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Emergent Pattern
A convenience store shopkeeper. A disappointed congresswoman. The CEO of a high-tech firm. All have their ordinary mornings cut short by a crisis.
A day at the office becomes a deathtrap. A walk through the streets becomes a stroll through a warzone.
Chief Bentley finds himself in the middle of an Emergent Pattern, one that only he and his colleagues can hope to stop. But once trapped inside the enemy's web, can there be any escape from net of death and deception?
The pattern might become clear, but the way out of it is anything but.
A day at the office becomes a deathtrap. A walk through the streets becomes a stroll through a warzone.
Chief Bentley finds himself in the middle of an Emergent Pattern, one that only he and his colleagues can hope to stop. But once trapped inside the enemy's web, can there be any escape from net of death and deception?
The pattern might become clear, but the way out of it is anything but.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2012
27 people want to read
About the author
Troy Blackford
23 books2,479 followersTroy Blackford lives in the Twin Cities. He has nineteen published short stories, and eight longer works available for Kindle and in paperback.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 22, 2013
This is the second book in a trilogy, the first being "Critical Incident" (CI). CI was enjoyable, though it felt more like short novella. It served as a setup to the series. Anyway, you can read my other thoughts on CI elsewhere, as I don't want to rehash them here, with the exception that I realized what the next book was going to be.
And my expectations, high as they were, were greatly exceeded. Mr. Blackford's style evolved at least an order of magnitude in this second volume. The tightness of the prose, the advancement of the plot, and the entire scope of the story went way beyond a natural step in the evolution of a writer. I jokingly asked Mr. Blackford on Twitter if he had made a deal with the devil to write this book.
Slight spoilers below; read at your own peril. [Goodreads really needs to have a tag or something to indicate a spoiler section rather than a check box to hide the entire review.]
The organization thwarted in CI seeks retribution in this installment of the trilogy. They are pursuing a nuclear option (not literally, of course -- scorched earth might be a better euphemism for the extent and design of the planned revenge) against not just the individuals or the police department, but against the entire city. Contemplating the total destruction of a city is one thing; putting everything in place to actually reduce a city to rubble is amazing. The organization is nothing if not ruthless.
As an aside, in our increasingly-connected world, this is not necessarily so far-fetched. It's not simple, of course, but committed people could accomplish quite a bit of mayhem.
My only complaint is the ending. There is no ending, per se. I would really like to have seen a couple of chapters devoted to the removal of the threat.
I look forward to the third (and final?) installment of the trilogy. In basic idea only, I know what is coming. In execution, I have no idea what's coming.
And my expectations, high as they were, were greatly exceeded. Mr. Blackford's style evolved at least an order of magnitude in this second volume. The tightness of the prose, the advancement of the plot, and the entire scope of the story went way beyond a natural step in the evolution of a writer. I jokingly asked Mr. Blackford on Twitter if he had made a deal with the devil to write this book.
Slight spoilers below; read at your own peril. [Goodreads really needs to have a tag or something to indicate a spoiler section rather than a check box to hide the entire review.]
The organization thwarted in CI seeks retribution in this installment of the trilogy. They are pursuing a nuclear option (not literally, of course -- scorched earth might be a better euphemism for the extent and design of the planned revenge) against not just the individuals or the police department, but against the entire city. Contemplating the total destruction of a city is one thing; putting everything in place to actually reduce a city to rubble is amazing. The organization is nothing if not ruthless.
As an aside, in our increasingly-connected world, this is not necessarily so far-fetched. It's not simple, of course, but committed people could accomplish quite a bit of mayhem.
My only complaint is the ending. There is no ending, per se. I would really like to have seen a couple of chapters devoted to the removal of the threat.
I look forward to the third (and final?) installment of the trilogy. In basic idea only, I know what is coming. In execution, I have no idea what's coming.
January 7, 2013
This 2nd book of a trilogy shows that Troy Blackford is constantly honing his skills as a writer, with this offering turning up the thrills just one more notch!
After suffering a huge setback in having their illegal donor organ, stem cell and synthetic drug operations network smashed in the first book of the series, the mysterious criminal organisation respond with ferocity, tenacity and precision to ellicit revenge on not just Bentley & his colleagues, but the whole city!
Be prepared to sit and read Emergent Pattern in a single sitting, because once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down!
The 3rd and final installment should be released in March 2013.
Be ready!
After suffering a huge setback in having their illegal donor organ, stem cell and synthetic drug operations network smashed in the first book of the series, the mysterious criminal organisation respond with ferocity, tenacity and precision to ellicit revenge on not just Bentley & his colleagues, but the whole city!
Be prepared to sit and read Emergent Pattern in a single sitting, because once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down!
The 3rd and final installment should be released in March 2013.
Be ready!
June 2, 2013
It took me a bit of time to get in sync with Mr. Blackford's voice in this book. Some parts really lack a bit on intensity - almost reading as a drama, rather than a thriller. In the parts where he brings the intensity up to match the plot, it produces some very entertaining storytelling.
The editing is better than most, but still could use a bit of sprucing up. There is a continuity error in the dialogue in chapter 7 that seemed to put me off a bit more than it really should have (continuity is kind of one of my pet peeves), but it was nothing near enough to cause me to stop reading the book.
Overall, the story is very solid and enjoyable.
The editing is better than most, but still could use a bit of sprucing up. There is a continuity error in the dialogue in chapter 7 that seemed to put me off a bit more than it really should have (continuity is kind of one of my pet peeves), but it was nothing near enough to cause me to stop reading the book.
Overall, the story is very solid and enjoyable.
January 25, 2013
Much like the first in the trilogy, this was a fun and fast-paced read. The villains created in these books remind me a bit of ones you might find in a Bond tale as they are smart, professional, and ruthless. Grand, evil plots of retribution must be thwarted by our heroes and many innocent lives hang in the balance as the entirety of the city's core is targeted to be razed. It's a race against time for all involved, who find themselves trapped in inventive ways and some unlikely heroes emerge along the way. A lot of entertainment packed into a little novella.
February 14, 2013
You're dropped right into the action from the first page of this sequel to "Critical Incident." The continuous switch in points of view add to the intensity of the story and keep you moving straight to the end.
March 5, 2013
Troy Blackford drops you right into the action and you're never sure where he's going to take you. Once I began reading, it was impossible to stop. Fast-paced and logical, I very much enjoyed the thrills and twists that this book delivered!
January 14, 2013
Fast paced, well written. Didn't want to put it down!! Read Critical Incident first though. This is part two in a series of novellas.
October 17, 2015
LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 15, 2013
This is a lot more fluid than his first book, you can definitely tell he's improving as a writer.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews