Casanegra

Tennyson Hardwick #1

by Blair Underwood, Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes

Casanegra follows the adventures of Tennyson Hardwick, a gorgeous, sexy actor and former gigolo, living on the fringes of the good life in Hollywood. This story, which chronicles the redemption of a prodigal son, combines the glamour of Hollywood with the seedy hopelessness of the inner city.

In this hot and steamy mystery, Tennyson struggles to hang on to his acting career and redeem his sex-for-pay history, which estranged him from his family -- especially his father, a decorated LAPD captain who raised Tennyson to call him "sir." Now, in the wake of his father's sudden stroke, Tennyson has to save himself from taking the fall for the first murder of a female rapper. In the process he discovers his hidden talents -- the hard way.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, African American, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Thriller

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Blair Underwood, a Golden Globe--nominated actor, has received several NAACP Image Awards. Steven Barnes is the author of science fiction novels, including The Legacy of Heorot, and has produced such television shows as The Twilight Zone and Stargate. Tananarive Due is the American Book Award-winning author of six novels, including The Black Rose, My Soul to Keep, The Between, The Living Blood, and The Good House.

Series:
* Tennyson Hardwick

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME BOOK!

Tennyson Hardwick used to be in the sex for pay business, but is not in that anymore. He hooked up with a rapper named Serena who he knew from his past. He was really looking forward to spending more time with her, then she is murdered and he is a suspect. That happens right in the beginning of the book. He is determined to find out who did this.

I could really imagine this book being made into a movie. I see Tennyson as a very hot and sexy man. This book has some steamy sex scenes! The characters really came alive for me and I really got immersed in this book. I really liked Tennyson, but really his character got me when it came to 14 year old Chela. Not everyone would have done what he did for her and it really showed how much of a caring man he is.

I am really glad I read this book. It was very action packed and really held my interest. I definitely want to read the next book!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tennyson Hardwick is a struggling actor, on a time male escort and a man estranged from his father, a retired captain in the LAPD. But with the death of a close friend and world famous singer/actor, Tennyson vows to solve her murder whilst negotiating the world of Hollywood film stars, Musicians, the LAPD and dirty cops little realising where things will lead.

Casangera is murder mystery and fast paced action adventure where our leading character not only uses all his skills to attempt to solve the murder but to also save his very life. And despite Tennyson Hardwick's many flaws he is also a very likeable character!
This was a great read where from the very start, the action and the mystery never seemed to let up!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Loved this book!! The main character Tennyson (Ten) Hardwick has a past, he's flawed...but underneath all his damage lies a good heart. when a friend he really cares about is murdered he goes out of his way, puts his life on the line to figure out who's behind it!! Blair Underwood did an excellent job, very well written, and fast paced. If you enjoy a good who done it murder mystery then this is a book to pick up and read!!

[Alyssa Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the story was pretty good. The characters were decent, but the main character was really well developed. Author(s) did a great job of showing instead of telling, which I enjoyed. Very detailed.

The thing that brought the rating down was that the sexual details were too explicit. I can get the idea without having a porno run through my head as I'm reading the words. Like, I get that the main character was a former sex worker, but still. Geez.

[Rachelle Mcmillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised reading this book, but then again, I shouldn’t have been all that surprised. Blair is a seasoned actor, who would know how to spin a good tale. Tananarive Due is a brilliant wordsmith and also a master of a dark tale & complex characters. I’m not familiar with the other author in this collaboration but I can assume he added greatly to this dream team of storytelling. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, appreciated the plot twists. I am now hungry for more of Tennyson & I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Nascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. While it was a mystery plot and there were some very thrilling twists and turns, I felt that it was more about the characters and their backgrounds than about the death of a rapper and the search to find her killer.

Initially I was torn between giving this book 3 and 4 stars. But I decided to give it 4 stars because the characters won me over completely. Tennyson Hardwick is one helluva guy with a steamy past, complex family and romantic relationships and he is handsome and very manly to boot. He was interesting and I found myself really rooting for him.

The plot had its intense moments but I found that the finale was a little convoluted and I wanted to know more. (Which is probably a good thing, right?)But overall I was happy with the ending and the book as a whole. I would definitely want to read another one if Mr. Underwood continues this as a series. And I would love to see this made into a movie.

[Arlene♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a man who was certainly being setup to take a murder rap, Tennyson was confident, surprising calm (for the most part), and knowledgeable about what to do and where to go to find the clues that would eventually lead him to the real killer.

As a first book in this series, Casanegra was a good read. The story flowed from beginning to end, and having three people write this book it never got confusing or even hinted in a change of voice. so I'm very pleased with that. I think I'm giving this a 3.0-3.5 stars. I liked the story, it was interesting and it even gave a voice to the public's feelings towards the LAPD during the time of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls death, by way of depicting what the LAPD sees as "just another dead rapper".

Tennyson was a smooth brother who wore many hats and friends in all the right places. good read.

[SassyMama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of Your Seat Entertainment!

Mr. Blair Underwood along with his co-authors Barnes and Due have pulled off a thrilling roller coaster ride of the written word. It was like watching a highly engaging movie unfold. The characters were well developed and definitely believable. Despite all of Ten's flaws you couldn't help but fall in love with his character and root for him to get out of all the sticky situations he got caught up in. And the storyline flowed effortlessly. All I can say is KUDOS, Mr. Underwood! Looking forward to HOPEfully reading more about Tennyson Hardwick. Please don't keep us waiting too long. A MUST Read for all mystery thrill seekers. You will not be disappointed!

[drey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casanegra is the story of Tennyson "Ten" Hardwick - out-of-work actor, former gigolo, son of a retired cop with a heart problem... One fine day, he's in the hood when he stops for lunch. And his life gets waaaaaaay complicated.

There's murder. Gangs. Gangsta rappers. Crooked cops. And Ten finds himself the main suspect in not one, but two murders. So he does what any self-respecting (or not) dude can do - try to figure out whodunnit. Before he's another lifeless body to add to the count...

This was a fast & engrossing read. Finished it last night (I needed something to take my mind off read # 59). And knowing that Blair Underwood wrote it, it wasn't hard to imagine him in the role of "Ten"...

ps - There's sex scenes here too. Not so many to distract from the story, which is good.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little skeptical at first listening to this book but it picked up not too far in and I ended up liking it. A tiny bit of romance mixed in with this murder mystery. Tennyson was one heck of a dude to put his life in danger, all for the sake of avenging his friend's death. I liked Tennyson aka Ten's character, he came across as a sweet, humble guy with a questionable past that just pretty much was looking to live his life on the straight and narrow these days. It almost seemed like he bit off more than he could chew. In this story, you just never knew if someone was really your friend or might just stab you in the back when money and fame play a factor. Decent listen in my opinion.

[Ebony]

I generally don't read murder mysteries but I got into this one over the month it took me to read it. I initially thought that any book that took three people to write and that cost $2.50 in the bookstore sale bin couldn't be that good of a book, but I was wrong. The details were vivid. I think it helped that I live in the L.A. area too. I knew some of the spots. I fell in love with the main character and the sex scenes were really well done. They weren't trashy but they were impressively intense. And the best part is that the murderer surprised me. I totally didn't see it coming. That's what a good murder mystery is supposed to do.

[Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like crime mysteries then this is one to read. When Tennison Hardwick is framed for the murders of a famous rap star turned actress and then a police officer, he sets out to find out who the real killers are. Yes, a typical story line but Blair Underwood, Tannarive Due and her husband Steven Barnes make the typical not so. Set in California, the story is fast-paced and as an addition, makes mention of books, movies, actresses, actors, musicians, etc who were great contributors to African-American and American culture. A good first collaborative effort by the trio. I plan to read the other two. Would like to see this as a film.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Umm this book kind of got on my nerves...I felt like it was very long and drawn out. I did enjoy the plot and dialogue it was missing something. I didn't necessarily like all of the references to Tupac, Biggie etc. in that respect it tended to be a bit cliche. I did however like the idea of a black mystery being solved by a black character. That is all I can say...

[Kellea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good first attempt for Blair Underwood. I enjoyed the Hollywood backdrop very much, however, the sex scenes were over the top, some unnecessary. Overall, it was good though, looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casanegra was a strong 1st book for author for Blair Underwood. At 1st glance it appears that this is a story of it aspiring actor and former gigolo turned amateur detective. But upon further review layers are revealed that explore sex work time, corrupt police, and finally, the complicated dynamics of friendship. I liked the sexy lead, Tennyson Hardwick. He starts off one note but the reader gets to follow his evolution. There is also plenty of steamy sex scenes and fights to hold your interest. It even has a bit of a twist at the end. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casanegra is an interesting read. The book starts with an almost Casablanca mood from its descriptions to the images that were in the readers mind as well as how it is written. This mood however takes a turn when death enters the book. With this death, the book takes a turn where at times some of the characters can get mixed up while providing such imagery that the book is hard to put down.

[Cheryl A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this from beginning to the end. I didn't expect the culprit to be who it turned out to be, in all cases. That was a good twist. No one really ticked me off in this book except Tyra but that was to be expected considering who she was as a character. It was a good read.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic mystery with some nice 🌶🌶 scenes. Blair Underwood (as Tennyson) is the main character and we all know what he looks like 😍😍

Overall a like, not a love. I may continue in the series, but i am not in a rush to do so.

[ShayBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic murder mystery with a bit of erotica that kept me wondering what really happened!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid and excellent read, I am loving this trip into the Tennyson Hardwick series.

[Essence Cropper · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just ok

[Nyssy · Rating 1 out of 5]

ugh! This was a mistake in listening to.

[La · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I found this series. I enjoyed it very much.

[Creme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the main storyline and all of its sub-stories. If this is what Blair has to offer outside of acting, then I'm here for it all. I'm a Ten fan from here on.

[Connie F5.0 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t believe I’m a fan of books by actors. 🤷🏽‍♀️ The storyline was good but to me it had extra “fluff” that was unnecessary.

[Cynthia Woodlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Slow start but a good read. After a while, I found myself not able to put it down. Good characters and story.

[Phyllis | Mocha Drop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casanegra is Blair Underwood's latest novel that focuses on the adventures of a suave, male escort-turned- actor, Tennyson (Ten) Hardwick - yes, that is his name -- fitting for a former Los Angeles gigolo, huh? Ten, motherless at an early age, is also a former police academy drop-out who had a run in with the law during his escorting tenure. He views himself as a disappointment and embarrassment to his highly revered and retired police lieutenant father which not surprisingly fosters a strained relationship between the two.

Ten bumps into an old client, rapper-turned- actress, Afrodite and the two spend an afternoon of steamy sex together at her home where she kindly offers him bona fide acting work via her production company, Casanegra. When she turns up dead the next day, Ten finds himself as a suspect in the murder investigation. He reasons the best way to keep the LAPD from suspecting him is to find the real murderer and thus begins an escapade into rapper's rivalry, the seedy side of the sex trade, and a run-in with dirty cops. Ten's investigation has him digging into Afrodite and her associates' histories which lead him to the rough inner city where her childhood was less than perfect. Her salvation came via the idolatry of Shareef, a Tupac-like persona, who befriends Afrodite and propelled her to stardom. Ten notices similarities between Shareef's unsolved murder from years before and Afrodite's recent demise and with the aid of a reporter (and love interest) follows the clues that lead to Afrodite's sister, a rap rival who has a penchant for guns and underage girls, her childhood friend and business manager, and the mob. He haphazardly stumbles into a life-threatening situation where only his quick thinking and martial arts training save him.

Readers will love Ten because he is a good-looking, flawed, but easy-to-like hero whose heart is in the right place. Readers will like Casanegra because it is a fun, hip, page-turner that borrows from today's entertainment headlines blending the right amount of suspense, sex, and action to form a great summer read.

[Kimberly Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everytime I checked my 'to read' list, this book constantly popped up and I don't know why I chose to ignore it, but I must say this was a rare find and an exciting one to stumble across.

I absolutely loved this book. It had some of the most captivating love scenes I've read in a while, and the funny thing is, there were about two and a half love scenes in the book and I enjoyed them--and you wanna know why? Because there was a STORY behind it. E. L. James could take a page out of Blair's book. LOL

Tennyson Hardwick is a brilliant, well-thought out character, much like his creator. I've always been a fan of Blair's and I have to say for this to be his first book in a series, he did an outstanding job. Ten is a very quick-witted, no nonsense type of guy with a big heart.

When Ten runs into an old flame, or rather, an old client, and they immediately pick up where they left off five years prior, the love juices start to flow--literally. But less than 24-hours later, his long-time friend ends up dead in an alley and somehow the police are knocking on his door.

Needless to say, Ten is the only person-of-interest, and being raised by LAPD's retired Police Chief, certainly presented its fair share of problems. Ten decides to remove all doubt and shame from his father by figuring out who killed his friend. And what he learns as he embarks on his quest is a mystery he'll soon never forget.

This was a really good whodunit type of mystery with all the charm and flair from a man who certainly is gifted in every sense. Well done Blair Underwood. A fast-paced read! I will be reading the other three books in this series. I'm a lifelong fan!

[July · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I bought the book on a for sale table. Blair Underwood's name caught my eye. I fell in love with him as an actor when he was on the soaps many years ago. Anyways, I bought it put it on my endless to be read book shelves. Well I picked it up and read it and was pleasently surprised. I really liked this book. It had character and substance. I kept coming back until I gobbled it up. I have to say I would buy another Tennyson Harwick story I liked this character.

Tennyson Hardwick is a actor used to be giggolo who meets up with some pretty hard characters. But Ten has a soft side if you read this book. He turns the table on some bad cops and decides to do some dectective work and try to find a murderer.

The sex scenes in this book are pretty erotic. I would have to say you better get ready for a popsicle to cool you down cause they are some smokin love scenes. Damn I hope there is another book.