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The Naked Dame
Guy Redding was a photographer trying to make ends meet. After a few years snapping photos of bad people doing bad things, he was practically a gumshoe. And when a beautiful naked blonde crossed his path, he suddenly had a very personal mystery to solve. With the entire LA police force--not to mention his past--out to get him, Guy had exactly two days to find the answers to the questions that matter most.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2011
About the author
Jason Bovberg
8 books122 followersJason Bovberg is the author of Tessa Goes Down, Loser Baby, the Blood trilogy (Blood Red, Draw Blood, and Blood Dawn), and The Naked Dame. He is the founder of Dark Highway Press, which published Robert Devereaux’s controversial Santa Steps Out, as well as the highly acclaimed weird-western anthology Skull Full of Spurs. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with his wife Barb, his daughters Harper and Sophie, and his canines Rocky and Rango. You can find him online at www.jasonbovberg.com.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 11, 2025
Entertaining throwback to 1950s era paperback originals.
Hardboiled freelance photographer saddled with regrets and guilt goes after a bad guy - a former client- responsible for the murder of a girlfriend he’d hired the photographer to capture in the act of cheating on the bad guy.
Not quite as convoluted as that previous paragraph.
A plot familiar to most hardboiled fiction addicts and set in the 1950s. No big surprises.
Narrative gets a bit repetitive but it’s a nice send up.
I got nothing more to say. 4 stars.
Your mileage may vary.
Hardboiled freelance photographer saddled with regrets and guilt goes after a bad guy - a former client- responsible for the murder of a girlfriend he’d hired the photographer to capture in the act of cheating on the bad guy.
Not quite as convoluted as that previous paragraph.
A plot familiar to most hardboiled fiction addicts and set in the 1950s. No big surprises.
Narrative gets a bit repetitive but it’s a nice send up.
I got nothing more to say. 4 stars.
Your mileage may vary.
July 14, 2022
Guy Redding is a photographer, taking jobs any way he can to make ends meet, acting almost as a private detective snatching photos of those caught in the act. When he comes across a girl in alley, not wearing a stitch of clothing, he tries to get her some help. But soon, he starts to believe his act of mercy might well be related to a client he had a while back, that of a crime lord who hired Guy to photograph his wife cheating on him. Guy got the goods but not before succumbing to the wife’s charms himself. When the wife turned up dead, Guy had to wonder if he’d be next. And now this incident with the naked dame seems to be leading him straight toward that crime lord.
This is a gritty, hard-boiled tale straight from the dirty back alleys and dark streets of Los Angeles. It’s easy to feel the author is channeling the likes of Raymond Chandler with strong elements of Mickey Spillane tossed in. The prose is well-crafted, witty, and absolutely dripping with atmosphere. There are plenty of shady characters, strong-armed toughs, and pretty gals to satisfy those who like their crime fiction boiled hard. The plot is solid with a few twists, but always a page-turner and never predictable. I was never quite sure how this would wrap up.
I’m very happy to have “discovered” this novel. Looks like I have a new hard-boiled author to follow in Jason Bovberg.
This is a gritty, hard-boiled tale straight from the dirty back alleys and dark streets of Los Angeles. It’s easy to feel the author is channeling the likes of Raymond Chandler with strong elements of Mickey Spillane tossed in. The prose is well-crafted, witty, and absolutely dripping with atmosphere. There are plenty of shady characters, strong-armed toughs, and pretty gals to satisfy those who like their crime fiction boiled hard. The plot is solid with a few twists, but always a page-turner and never predictable. I was never quite sure how this would wrap up.
I’m very happy to have “discovered” this novel. Looks like I have a new hard-boiled author to follow in Jason Bovberg.
May 24, 2017
I was a fan of Jason Bovberg's 'alien invasion/zombie apocalypse' horror novels in the Draw Blood trilogy. They were a story of a young woman who wakes up to find almost everyone but O-positive people possessed by monsters using them as meat puppets. So, I was interested in his next book that saw him branching out in noir detective fiction.
The Naked Dame, despite it's deliberately lurid cover, is actually fairly tame and more Chandler than exploitative. The premise is a sleazy photographer, Guy Redding, got a young woman named Etta killed when he turned over his photos of her cheating to her extraordinarily jealous criminal kingpin husband. Haunted by the action, he finds himself easily swept up in the cause of protecting a young woman found naked outside of his office and vengeful when he believes it (conveniently_ ties back to his former client.
The Naked Dame is a smoke and mirrors plot taking place in 1950s Hollywood ala "L.A. Confidential", "Chinatown", and so many other works which juxtapose the beauty of the sunny city with its awful underbelly. As Ruby, the villain, says, he literally can't remember all of the women who get into his porn business as they're all interchangeable in how easy their desire to become stars is exploitable.
Guy Redding, himself, is an anti-hero who genuinely becomes close to a villain at several points. He's also easily manipulable because his guilt over Etta's death gives him what we'd call a "White Knight" complex today. He wants to save a woman or multiple women in order to make up for the one he got killed so the easiest way to manipulate him is to target any suitably attractive female around him. The fact this is demeaning is less important to the story than it's also STUPID since everyone else can see it.
The story takes several dark turns and goes in surprising directions. I didn't expect the protagonist to do half the things he did but his desperation and ruthlessness drive him ever forward, making the story far more entertaining if it had decided to treat Guy Redding as the hero he believes himself to be. It's his loathsome qualities as well as his everyman and would-be heroic ones that make him interesting--sort of like Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver.
The Naked Dame ends on a downer note but I wouldn't be adverse to Jason Bovberg making a sequel as Guy is a fascinating protagonist and evil enough to be more entertaining than a typical noir hero but good enough to not be irredeemable (perhaps). Certainly, the way things left has a certain ring of "Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown."
Which is high praise indeed.
9/10
The Naked Dame, despite it's deliberately lurid cover, is actually fairly tame and more Chandler than exploitative. The premise is a sleazy photographer, Guy Redding, got a young woman named Etta killed when he turned over his photos of her cheating to her extraordinarily jealous criminal kingpin husband. Haunted by the action, he finds himself easily swept up in the cause of protecting a young woman found naked outside of his office and vengeful when he believes it (conveniently_ ties back to his former client.
The Naked Dame is a smoke and mirrors plot taking place in 1950s Hollywood ala "L.A. Confidential", "Chinatown", and so many other works which juxtapose the beauty of the sunny city with its awful underbelly. As Ruby, the villain, says, he literally can't remember all of the women who get into his porn business as they're all interchangeable in how easy their desire to become stars is exploitable.
Guy Redding, himself, is an anti-hero who genuinely becomes close to a villain at several points. He's also easily manipulable because his guilt over Etta's death gives him what we'd call a "White Knight" complex today. He wants to save a woman or multiple women in order to make up for the one he got killed so the easiest way to manipulate him is to target any suitably attractive female around him. The fact this is demeaning is less important to the story than it's also STUPID since everyone else can see it.
The story takes several dark turns and goes in surprising directions. I didn't expect the protagonist to do half the things he did but his desperation and ruthlessness drive him ever forward, making the story far more entertaining if it had decided to treat Guy Redding as the hero he believes himself to be. It's his loathsome qualities as well as his everyman and would-be heroic ones that make him interesting--sort of like Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver.
The Naked Dame ends on a downer note but I wouldn't be adverse to Jason Bovberg making a sequel as Guy is a fascinating protagonist and evil enough to be more entertaining than a typical noir hero but good enough to not be irredeemable (perhaps). Certainly, the way things left has a certain ring of "Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown."
Which is high praise indeed.
9/10
April 27, 2011
Having never read a book in this genre before, I really wasn't sure what to expect or have any idea about the style of the genre. However, I decided to give the book a chance based on recommendations from other and as a way to show support for an author that frequents another forum discussion board that I am part of.
