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Black Shadows
Book by Swift, Simon
322 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2011
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138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 7, 2016
BLACK SHADOWS takes place back in a time when dames was dames and men wore fedoras. Detectives talked tough, threw punches and pounded the pavement looking for clues, solving crimes because when a detective gets killed it's bad for business and bad for detectives everywhere.
So, it takes place in New York City, circa 1940.
Private dick (aka, detective) Errol Black, aka, Eezy, is sitting in his office when the lovely Claudia comes in and hires him to follow her no-good fiance, George Ferriby, who she thinks is stepping out on her. Why, that awful man! But wait! Then, there's a redhead, and her name is Marlow. Hmm ... sound familiar? Anyhow, Marlow says she's Claudia's sister -- well, not really her blood sister, but her best friend in the whole world.
So ... whilst this is going on there are these other guys doing stuff. (BTW, do you like that word? Whilst? Because you're going to see it a lot. :)) In fact, there's a fat man known as the Coward. Or the Portly Gangster. Maybe. He has a kid with a gun working for him. And it seems a dame is associated with them. I won't say who. Does this sound at all familiar? They want to meet Black up in Woodstock. And hold a concert? Of course not. They want to find something. And it's not the Maltese Falcon, believe it or not.
And somehow this all relates to the murder of Dyke Spanner, Black's former partner at The Shadow Man Detective Agency which died with Terry Shadow (accidentally) in a Mob hit on Arthur Flegenheimer five years before.
Plus the Tong, aka, the Chinese mafia, are all mixed up in this, too.
Oh, did I mention the plot is a bit complex? Maybe you've already sussed that out.
Suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To read the entire review, see: http://thebookgrrl.blogspot.com/2011/...
So, it takes place in New York City, circa 1940.
Private dick (aka, detective) Errol Black, aka, Eezy, is sitting in his office when the lovely Claudia comes in and hires him to follow her no-good fiance, George Ferriby, who she thinks is stepping out on her. Why, that awful man! But wait! Then, there's a redhead, and her name is Marlow. Hmm ... sound familiar? Anyhow, Marlow says she's Claudia's sister -- well, not really her blood sister, but her best friend in the whole world.
So ... whilst this is going on there are these other guys doing stuff. (BTW, do you like that word? Whilst? Because you're going to see it a lot. :)) In fact, there's a fat man known as the Coward. Or the Portly Gangster. Maybe. He has a kid with a gun working for him. And it seems a dame is associated with them. I won't say who. Does this sound at all familiar? They want to meet Black up in Woodstock. And hold a concert? Of course not. They want to find something. And it's not the Maltese Falcon, believe it or not.
And somehow this all relates to the murder of Dyke Spanner, Black's former partner at The Shadow Man Detective Agency which died with Terry Shadow (accidentally) in a Mob hit on Arthur Flegenheimer five years before.
Plus the Tong, aka, the Chinese mafia, are all mixed up in this, too.
Oh, did I mention the plot is a bit complex? Maybe you've already sussed that out.
Suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To read the entire review, see: http://thebookgrrl.blogspot.com/2011/...
July 4, 2012
Errol Black's case involving his dead partner, a diamond, two suspicious women, and other oddball leads is told with an irresistible voice. What I liked was how Errol's voice heightens. The mystery is contemporary yet as the plot unfolds, Errol becomes more tough and remindful of a detective in film noire. I also liked the descriptions of the places where he meets up with his suspects - restaurants, New York neighborhoods, and the colorful surroundings of Woodstock. He enjoys his scenery and what he can professionally enjoy with attractive women.
I like jewel thefts and mysteries like "The Maltese Falcon" where an object is sought as much a suspect. This was cleverly done and kept me speculating. All in all, a strongly told detective novel with an enhancing protagonist.
I like jewel thefts and mysteries like "The Maltese Falcon" where an object is sought as much a suspect. This was cleverly done and kept me speculating. All in all, a strongly told detective novel with an enhancing protagonist.
September 12, 2022
Good Read!!
May 14, 2011
Black Shadows by Simon Swift is a very enjoyable noir. Swift seems to have captured all the elements that make up the classic detective noirs. From the first page I was drawn into the mystery and intrigue that Black Shadows offered. This story is told from the perspective of Errol Black. Errol is a private eye, a detective with a not so clean background. Errol takes on the case of the beautiful and alluring damsel in distress, Claudia. He gets more than he bargains for when he investigates her fiancée. Errol gets mixed up in a world-wind of problems including getting involved with well known gangsters and being suspected of murdering his former partner, Dyke Spanner. Errol is a flawed, tough, cynical type of guy. He has a soft spot for the sweet and innocent and a weakness for the femme fatals. Errol doesn't know who to trust. Practically everyone he knows has some sort of motive why they wanted Spanner dead and why they want the priceless blue Tavernier Diamond. The closer Errol gets to finding the killer the more dead bodies start to pile up. This story is full of red herrings that keep you captivated.
With so many motives and opportunities for murder it was hard to eliminate any of the suspects. The characters are shady with motivations of greed and lust. I found it interesting that one of the characters is based on the real life gangster, Dutch Schultz This book had such a vintage feel to it. Simon Swift did a great job sorting out the details of this time period to make it as authentic as possible. I absolutely loved the 1940's New York setting. This book had everything I had expected to find in a noir and more. The story is very entertaining and definitely worth reading. Black Shadows is the first book in the Errol Black trilogy.
With so many motives and opportunities for murder it was hard to eliminate any of the suspects. The characters are shady with motivations of greed and lust. I found it interesting that one of the characters is based on the real life gangster, Dutch Schultz This book had such a vintage feel to it. Simon Swift did a great job sorting out the details of this time period to make it as authentic as possible. I absolutely loved the 1940's New York setting. This book had everything I had expected to find in a noir and more. The story is very entertaining and definitely worth reading. Black Shadows is the first book in the Errol Black trilogy.
February 29, 2012
If you like your detective stories noir, then you’ll definitely like Simon Swift’s novel, Black Shadows. Errol Black is a tough as nails detective, who finds himself embroiled in a complex and dangerous hunt for the Tavernier Diamond. Not only does he become entangled with two femme fatales, but he runs up against the mob and the Chinese Tong.
Reeling from the brutal murder of his previous partner and betrayed by his closest friend and a woman he finds more than fascinating, he must solve the case, rescue the damsel in distress, and keep himself alive. No small task considering the treacherous world he inhabits. Set in New York during the 1940s, Black Shadows is a fast paced, high action adventure that transports you back to a different place and time.
Reeling from the brutal murder of his previous partner and betrayed by his closest friend and a woman he finds more than fascinating, he must solve the case, rescue the damsel in distress, and keep himself alive. No small task considering the treacherous world he inhabits. Set in New York during the 1940s, Black Shadows is a fast paced, high action adventure that transports you back to a different place and time.
July 29, 2016
Sloppy research, if any, for the time period. Not satisfying as a mystery with too much of an attempt to be like a film noire. I actually finished the whole thing hoping it might improve. I definitely won't be reading any more of these books, nor will I recommend them to anyone.
Sloppy research, if any done for the time period. Not satisfying as a mystery with too much attempt to be like a film noire. I definitely will not be reading more of these books, nor will I recommend them to anyone.
Sloppy research, if any done for the time period. Not satisfying as a mystery with too much attempt to be like a film noire. I definitely will not be reading more of these books, nor will I recommend them to anyone.
January 21, 2012
Written in the style of 1940s American hard-boiled private detective novels, with a complex plot.
July 20, 2012
Fantastic! I couldn't put it down and I don't usually read period pieces.
January 3, 2013
1940 NYC noir mystery
March 19, 2012
A knockoff of The Maltese Falcon that I got cheap. I paid too much. Rambling. Badly needed editing.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews