What do you think?
Rate this book
Black #1
Black
Artemus Black. Perennially down-on-his-luck Hollywood PI whose Bogie fixation is as dated as his wardrobe. With an assistant who mocks him relentlessly, an obese cat that loathes him, a romantic life that's deader than Elvis, money problems, booze, nicotine, and anger management issues, how much worse can it get? When he takes a case that's supposed to be easy money working for a celebrity whose colleagues and surrounding paparazzi are dropping faster than interest in the star's big comeback, the cakewalk turns ugly and Black finds himself in a web of deceit, betrayal, and murder - and bad hair days.
The first in a new series from bestselling author Russell Blake, Black is a detective mystery with a difference that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.
The first in a new series from bestselling author Russell Blake, Black is a detective mystery with a difference that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2013
722 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 145 reviews
November 14, 2014
Introducing (for me) a new detective. Artemus James (Jim) Black. Call me Black. Roughly hewn from a similar granite to Spade, Marlowe, Archer but with a marvellous sprinkling of Nick and Nora Charles. Yes it is set in a modern world as opposed to those earlier days of Chandleresque mean-streeting but the main character Artemus (He hates the name) echoes that desire to rescue damsels and to make a living doing it. Russell Blake however subtly and cleverly subverts this straightforward heroism with a healthy dose of cynical digression from essentially everybody that Black comes into contact with. His assistant, his flaky hippy billionaire parents,his cop friend, even his cat Mugsy. This is the world, in turn, trying to help Black to find himself, and we stand enthralled by the conflict. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the rest of the series.
September 11, 2013
I've read the Jet series and the Assassin series (my favorite) and looked forward to the BLACK series as it is lighter. What a funny book this is. It's filled with a cast of colorful characters that are memorable. I found myself laughing most in the scenes between Black and his police officer buddy Stan. My favorite people were Black's parents, Spring and Chakra. They're hysterical. The best part was how everything goes their way because they think positive thoughts, and how it infuriates their son, Black, who has underlying anger issues, and tends to attract mainly negative things.
I also found it refreshing to see cats featured in this book, as this author is a known dog lover. Glad to see he's finally written something for the cat ladies.
I also found it refreshing to see cats featured in this book, as this author is a known dog lover. Glad to see he's finally written something for the cat ladies.
July 30, 2014
4.5 stars
Black is a real vintage feel PI, with slicked back black hair, dressing in 40’s style suits and fedora hats, as though he’s been whisked away from his own time zone and dropped into the present day. I was picturing a James Garner look-a-like all the way through. He’s down on his luck and harbouring bitter feelings about his immensely rich parents who not only gave him the name he hates and refuse to call him anything else, but also became wealthy with the minimum of effort, while he struggles to make ends meet.
Artemus ‘Jim’ Black is an intriguing character and regardless of his faults he’s a really good guy with a soft side and a good dose of morality. This is a fun read with lots of humour, although the murders give the story a darker side which balances things out. The descriptive writing and solid plot are executed superbly and the dialogue is sharp and witty.
Black’s snarky secretary, Roxie, in an unconventional character with an individual appearance and an attitude issue. She is the antithesis of Black. She gives him a hard time verbally, mostly about his dress sense and because he’s less than affectionate to the stray fat cat who has taken up residence in Black’s office. The one liners and banter between the two of them is seriously comical. Well portrayed and defined, colourful and amusing characters abound and give the story an authentic feel.
This my first Russell Blake book but I’ll definitely read/listen to more of his work. I have the rest of the Black series and Jet lined up. If you’re a fan of the genre it’s well worth a read or a listen if audio books are your thing. RC Bray does a great job giving Black a ‘voice’, also with his interpretations of the rest of the characters. The humour, pacing and delivery of the comedic lines are all spot on.
Black is a real vintage feel PI, with slicked back black hair, dressing in 40’s style suits and fedora hats, as though he’s been whisked away from his own time zone and dropped into the present day. I was picturing a James Garner look-a-like all the way through. He’s down on his luck and harbouring bitter feelings about his immensely rich parents who not only gave him the name he hates and refuse to call him anything else, but also became wealthy with the minimum of effort, while he struggles to make ends meet.
Artemus ‘Jim’ Black is an intriguing character and regardless of his faults he’s a really good guy with a soft side and a good dose of morality. This is a fun read with lots of humour, although the murders give the story a darker side which balances things out. The descriptive writing and solid plot are executed superbly and the dialogue is sharp and witty.
Black’s snarky secretary, Roxie, in an unconventional character with an individual appearance and an attitude issue. She is the antithesis of Black. She gives him a hard time verbally, mostly about his dress sense and because he’s less than affectionate to the stray fat cat who has taken up residence in Black’s office. The one liners and banter between the two of them is seriously comical. Well portrayed and defined, colourful and amusing characters abound and give the story an authentic feel.
This my first Russell Blake book but I’ll definitely read/listen to more of his work. I have the rest of the Black series and Jet lined up. If you’re a fan of the genre it’s well worth a read or a listen if audio books are your thing. RC Bray does a great job giving Black a ‘voice’, also with his interpretations of the rest of the characters. The humour, pacing and delivery of the comedic lines are all spot on.
September 29, 2020
This was fun. Like laugh out loud funny. 😂😂😂
Artemus Black, the son of unreformed hippies, who prefer to go by Spring & Chakra rather than mom & dad, has cycled through a series of unsuccessful careers finally landing on his current gig: modern day gumshoe. He has an affinity for vintage suits, a wisecracking receptionist, and more bad luck than good with the dames. He also has a fat cat called Mugsy who's always happy to shred furniture, clothing, or skin as long as it's Black's.
Someone is killing paparazzi and the obvious suspect is an over-the-sell-by date action star/director. While working for the director, to clear his name, we get a tour of assorted Hollywood types. Black is good company and is a cracking guide to the world around him. R. C. Bray aces the AB.
I'll definitely follow Black in his L.A. perambulations.
Artemus Black, the son of unreformed hippies, who prefer to go by Spring & Chakra rather than mom & dad, has cycled through a series of unsuccessful careers finally landing on his current gig: modern day gumshoe. He has an affinity for vintage suits, a wisecracking receptionist, and more bad luck than good with the dames. He also has a fat cat called Mugsy who's always happy to shred furniture, clothing, or skin as long as it's Black's.
Someone is killing paparazzi and the obvious suspect is an over-the-sell-by date action star/director. While working for the director, to clear his name, we get a tour of assorted Hollywood types. Black is good company and is a cracking guide to the world around him. R. C. Bray aces the AB.
I'll definitely follow Black in his L.A. perambulations.
June 26, 2018
Black is the first novel in what purports to be a series about a modern private investigator who dresses and thinks like a classic noir detective. The narration is even filled with classic detective-style similes, much like the classics. For example, one character is described as having, “…sputtered like a politician caught in a lie.” (p. 149) The mystery itself is rather straight-forward—we’ve seen the reveal a thousand times before, but the ride is worth the fare if you like humor mixed with hubris and a chaser of violent horror (Okay—it isn’t quite horror. I just wrote that to be alliterative, but it is quite gruesome in some of its violent scenes.
The eponymous protagonist, Joe Black, has to deal with a run-down office and a sassy secretary, just like in many of my favorite detectives from the ‘30s. But Black’s secretary is a little Goth “hottie” that drives Black crazy with a mix of acid humor, insubordination, and a frustratingly seductive charm. Even though Black believes she is so much younger than he that it might be incestuous to become involved with her, he realizes that he is jealous of male friends who are not worthy of her and his psychiatrist says that he has unresolved issues with women.
And as smug and annoying as Black’s psychiatrist is, he’s probably right. Black feels frustration at his mother’s hippie philosophy of life, and even more frustrated that even though she espouses such, she just keeps falling into money (It’s a long story and part of the charm of the novel, so I won’t spoil it.). A female friend, slightly older than he, and a series of the classic sultry clients complicate his life even further.
But that’s not where the mystery is. Black has an autocratic, self-centered client who is the prime suspect in the deaths of employees of a website driven by paparazzi because he once threatened the owner of the website for harassing his drug-addled daughter. One of the terrific lines in the novel speaks directly about this, “…the annoying photogs who swarmed like blackflies around the bloated carcass that was Hollywood.” (p. 18) At first, Black wonders if he isn’t being hired to clear the name of a guilty man, but circumstances soon seem to make that unlikely.
The results of investigation never seem to be clear-cut enough for Black. He has to deal with the deaths of innocents, the unwanted passes (I didn’t know P.I.s needed their own #Me, too), and the uncooperative clients. Black has a definite advantage over most hard-case, fictional detectives in that he doesn’t have to fight the police department. I can’t believe that Russell Blake decided to avoid that trope, but I’m very glad he did.
To be honest, Black isn’t the most engaging noir I’ve read, but with the retro-detective set in a modern era, there is just enough freshness that I enjoyed it.
The eponymous protagonist, Joe Black, has to deal with a run-down office and a sassy secretary, just like in many of my favorite detectives from the ‘30s. But Black’s secretary is a little Goth “hottie” that drives Black crazy with a mix of acid humor, insubordination, and a frustratingly seductive charm. Even though Black believes she is so much younger than he that it might be incestuous to become involved with her, he realizes that he is jealous of male friends who are not worthy of her and his psychiatrist says that he has unresolved issues with women.
And as smug and annoying as Black’s psychiatrist is, he’s probably right. Black feels frustration at his mother’s hippie philosophy of life, and even more frustrated that even though she espouses such, she just keeps falling into money (It’s a long story and part of the charm of the novel, so I won’t spoil it.). A female friend, slightly older than he, and a series of the classic sultry clients complicate his life even further.
But that’s not where the mystery is. Black has an autocratic, self-centered client who is the prime suspect in the deaths of employees of a website driven by paparazzi because he once threatened the owner of the website for harassing his drug-addled daughter. One of the terrific lines in the novel speaks directly about this, “…the annoying photogs who swarmed like blackflies around the bloated carcass that was Hollywood.” (p. 18) At first, Black wonders if he isn’t being hired to clear the name of a guilty man, but circumstances soon seem to make that unlikely.
The results of investigation never seem to be clear-cut enough for Black. He has to deal with the deaths of innocents, the unwanted passes (I didn’t know P.I.s needed their own #Me, too), and the uncooperative clients. Black has a definite advantage over most hard-case, fictional detectives in that he doesn’t have to fight the police department. I can’t believe that Russell Blake decided to avoid that trope, but I’m very glad he did.
To be honest, Black isn’t the most engaging noir I’ve read, but with the retro-detective set in a modern era, there is just enough freshness that I enjoyed it.
September 19, 2022
Rounded up from a 3.5. I am going to go on to the second book, but am not really that impressed. I got 4 books in this series for one credit in Audible, now I know why it was a bargain.
May 12, 2014
I debated whether to give this book two or three stars! I have to admit the cover of this book reminded me of vintage Private Dick novels of yesteryear, and since it was so critically acclaimed, I figured I'd take a chance on it. . .and, well unfortunately this book left me feeling Black, much like the character's name.
The author is very gifted in using words--some words so large, I had to look up some of them because they weren't in my brain vocabulary, however, that's the problem I had with this story. I couldn't find the story. What I found was a great deal of banter between Black and his assistant, Roxie, who to me, was borderline psychotic with a dark sense of humor--and trust and believe, if Roxie was my assistant, with that nasty sharp tongue of hers, she would find herself on the unemployment line, but that was one of Black's dilemmas--for he wanted to get rid of her for her lack of professionalism, but she was good at what she did. Hmm, that's strange cause what she was good at was being rude and highly disrespectful to her boss.
This book was filled with many educated words that gave entirely way too much detail to the point I put the Kindle down several times because I was that damn frustrated. How Black stayed in business being a private investigator was beyond me? He didn't do much investigating, except on things that weren't really of concern to him--he could take me on long drives, giving me blow by blow traffic reports, or spend an entire chapter on arguing with a young kid waiting on him to serve him coffee--or bitch about his hippie parents, Spring and Chakra, mad at them for giving him his state name of Artemus--then go back to the office to receive more insults from his inconsiderate rude assistant, and then back out the door to describe what everyone was doing, but when the hell did the investigating start? Several journalists came up dead, and it shocked me when there were suspects because for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how Black managed to find anything, with all the other B.S. that was going on!