The book certainly starts off with a bang and doesn't let up its pace throughout. From the opening words, I could tell that it was going to be an interesting ride as I made my way through each page. The one funny thing is that while reading it, I kept imagining that there was some raspy voiced detective narrating the book just like you'd hear in those old tv detective/mystery type shows.
The book was not overly long nor complex that I had to devote a good chunk of time to it. I think that it was a good length that balanced an exciting plot with effective story telling. I have read books in the past that seemed to be unnecessarily long and suffered from extraneous text that didn't serve any purpose. Throughout The Naked Dame, there were a number of interesting twists that I didn't see which made for an enjoyable read that kept me on my toes. At one point, I expected a certain outcome for the story only to be thrown a curve ball that rendered my prediction incorrect.
If you are a fan of this genre, I highly recommend checking this book out. Even if you never have, I would still recommend it as it was an enjoyable read, cheap at Amazon as its a Kindle book, and you're supporting an up and coming author.
The book certainly starts off with a bang and doesn't let up its pace throughout. From the opening words, I could tell that it was going to be an interesting ride as I made my way through each page. The one funny thing is that while reading it, I kept imagining that there was some raspy voiced detective narrating the book just like you'd hear in those old tv detective/mystery type shows.
The book was not overly long nor complex that I had to devote a good chunk of time to it. I think that it was a good length that balanced an exciting plot with effective story telling. I have read books in the past that seemed to be unnecessarily long and suffered from extraneous text that didn't serve any purpose. Throughout The Naked Dame, there were a number of interesting twists that I didn't see which made for an enjoyable read that kept me on my toes. At one point, I expected a certain outcome for the story only to be thrown a curve ball that rendered my prediction incorrect.
If you are a fan of this genre, I highly recommend checking this book out. Even if you never have, I would still recommend it as it was an enjoyable read, cheap at Amazon as its a Kindle book, and you're supporting an up and coming author.
May 16, 2017
Naked Dame is a top-notch hardboiled thriller chock full of pulpy goodness. It features all the usual suspects including a down-on-his-luck private eye at odds with the local authorities, a naked blonde
crying in an alley, a set of tough-as-nails hoodlums, a longstanding feud with the local bad guy, deep depression and endless boulevards of agony. Every single page in this novel sparkles with pulpiness. This is the real deal, the real McCoy, not some pretender.
The dark dreariness of Los Angeles' inner city is well portrayed here. There is not a glimpse of Beverly Hills or Hollywood here, just filthy alleys, rundown bars, and seedy apartments. And you can just taste how sour it's all turned.
The plot barrels forward and continues at a reckless pace throughout. And through it all you can feel Guy Redding's agony as he realizes over and over again what a mess he got himself into and how helpless he
was in the face of a woman in distress. "A naked dame falls in your lap and nothing's the same."
crying in an alley, a set of tough-as-nails hoodlums, a longstanding feud with the local bad guy, deep depression and endless boulevards of agony. Every single page in this novel sparkles with pulpiness. This is the real deal, the real McCoy, not some pretender.
The dark dreariness of Los Angeles' inner city is well portrayed here. There is not a glimpse of Beverly Hills or Hollywood here, just filthy alleys, rundown bars, and seedy apartments. And you can just taste how sour it's all turned.
The plot barrels forward and continues at a reckless pace throughout. And through it all you can feel Guy Redding's agony as he realizes over and over again what a mess he got himself into and how helpless he
was in the face of a woman in distress. "A naked dame falls in your lap and nothing's the same."
April 8, 2011
"The Naked Dame" is as much fun as a Bogie flick, for less than the price of a cuppa joe. With a great voice and decent plotting, this little e-book was the perfect light read.
I've never read any pulp, so this was something new. As an editor, I tend to be awfully picky--one reason I've flipped through the end of plenty of so-so murder mysteries that get wishy-washy with the technicalities (e.g., point-of-view, character development), expecting me to be satisfied just by a clever twist. Luckily, that wasn't the case here. Other than a few typos and one or two minor hiccups in consistency or phrasing, the book kept me pushing the "next page" button to the very end.
The literary equivalent of all those afternoons I spent watching "Matinee at the Bijou" as a kid, "The Naked Dame" has just the right mix of atmosphere and interest. It also made me want a glass of whiskey and a cigarette, and left me thinking in 50s slang for a couple days. That's the mark of a good read.
I've never read any pulp, so this was something new. As an editor, I tend to be awfully picky--one reason I've flipped through the end of plenty of so-so murder mysteries that get wishy-washy with the technicalities (e.g., point-of-view, character development), expecting me to be satisfied just by a clever twist. Luckily, that wasn't the case here. Other than a few typos and one or two minor hiccups in consistency or phrasing, the book kept me pushing the "next page" button to the very end.
The literary equivalent of all those afternoons I spent watching "Matinee at the Bijou" as a kid, "The Naked Dame" has just the right mix of atmosphere and interest. It also made me want a glass of whiskey and a cigarette, and left me thinking in 50s slang for a couple days. That's the mark of a good read.
April 23, 2011
This is a book you would expect to see with the Hard Case Crime label on the cover. Done in a classic hard-boiled noir style it kept me guessing until the very end.
There were a few elements that impressed me. It started off with a bang and an immediate mystery to pique my interest. Then it simply didn't let up. There were multiple points where I thought I had figured out the mystery... then a twist would completely surprise me. I know there were at least three points where the plot took a turn that I did not expect at all.
If you are a fan of classic noir then you owe it to yourself to not only give the book a read but keep an eye on the author. I am very interested to see if we see more by him in this genre.
There were a few elements that impressed me. It started off with a bang and an immediate mystery to pique my interest. Then it simply didn't let up. There were multiple points where I thought I had figured out the mystery... then a twist would completely surprise me. I know there were at least three points where the plot took a turn that I did not expect at all.
If you are a fan of classic noir then you owe it to yourself to not only give the book a read but keep an eye on the author. I am very interested to see if we see more by him in this genre.
April 26, 2011
Fun hardboiled thriller in the style of early Spillane. Guy Redding is a detective who's going through a bad patch after his last peep-job ended with his client murdering his cuckolding wife. To make matters worse, Guy took the opportunity to cuckold the client himself, and now the client, who, oh yeah, is a mobster, has a grudge against him.
But all that is prologue. The story begins when Guy, while stumbling home from a night of drinking, discovers the titular naked dame, beaten and bloody hiding in an alley. Being a man who is not himself mean, Guy takes it upon himself to find what happened to her.
But this is the dark city, and nothing is ever that simple. Before long, Guy's been crossed, double-crossed, and triple-crossed.
The book, as with all good pulps, is short and to the point. Bovberg's taken Elmore Leonard's advice and didn't write any of the parts that everyone skips. The plot moves through its convolutions at a fast pace, and builds to one hell of a climax. My only qualm is that I figured out the set-up about twenty pages before Redding, though I must note that Redding was drunk and more than a little messed up by that point.
But all that is prologue. The story begins when Guy, while stumbling home from a night of drinking, discovers the titular naked dame, beaten and bloody hiding in an alley. Being a man who is not himself mean, Guy takes it upon himself to find what happened to her.
But this is the dark city, and nothing is ever that simple. Before long, Guy's been crossed, double-crossed, and triple-crossed.
The book, as with all good pulps, is short and to the point. Bovberg's taken Elmore Leonard's advice and didn't write any of the parts that everyone skips. The plot moves through its convolutions at a fast pace, and builds to one hell of a climax. My only qualm is that I figured out the set-up about twenty pages before Redding, though I must note that Redding was drunk and more than a little messed up by that point.
May 29, 2011
I read a lot of mysteries but usually stick to whodunnits and cozy mysteries rather than dark, gritty crime fiction. I think it’s good to read outside of my preferred genres on occasion, though, so I decided to give The Naked Dame, a noir/hardboiled detective novel, a try. The book had a fast pace and a steady supply of suspense, with plenty of guns, booze, smokes, and of course a naked dame or two.
The voice of The Naked Dame’s storyteller, Guy Redding, was strong and consistent throughout the book, and I could almost hear him speaking as I read. I enjoyed the book and it kept me turning my Kindle's virtual pages even though the underbelly setting is more sordid than my usual reading fare.
October 30, 2011
Set in 1950s LA, a city that's already nostalgic for its pre-war brightness, this tale will draw in fans of film noir and crime. The narrator, Guy Redding, is a disillusioned photographer who has stooped to making a living snapping the ugly side of life. His voice carries you through the back streets of the city, creating a moodiness that might remind you of Chandler's "Red Wind" and evoking a strong sense of place and time. Nicely constructed and paced well, the story keeps you turning pages fast and draws you along to the inevitable, classic conclusion. Great read for a long summer night! First novel for this author--I'm very much looking forward to more!
April 24, 2011
This could easily be a Hard Case Crime book. And that is great praise, I consider that series to be amazing and full of terrific stuff. This book was just what I was looking for to get me out of my prolonged reading funk that I had been in. A quick read, but also a good amount of substance and gives the reader some things to ponder when finished, which not every novel in this genre manages to accomplish. The next book by this author is an instant buy for me, this book earns him that luxury.
March 12, 2021
A pulp-y, twisty noir in the Hard Case Crime vein. The titular Naked Dame is chanced upon in a dank, dark alley in 1950s LA by photograph-cum-amateur PI Guy Redding. His attempts to dig deeper into who she is, where she's from, and who abandoned her, lead him into confrontations with both frustrated law enforcement and past patrons of the gumshoe. Set across one summer weekend, with a propulsive sense of action, a real eye for detail, and well-drawn characters.
March 13, 2016
When Jason Bovberg originally wrote The Naked Dame, he let me read an early draft and even accepted a few of my editorial comments prior to publication. Now that it's available in paperback, I thought I'd read it again to see how it stands up against his more recent novels.
I've gotta say, Naked Dame is a damn fine book. It reads like a crime novel from the 50s. I was sucked in immediately, and the action and mystery kept me gripping the pages right to the end. At first I wasn't sure what to expect from the "naked" aspect of the book, but Bovberg uses skin, and the insinuations and temptations that go with it, in just the right way. It's not tantalizing or sleazy, but instead, the skin elevates the drama and the mystery to great heights.
Bovberg seems to be right at home with the crime/mystery genre. And when he's done with his current horror trilogy, I hope he finds time to dip back into the underworld of 1950s LA. This one's too good to be his only entry into the world of noir.
I've gotta say, Naked Dame is a damn fine book. It reads like a crime novel from the 50s. I was sucked in immediately, and the action and mystery kept me gripping the pages right to the end. At first I wasn't sure what to expect from the "naked" aspect of the book, but Bovberg uses skin, and the insinuations and temptations that go with it, in just the right way. It's not tantalizing or sleazy, but instead, the skin elevates the drama and the mystery to great heights.
Bovberg seems to be right at home with the crime/mystery genre. And when he's done with his current horror trilogy, I hope he finds time to dip back into the underworld of 1950s LA. This one's too good to be his only entry into the world of noir.
April 19, 2011
Loved it! This is not the type of novel I usually select to read, but the story and action ended up really grabbing me. I've seen a few detective type films set in the same time period as this novel, and the author really captured the feeling well. The main character isn't exactly someone who has a lot of redeeming qualities, but I guess that's what noir is all about. I still found myself rooting for him as the storyline developed. This book will keep you guessing until the end and won't disappoint.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews