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Blood and Mascara
Iris is watching Bronze.
Bronze is following Carolyn.
Carolyn is sleeping with Billy.
Now Billy is dead and a killer is coming for them all.
Washington, DC, 1997:
A city stumbling toward recovery after a decade of violence, drugs, AIDS, and exodus. Bronze Goldberg—a soft-boiled private detective in a hard-boiled world—scrapes out a living stalking the steps of cheating spouses while bearing the trauma of the past like an open wound. But his latest assignment, surveilling the indiscretions of a stunning femme fatale, has entangled him in the murder of an up-and-coming congressman and made him the target of an unstoppable assassin. Meanwhile, the spiraling chaos of Bronze’s dangerous adventures has attracted the obsessive attention of his landlord, Iris Margaryan, a brilliant romance novelist who may hold the missing piece in the puzzle of Bronze’s fatal past. Can Bronze survive long enough to reach the ultimate truth?
A gripping noir mystery—both intensely provocative and darkly thrilling—Blood and Mascara descends into the depths of the human soul before exploding in an ending too shocking to ever forget.
Bronze is following Carolyn.
Carolyn is sleeping with Billy.
Now Billy is dead and a killer is coming for them all.
Washington, DC, 1997:
A city stumbling toward recovery after a decade of violence, drugs, AIDS, and exodus. Bronze Goldberg—a soft-boiled private detective in a hard-boiled world—scrapes out a living stalking the steps of cheating spouses while bearing the trauma of the past like an open wound. But his latest assignment, surveilling the indiscretions of a stunning femme fatale, has entangled him in the murder of an up-and-coming congressman and made him the target of an unstoppable assassin. Meanwhile, the spiraling chaos of Bronze’s dangerous adventures has attracted the obsessive attention of his landlord, Iris Margaryan, a brilliant romance novelist who may hold the missing piece in the puzzle of Bronze’s fatal past. Can Bronze survive long enough to reach the ultimate truth?
A gripping noir mystery—both intensely provocative and darkly thrilling—Blood and Mascara descends into the depths of the human soul before exploding in an ending too shocking to ever forget.
292 pages, Paperback
Published July 9, 2024
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16743 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
July 4, 2024
The synopsis for this book really drew me to it. I love classic noir movies, and really wanted to delve into this genre in book form. I am struggling as to how to write this review, because there were moments I loved in the book, but I also struggled with a lot. If you are reading this to decide whether to read it, I beg you to also read other reviews. There are so many who loved this book, and reviewed it in a fantastic manner. Maybe I am not a good target for the written form of this genre.
Things I liked:
1. I liked most of the character development. I felt this author writes and gives a more in-depth look at his characters. They were fascinating, intriguing and truly human. There are two scenes that have stayed with me because these were such honest, raw moments where we see the characters at their most human.
The first is when Roth, after experiencing the sniper shooting, is driving home and sees a cardinal in the middle of the road. He puts it on the ground in a safe place then goes home to his dog. However, that night he cannot go to sleep, and he goes back to check on the bird. Roth had been laying in bed feeling anxiety and despair about the case, and he couldn't stop thinking about the bird. When he sees that the bird is gone, he feels hopeful that it will be ok. This simple vignette of the character highlights the depth of this character.
The second time is towards the end. Roth is staying at his friend Bruce's house. They have been best friends since childhood. Bruce has always silently stood by and been a rock for Bronze. And it is in this scene that Bronze realizes this truth. Once again, the author does this with simple straightforward interaction and it is beautiful.
2. The atmosphere and tone of this story was straight noir. As you read, you feel that darkness, hopelessness and desperation of some of the characters that seem to be prevalent in this genre.
3. The mystery and action. This part was so well written, and once you get to it (it takes about 40 % or so to actually get there!) the story really takes off. All the plot points connect and make sense.
My struggles:
The stream of consciousness/philosophical wanderings of the characters. This mainly happens with Bronze and Iris. The plot would be moving right along, then suddenly it would remind Bronze of his past and he would have these very long thoughts that might have included metaphorical (I think) language. This would detract from the story. Although it is in these moments that we get glimpses of his past, they are so abstract and long that it is up to the reader to pick out the important pieces. And this was a struggle because these thoughts took up pages. Then when it returned to the story, you had to readjust your brain and remember what was happening. And even as I finished the book, I still don't know if I put all the pieces together to get a clear picture of Bronze. This was such a distraction, and when I finished the book, I was exhausted. And it was so verbose that I often skimmed parts- and maybe in those parts there was information I needed! But it was a lot of words, and I wanted to know Bronze's backstory to understand his character- but with the meandering thoughts and the abrupt stops in the story, I just struggled.
I am giving it a 3 due to the character of Roth, the beautiful scenes where the language was more simplified, and the tightness and connectivity of the case.
As stated before, this was my personal journey with this book. I think this author is talented. However, I am not sure that I could read another if it follows this way of character development.
Thank you Netgalley, Pulp Lit Publishing, and the author for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Things I liked:
1. I liked most of the character development. I felt this author writes and gives a more in-depth look at his characters. They were fascinating, intriguing and truly human. There are two scenes that have stayed with me because these were such honest, raw moments where we see the characters at their most human.
The first is when Roth, after experiencing the sniper shooting, is driving home and sees a cardinal in the middle of the road. He puts it on the ground in a safe place then goes home to his dog. However, that night he cannot go to sleep, and he goes back to check on the bird. Roth had been laying in bed feeling anxiety and despair about the case, and he couldn't stop thinking about the bird. When he sees that the bird is gone, he feels hopeful that it will be ok. This simple vignette of the character highlights the depth of this character.
The second time is towards the end. Roth is staying at his friend Bruce's house. They have been best friends since childhood. Bruce has always silently stood by and been a rock for Bronze. And it is in this scene that Bronze realizes this truth. Once again, the author does this with simple straightforward interaction and it is beautiful.
2. The atmosphere and tone of this story was straight noir. As you read, you feel that darkness, hopelessness and desperation of some of the characters that seem to be prevalent in this genre.
3. The mystery and action. This part was so well written, and once you get to it (it takes about 40 % or so to actually get there!) the story really takes off. All the plot points connect and make sense.
My struggles:
The stream of consciousness/philosophical wanderings of the characters. This mainly happens with Bronze and Iris. The plot would be moving right along, then suddenly it would remind Bronze of his past and he would have these very long thoughts that might have included metaphorical (I think) language. This would detract from the story. Although it is in these moments that we get glimpses of his past, they are so abstract and long that it is up to the reader to pick out the important pieces. And this was a struggle because these thoughts took up pages. Then when it returned to the story, you had to readjust your brain and remember what was happening. And even as I finished the book, I still don't know if I put all the pieces together to get a clear picture of Bronze. This was such a distraction, and when I finished the book, I was exhausted. And it was so verbose that I often skimmed parts- and maybe in those parts there was information I needed! But it was a lot of words, and I wanted to know Bronze's backstory to understand his character- but with the meandering thoughts and the abrupt stops in the story, I just struggled.
I am giving it a 3 due to the character of Roth, the beautiful scenes where the language was more simplified, and the tightness and connectivity of the case.
As stated before, this was my personal journey with this book. I think this author is talented. However, I am not sure that I could read another if it follows this way of character development.
Thank you Netgalley, Pulp Lit Publishing, and the author for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
June 19, 2024
4.5 stars-
I’ve read thousands of books over the years and they all seem to come with their patterns and expectations. As a reader, we expect things to happen in a particular way while the author’s job is to make their story stand out in the most unique way possible.
This author has created a story that requires the reader to slow down and actually absorb the words and try to decipher their meaning and significance.
Written in multiple timelines from multiple points of view, I have to admit it took me a few too many chapters to get into the rhythm of the story. The characters are diverse with the main character seemingly telling this story from either a drunken haze or with a wee bit of mania attached.
Bouncing in between timelines, and from character to character, is admittedly a bit difficult. But once I hunkered down and just powered through, the story became much more clear. Short reading stints are not recommended! IMOHO
This is a murder investigation/mystery from a PI point of view. The author also incorporates seemingly random character points of view as well with minuscule details that circle back the deeper we progress into the story.
The author does not shy away from vivid, gruesome detail, and his imagery is cringe-worthy at some points. This book is definitely not one you read quickly, but one that you have to go with the flow and not overanalyze. The plot plays out as it unfolds layer by layer.
I have to say I felt bad for the main character, Bronze. He is a twisted soul with an amazing heart buried deep inside. The author depicts him perfectly. He is wounded and does not want to inflict that on those he cares about.
The other characters all offer key pieces to the overall plot in subtle detail which will come together at the explosive ending.
Blood and Mascara is a stunning murder mystery full of spins and detail which keeps the reader off balance in a slow methodical method. Take time to absorb and read between the lines. It is twisty and confusing, yet an intricate story with multiple timelines and pov’s. Gory and raw. Brilliant in its own way – this one is art.
