W. 15th St. in Plano you're picking it up from? You know, so Manchee himself can sign it at the book's first launch party. It's just a thought. Call 972-612-0999.

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