Black Edge: Inside Information, Dirty Money, and the Quest to Bring Down the Most Wanted Man on Wall Street is a book by Sheelah Kolhatkar that tells the story of Steven A. Cohen, a hedge fund manager who was considered one of the most powerful and successful investors on Wall Street. Despite his success, Cohen was also known for his secretive and aggressive trading strategies, which led to accusations of insider trading and other illegal activities.

The book begins by introducing Cohen and his rise to prominence as the founder of SAC Capital Advisors, a hedge fund that was known for its high-risk and high-reward approach to investing. Cohen was able to generate enormous returns for his investors and amassed a personal fortune of over $10 billion. However, his success was not without controversy, as he was known for his ruthless tactics and his willingness to do whatever it took to make money.

As Cohen's wealth and power grew, so did the scrutiny of his business practices. In 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an investigation into SAC Capital Advisors, alleging that Cohen and his firm had engaged in insider trading. The investigation lasted for several years and eventually led to the indictment of several former employees of SAC Capital Advisors, including one of Cohen's top traders.

Despite the indictment of his employees, Cohen himself was never charged with any wrongdoing. However, the SEC did accuse him of failing to properly supervise his employees and ordered him to pay a $1.8 billion fine and stop managing outside money for two years. Despite this setback, Cohen was able to bounce back and continue his successful career as a hedge fund manager.

Throughout the book, Kolhatkar provides a detailed and nuanced look at the world of high finance and the inner workings of Cohen's hedge fund. She also explores the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding insider trading and the efforts of federal regulators to crack down on illegal activities in the financial industry.

Overall, Black Edge is a fascinating and engaging look at the rise and fall of one of the most powerful figures in the world of finance. It offers insights into the secretive world of hedge funds and the high-stakes world of Wall Street, and raises important questions about the ethics of insider trading and the role of government regulation in the financial industry.