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/blood-and-ma...
I’ve read thousands of books over the years and they all seem to come with their patterns and expectations. As a reader, we expect things to happen in a particular way while the author’s job is to make their story stand out in the most unique way possible.
This author has created a story that requires the reader to slow down and actually absorb the words and try to decipher their meaning and significance.
Written in multiple timelines from multiple points of view, I have to admit it took me a few too many chapters to get into the rhythm of the story. The characters are diverse with the main character seemingly telling this story from either a drunken haze or with a wee bit of mania attached.
Bouncing in between timelines, and from character to character, is admittedly a bit difficult. But once I hunkered down and just powered through, the story became much more clear. Short reading stints are not recommended! IMOHO
This is a murder investigation/mystery from a PI point of view. The author also incorporates seemingly random character points of view as well with minuscule details that circle back the deeper we progress into the story.
The author does not shy away from vivid, gruesome detail, and his imagery is cringe-worthy at some points. This book is definitely not one you read quickly, but one that you have to go with the flow and not overanalyze. The plot plays out as it unfolds layer by layer.
I have to say I felt bad for the main character, Bronze. He is a twisted soul with an amazing heart buried deep inside. The author depicts him perfectly. He is wounded and does not want to inflict that on those he cares about.
The other characters all offer key pieces to the overall plot in subtle detail which will come together at the explosive ending.
Blood and Mascara is a stunning murder mystery full of spins and detail which keeps the reader off balance in a slow methodical method. Take time to absorb and read between the lines. It is twisty and confusing, yet an intricate story with multiple timelines and pov’s. Gory and raw. Brilliant in its own way – this one is art.
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/blood-and-ma...
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dnf
June 15, 2024╰┈➤ dnf at 54%
this book was honestly just not for me. it was probably the first book ever where i actually thought that i don't like reading anymore bc of how much i didn't like it. i found it really boring and confusing most of the time. there were so many characters that had their own pov's that it was hard to keep track of who's pov you are currently in and there were flashbacks happening all the time with different characters so i never knew what was happening in the present nor what was relevant to the overall plot. at halfway, i still have no idea what the main point of the story was.
this book was honestly just not for me. it was probably the first book ever where i actually thought that i don't like reading anymore bc of how much i didn't like it. i found it really boring and confusing most of the time. there were so many characters that had their own pov's that it was hard to keep track of who's pov you are currently in and there were flashbacks happening all the time with different characters so i never knew what was happening in the present nor what was relevant to the overall plot. at halfway, i still have no idea what the main point of the story was.
Read
June 17, 2024Aggressively not-for-me™. This book started off great and I loved the prose, but I also quickly realized that as much as I found it intriguing I wouldn't be able to stomach how meandering/philosophical it is, which was so disappointing because the classic noir style was awesome.
I'm sure this book will find its readers, and I'm sad to not be a part of their group.
Thankyou NetGalley/pulplit for the ARC.
I'm sure this book will find its readers, and I'm sad to not be a part of their group.
Thankyou NetGalley/pulplit for the ARC.
June 19, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and pulplit for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a dark film noir esque read set in DC in the late 90s. But you wouldn't know it was set in the 90s at all, which is a shame because this could have been a key feature within the plot. Instead, the book (especially the first half) is almost 2/3s backstory. There is so much backstory that I lost track of the main plot. I was also easily confused between many of the secondary characters and their involvement in the main story. Finally, I'm not keen on excessive verbage. If something could be described in 20 words, in Blood & Mascara it was described in 200 words.
I wanted to love this, but I just couldn't get into it.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
This book is a dark film noir esque read set in DC in the late 90s. But you wouldn't know it was set in the 90s at all, which is a shame because this could have been a key feature within the plot. Instead, the book (especially the first half) is almost 2/3s backstory. There is so much backstory that I lost track of the main plot. I was also easily confused between many of the secondary characters and their involvement in the main story. Finally, I'm not keen on excessive verbage. If something could be described in 20 words, in Blood & Mascara it was described in 200 words.
I wanted to love this, but I just couldn't get into it.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
June 7, 2024
This book just wasn't for me. I struggled to keep reading and skipped whole sections where the characters, at key junctures, veered off into metaphorical or philosophical meanderings that did nothing to move the plot forward. The characters were interesting but the whole book was so painfully slow that I could barely finish it. Not recommended
Thanks to NetGalley and Pulp Lit for an advanced reader copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pulp Lit for an advanced reader copy.
July 14, 2024
I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
If you're familiar with my work in RPGs, and particularly the art direction of my my game A Dungeon Game, you'll be entirely unsurprised that the cover art of this book attracted me immediately. Over the past year I've also discovered that I really, really enjoy crime thrillers, so once I read the description I knew I had to read this.
Here's the blurb:
The book starts slowly, taking its time to build the mood and introduce us to Bronze and the way he sees the world. The writing treads a very delicate line in trying to establish a grimy, noir-ish voice. For the most part I enjoyed the prose, but there were times when it threatened to tip into being overwritten and feeling like a pastiche of the genre rather than a sincere attempt at hard-boiled pulp fiction.
Thankfully this propensity towards over-writing mostly rears its head when Bronze is alone and contemplative, which most often occurs at the begininng of the novel. Once he starts to interact with other characters and take action the prose becomes a little more subdued and workman-like, and in the process it becomes much more assured and less self conscious. That's very much to the book's benefit.
What lets everything down a little is Krainin's approach to developing the mystery, which relies largely on simply not telling the reader the things the characters already know. Our cast talk in cryptic riddles, referring to events and information that they all know about but we haven't been told about yet, always talking around the point and never addressing things directly so that the reader is left feeling like we're constantly struggling to keep up. The information we're lacking is usually revealed sooner rather than later, which is one consolation, but this occlusion of context happens so regularly that I began to grow frustrated with it very quickly. Thankfully this is a problem reserved largely for the opening chapters of the book, and it begins to fall away once the pace picks up.
Another minor frustration is that the most compelling character in the book is one who's given the least page time. Iris is out protagonist's landlady, a successful romance writer who's trying to reinvent her career by writing in other genres and having a hard time of it. From the first page of her first chapter I wanted to spend more time with her, and as I got further into the book I longed for her chapters more and more. I would have happily read a novel entirely about Iris. The prose in Iris' chapters is much more relaxed, much less stylised than the rest of the novel, and as a result her voice is much clearer. The rest of the novel is well written but wants to be sure you're paying attention to how well written it is; with Iris, the words on the page melt away and it becomes a joy to spend time with her.
It's in these chapters, too, where the book seems to have the most fun with genre. Where the rest of the book is a fairly standard noiry mystery, Iris' chapters peel back the layers of fiction to talk directly about the sort of story we're telling. I'm reminded in these sections of books like Auster's New York Trilogy, Bradbury's Death Is A Lonely Business, and even sections of Calvino's ...if on a winter's night a traveler, and I wondered partway through whether the narrative was going to take a metatextual turn. It never does, and while "the book didn't go in the direction that I wanted it to go in" is not a valid criticism, Iris' chapters definitely pointed in that direction and I was disappointed not to see any pay-off from them.
All in all I enjoyed this. Blood and Mascara is Krainin's first adult novel, and it's a promising if uneven debut. It's certainly not perfect, but I enjoyed it and will likely keep an eye out for the author's next work.
If you're familiar with my work in RPGs, and particularly the art direction of my my game A Dungeon Game, you'll be entirely unsurprised that the cover art of this book attracted me immediately. Over the past year I've also discovered that I really, really enjoy crime thrillers, so once I read the description I knew I had to read this.
Here's the blurb:
Iris is watching Bronze.
Bronze is following Carolyn.
Carolyn is sleeping with Billy.
Now Billy is dead and a killer is coming for them all.
Washington, DC, 1997:
A city stumbling toward recovery after a decade of violence, drugs, AIDS, and exodus. Bronze Goldberg—a soft-boiled private detective in a hard-boiled world—scrapes out a living stalking the steps of cheating spouses while bearing the trauma of the past like an open wound. But his latest assignment, surveilling the indiscretions of a stunning femme fatale, has entangled him in the murder of an up-and-coming congressman and made him the target of an unstoppable assassin. Meanwhile, the spiraling chaos of Bronze’s dangerous adventures has attracted the obsessive attention of his landlord, Iris Margaryan, a brilliant romance novelist who may hold the missing piece in the puzzle of Bronze’s fatal past. Can Bronze survive long enough to reach the ultimate truth?
A gripping noir mystery—both intensely provocative and darkly thrilling—Blood and Mascara descends into the depths of the human soul before exploding in an ending too shocking to ever forget.
The book starts slowly, taking its time to build the mood and introduce us to Bronze and the way he sees the world. The writing treads a very delicate line in trying to establish a grimy, noir-ish voice. For the most part I enjoyed the prose, but there were times when it threatened to tip into being overwritten and feeling like a pastiche of the genre rather than a sincere attempt at hard-boiled pulp fiction.
Thankfully this propensity towards over-writing mostly rears its head when Bronze is alone and contemplative, which most often occurs at the begininng of the novel. Once he starts to interact with other characters and take action the prose becomes a little more subdued and workman-like, and in the process it becomes much more assured and less self conscious. That's very much to the book's benefit.
What lets everything down a little is Krainin's approach to developing the mystery, which relies largely on simply not telling the reader the things the characters already know. Our cast talk in cryptic riddles, referring to events and information that they all know about but we haven't been told about yet, always talking around the point and never addressing things directly so that the reader is left feeling like we're constantly struggling to keep up. The information we're lacking is usually revealed sooner rather than later, which is one consolation, but this occlusion of context happens so regularly that I began to grow frustrated with it very quickly. Thankfully this is a problem reserved largely for the opening chapters of the book, and it begins to fall away once the pace picks up.
Another minor frustration is that the most compelling character in the book is one who's given the least page time. Iris is out protagonist's landlady, a successful romance writer who's trying to reinvent her career by writing in other genres and having a hard time of it. From the first page of her first chapter I wanted to spend more time with her, and as I got further into the book I longed for her chapters more and more. I would have happily read a novel entirely about Iris. The prose in Iris' chapters is much more relaxed, much less stylised than the rest of the novel, and as a result her voice is much clearer. The rest of the novel is well written but wants to be sure you're paying attention to how well written it is; with Iris, the words on the page melt away and it becomes a joy to spend time with her.
It's in these chapters, too, where the book seems to have the most fun with genre. Where the rest of the book is a fairly standard noiry mystery, Iris' chapters peel back the layers of fiction to talk directly about the sort of story we're telling. I'm reminded in these sections of books like Auster's New York Trilogy, Bradbury's Death Is A Lonely Business, and even sections of Calvino's ...if on a winter's night a traveler, and I wondered partway through whether the narrative was going to take a metatextual turn. It never does, and while "the book didn't go in the direction that I wanted it to go in" is not a valid criticism, Iris' chapters definitely pointed in that direction and I was disappointed not to see any pay-off from them.
All in all I enjoyed this. Blood and Mascara is Krainin's first adult novel, and it's a promising if uneven debut. It's certainly not perfect, but I enjoyed it and will likely keep an eye out for the author's next work.
November 1, 2024
I hated how women were described and characterized in this book. It was sexist and upsetting. The book overflowed with the male gaze and female objectification. Women in the book served as motivators for the main character Bronze – all the women died; Bronze failed to protect them, but he could continue trying to protect them. Basically, the majority of the women in the book were dead to motivate Bronze’s journey to become a hero as if women need a knight in shining armor or savior. For a look at some of the sexism present in the book, feel free to check out my notes/highlights (Swearing is present in some of the notes because the blatant sexism really pissed me off when I was trying to have an enjoyable read).
Besides all the sexism, the plot made no sense. It was incoherent. Clues were not well dispersed. The second to last chapter was probably the longest info dump or “big reveal” I’ve ever read in a murder mystery book, because the author failed to disperse clues throughout the book.
Besides all the sexism, the plot made no sense. It was incoherent. Clues were not well dispersed. The second to last chapter was probably the longest info dump or “big reveal” I’ve ever read in a murder mystery book, because the author failed to disperse clues throughout the book.
July 6, 2024
rating: 3.75/5
I absolutely love noir old movies, so upon coming across this book, and knowing that it's a literary thriller at that, I did NOT hesitate to pick it up! And as expected, it was GOOD!
I loved the story, loved how it was so intricate and well crafted. The writing in this book absolutely delivered, reaffirming why literary fiction is one of my favorite genres. Although I don't read as much of it as I should, whenever I do, I savor every moment.
I gave this 3.75 stars solely because of the pace; the first half felt too slow, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the plot. However, once the story picked up, it was a CRAZY ride, and the characters and amazing storyline kept me hooked until the end. The vibes were there STRONGLY, and once the plot gained momentum, it was impossible to put the book down (i just finished it and it's 5:45 am). Despite the slow start, the emotional depth and gripping twists made it SO worth the read.
"Blood and Mascara" is a captivating murder mystery that masterfully keeps readers on their toes with its intricate details and unexpected twists. The story unfolds at a deliberate pace, urging you to take your time and delve into the layers of subtext. With its multiple timelines and perspectives, the narrative is complex and at times disorienting, but this adds to its allure. The raw, gory elements enhance the intensity, making this a brilliant and artfully crafted tale.
(ARC read through BookSirens)
I absolutely love noir old movies, so upon coming across this book, and knowing that it's a literary thriller at that, I did NOT hesitate to pick it up! And as expected, it was GOOD!
I loved the story, loved how it was so intricate and well crafted. The writing in this book absolutely delivered, reaffirming why literary fiction is one of my favorite genres. Although I don't read as much of it as I should, whenever I do, I savor every moment.
I gave this 3.75 stars solely because of the pace; the first half felt too slow, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the plot. However, once the story picked up, it was a CRAZY ride, and the characters and amazing storyline kept me hooked until the end. The vibes were there STRONGLY, and once the plot gained momentum, it was impossible to put the book down (i just finished it and it's 5:45 am). Despite the slow start, the emotional depth and gripping twists made it SO worth the read.
"Blood and Mascara" is a captivating murder mystery that masterfully keeps readers on their toes with its intricate details and unexpected twists. The story unfolds at a deliberate pace, urging you to take your time and delve into the layers of subtext. With its multiple timelines and perspectives, the narrative is complex and at times disorienting, but this adds to its allure. The raw, gory elements enhance the intensity, making this a brilliant and artfully crafted tale.
(ARC read through BookSirens)
June 3, 2024
I wanted to like this book more than I did even though it kept my interest as I couldn't tear my eyes away from the violence and confusion. Protagonist Bronze is an Olympic star in judo but now turns his attention to fighting crime. When many prominent men are found murdered, he realizes there is a bigger problem than he imagined and vows to rectify it. His landlady, Iris is a best-selling author who decides she'll turn to romance next and has no idea she'll get caught up in this deadly web of politics and lies. And then there's the unnamed "Assassin" who apparently loves his job; when all of these things collide, there's hell to pay!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
June 27, 2024
Blood and Mascara is a riveting, crazy and shocking noir mystery/thriller that has the reader at the first word. So much happens throughout this novel that it is so easy to get lost on the speedway of events that you get thrusted into but that is part of the thrill of this story. The only downfall I found was that this novel was SO event/plot heavy that I found the characters and the world building took a back seat which hindered it for me a bit. I would have like the novel a bit longer to get a full view of the characters relationships and the grittiness of the world. But that is just me. That is what I always loved about noir detective stories.
This was a really worthwhile story. I enjoyed it. Couldn't stop reading. 4 stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me ARC access to this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a really worthwhile story. I enjoyed it. Couldn't stop reading. 4 stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me ARC access to this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 7, 2024
It was a little dry. I loved the plot but it was so dry I struggled to stay completely engaged and the jumping back and forth got a little annoying.
I was really interested in the characters but the pacing was a tad off.
I loved the end though which more than made up for the dryiness
3.5 stars
I was really interested in the characters but the pacing was a tad off.
I loved the end though which more than made up for the dryiness
3.5 stars
July 13, 2024
This book doesn’t succumb to what you expect in a stereotypical mystery/thriller. Such as unbelievable twists and turns or a plodding pace or stupid people making stupid decisions or lack of character development - these characters and the events taking place leap fervently off the pages and I kept wishing they were real. Ok maybe not the scary stuff but the other ones.
June 1, 2024
First of all, don't let the slow beginning fool you, it almost did me. The author takes his time introducing thecast of diffrent characters, who is who, who does what and who plans murder.
The story follows Bronze, who once was a investigative journalist and now a private detective.
From a simple case of following an unfaithful wife, he finds himself entangled in a murder not so simple. With a traumatic past and an addiction to alcohol, Bronze is struggling.
Along our P.I, we get to meet Iris, the eccentric writer, Bruce, his childhood friend, Roth, the detective and the Kopes, the wealthy but crazy family.
As I mentionned above, it started really slow but then picked up an awesome pace as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place, the writting is great, fluid and sucked me in, the characters were raltable and by the ned, I felt like I knew each one as I would know a friend. The plot is clever, slowly but beautifully unfolding.
You can finish this book in a day or two, I started it on may 21st, read a dozen pages, put it down as I had some kind of sudden book slump but then picked it up on may 30th not to put it down until it was finished!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story follows Bronze, who once was a investigative journalist and now a private detective.
From a simple case of following an unfaithful wife, he finds himself entangled in a murder not so simple. With a traumatic past and an addiction to alcohol, Bronze is struggling.
Along our P.I, we get to meet Iris, the eccentric writer, Bruce, his childhood friend, Roth, the detective and the Kopes, the wealthy but crazy family.
As I mentionned above, it started really slow but then picked up an awesome pace as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place, the writting is great, fluid and sucked me in, the characters were raltable and by the ned, I felt like I knew each one as I would know a friend. The plot is clever, slowly but beautifully unfolding.
You can finish this book in a day or two, I started it on may 21st, read a dozen pages, put it down as I had some kind of sudden book slump but then picked it up on may 30th not to put it down until it was finished!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 9, 2024
Good character development and a plot that had a classic noir feel. Unfortunately, the author was quite wordy. The story would be moving along and all of a sudden, the author was taking a bunch of nonsense that didn’t contribute to the story in any way. For me it was a distraction that interfered with my enjoyment of the story.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
July 8, 2024
I was really looking forward to this read. The synopsis, title, and cover had me hooked and looking forward to some noir detective vibes! Unfortunately, I fell asleep every time I picked this read up. I did not finish this book.
This book felt like it had so much potential but burned way too slow and leaned too far into its noir-esque delivery at some points. I found myself losing interest. As we’re getting a story from different perspectives, some voices are stronger than others and even more distracting. I can say the author took their time to build out small moments with the characters. But in a book already running at a snail's pace, I think some of these moments should’ve been left out.
I think this could even be more interesting as a show. But for me, getting over 50% into the book and still feeling like I’m being presented with so much irrelevant information to sift through and still very little mystery or action has occurred was very disappointing.
Thanks to NetGalley & Pulp Lit for this digital ARC.
This book felt like it had so much potential but burned way too slow and leaned too far into its noir-esque delivery at some points. I found myself losing interest. As we’re getting a story from different perspectives, some voices are stronger than others and even more distracting. I can say the author took their time to build out small moments with the characters. But in a book already running at a snail's pace, I think some of these moments should’ve been left out.
I think this could even be more interesting as a show. But for me, getting over 50% into the book and still feeling like I’m being presented with so much irrelevant information to sift through and still very little mystery or action has occurred was very disappointing.
Thanks to NetGalley & Pulp Lit for this digital ARC.
dnf
June 24, 2024Thank you NetGalley & PulpLit for this book, but unfortunately I will not be finishing it. DNF @51%/149pgs
While certain parts of this story captivated me, most notably how Krainin describes the interaction between Bronze and Carolyn after she gets out of the shower, a lot also didn’t.
This has an interesting premise, and I love the cover and title, but the story ended up not being something of interest for me. With many character POVs and jumping around, it was hard to keep track of.
If you ARE a fan of old style film noir or detective movies/novels, this will likely work for you!
While certain parts of this story captivated me, most notably how Krainin describes the interaction between Bronze and Carolyn after she gets out of the shower, a lot also didn’t.
This has an interesting premise, and I love the cover and title, but the story ended up not being something of interest for me. With many character POVs and jumping around, it was hard to keep track of.
If you ARE a fan of old style film noir or detective movies/novels, this will likely work for you!
May 13, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this copy of an eARC to read and review! All thoughts are my own!
This book follows a couple of different characters throughout the story, and all play vital role. Bronze is a former investigative journalist turned private investigator who has SEEN some things. Iris is Bronze’s neighbor, landlady, writer, and someone he feels fondly for. Roth is our connection to the DC police force within this novel. These are the three main characters whose point of view we follow the most. While this book is set in the 90’s there were times I felt like it could’ve been set in the 50’s, which is fine I love the old time noir feel that books can give off. The writing was impeccable and while at the start of the book there does seem to be a lot said that we don’t understand, those seeds are there to bloom later in the book and it all ties together so incredibly well.
Highly recommend if you enjoy mystery books!
This book follows a couple of different characters throughout the story, and all play vital role. Bronze is a former investigative journalist turned private investigator who has SEEN some things. Iris is Bronze’s neighbor, landlady, writer, and someone he feels fondly for. Roth is our connection to the DC police force within this novel. These are the three main characters whose point of view we follow the most. While this book is set in the 90’s there were times I felt like it could’ve been set in the 50’s, which is fine I love the old time noir feel that books can give off. The writing was impeccable and while at the start of the book there does seem to be a lot said that we don’t understand, those seeds are there to bloom later in the book and it all ties together so incredibly well.
Highly recommend if you enjoy mystery books!
May 28, 2024
Thank you Netgalley & Pulp Lit Publishing for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️
Wow, 'Blood and Mascara' is a total thrill ride! I mean, I thought I was in for a typical noir mystery, but this book is so much more. It's like a punch to the gut - it's dark, gritty, and unapologetic. And Bronze Goldberg? He's a total badass with a heart of gold (even if he doesn't want to admit it).
I loved how the story twisted and turned - just when I thought I knew what was going on, BAM! Another surprise. And the setting? Washington, DC in the 90s is the perfect backdrop for this tale of corruption and deceit.
What really got me, though, was the characters. They're so complex and multidimensional - even the "bad guys" have a depth to them that makes you wonder what makes them tick. And the ending? I won't give it away, but let's just say it's a total mind-blower.🔥🔥🔥
August 20, 2024
this book was serving old detective movie, very black and white, very film noir. it simply wasn't for me.
June 10, 2024
Thank you netgalley & pulp lit for an arc in exchange for an honest review. This book took me forever to read because I was bored. The noir detective vibes and settings were there and I loved the atmosphere of each scene, but I just didn’t care about the characters enough. The plot was interesting but then I continued to get confused. The literary aspect was interesting but potentially necessary to keep up the noir-ness but all of this just did not work for me.
June 18, 2024
3.5 stars
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
“On the dotted line I’m Calvin Goldberg. People called me Cal until the ’76 Olympics. After I got the bronze, well, someone thought Bronze Goldberg sounded funny.”
Blood and Mascara was a story with all the noir hallmarks, a seemingly broken down PI, women at every turn, murder, and mystery. The first half felt a little lighter blue noir as we get to know our PI Bronze, he's traveled a heck of a road, from a Judo bronze medalist, to an investigative reporter who solved a serial killer case, to only be almost killed by that killer, to alcoholism to cope with what he saw, fired from his job, to four years of sobriety and working as a PI. There's a sense of hope through Bronze as he has been sober for a while and building up romance between him and his upstairs landlady, Iris. This all gets derailed though, when an adultery case he was working on has Bronze the last man to see a congressman alive before he was murdered. Suddenly, he's working with his old detective friend Roth, and the FBI as they try to untangled a mystery that could involve an international hitman called “The Machine”, which leads into a second half that skips right over gritty and into dark noir.
Of course it wouldn’t balance the scales. Not even a little bit. (There was no one watching the scales.) (There were no scales.)
As with any good noir, the atmosphere is key, set in 1997 Washington D.C., most of the atmosphere is felt through the characterization and writing style. Bronze smokes his cigarettes, with alcohol always haunting, and he has his share of women playing roles in his life. This had multiple character povs, with Iris getting the second most to Bronze, and she supplied her own brand of world weary, with wanting to keep changes in her writing career, being middle aged, and deciding if she actually wanted Bronze, or the idea of him. The story is laced through with more and more information to what lead to Bronze becoming an alcoholic and losing his job, the final massacre committed by the serial killer, but we don't get the full picture until the end. This story utilized the style of focusing on a character to only fade out to a flashback to give another puzzle piece to why they are the way they are, if you're a timeline linear reader, you'd probably struggle.
You’re young and in pain. Then you’re old and hopeless.
With the flashbacks that were giving us character pieces, the main murder mystery is playing out and comes fully into play in the second half. It was a bit convoluted with some moving parts but things come into focus as Roth, Bronze, and Iris hone in with their investigation. I thought the ending moment where Roth info dumps the hows and whys of the tale felt unneeded, by that time it was pretty clear what had happened and this felt a little dumbing down. What I also felt wasn't needed, was the serial killer's pov as he commits the massacre. We're all aware of how these men feel about women, I didn't need to sit so long in his thought manifesto, which felt less like character development and more gratuitous. Between this and Bronze's “awe of women” that he mentally hashes through, I was somewhat worn out on how women were being discussed; it's not enough to make you put the book down, but, being a woman myself, it's an exhaustion that I don't search out to feel in fiction.
The main character in a story must believe in a lie. The big lie that will come undone in the end.
The ending gave us a ramping up that flew back and forth between life and death situations, answered all the questions, and after all the dark and grisly, returned to it's more beginning little light with some hope. I enjoyed feeling the noir atmosphere, the mystery came close to having one too many knots, but Bronze was a character that was memorable and I'd go with him anytime on an investigation.
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
“On the dotted line I’m Calvin Goldberg. People called me Cal until the ’76 Olympics. After I got the bronze, well, someone thought Bronze Goldberg sounded funny.”
Blood and Mascara was a story with all the noir hallmarks, a seemingly broken down PI, women at every turn, murder, and mystery. The first half felt a little lighter blue noir as we get to know our PI Bronze, he's traveled a heck of a road, from a Judo bronze medalist, to an investigative reporter who solved a serial killer case, to only be almost killed by that killer, to alcoholism to cope with what he saw, fired from his job, to four years of sobriety and working as a PI. There's a sense of hope through Bronze as he has been sober for a while and building up romance between him and his upstairs landlady, Iris. This all gets derailed though, when an adultery case he was working on has Bronze the last man to see a congressman alive before he was murdered. Suddenly, he's working with his old detective friend Roth, and the FBI as they try to untangled a mystery that could involve an international hitman called “The Machine”, which leads into a second half that skips right over gritty and into dark noir.
Of course it wouldn’t balance the scales. Not even a little bit. (There was no one watching the scales.) (There were no scales.)
As with any good noir, the atmosphere is key, set in 1997 Washington D.C., most of the atmosphere is felt through the characterization and writing style. Bronze smokes his cigarettes, with alcohol always haunting, and he has his share of women playing roles in his life. This had multiple character povs, with Iris getting the second most to Bronze, and she supplied her own brand of world weary, with wanting to keep changes in her writing career, being middle aged, and deciding if she actually wanted Bronze, or the idea of him. The story is laced through with more and more information to what lead to Bronze becoming an alcoholic and losing his job, the final massacre committed by the serial killer, but we don't get the full picture until the end. This story utilized the style of focusing on a character to only fade out to a flashback to give another puzzle piece to why they are the way they are, if you're a timeline linear reader, you'd probably struggle.
You’re young and in pain. Then you’re old and hopeless.
With the flashbacks that were giving us character pieces, the main murder mystery is playing out and comes fully into play in the second half. It was a bit convoluted with some moving parts but things come into focus as Roth, Bronze, and Iris hone in with their investigation. I thought the ending moment where Roth info dumps the hows and whys of the tale felt unneeded, by that time it was pretty clear what had happened and this felt a little dumbing down. What I also felt wasn't needed, was the serial killer's pov as he commits the massacre. We're all aware of how these men feel about women, I didn't need to sit so long in his thought manifesto, which felt less like character development and more gratuitous. Between this and Bronze's “awe of women” that he mentally hashes through, I was somewhat worn out on how women were being discussed; it's not enough to make you put the book down, but, being a woman myself, it's an exhaustion that I don't search out to feel in fiction.
The main character in a story must believe in a lie. The big lie that will come undone in the end.
The ending gave us a ramping up that flew back and forth between life and death situations, answered all the questions, and after all the dark and grisly, returned to it's more beginning little light with some hope. I enjoyed feeling the noir atmosphere, the mystery came close to having one too many knots, but Bronze was a character that was memorable and I'd go with him anytime on an investigation.
July 6, 2024
Blood & Mascara is an old school PI tale that is wonderfully set in, and perfectly captures, the political landscape of the nineties. There is a dead congressman, a murdered PAC leader, and a cheating wife on the run. DC-based PI Bronze Goldberg is on the case along with his garbage scow-sized container of internal baggage: alcoholism, lost love, and an Olympic-level mastery of judo. Blood & Mascara contains everything a reader would want in genre murder mystery.
Author Colin Krainin also provides much, much more as Bronze’s internal agony turns this original detective story into a deep read of suffering and bad choices. Of parallel stories and superhero origins. Of long paragraphs of clipped phrases and memories. All of which burden the murder mystery like a soaked overcoat.
Blood & Mascara is presented in a cinematic style as Bronze, on a typical case of martial jealousy and cheating, first hand witnesses the murder of his client, political think-tank leader Roger Haake. Haake’s murder, soon to be revealed as an assassination by the international hitman known as the Machine, is tied into the death of Congressman Billy Kopes. This spooks Carolyn Haake, Roger’s unfaithful wife, into rabbiting.
Whereas the story could have just as quickly become another “on the run” road story full of strange encounters, dark alley shoot ‘em-ups, and risque liaisons, Blood & Mascara instead becomes a true investigative piece. Bronze enlists, or becomes enlisted by, his landlord/novelist Iris Margaryan and Metro PD Detective Mark Roth. The three of them prove to be a unique and entertaining team.
Yet in between the pulp fiction goodness, Krainin side tracks into deep, near-existential commentary that would fit perfectly into a Don DeLillo or even a later Hemingway yarn. Continuing with a cinematic feel, Krainin drops hints and sets up reveals later linking Bronze’s past failures and trauma’s near-conveniently with elements of his case. Many of these reveals - the flashing color of turquoise, Carolyn’s past, his previous life as a newspaper reporter - would work in a Lynch-ian fashion for a movie adaptation, but often times reads as a confusing info dump. Instead of being rewarded with an a-ha moment, the instance becomes a deflated oh yeah.
Krainin jumps back and forth between past and present. The methodical workings and rationalization of the hitman are counterpoint to a gruesome bloodbath brought on by a (sigh) serial killer. Iris’s youth and buoyancy are weighted down by Bronze’s inaction and yearnings. Krainin’s multiple POVs are at first interruptive but soon both author and reader slip into a groove that is not so much comfortable as it is recognizable.
Krainin presents a compelling mystery with a cool cast of characters. Both Iris and Roth are interesting co-stars who each get their own story and time to grow. Yet, Krainin deviates one too many times into internal concoctions of word soup that drowns the main plot. The steady beat of Blood & Mascara’s noir is often side-stepped into a mess of internal crises that although seem important, are mostly irrelevant; a lot like the nineties themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pulp Lit for the free preview of Blood & Mascara.
This review and many more are available for your enjoyment at Read @ Joe's
Author Colin Krainin also provides much, much more as Bronze’s internal agony turns this original detective story into a deep read of suffering and bad choices. Of parallel stories and superhero origins. Of long paragraphs of clipped phrases and memories. All of which burden the murder mystery like a soaked overcoat.
Blood & Mascara is presented in a cinematic style as Bronze, on a typical case of martial jealousy and cheating, first hand witnesses the murder of his client, political think-tank leader Roger Haake. Haake’s murder, soon to be revealed as an assassination by the international hitman known as the Machine, is tied into the death of Congressman Billy Kopes. This spooks Carolyn Haake, Roger’s unfaithful wife, into rabbiting.
Whereas the story could have just as quickly become another “on the run” road story full of strange encounters, dark alley shoot ‘em-ups, and risque liaisons, Blood & Mascara instead becomes a true investigative piece. Bronze enlists, or becomes enlisted by, his landlord/novelist Iris Margaryan and Metro PD Detective Mark Roth. The three of them prove to be a unique and entertaining team.
Yet in between the pulp fiction goodness, Krainin side tracks into deep, near-existential commentary that would fit perfectly into a Don DeLillo or even a later Hemingway yarn. Continuing with a cinematic feel, Krainin drops hints and sets up reveals later linking Bronze’s past failures and trauma’s near-conveniently with elements of his case. Many of these reveals - the flashing color of turquoise, Carolyn’s past, his previous life as a newspaper reporter - would work in a Lynch-ian fashion for a movie adaptation, but often times reads as a confusing info dump. Instead of being rewarded with an a-ha moment, the instance becomes a deflated oh yeah.
Krainin jumps back and forth between past and present. The methodical workings and rationalization of the hitman are counterpoint to a gruesome bloodbath brought on by a (sigh) serial killer. Iris’s youth and buoyancy are weighted down by Bronze’s inaction and yearnings. Krainin’s multiple POVs are at first interruptive but soon both author and reader slip into a groove that is not so much comfortable as it is recognizable.
Krainin presents a compelling mystery with a cool cast of characters. Both Iris and Roth are interesting co-stars who each get their own story and time to grow. Yet, Krainin deviates one too many times into internal concoctions of word soup that drowns the main plot. The steady beat of Blood & Mascara’s noir is often side-stepped into a mess of internal crises that although seem important, are mostly irrelevant; a lot like the nineties themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pulp Lit for the free preview of Blood & Mascara.
This review and many more are available for your enjoyment at Read @ Joe's
July 1, 2024
Calvin Goldberg, who everyone calls Bronze for the Olympic medal he won in judo in 1976, is the protagonist in Blood and Mascara by Colin Krainin. But is he the sole protagonist?
His landlady, Iris Margaryan, a successful romance and erotic fiction writer under various pseudonyms could be considered a meta-protagonist. She is both outside Bronze's drama and a participant within. It is Iris's point-of-view that opens and closes the book, hers are the only ones undated and told in first person, and can be tangential. Furthermore, there's her affection for Bronze whose traits—handsome, desirable, troubled, flawed, lonely, empathetic—could represent the type of male lead she writes.
During the two decades since his Olympic success, Bronze became a journalist and many other things, living around the world, getting married and divorced, becoming an alcoholic, then a recovering one, and now, in May, 1997, he's a private detective in Washington DC. While working an infidelity case, one of the men with whom his client's wife cheated, Congressman Billy Kopes, is found dead. It's not yet confirmed as murder but our detective's instincts have him contact Mark Roth, a police detective he met nine years earlier.
Back then Bronze was a journalist, working deep on a serial killer case that almost killed him when he came face to face with the murderer, Caleb Keaton. The experience still haunts Bronze as if the killer lodged himself within him—is it a coincidence both first names can be shortened to Cal?—and this latent presence resurfaces on the discovery of links between the 1988 case and this one nine years later.
Naturally, being a noir novel, the congressman was murdered. His death is followed by those of others. Now Bronze is fully entangled, along with Roth and, when he enlists the aid of Iris and another friend, it puts many in danger. To draw on the football analogies used by Iris's agent, Bronze has to quarterback an offence in trying to solve the mystery of who's behind it all, while also playing defence in preventing harm to those helping him. And he is not averse to fumbling.
The quick pace is tempered by various brief philosophical digressions that deepen the characters as well as contribute to the novel's literary sheen. In particular I found Iris's explanation of the differences between romance, romance movies, and romance novels succinct and illuminating.
The wrap up at the end has a lot of loophole-clearing exposition. So much it left me feeling as if some of the drama had been summarized or abridged. This, along with the use of so many points-of-view, including that of the killer, ensures a comprehensive presentation. But I'm not sure it all had to be shared, that some of it could be omitted or abbreviated and left for the reader to resolve. Then again, such choices might fit in with the device of a romance writer writing outside her genre, but using the tools and habits she knows.
I really liked the blending of styles (noir, romance, literary), along with the subtle meta-fictional elements. Together they work to make this a unique story without trying to sound like one. And on reaching the tense, fast-paced sadistically and perhaps gratuitously violent climax, the story fittingly sheds these elements to become pure noir.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
His landlady, Iris Margaryan, a successful romance and erotic fiction writer under various pseudonyms could be considered a meta-protagonist. She is both outside Bronze's drama and a participant within. It is Iris's point-of-view that opens and closes the book, hers are the only ones undated and told in first person, and can be tangential. Furthermore, there's her affection for Bronze whose traits—handsome, desirable, troubled, flawed, lonely, empathetic—could represent the type of male lead she writes.
During the two decades since his Olympic success, Bronze became a journalist and many other things, living around the world, getting married and divorced, becoming an alcoholic, then a recovering one, and now, in May, 1997, he's a private detective in Washington DC. While working an infidelity case, one of the men with whom his client's wife cheated, Congressman Billy Kopes, is found dead. It's not yet confirmed as murder but our detective's instincts have him contact Mark Roth, a police detective he met nine years earlier.
Back then Bronze was a journalist, working deep on a serial killer case that almost killed him when he came face to face with the murderer, Caleb Keaton. The experience still haunts Bronze as if the killer lodged himself within him—is it a coincidence both first names can be shortened to Cal?—and this latent presence resurfaces on the discovery of links between the 1988 case and this one nine years later.
Naturally, being a noir novel, the congressman was murdered. His death is followed by those of others. Now Bronze is fully entangled, along with Roth and, when he enlists the aid of Iris and another friend, it puts many in danger. To draw on the football analogies used by Iris's agent, Bronze has to quarterback an offence in trying to solve the mystery of who's behind it all, while also playing defence in preventing harm to those helping him. And he is not averse to fumbling.
The quick pace is tempered by various brief philosophical digressions that deepen the characters as well as contribute to the novel's literary sheen. In particular I found Iris's explanation of the differences between romance, romance movies, and romance novels succinct and illuminating.
The wrap up at the end has a lot of loophole-clearing exposition. So much it left me feeling as if some of the drama had been summarized or abridged. This, along with the use of so many points-of-view, including that of the killer, ensures a comprehensive presentation. But I'm not sure it all had to be shared, that some of it could be omitted or abbreviated and left for the reader to resolve. Then again, such choices might fit in with the device of a romance writer writing outside her genre, but using the tools and habits she knows.
I really liked the blending of styles (noir, romance, literary), along with the subtle meta-fictional elements. Together they work to make this a unique story without trying to sound like one. And on reaching the tense, fast-paced sadistically and perhaps gratuitously violent climax, the story fittingly sheds these elements to become pure noir.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 5, 2024
A Deep, Dark, Fatalistic Mystery That Will Keep You Knee-Deep in Murder
Calvin "Bronze" Goldberg is in a quandary. A congressman who was a shoo-in for re-election was found floating in the river. And while a gunshot wound to his head was the cause of death and accompanying rigor mortis, what was the motive? An eerie theory assembles like a fog in the night. The apparition in Bronze’s head whispers that a certain series of photos—photos that catch a cheating wife in the act of straycation—is connected to the homicide. The private eye resists, not wanting to believe all arrows point in one direction and follow a synchronized series of steps. But the emergence of a hitman puts the premonition’s contention back into play. The PI is now certain that there is only one motive for all the mayhem. One motive that is causing the serial killer to continue a bloodbath with impunity. While the investigator would love to know the answer as to what the motive is, there is a more central question that takes precedence, and it’s whether Bronze will be next.
WOO HOO! I took this joy ride and enjoyed every inch of the journey. Thoroughly entertaining, I found the characters to be unique and provocative, and the inclusion of backstories helping in understanding two of the key players that much more. The history lesson definitely explained some of the peculiar actions taken by Bronze and Iris, a woman who is mad crushing all over her favorite tenant throughout the entirety of this compelling story.
In many ways, BLOOD and MASCARA is a paean to old school hard-as-nails detective stories. It brought me back to watching movies in black and white and keeping track of the outfits worn by the femme fatale, the women the investigators always seem to fall for. Of course, this mood and atmosphere matching the classics is all due to the excellence of author Colin Krainin. I hereby pronounce him a wordsmith capable of using a sublime passage’s flow of words to take advantage of the rise and fall of human nature. All I can think is that his writing muse (that resides deep within him) called out as he was poised to write the first page and shouted: “Details! Give me details!” And at the sound of the starter’s gun … he was off! And so are we … exploring tunnels, and alleyways, and discovering what makes individuals turn their back on who they love in lieu of nearly getting their heads blown off trying to solve cases.
So if mystery is your thing, and private investigators running amok in trying to protect a woman caught up in web of lies beyond her reach, this might be for you. The writing is superb and niftily constructed paragraphs abound much like candlelit cities after dark. It all leads to a crash-bang of an ending where action rules and the exhaustive chase leaves you breathless.
Five stars for BLOOD AND MASCARA by word sensei Colin Krainin. And a big thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC copy.
Calvin "Bronze" Goldberg is in a quandary. A congressman who was a shoo-in for re-election was found floating in the river. And while a gunshot wound to his head was the cause of death and accompanying rigor mortis, what was the motive? An eerie theory assembles like a fog in the night. The apparition in Bronze’s head whispers that a certain series of photos—photos that catch a cheating wife in the act of straycation—is connected to the homicide. The private eye resists, not wanting to believe all arrows point in one direction and follow a synchronized series of steps. But the emergence of a hitman puts the premonition’s contention back into play. The PI is now certain that there is only one motive for all the mayhem. One motive that is causing the serial killer to continue a bloodbath with impunity. While the investigator would love to know the answer as to what the motive is, there is a more central question that takes precedence, and it’s whether Bronze will be next.
WOO HOO! I took this joy ride and enjoyed every inch of the journey. Thoroughly entertaining, I found the characters to be unique and provocative, and the inclusion of backstories helping in understanding two of the key players that much more. The history lesson definitely explained some of the peculiar actions taken by Bronze and Iris, a woman who is mad crushing all over her favorite tenant throughout the entirety of this compelling story.
In many ways, BLOOD and MASCARA is a paean to old school hard-as-nails detective stories. It brought me back to watching movies in black and white and keeping track of the outfits worn by the femme fatale, the women the investigators always seem to fall for. Of course, this mood and atmosphere matching the classics is all due to the excellence of author Colin Krainin. I hereby pronounce him a wordsmith capable of using a sublime passage’s flow of words to take advantage of the rise and fall of human nature. All I can think is that his writing muse (that resides deep within him) called out as he was poised to write the first page and shouted: “Details! Give me details!” And at the sound of the starter’s gun … he was off! And so are we … exploring tunnels, and alleyways, and discovering what makes individuals turn their back on who they love in lieu of nearly getting their heads blown off trying to solve cases.
So if mystery is your thing, and private investigators running amok in trying to protect a woman caught up in web of lies beyond her reach, this might be for you. The writing is superb and niftily constructed paragraphs abound much like candlelit cities after dark. It all leads to a crash-bang of an ending where action rules and the exhaustive chase leaves you breathless.
