Picked up unregistered from another reader at a Book Swap meetup Thu 4th Oct 2018

From fantasticfiction.com
Raymond Chandler's incomparable private eye is back, pulled by a seductive young heiress into the most difficult and dangerous case of his career. "It was one of those summer Tuesday afternoons when you begin to wonder if the earth has stopped revolving. The telephone on my desk had the look of something that knows it's being watched. Traffic trickled by in the street below, and there were a few pedestrians, too, men in hats going nowhere."

So begins The Black-Eyed Blonde, a new novel featuring Philip Marlowe - yes, that Philip Marlowe. Channeling Raymond Chandler, Benjamin Black has brought Marlowe back to life for a new adventure on the mean streets of Bay City, California.

It is the early 1950s, Marlowe is as restless and lonely as ever, and business is a little slow. Then a new client is shown in: young, beautiful, and expensively dressed, she wants Marlowe to find her former lover, a man named Nico Peterson.

Marlowe sets off on his search, but almost immediately discovers that Peterson's disappearance is merely the first in a series of bewildering events. Soon he is tangling with one of Bay City's richest families and developing a singular appreciation for how far they will go to protect their fortune.

THE BLACK EYED BLONDE by BENJAMIN BLACK (pseudonym of John Banville Inc. and Raymond Chandler Limited) (2014) | ISBN: 9781447236689 (UK HB)| Publisher: Pan Macmillian
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EDITED TO ADD - Book fluffing burble said: “Only Benjamin Black, a modern master of the genre, could write a new Philip Marlowe novel that has all the panache and charm of the originals while delivering a story that is as sharp and fresh as today's best crime fiction.”
Hmmm, I’ll leave you to make up your own mind.

Hmmm, ticks a whole lot of ‘Ah, yes, like Chandler,’ boxes but I was not entirely convinced. To be honest though I need to quickly admit my focus was on the wrong thing and also question whether I was reading too fast? Instead of actively seeking out Chandler’s ‘familiar style’ I ought to have been simply reading the book for enjoyments sake. Likewise I’m querying what kind of comparison can I make in any event having last read a Chandler novel over maybe 20 years ago? Definitely stimulating though and I’m happy to pass this onto another reader and gather opinions.

Certainly THE BLACK EYED BLONDE hits some tragic and mournful notes while Black steers it steadfastly through the busy boulevards of 1950s Los Angeles and over the winding roads amongst the hilly enclaves of the wealthy. I did find myself speculating about how this investigator made any money? Taking on, because of a pair of beautiful eyes, a life threatening case with no remuneration then spending, it felt like, weeks waiting for some breaks of information to filter to the top of the pile. In the interim seemingly having no other cases?

THE BLACK EYED BLONDE was cleverly written though and the impact of the quantity and the quality of betrayals displayed here was one, one would have imagined leading to determined reconsideration of career’s so it’s a testament of Marlowe’s fortitude the book ends with him still working as a PI. Definitely have to read another of Blacks novels under the Philip Marlowe banner to get a better feel for them. I have the next reader T lined up for this and look forward immensely to his opinion of this.

Finally… labelled, wrapped and in the Royal Mail by 2nd Class Post* today – Thu 18 July 2019 – to an honorary BookCrosser in Somerset, (((HAPPY BIRTHDAY))).

Apologies, this book has been waiting in a pile of birthday books which in turn were awaiting labels (and some reviews) to be completed. This, however, was the only one of those which required a label that still does not have a label! No problem though, will do so soon. Apologies and off to Mr Flutterbies9's tbr of birthday books etc.

Mr Flutterbies9 read this book and passed it on to me. He said that he would get back to me after I read it too and so he has! He thought it was well written in the style and not ‘over the top’. He also thought the story flowed well and that there was evidence of some ‘tongue in cheek’ humour as well. Consequently, he did enjoy this one and would try another if Benjamin Black did any more and they could be found.

Having read your review, I tried to read this as a book reminiscent of Chandler's style but a completely different author. Frankly, having decided to do that, I then kept finding ‘Chandleresque’ sections of prose throughout! It mostly worked for me, especially with the flashes of the Chandler style in evidence, however it did feel a little 'hollow' in places, for me missing the ‘biting, sardonic, ‘off-hand’’ quality of Chandler. However, the plotline was competent in its execution and did reflect the era, clothes, and characters which it was written for. All in all I did enjoy the book, despite the vivid violence (also in the style of Chandler).

Like rainbow3, I did wonder however Philip Marlowe earned any money and kept any business going since he seemed to keep turning down fees and spending money (especially on alcohol and food!) but that was also the case in the original Chandler novels, so I did not query it overmuch.

I currently have no plans for this book but will make it available and hope it goes travelling on again soon – once corona virus restrictions lift a little.

Now that restrictions are easing a little, more than time that this bookbox made its way round.

A traditional Philip Marlowe classic .

Taken from Flutterbies9 Crime/Mystery Bookbox. Never read any Chandler, or much of this style either so not sure what I'll make of it but bookboxes are great for introducing you to something new!

Left at the Phone Box Library




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