Bottom line, I really disliked this book. I tried to like it, but couldn't muster the strength to find too much I liked outside of how well written the book was, but the story was hidden inside a bunch of detail that was so unnecessary to mention. I will not continue with the rest of this series. Can't put myself through it.
The author is very gifted in using words--some words so large, I had to look up some of them because they weren't in my brain vocabulary, however, that's the problem I had with this story. I couldn't find the story. What I found was a great deal of banter between Black and his assistant, Roxie, who to me, was borderline psychotic with a dark sense of humor--and trust and believe, if Roxie was my assistant, with that nasty sharp tongue of hers, she would find herself on the unemployment line, but that was one of Black's dilemmas--for he wanted to get rid of her for her lack of professionalism, but she was good at what she did. Hmm, that's strange cause what she was good at was being rude and highly disrespectful to her boss.
This book was filled with many educated words that gave entirely way too much detail to the point I put the Kindle down several times because I was that damn frustrated. How Black stayed in business being a private investigator was beyond me? He didn't do much investigating, except on things that weren't really of concern to him--he could take me on long drives, giving me blow by blow traffic reports, or spend an entire chapter on arguing with a young kid waiting on him to serve him coffee--or bitch about his hippie parents, Spring and Chakra, mad at them for giving him his state name of Artemus--then go back to the office to receive more insults from his inconsiderate rude assistant, and then back out the door to describe what everyone was doing, but when the hell did the investigating start? Several journalists came up dead, and it shocked me when there were suspects because for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how Black managed to find anything, with all the other B.S. that was going on!
Bottom line, I really disliked this book. I tried to like it, but couldn't muster the strength to find too much I liked outside of how well written the book was, but the story was hidden inside a bunch of detail that was so unnecessary to mention. I will not continue with the rest of this series. Can't put myself through it.
July 5, 2016
Boring...beyond boring
I really wanted to like this book, but with all the negativity and downer drab, this book should be renamed "My Sorry Life in California". The book starts off with a car chase and from there is just boring. At 17% I just couldn't force myself to even finish. I loved the premise of a modern noir book, but this was just lacking so bad. The hero is basically a doormat to his parents and secretary. The secretary is like a spoiled child with a mouth full of back talk. I LOVE noir, and this secretary would've been let go regardless of her skills. She had no respect for herself or employer.
I really wanted to like this book, but with all the negativity and downer drab, this book should be renamed "My Sorry Life in California". The book starts off with a car chase and from there is just boring. At 17% I just couldn't force myself to even finish. I loved the premise of a modern noir book, but this was just lacking so bad. The hero is basically a doormat to his parents and secretary. The secretary is like a spoiled child with a mouth full of back talk. I LOVE noir, and this secretary would've been let go regardless of her skills. She had no respect for herself or employer.
July 11, 2019
Great PI Story
Terrific lead and support characters. Snappy dialogue. Twisty interesting story. I stayed up to 3 am to finish it. This author is the real deal. Highly recommend and am getting next in series.
Terrific lead and support characters. Snappy dialogue. Twisty interesting story. I stayed up to 3 am to finish it. This author is the real deal. Highly recommend and am getting next in series.
May 26, 2025
This is a throwback noir detective story set in modern-day L.A. The protagonist, Artemis Black, has money, family, relationship, and employee problems (he's a noir detective), but has a heart of gold (he's a noir detective). Oh, and he wears a fedora and '40s-style suit and drives a vintage Cadillac.
When I bought this, I thought it would be tongue-in-cheek with a nod toward detective stories. Instead, it's a solid detective story with a nod toward Elmore Leonard. The supporting cast is strong, with a sarcastic receptionist, a down-on-her luck director friend, an overweight detective contact, and an ex-wife who is a major recording artist and perhaps wants to get back together with Black.
The story is twisty enough for the cast to shine, and the resolution is satisfying.
This was surprisingly good. Recommended.
When I bought this, I thought it would be tongue-in-cheek with a nod toward detective stories. Instead, it's a solid detective story with a nod toward Elmore Leonard. The supporting cast is strong, with a sarcastic receptionist, a down-on-her luck director friend, an overweight detective contact, and an ex-wife who is a major recording artist and perhaps wants to get back together with Black.
The story is twisty enough for the cast to shine, and the resolution is satisfying.
This was surprisingly good. Recommended.
November 19, 2021
Artemus Black. Perennially down-on-his-luck Hollywood PI whose Bogie fixation is as dated as his wardrobe. With an assistant who mocks him relentlessly, an obese cat that loathes him, a romantic life that's deader than Elvis, money problems, booze, nicotine, and anger management issues, how much worse can it get? When he takes a case that's supposed to be easy money working for a celebrity whose colleagues and surrounding paparazzi are dropping faster than interest in the star's big comeback, the cakewalk turns ugly and Black finds himself in a web of deceit, betrayal, and murder - and bad hair days.
The first in a new series from bestselling author Russell Blake, Black is a detective mystery with a difference that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.
The first in a new series from bestselling author Russell Blake, Black is a detective mystery with a difference that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.
September 16, 2017
A modern noir, the main character is flawed and grizzled, with an interesting background. Some of the side characters show surprising depth with just a few words sketched. Yet, I'm down on this book, for two reasons: the main character (while interesting) is mostly a passive observer of the main storyline, and the dialog often felt forced and a bit repetitive.
If this were an early novel by the author, I'd seek out newer work to see if they grow past these early wrinkles; but the author seems to publish novels shockingly fast. My suspicion, then, is that the dialog suffers from lack of editing more than any writer immaturity.
If this were an early novel by the author, I'd seek out newer work to see if they grow past these early wrinkles; but the author seems to publish novels shockingly fast. My suspicion, then, is that the dialog suffers from lack of editing more than any writer immaturity.
April 16, 2024
This is a really entertaining novel that imagines a seriously dysfunctional Hollywood actor and mogul who is involved with the deaths of paparazzi and directing and releasing a failed production but the private investigator Artemis James Black not only works to resolve his problem but works to resolve many other injustices at his own expense. Many of the situations are a hoot and even though there is much bloodshed and tragedy this is really an entertaining and enjoyable first installment in the series. I am eager for the next installment.
April 18, 2024
I’ll be honest. I only listened to this book because Audible had a 4 books for 1 credit special. So without doing any research I went for it. I got all 4 Black books for the price of one. What a deal. I really enjoyed the first book of the group very much. Blake has a really enjoyable style to his writing. I was worried at first. The first scene of the book was a little too descriptive for my taste. But the story picked up quickly and I never lost attention having to “rewind” as I often do.
I look forward to the next three books in the PI Artemus Black series.
I look forward to the next three books in the PI Artemus Black series.
February 22, 2017
Good read
Descriptions of wearing apparel got a little old but the plot and action totally overrode any negatives. A great PI story with luscious women involved is great reading for anyone. The plot was exceptional as it took most of the book to figure out the culprit, then to discover it wasn't them. Great description of Hollywood and the abundant trash that occupies it. Read this book, you will enjoy it.
Descriptions of wearing apparel got a little old but the plot and action totally overrode any negatives. A great PI story with luscious women involved is great reading for anyone. The plot was exceptional as it took most of the book to figure out the culprit, then to discover it wasn't them. Great description of Hollywood and the abundant trash that occupies it. Read this book, you will enjoy it.
June 13, 2019
Russell Blake’s Black will crack you up all while you start really like him
I had no clue how different each series could possibly read. I am laughing while reading the banter. Black is a guy we all know if you don’t you are missing out. I love his dark wit. He has a gift of deep thought and the ability to not be bested. Only when necessary of course. Great mystery series.
I had no clue how different each series could possibly read. I am laughing while reading the banter. Black is a guy we all know if you don’t you are missing out. I love his dark wit. He has a gift of deep thought and the ability to not be bested. Only when necessary of course. Great mystery series.
