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Blood & Ashes
The Debut Oscar Jade Thriller
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2010
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9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 28, 2025
There is no shortage of entertainment options that focus on the crime noir genre. Most of us have, at some point or another, been exposed to the chain-smoking, hard-drinking, hard-living gumshoe detective. They typically have a past that prevents them from succeeding in police work and find themselves outside the bounds of the law battling even sleazier criminals who usually have them out manned, out gunned and out financed in their quest to avoid the long arm of the law.
Somehow, these guys overcome their alcohol and tobacco addictions, their lack of support staff and financial assets, and with little but their uncommon wits, the ready assistance of a loaded .38 and perhaps a reliable grizzled sidekick to offer their wisdom and willingness to sacrifice their bodies if need be, they get their man. And usually a beautiful “dame” as a bonus.
Think Bogart in The Maltese Falcon, Mitchum in The Big Sleep, Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects and L.A. Confidential, the fiction of Raymond Chandler and Dasheil Hammett, and many of the story songs of Steely Dan.
With all of this history, you might think that this genre has been saturated and any additional entries into it would be cliche’ and not worth your time. But you would be wrong. Mark Loefflelholz, a relative newcomer to the field has created a character who emulates all the characteristics described above, Oscar Jade. But he weaves tales that manage to incorporate all the classic noir detective story tropes, and yet does it with such style and life in his prose that it seems fresh and innovative.
In Blood and Ashes, which we are told is the first in a series about the Jade character, Miami Beach is the setting. The time is the beginning of World War II. Jade is a former police Detective, hobbled by a physical disability and a mysterious past incident that keeps him from serving as a copper. Instead, he works in the traditional noir role of the solo gumshoe, independent and willing to bend the rules to help his client, who somewhat predictably is a beautiful woman in a troubled marriage. Her hubby is mobbed up, and his death sets off a spiral of events that plunge Jade and his client deeper and deeper into conflict with a very serious and violent set of mobsters.
There is a very vivid sense of place in this book that had me thinking that the author must have spent a part of his life in Miami. But in its afterward he reveals that is not the case. The research on the places and zeitgeist of the times is an outstanding feature of it. The dialogue is seems very authentic for the characters. They speak in terms that are harsh and the language is sometimes bad, as you would expect from criminals. But this was the 1940s, when the F bomb was not the adjective of choice, and the rare use of it makes the dialogue seem more true to the times.
Loeffleholz credits Ian Fleming as an influence on his writing, and there are several Bondian elements to this plot that I found both surprising and satisfying. The action and plot twists are continual in this book and it will keep you turning pages to the end. As an additional bonus for Lincoln readers, this author is local! He lives in Logan County which is just one more reason you should go out and buy this book. But that is the least of the reasons to read it. This is first class prose that tells a compelling story with vivid writing. Move over Chadler and Hammett, you’ve got company!
Somehow, these guys overcome their alcohol and tobacco addictions, their lack of support staff and financial assets, and with little but their uncommon wits, the ready assistance of a loaded .38 and perhaps a reliable grizzled sidekick to offer their wisdom and willingness to sacrifice their bodies if need be, they get their man. And usually a beautiful “dame” as a bonus.
Think Bogart in The Maltese Falcon, Mitchum in The Big Sleep, Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects and L.A. Confidential, the fiction of Raymond Chandler and Dasheil Hammett, and many of the story songs of Steely Dan.
With all of this history, you might think that this genre has been saturated and any additional entries into it would be cliche’ and not worth your time. But you would be wrong. Mark Loefflelholz, a relative newcomer to the field has created a character who emulates all the characteristics described above, Oscar Jade. But he weaves tales that manage to incorporate all the classic noir detective story tropes, and yet does it with such style and life in his prose that it seems fresh and innovative.
In Blood and Ashes, which we are told is the first in a series about the Jade character, Miami Beach is the setting. The time is the beginning of World War II. Jade is a former police Detective, hobbled by a physical disability and a mysterious past incident that keeps him from serving as a copper. Instead, he works in the traditional noir role of the solo gumshoe, independent and willing to bend the rules to help his client, who somewhat predictably is a beautiful woman in a troubled marriage. Her hubby is mobbed up, and his death sets off a spiral of events that plunge Jade and his client deeper and deeper into conflict with a very serious and violent set of mobsters.
There is a very vivid sense of place in this book that had me thinking that the author must have spent a part of his life in Miami. But in its afterward he reveals that is not the case. The research on the places and zeitgeist of the times is an outstanding feature of it. The dialogue is seems very authentic for the characters. They speak in terms that are harsh and the language is sometimes bad, as you would expect from criminals. But this was the 1940s, when the F bomb was not the adjective of choice, and the rare use of it makes the dialogue seem more true to the times.
Loeffleholz credits Ian Fleming as an influence on his writing, and there are several Bondian elements to this plot that I found both surprising and satisfying. The action and plot twists are continual in this book and it will keep you turning pages to the end. As an additional bonus for Lincoln readers, this author is local! He lives in Logan County which is just one more reason you should go out and buy this book. But that is the least of the reasons to read it. This is first class prose that tells a compelling story with vivid writing. Move over Chadler and Hammett, you’ve got company!
October 31, 2019
Blood and Ashes
What a great read. Wonderful main character. The story moves along at a steady compelling pace. Thoroughly recommend reading this book.
What a great read. Wonderful main character. The story moves along at a steady compelling pace. Thoroughly recommend reading this book.
June 30, 2013
I read a lot of books and "Blood and Ashes", starring Oscar Jade, is definitely one of the best I have read in quite a long time. Written by a fellow classmate from high school, I was pleased to discover an author who could easily become a favorite! This mystery thriller is set in the 1940's as a mystery/thriller. Great plot line, surprises here and there, interesting characters, and lots of history. This book was refreshing, the use of vocabulary was excellent, and the characters and descriptions were very vivid! Congratulations on a job well done and thank you to Mr. Loeffelholz for an excellent read! Can't wait for a 2nd helping of Oscar Jade!
April 4, 2022
I'm not a huge Sam Spade fan, but I still enjoyed Blood and Ashes. I found Jade to be very likable and I appreciated that he had a club foot - so many times, the hero is some kind of superhuman specimen, which I also enjoy, but the "overcoming infirmities" aspect was refreshing. My typical formula for entertainment is a hero that kicks butt (check), right always prevails (check) and a smart aleck sense of humor. There wasn't much humor or light-heartedness, but that's not common for the genre, so I don't count it against him, and would read more by this author.
January 13, 2011
Mr. Loeffelholz's characters seem alive as you get lost in the world he's created. Oscar jade will worm his way into your brain, and he won't release his hold. This book just begs to be re-read over and over. if you like 1940's hardboiled mystery novels (similar types of books include those by Micky Spillane), then this one's for you!
www.oscarjade.com is the place to order autographed copies - support a good friend and a great author! get Jaded today!
www.oscarjade.com is the place to order autographed copies - support a good friend and a great author! get Jaded today!
June 17, 2013
It was a slow starter for me but Mark nailed it...no doubt!
I was easy to envision actors who have played in similar roles like Mike Hammer. The plot was almost predictable...but not quite. An excellent debut novel Mark! Well done.
I was easy to envision actors who have played in similar roles like Mike Hammer. The plot was almost predictable...but not quite. An excellent debut novel Mark! Well done.
September 3, 2016
Interesting locale and characters which added to the story.
June 9, 2014
Not bad noir 40s murder mystery
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews