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The Black Marble
He is a damned good cop--a burned-out homicide detective wrapped around a Smith & Wesson .38 and a vodka bottle. She is his partner--twice divorced, nursing a grudge against men, obsessed by the awful temptation of love.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
956 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Wambaugh
56 books753 followersJoseph Aloysius Wambaugh Jr. was an American writer known for his fictional and nonfictional accounts of police work in the United States. Many of his novels are set in Los Angeles and its surroundings and feature Los Angeles police officers as protagonists. He won three Edgar Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. Before his writing career Wambaugh received an associate of arts degree from Chaffey College and joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1960. He served for 14 years, rising from patrolman to detective sergeant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
August 27, 2015
After a slow start, Wambaugh gets really fun with his usual cynicism mixed with humor style. Sgt. Valnikov, a world weary cop, has been paired with Natalie in the burglary squad and they wind up investigating the theft of a potential Westminster Show winner. (If you haven’t seen Best in Show, you must.)
The interchanges between Natalie, who thinks Valnikov is just some dope addled cop, and Valnikov, who has his own worries, are priceless, not to mention the often quite funny, yet cynical stories embedded in the larger tale.
For example, there’s the thief who decides to take down a floating crap game and rip off the players. He charges in with a double-barreled shotgun and immediately scares the crap out of everyone by shooting a round into the ceiling. That’s so exciting, he decide to fire off another round in the ceiling. Shortly thereafter, just after the crowd realizes what he’s done, he does too, i.e. that he just fired two rounds from a double-barreled shotgun. Just before they all beat the crap out of him. Or the Good Humor man breaking speed limits to get to the site of a jumper off a building so he can make a fortune selling ice cream to sooth the throats of all the bystanders yelling, “Jump, you chickenshit.” Or the time when eighteen cops in a barricade situation with a crazy guy behind the door realize they need to dowse the lights in the hallway. Unlike in the movies, when one shot would do, in real life, “adrenaline turns the arms to licorice” and the fusillade from all the cops completely missed the lights. Only a lampshade had a bullet hole. Valnikov suggests an alternate route. Sneaking along the wall, he unscrewed the light bulbs. Instant darkness.
In spite of all the fun and love story, there’s an undercurrent of cynicism and horror, represented by Charlie Lightfoot and the rabbit nightmares. Not a great Wambaugh, but certainly a good read.
The interchanges between Natalie, who thinks Valnikov is just some dope addled cop, and Valnikov, who has his own worries, are priceless, not to mention the often quite funny, yet cynical stories embedded in the larger tale.
For example, there’s the thief who decides to take down a floating crap game and rip off the players. He charges in with a double-barreled shotgun and immediately scares the crap out of everyone by shooting a round into the ceiling. That’s so exciting, he decide to fire off another round in the ceiling. Shortly thereafter, just after the crowd realizes what he’s done, he does too, i.e. that he just fired two rounds from a double-barreled shotgun. Just before they all beat the crap out of him. Or the Good Humor man breaking speed limits to get to the site of a jumper off a building so he can make a fortune selling ice cream to sooth the throats of all the bystanders yelling, “Jump, you chickenshit.” Or the time when eighteen cops in a barricade situation with a crazy guy behind the door realize they need to dowse the lights in the hallway. Unlike in the movies, when one shot would do, in real life, “adrenaline turns the arms to licorice” and the fusillade from all the cops completely missed the lights. Only a lampshade had a bullet hole. Valnikov suggests an alternate route. Sneaking along the wall, he unscrewed the light bulbs. Instant darkness.
In spite of all the fun and love story, there’s an undercurrent of cynicism and horror, represented by Charlie Lightfoot and the rabbit nightmares. Not a great Wambaugh, but certainly a good read.
August 28, 2017
Joseph Wambaugh books are great reads. Although stories of crime, they are more about people. His characters are quirky. They are escapes from the world, but still very satisfying.
April 22, 2019
A good read :) I about died laughing at the kettles wrench !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think that is the funniest part of a book that I have ever read :) Loved the ending too.
set-aside
August 21, 2021I read something by Wambaugh years ago. My memory says I liked it, but I've never gotten back to him. I was glad when a member of my face to face book club was giving this away and I happily brought it home. But there is just too much testosterone for me. Is Wambaugh always that way and my much younger self didn't care (or didn't notice?). In any case, I'm setting this one aside and moving on. I won't leave a rating as I think it isn't awful, it just isn't what I want to be reading these days.