April 14, 2020
Eh. As interesting as the latest episode of Law & Order or something. Black doesn't really have any skills. He doesn't ever shine in his element. And even worse, he doesn't actually figure anything out. He makes a couple keen observations that help but he is in no way the hero of the story. He is just told things that others figure out and he happens to be along for the ride. I don't know why I would want to recommend the book to anyone.
September 25, 2020
First time reading this author
I enjoyed the book, but it was pretty predictable. The plot really had nothing special about it, although it was an easy read. I thought the characters were well developed and rather easy to visualized. I was a little put of from some of the verbiage, when the author used a word I had to look up when a similar word would do. All in all an nice story.
I enjoyed the book, but it was pretty predictable. The plot really had nothing special about it, although it was an easy read. I thought the characters were well developed and rather easy to visualized. I was a little put of from some of the verbiage, when the author used a word I had to look up when a similar word would do. All in all an nice story.
November 11, 2025
I wasn’t sure about this one when I first started. The snappy comebacks and snide comments were too frequent. It was almost like the author was trying too hard, too fast. But then about 1/2 way through the story picked up and I found I was getting to know the characters more. I appreciated that. By the end of the book I had laughed out loud a few times and was looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 27, 2022
Murder in Hollywood
Lots of murders and lots of twists and turns. But the combination is not enough to make a good murder mystery. The book is desperately in need of an editor. A ruthless one. Every time I thought it was over, there was more. And I hated the banter between Black and Roxie. It wasn't funny, it was just tedious.
Lots of murders and lots of twists and turns. But the combination is not enough to make a good murder mystery. The book is desperately in need of an editor. A ruthless one. Every time I thought it was over, there was more. And I hated the banter between Black and Roxie. It wasn't funny, it was just tedious.
June 7, 2017
Modern day hardboiled detective. Great stuff. Typical guy running own PI business that's on shoestring budget, sarcastic secretary, celebrities, jilted lovers, a beautiful woman, alcohol, and a nearly broke-down car. Exactly what I wanted.
November 19, 2017
Very good suspenseful mystery. I like the characters, especially the main character, Black. There is much humor between he and his office assistant, Roxie. Dry, sarcastic quips as they tolerate each other in his low-budget P.I. business.
I recommend this series!
I recommend this series!
February 16, 2019
In the style of dime store novels this read was an enjoyable romp through modern day LA with a detective who wishes he were living in the 40’s. As lovable main character it draws you in. A nice read to keep you going through the winter or a beach read in the summer.
January 11, 2020
Good detective story, lightly written, often witty. Obviously, Black is wasting money on therapy. I like the story, but thought the sarcastic repartee with his office assistant was a little overdone.
Not Robert B. Parker, or Elmore Leonard quality, but still enjoyable.
Not Robert B. Parker, or Elmore Leonard quality, but still enjoyable.
April 15, 2022
This book had potential
When I started reading this book, I was thinking the author must be paid by the word. Used more words than necessary, and like he reached the number needed and just ended the book. A story is there just didn't follow through with the story.
When I started reading this book, I was thinking the author must be paid by the word. Used more words than necessary, and like he reached the number needed and just ended the book. A story is there just didn't follow through with the story.
March 17, 2024
Artemus Black is the son of hippies. He dislikes his name so much that he made up a middle name to go by but tells everyone to call him Black. He is currently a PI, drives an old Cadillac and dresses in vintage suits. Very good book. Interesting characters.
October 29, 2025
I really enjoyed this book it's kinda like reading a film noir book and a Reymond chandelier title. I loved the interactions between black and his young assistant she's great. It's something different in my crime fiction library.
July 12, 2017
Ok..in the first few pages....but was really boring for me.
July 17, 2017
EXCELLENT!
This is a must read, I love all the characters, the end of the twist was lack luster, some loose ends to Meagen death , but I'm so in love with Black 👏👏
This is a must read, I love all the characters, the end of the twist was lack luster, some loose ends to Meagen death , but I'm so in love with Black 👏👏
Displaying 1 - 29 of 145 reviews