Five stars for BLOOD AND MASCARA by word sensei Colin Krainin. And a big thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC copy.
July 2, 2024
2.5 stars. The author, Colin Krainin, is a talented writer and capable wordsmith with a twisty plotline. I believe he has a promising future in writing thrillers and mysteries. However, I regret that the style of this book was not for me. I prefer a more straightforward crime thriller without all the muddled and verbose distractions. Potential readers should not be deterred by my misgivings but read the glowing reviews posted by others.
This dense, complex plot required me to stop, rethink, and give it my full attention. The first part of the book proceeded at a slow pace. The storyline fell into the classic noir category of the 1950s but took place in the 1990s in Washington, DC. It was a dark and gritty detective story. At times, it was presented as a literary mystery, and then it seemed too much effort was underway to move it into this genre. With some characters, such as Roth, it was written in a simpler, straightforward manner. I encountered multiple timelines and points of view. The parts involving Bronze and Iris became muddled by streams of consciousness, philosophical wanderings and meandering thoughts that detracted from the crime procedural.
Bronze is a former judo champ and a journalist who now works as a private detective. He has a troubled past, a low self-esteem, a sense of defeat, and is battling alcoholism and would fit in nicely in a classic noir novel. There is also Caroline, a femme fatale. Bronze was hired to follow her to prove her unfaithful behaviour. He discovers she is connected with two recent murders, including her politician husband and a prominent man (among several) with whom she was having an affair.
He lives in the basement apartment of his landlady, Iris's home. Iris is a popular bestselling writer of romance novels who is trying to publish other types of books. Iris watches Bronze and may be in love with him or the idea of him. She is slowly putting his memoirs together.
Roth is a police detective who eventually joins Bronze and Iris while trying to solve recent murders. There is also a cool and calculating international hired serial killer. He will work for anyone willing to pay him a large sum of money, and it is rumoured that the CIA and KGB have hired him in the past. Who does he work for now? Are Roth, Bronze and Iris now in his sights and in danger?
Connections with current murders seem to go back to the killing of a young political intern in the 1980s. Unethical politics and corrupt big business are involved up to the present. The complex plot is unravelled and explained near the end, but I had been struggling and exhausted. By then. I no longer cared about the solution.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early ARC. Publication is set for July 09, 2024.
This dense, complex plot required me to stop, rethink, and give it my full attention. The first part of the book proceeded at a slow pace. The storyline fell into the classic noir category of the 1950s but took place in the 1990s in Washington, DC. It was a dark and gritty detective story. At times, it was presented as a literary mystery, and then it seemed too much effort was underway to move it into this genre. With some characters, such as Roth, it was written in a simpler, straightforward manner. I encountered multiple timelines and points of view. The parts involving Bronze and Iris became muddled by streams of consciousness, philosophical wanderings and meandering thoughts that detracted from the crime procedural.
Bronze is a former judo champ and a journalist who now works as a private detective. He has a troubled past, a low self-esteem, a sense of defeat, and is battling alcoholism and would fit in nicely in a classic noir novel. There is also Caroline, a femme fatale. Bronze was hired to follow her to prove her unfaithful behaviour. He discovers she is connected with two recent murders, including her politician husband and a prominent man (among several) with whom she was having an affair.
He lives in the basement apartment of his landlady, Iris's home. Iris is a popular bestselling writer of romance novels who is trying to publish other types of books. Iris watches Bronze and may be in love with him or the idea of him. She is slowly putting his memoirs together.
Roth is a police detective who eventually joins Bronze and Iris while trying to solve recent murders. There is also a cool and calculating international hired serial killer. He will work for anyone willing to pay him a large sum of money, and it is rumoured that the CIA and KGB have hired him in the past. Who does he work for now? Are Roth, Bronze and Iris now in his sights and in danger?
Connections with current murders seem to go back to the killing of a young political intern in the 1980s. Unethical politics and corrupt big business are involved up to the present. The complex plot is unravelled and explained near the end, but I had been struggling and exhausted. By then. I no longer cared about the solution.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early ARC. Publication is set for July 09, 2024.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2024
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Blood & Mascara, by Colin Krainin, from pulplit /NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
It took everything I had in me to make it to *p58* of this book before I oh-so-happily quit reading it.
Why I thought I would enjoy a noir mystery at this late stage of the game is completely beyond me. Even rereading the Description, now, I’m baffled as to why I downloaded this one. Maybe because of the time period and the setting? Who knows.
Sigh.
OK, didn’t like any of the characters, didn’t like the Oh, Please, Watch Me Be So Erudite style of writing, didn’t like what seemed to me to be a slightly “off” focus on sexuality/the human animal. Couldn’t empathize with anybody’s particular angst.
But, in the category of one person’s trash is another one’s treasure, seems like most of those things were what a certain Chris C liked about the book. Here’s a link to her review, which I’m including because it’s essentially the antithesis of mine: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
*PS*
I long ago gave up trying to finish every book I read. Instead, I follow my friend F’s rule of thumb to give a book at least to the page number of your age before you quit. Sometimes, if I’m really on the fence, I’ll go a quarter- or half-again as long as that. Not this time, obviously!
DESCRIPTION
Iris is watching Bronze.
Bronze is following Carolyn.
Carolyn is sleeping with Billy.
Now Billy is dead and a killer is coming for them all.
Washington, DC, 1997:
A city stumbling toward recovery after a decade of violence, drugs, AIDS, and exodus. Bronze Goldberg—a soft-boiled private detective in a hard-boiled world—scrapes out a living stalking the steps of cheating spouses while bearing the trauma of the past like an open wound. But his latest assignment, surveilling the indiscretions of a stunning femme fatale, has entangled him in the murder of an up-and-coming congressman and made him the target of an unstoppable assassin. Meanwhile, the spiraling chaos of Bronze’s dangerous adventures has attracted the obsessive attention of his landlord, Iris Margaryan, a brilliant romance novelist who may hold the missing piece in the puzzle of Bronze’s fatal past. Can Bronze survive long enough to reach the ultimate truth?
A gripping noir mystery—both intensely provocative and darkly thrilling—Blood and Mascara descends into the depths of the human soul before exploding in an ending too shocking to ever forget.
Received a complimentary copy of Blood & Mascara, by Colin Krainin, from pulplit /NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
It took everything I had in me to make it to *p58* of this book before I oh-so-happily quit reading it.
Why I thought I would enjoy a noir mystery at this late stage of the game is completely beyond me. Even rereading the Description, now, I’m baffled as to why I downloaded this one. Maybe because of the time period and the setting? Who knows.
Sigh.
OK, didn’t like any of the characters, didn’t like the Oh, Please, Watch Me Be So Erudite style of writing, didn’t like what seemed to me to be a slightly “off” focus on sexuality/the human animal. Couldn’t empathize with anybody’s particular angst.
But, in the category of one person’s trash is another one’s treasure, seems like most of those things were what a certain Chris C liked about the book. Here’s a link to her review, which I’m including because it’s essentially the antithesis of mine: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
*PS*
I long ago gave up trying to finish every book I read. Instead, I follow my friend F’s rule of thumb to give a book at least to the page number of your age before you quit. Sometimes, if I’m really on the fence, I’ll go a quarter- or half-again as long as that. Not this time, obviously!
DESCRIPTION
Iris is watching Bronze.
Bronze is following Carolyn.
Carolyn is sleeping with Billy.
Now Billy is dead and a killer is coming for them all.
Washington, DC, 1997:
A city stumbling toward recovery after a decade of violence, drugs, AIDS, and exodus. Bronze Goldberg—a soft-boiled private detective in a hard-boiled world—scrapes out a living stalking the steps of cheating spouses while bearing the trauma of the past like an open wound. But his latest assignment, surveilling the indiscretions of a stunning femme fatale, has entangled him in the murder of an up-and-coming congressman and made him the target of an unstoppable assassin. Meanwhile, the spiraling chaos of Bronze’s dangerous adventures has attracted the obsessive attention of his landlord, Iris Margaryan, a brilliant romance novelist who may hold the missing piece in the puzzle of Bronze’s fatal past. Can Bronze survive long enough to reach the ultimate truth?
A gripping noir mystery—both intensely provocative and darkly thrilling—Blood and Mascara descends into the depths of the human soul before exploding in an ending too shocking to ever forget.
July 8, 2024
Debut adult novelist Colin Krainin elevates contemporary noir with this gritty, hard-hitting thriller that will have readers anxiously awaiting a sequel. Highly recommended.
Washington D.C. private detective Bronze Goldberg specializes in infidelity cases. Just after capturing photographic evidence on a suspected philanderer named Carolyn, Bronze finds that a man she had sex with – a congressman named Billy Kopes – has washed up dead on the shores of the Potomac River.