August 23, 2016
Stephen King mentioned this author in one of the Mercedes books. I had to see why Stephen King liked him. Joseph Wambaugh is too much fun to read.
August 27, 2011
this was the first Wambaugh novel I read, and I was swept along by his offbeat humour and wry observations of how misconceptions and jumping to conclusion can backfire.
I'm hoping the characters are a little larger than life, but ready to believe in them, and they were wonderfully drawn, and even felt some (until he cut vicky's ear) sympathy for the Terrier King. The budding romance between the old world weary white russian cop and the smart young ladycop is heartbreaking pathos. Every now and then though Wambaugh makes you sit up and pay attention when reporting on how people will spend eternity. I have since snapped up any Wambaugh work that comes my way, but for my money, this is the best. :)
I'm hoping the characters are a little larger than life, but ready to believe in them, and they were wonderfully drawn, and even felt some (until he cut vicky's ear) sympathy for the Terrier King. The budding romance between the old world weary white russian cop and the smart young ladycop is heartbreaking pathos. Every now and then though Wambaugh makes you sit up and pay attention when reporting on how people will spend eternity. I have since snapped up any Wambaugh work that comes my way, but for my money, this is the best. :)
October 25, 2014
The author of The Choirboys has given us another novel about life in Southern California. Crimes investigated range from extortion using kidnapped dogs to murder. The book has a varied cast of characters.
August 2, 2018
Loved the characters.
October 17, 2018
I have very rarely come across something so completely unreadable.
August 28, 2019
This is a 1978 book. The setting is in Los Angeles, mainly Pasadena and Hollywood area. The book is fast paced and drop dead funny. Joseph Wambaugh’s dry comic writing reminds me of Donald Westlake’s style of comic mysteries.
The story took place over a one week or so period in January of 1977, starting right before Super Bowl XI and the 1977 Beverly Dog Show, both of which played a part in the story. The storyline follows two parallel tracks. The first is about Russian American detective sergeant A.M. Valnikov, a veteran detective who is burnt out and is close to a mental breakdown, being paired with a new partner Natalie Zimmerman, an experienced veteran herself. Natalie at first was very unhappy with Valnikov and thought he is a crazy lunatic and kept trying to get rid of him but due to a constant stream of comic situations, never got a chance to. At the end, Natalie got to understand and like Valnikov and the two became lovers. The second story is about a habitual gambler called Philo Skinner who owe a lot of money to a loan shark and in desperation, kidnapped a show dog from the Beverly Dog Show for ransom. Unfortunately for Philo, the dog’s owner, Mandeline Whitfield, was outwardly rich but really very poor and cannot afford to pay the amount Philo asked for. The two stories merged when Valnikov and Zimmerman got involved in that dognapping case. The book gave a lot of background color on the Old Pasadena country club set, as well as the life of various players in a dog show.
The title of the book is Black Marble. That term is a recurring theme in the book with the various main characters keep lamenting their lives and why they got dealt with a black marble.
The story took place over a one week or so period in January of 1977, starting right before Super Bowl XI and the 1977 Beverly Dog Show, both of which played a part in the story. The storyline follows two parallel tracks. The first is about Russian American detective sergeant A.M. Valnikov, a veteran detective who is burnt out and is close to a mental breakdown, being paired with a new partner Natalie Zimmerman, an experienced veteran herself. Natalie at first was very unhappy with Valnikov and thought he is a crazy lunatic and kept trying to get rid of him but due to a constant stream of comic situations, never got a chance to. At the end, Natalie got to understand and like Valnikov and the two became lovers. The second story is about a habitual gambler called Philo Skinner who owe a lot of money to a loan shark and in desperation, kidnapped a show dog from the Beverly Dog Show for ransom. Unfortunately for Philo, the dog’s owner, Mandeline Whitfield, was outwardly rich but really very poor and cannot afford to pay the amount Philo asked for. The two stories merged when Valnikov and Zimmerman got involved in that dognapping case. The book gave a lot of background color on the Old Pasadena country club set, as well as the life of various players in a dog show.
The title of the book is Black Marble. That term is a recurring theme in the book with the various main characters keep lamenting their lives and why they got dealt with a black marble.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2022
In truth, I consider this a 3.5 star book but because I am a big Wambaugh fan posted it as 4 star. While reading felt this was definitely a 3 star book. Not a bad read, a little slow, some curious characters and a story that seemed to be milked for more than it was worth. Then, the conclusion! Yes, the conclusion pulled it all together and explained much of what felt like superfluous details in the story.
