Black Fridays

By: Michael Sears

Narrated by: Erik Bergmann

Sometimes a man can be redeemed. But not in the way he expects.

Jason Stafford is a former Wall Street hotshot who made some bad moves, paid the price with two years in prison, and is now trying to put his life back together. He’s unemployable, until an investment firm asks him to look into possible problems left by a junior trader who died recently in an accident. What he discovers is big - there are problems, all right, the kind that get you killed.

But it’s not his only concern. Stafford has another quest as well: to reclaim his five-year-old son, "the Kid", from his unstable ex-wife, and then learn just what it means to make a life with him. The things Stafford discovers about himself in the process are every bit as gripping as his investigation, and when the two threads of his life come together - the results are unforgettable.

Black Fridays marks the arrival of a remarkable new writer.

©2012 Michael Sears (P)2012 Penguin Audiobooks

Excellent in Every Aspect!!

What made the experience of listening to Black Fridays the most enjoyable?

Besides the outstanding narration, the story was very well written and enveloped the reader with a never ending desire to read on.

What did you like best about this story?

I was truly impressed with the authors ability to grab and maintain your attention with a story packed with intrigue while at the same time highlighting the difficulties of caring for an autistic child. The main character demonstrated a shining example of the love and understanding needed to successfully raise an autistic child.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was when father and child were reunited of course. :)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was truly moved by the scene where Jason first saw his son in the dark room and made the instant decision to protect him at all cost.

Any additional comments?

Excellent book brought to life by a very talented narrator!

GREAT

This was well worth the credit. It was a very good story. It was actually fairly realistic with a hero that doesn’t somehow dodge a thousand bullets or survive a blast that kills everyone but him. It kept me entertained and intrigued throughout the entire book. Nothing was over explained or under explained. The reader impersonating the female was sometimes tough but there wasn’t enough of that to give this nothing but 5 stars.

I liked the story and the narration.

The story was great. Erik Bergmann, the reader was perfect. I was captured by the story almost immediately. The characters were well assembled. The only thing I didn't like was the language, but this story was a good one. The relationship between Jason Stafford and The Kid developed nicely. I would recommend this one and I might read this one again

Pushing Restart

The main character, Jason, was believable in his adapting to reinventing his life, again. The plot moved fast; keeping the reader titillated and emerged. The story had just enough "sidebars" to it to keep it interesting, but didn't sway away from script so, the reader remains engaged. I live good endings, and, this one brought everything together packaged nicely.

A book even Richard from San Anselmo would enjoy

Have you ever read one of Richard’s reviews? They’re epic – look him up.

I don’t often spend the time to write reviews on books that have a plethora of reviews or on books that have been around for a while. If I can’t sell it differently – I don’t bother I had to write one, or try to sell, this book because the number of reviews this currently has gotten just does NOT reflect what a fine work it is. Best book I have read in months.

This book grabs your attention from the first page and doesn’t let go to the end. At no time did I have time to think that the author needed to pick up the pace, forget this part, and move ahead – like I often do. I was on task and involved from beginning to end. I couldn’t wait to get back to it at each opportunity. If I didn’t understand a part or wasn’t clear, I went back to listen again – few books do I hang on every word.

This book does for bonds and stock brokers what John Grisham did, in his early good years, for lawyers. Showed us the other side, – the human side, of the a group of people and/or profession. I learned quite a bit about a whole profession I was clueless about (stocks, bonds, inside trading). Mr. Sears made it so interesting.. Romantic even.

Our hero also had quite a few other things going on that were just as educational and entertaining. One is that he parents an autistic son. I became so attached to that child and HIS storyline. So much so that I am spending a full credit right after I get off here to read the next in the series. I am so sorry this isn’t currently the first in the series of twelve.

Michael Sears sure made a fan in me. Erik Bergman is perfection. A man that can do expensive suits and autistic children in the same sentence at such a high level should be rewarded.

I've already bought the next one

I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

Somewhat... Shallow

I'm a finance guy... So that kept me going. All in all it wasn't an incredibly in depth story. Nothing terribly wrong with it. Didn't knock my socks off though.

Smart and Loving. Uses both sides of your brain.

Good writing, good descriptors, excellent narration. Kept me engaged in spite of knowing nothing about trading.

Something for everyone…

You begin the journey thinking it will be a tale about the redemption of a Wall Street trader just released after doing prison time for his involvement in the darker side of big money. As the plot develops it quickly reveals a tumultuous personal life that dominates all else. There are two, even three plots woven into one story, riveting, heart pounding, and deeply moving that make this a can’t-put-it-down read. Narration is flawless, you feel as though you know the protagonist personally.

Kid Needs Father

Black Fridays was an excellent listen.The characters were well developed. Listening to the book made the characters come alive. There was a sense of deep love and caring.

Jason left prison after two years and had to report to his disgruntled patrol officer on a regular basis. If Jason did not appear he was assured that he'd be back in jail He was not able to leave New York at anytime.

His son, who had been named Jason, would become quite upset when anyone used that name. Jason preferred to be called, "The Kid." Jason was Jason to the kid and not dad.

The kid was three when Jason went to jail. Jason broke his parole soon after his release to go to North Carolina to bring his son back to New York. The kid lived with his grandmother and was locked in one room at all times because of his uncontrollable behavior. His mother visited him once a week but often failed to appear. Jason was horrified and he was not stopped when he put the kid in his rented car to leave for the airport. The grandmother accepted that the kid needed to live differently. She did not argue with Jason when they talked. Her and Jason did have a good relationship and she was accepted the kid leaving with Jason. She stood on a step to watch them leave.

The kid had not been given a diagnosis after consulting many doctors before Jason left for prison. Jason took him to another doctor when back in New York. The kid was autistic. That was all Jason had wanted to know. The doctor was able to explain just what autism was. The doctor also talked to Jason about the care that the kid would need.

Black Fridays was when the kid wore black to school. Each day, the kid picked out the color of clothes that he would wear that day. His clothes were arranged in the closet in perfect order by color.. Jason gave the kid a life.


He found a school for special need kids and found that the kid loved going to school. Jason was overjoyed to have the kid with him. No more locks and being shut away from the world That was until his mother came and snatched him and took him back to North Carolina.

I encourage you to read, Black Fridays, because it such a memorable book. You will be educated on autism and how someone with autism needs to be treated in order to become a part of society. Autism was difficult for Jason but he was happy to learn how to know and manage the kid in a way that enhanced the kid's walk through life. When all is said and done Jason's love for his son was paramount. Jason needed his kid to live a life that was complete. Jason couldn't survive without the kid.