Bronze goes to a police detective, Mark Roth, and tells him what he knows. But when the pair go to Bronze’s client (Carolyn’s husband) to get more information, Bronze lashes out, accusing his client of holding back information. The two get into a vicious argument before it’s abruptly ended by an assassin. Bullets fly and chaos ensues. Moments later, Carolyn’s husband is dead and a police officer is wounded. Were they really the intended targets, or were the bullets meant for Bronze?
Bronze, who was already scraping by thanks to struggles with addiction and trauma, finds his entire life turned upside down. Will this case be the end of him, or could it be the path to salvation?
Noir die-hards will love what author Colin Krainin has done with Blood and Mascara. Carolyn is an archetype femme fatale, and 90s D.C. is rendered as a perfect gritty urban setting. Krainin nails lighting contrasts at levels usually reserved for film by writing from a sensory perspective (“Walking out into the May sun, Bronze felt like a vampire about to disintegrate…[he] lit a Chesterfield and beat a retreat back to the shade of the stairs that hung over the door of his basement apartment”) Dark things cannot be escaped even in day, which creates a terrific atmosphere of tension, mystery and moral complexity throughout.
But Krainin’s greatest achievement is Bronze’s spooky landlord, Iris Margaryan. At times she seems to know Bronze better than he knows himself, and chapters written from her perspective are haunting, dark and illuminating all at the same time. Bronze’s investigation into the congressman’s death is worth the price of admission alone, but Iris’ role in Bronze’s journey and character development is what truly surprises and differentiates Blood and Mascara from the pack. Noir fans may find the novel one of the most emotive books the genre has ever seen. We hope this isn’t the last we see of Bronze Goldberg.
Washington D.C. private detective Bronze Goldberg specializes in infidelity cases. Just after capturing photographic evidence on a suspected philanderer named Carolyn, Bronze finds that a man she had sex with – a congressman named Billy Kopes – has washed up dead on the shores of the Potomac River.
Bronze goes to a police detective, Mark Roth, and tells him what he knows. But when the pair go to Bronze’s client (Carolyn’s husband) to get more information, Bronze lashes out, accusing his client of holding back information. The two get into a vicious argument before it’s abruptly ended by an assassin. Bullets fly and chaos ensues. Moments later, Carolyn’s husband is dead and a police officer is wounded. Were they really the intended targets, or were the bullets meant for Bronze?
Bronze, who was already scraping by thanks to struggles with addiction and trauma, finds his entire life turned upside down. Will this case be the end of him, or could it be the path to salvation?
Noir die-hards will love what author Colin Krainin has done with Blood and Mascara. Carolyn is an archetype femme fatale, and 90s D.C. is rendered as a perfect gritty urban setting. Krainin nails lighting contrasts at levels usually reserved for film by writing from a sensory perspective (“Walking out into the May sun, Bronze felt like a vampire about to disintegrate…[he] lit a Chesterfield and beat a retreat back to the shade of the stairs that hung over the door of his basement apartment”) Dark things cannot be escaped even in day, which creates a terrific atmosphere of tension, mystery and moral complexity throughout.
But Krainin’s greatest achievement is Bronze’s spooky landlord, Iris Margaryan. At times she seems to know Bronze better than he knows himself, and chapters written from her perspective are haunting, dark and illuminating all at the same time. Bronze’s investigation into the congressman’s death is worth the price of admission alone, but Iris’ role in Bronze’s journey and character development is what truly surprises and differentiates Blood and Mascara from the pack. Noir fans may find the novel one of the most emotive books the genre has ever seen. We hope this isn’t the last we see of Bronze Goldberg.
October 22, 2024
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
Blood and Mascara by author Colin Krainin is a noir novel that takes place in the 90s and the character is centered around a character who goes by the nickname Bronze that he was tagged with after winning an Olympic bronze medal in Judo competition in his younger days, but he has fallen on hard times as a private investigator since his days of recognition as a star investigative reporter who put himself at risk to succeed at getting inside information to expose those involved in his articles.
Bronze has acquired a reputation as a womanizer and alcoholic who has relied on his good looks and charm to get by in life, although he is an enigma to any who know him and who he really is and what his early life was like that has made him closed off from the friends and women who love him in spite of (or because of) his shortcomings.
Iris is the neighbor of the building that Bronze lives in and being directly below him imagines what he’s doing in her obsessive fixation on and attraction to him that she hides to him and all others.
Esther is a woman from his past that we learn more about throughout the book and how they were involved in the past.
Roth is a cop who is investigating the death of a politician named Billy Kopes who was involved with Carolyn, wife of a powerful man named Roger Haake and he enlists (or coerces) into aiding in the investigation.
Several of the characters that are already or become part of the personal life of Bronze become part of the investigation he’s taken on, and he struggles to draw lines between his personal involvement with them and his professional conduct.
Author Krainin writes a novel that has a noir feel to it and involves interesting characters and especially the lead character that keeps an interest level throughout the early part of the book that is slowly evolving into action that makes the story succeed at maintaining an interest into the investigation and the life of Bronze.
4 stars, and short of 5 due to the lengthy lead up to the action remainder of the book.
Blood and Mascara by author Colin Krainin is a noir novel that takes place in the 90s and the character is centered around a character who goes by the nickname Bronze that he was tagged with after winning an Olympic bronze medal in Judo competition in his younger days, but he has fallen on hard times as a private investigator since his days of recognition as a star investigative reporter who put himself at risk to succeed at getting inside information to expose those involved in his articles.
Bronze has acquired a reputation as a womanizer and alcoholic who has relied on his good looks and charm to get by in life, although he is an enigma to any who know him and who he really is and what his early life was like that has made him closed off from the friends and women who love him in spite of (or because of) his shortcomings.
Iris is the neighbor of the building that Bronze lives in and being directly below him imagines what he’s doing in her obsessive fixation on and attraction to him that she hides to him and all others.
Esther is a woman from his past that we learn more about throughout the book and how they were involved in the past.
Roth is a cop who is investigating the death of a politician named Billy Kopes who was involved with Carolyn, wife of a powerful man named Roger Haake and he enlists (or coerces) into aiding in the investigation.
Several of the characters that are already or become part of the personal life of Bronze become part of the investigation he’s taken on, and he struggles to draw lines between his personal involvement with them and his professional conduct.
Author Krainin writes a novel that has a noir feel to it and involves interesting characters and especially the lead character that keeps an interest level throughout the early part of the book that is slowly evolving into action that makes the story succeed at maintaining an interest into the investigation and the life of Bronze.
4 stars, and short of 5 due to the lengthy lead up to the action remainder of the book.
July 8, 2024
Blood and Mascara by Colin Krainin is a PI novel and a very bloody and violent. Enjoyable, though. Bronze is a private investigator and a drunk. To be fair, he drinks to forget, but it really isn’t helping much. He once followed a serial killer as he killed women, prostitutes, all from the same brothel, and then he attacked the brothel. Bronze was on his heels and saw things he would never forget. Now it seems to be all about politics. They have just pulled a congressman out of the Potomac River: Billy Kopes. That apparently led to several more people being killed. Bronze could not figure out why but he knew who was next. One of the murdered men was a lobbyist named Roger Haake who hired Bronze to determine if his wife was having an affair. Then he was gunned down on the street, narrowly missing Bronze and his police detective friend, Mark Roth. Bronze could not figure out why but he knew who was next. Carolyn Haake, the woman who had been having the affair with Billy Kopes (and apparently several others as well). Bronze rushed to get her out of town, putting others at risk. He got her to safety, even he didn’t know where she was, but she ran out of money and made a call. Then she was dead. Bronze couldn’t forgive himself. He had fallen a little in love with her.
Bronze is a complicated man who cam from a strict Jewish family. He promised his father he would never drink. He meant it. But, things happened. As big a mess as he was he cared about other people, especially women. And wept over them. He was a very complicated character and so well written that he became a sympathetic one. The plot was complex and convoluted. It was about family, by birth or by commitment. It was multiple murders, most by a paid assassin. Not all. Mark Roth tracked down Billy’s killer. A surprise. Family and politics don’t always mix. Makes one nervous about what goes on behind the scenes, but we all are anyway. Good read!
I was invited to read Blood and Mascara by pulpit. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #pulpit #ColinKrainin #BloodAndMascara
Bronze is a complicated man who cam from a strict Jewish family. He promised his father he would never drink. He meant it. But, things happened. As big a mess as he was he cared about other people, especially women. And wept over them. He was a very complicated character and so well written that he became a sympathetic one. The plot was complex and convoluted. It was about family, by birth or by commitment. It was multiple murders, most by a paid assassin. Not all. Mark Roth tracked down Billy’s killer. A surprise. Family and politics don’t always mix. Makes one nervous about what goes on behind the scenes, but we all are anyway. Good read!
I was invited to read Blood and Mascara by pulpit. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #pulpit #ColinKrainin #BloodAndMascara
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