One of the things I like about Joseph Wambaugh is his ability to make his stories feel real and to give some insight into daily police life. This one did it almost to the point of being irritating but, then again, it was successful as there was much irritating about the environment in which the story was set. This one is sort of different than many of his other stories as the 'crime' the main characters are investigating (whether or not they want to) is about a dog napping. With this as the main setting it is perfect for developing the principal character and, to me, it the the real strength of the story. As the character is developed it quietly leads to, what I think, is a rather surprising but very pleasing conclusion.
While I do not feel this is one the Wambaugh's best works, it is a very interesting and comfortable story and, if you like Wambaugh's works, you should read it.
One of the things I like about Joseph Wambaugh is his ability to make his stories feel real and to give some insight into daily police life. This one did it almost to the point of being irritating but, then again, it was successful as there was much irritating about the environment in which the story was set. This one is sort of different than many of his other stories as the 'crime' the main characters are investigating (whether or not they want to) is about a dog napping. With this as the main setting it is perfect for developing the principal character and, to me, it the the real strength of the story. As the character is developed it quietly leads to, what I think, is a rather surprising but very pleasing conclusion.
While I do not feel this is one the Wambaugh's best works, it is a very interesting and comfortable story and, if you like Wambaugh's works, you should read it.
May 24, 2019
Some years back I read a number of Joseph Wambaugh's books. I liked them all, but this one was by far my favorite. The interaction of these two quirky police officers falling in love drew you in immediately. It's also one of the funniest books I've ever read. I just (finally) saw the movie that was made from it and it was a real gem. Stuck closely to the book and did not disappoint at all; also very funny. Well-cast. It's time for me to go back and reread the Wambaugh books again, starting with this one. One thing I think he does better than anyone else is capture the often bizarre characters that inhabit Los Angeles and its environs. If I read about them without knowing where they lived, I would immediately identify them as Angelenos. This is said with love. I find their eccentricites endearing, as is their acceptance of my own. I'd recommend this book to just about everybody.
July 21, 2017
It's been a Joseph Wambaugh kind of month. He is a master story teller and though this particular book started out a bit slow, it redeemed itself. As always, Wambaugh develops the best characters who are quirky funny and sometimes sinister depending on what they are up to. This book centered upon dog shows and show dogs, along with some eccentric owners and handlers. It was a fun read that just got better and better and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cops involved worked out of the Hollywood precinct--which is where Wambaugh's Hollywood Station books take place. Of course, this book was written long before the series and the characters are not the same, but it was an interesting aspect to me.
October 11, 2020
A refreshing change
At first, I wasn't sure if I had downloaded the right book. It is definitely a little different direction than this crime fiction writer had in previous books . It totally got my attention being about a football game, agreeing, but mostly about dogs and how police might handle a dog napping! And of course, we have our characters ... A mishmash of dysfunctional detectives in the Hollywood district. Valrico is funny, sweet and sad all in one. The little love story that happens in this gives the story more than crime or humor or action. It is truly a story that incorporates so many different genres, it will please and attract readers if all types. An enjoyable read!
At first, I wasn't sure if I had downloaded the right book. It is definitely a little different direction than this crime fiction writer had in previous books . It totally got my attention being about a football game, agreeing, but mostly about dogs and how police might handle a dog napping! And of course, we have our characters ... A mishmash of dysfunctional detectives in the Hollywood district. Valrico is funny, sweet and sad all in one. The little love story that happens in this gives the story more than crime or humor or action. It is truly a story that incorporates so many different genres, it will please and attract readers if all types. An enjoyable read!
September 23, 2019
Policemen Valnikov and Natalie Skinner both have issues--he with a past experiences in the violent world of homicide and she with her past experiences with men. These two black marbles are assigned to each other. She is totally against it, but the relationship grows as they work together.
This story is full of outrageously funny characters doing outrageously funny things. While funny in a way only Wambaugh can make it, it has some sad and gruesome moments. I did it in two sittings. On a serious note it brings to light the issue of police burnout and the scarring exposure to violence and crime can bring.
This story is full of outrageously funny characters doing outrageously funny things. While funny in a way only Wambaugh can make it, it has some sad and gruesome moments. I did it in two sittings. On a serious note it brings to light the issue of police burnout and the scarring exposure to violence and crime can bring.
February 20, 2021
Another laugh-and-cry out loud gem from Joe Wambaugh. A gambling, philandering dog groomer steals a champion show dog and tries to pry a big ransom out of the dog's all-but-broke owner. Enter a vodka-swilling LAPD detective with a crush on his pretty new partner, both of them exiled to the business crimes burglary backwater of the Hollywood LAPD station, he for his inane, vodka-fueled hallucinations, she for the capitol crime of womanhood. Add some almost believable quirks. Art imitates life? Knowing Wambaugh's keen eye and long memory, very likely. This is light fare, but delicious all the same.
June 12, 2022
The first couple of chapters are a little weird, but stick with it. With Wambaugh, you know it's going to come together. There are hilarious moments in this book. The dog show segment is irresistible (inspiration for the movie "Best In Show", maybe?) and the ransom letter that's falling to pieces, with the letters strategically coming unglued had me crying with laughter. But it isn't all a fun ride. There's heartbreak and darkness. Violence too and a solid dose of stubborn obsession. Wambaugh can be anecdotal sometimes and going for the easy humor. In The Black Marble, the characters have memorable depth. This is a great read.
December 25, 2018
This was a little grosser than I normally like my fiction; some of it quite stomach-turning; but if you aren’t too delicate, it’s fun and entertaining. Our detectives are tres amusant and so endearing. You want them both to find happiness; however ridiculous it might be. Madeline Whitfield could have used more of a story line, or her story line could have used more of a finish, but that’s my only real critique. And the book wears its age well. It’s set in the seventies, but there’s nothing heavy-handed to suggest it had to be written in the 1970s. I found it fresh and fun.
April 27, 2024
This book was written in the 1970s so it is like a trip back in time to the dark ages. I noticed right away that the language was familiar, reminding me of the times when much of the world was racist and sexist and the police were in the pocket of the moneyed. There is sex and violence and a total lack of understanding between the sexes.
In spite of this, there is a story here that is worth reading. I think it is true that those who are breaking the law tend to think in terms of the possible positive outcome for themselves and not all the more probable ways the crime could go wrong.
In spite of this, there is a story here that is worth reading. I think it is true that those who are breaking the law tend to think in terms of the possible positive outcome for themselves and not all the more probable ways the crime could go wrong.
July 10, 2024
I was confused for a while as the book opens with trying to understand who the characters are that are speaking and what the heck is going on. Once it became clear how the first chapter or so fit with the rest of a crime drama I was pulled in.
I forgot how police fiction from that time was so gritty, reflective of the time when casual sexual harassment, sexism and racial stereotyping were the rules of the road in a big city PD. I can see how after reading dozens of Michael Connelly books the Wambaugh treatment from decades ago can be a cold splash of water to the face.
I forgot how police fiction from that time was so gritty, reflective of the time when casual sexual harassment, sexism and racial stereotyping were the rules of the road in a big city PD. I can see how after reading dozens of Michael Connelly books the Wambaugh treatment from decades ago can be a cold splash of water to the face.
June 21, 2019
A fun read but too much dog
Like all Wambaugh, story disses Old Pasadena, upper class society, police work and most women. Add a seasoning of dog doo and Russian melancholy and you have the basic theme. Starts slow (too much drunken Russian), moves to all you ever need to know about dog shows, turns to a weird love story, and ends up funny, fast and fun. If you are patient, you will have a good laugh. Love conquers all.
Like all Wambaugh, story disses Old Pasadena, upper class society, police work and most women. Add a seasoning of dog doo and Russian melancholy and you have the basic theme. Starts slow (too much drunken Russian), moves to all you ever need to know about dog shows, turns to a weird love story, and ends up funny, fast and fun. If you are patient, you will have a good laugh. Love conquers all.
December 19, 2025
finished 19th december 202 good read three stars i liked it no less no more kindle library loaner have read maybe seven or eight from wambaugh all recent all good reads this one more than the usual comedic relief and also some disturbing scenes animal death animal abuse but overall a different track, this russian detective somewhat of an absent-minded professor type teamed up with a woman who believes he's lost his marbles. i'll look for and read more from wambaugh as i find them.
September 16, 2017
Show Dogs, Etc.
Interesting story about show dogs, greedy kennel owner and police officers. Both the kennel owner and at least one of the police officers are alcoholics. The police officer is trying to get sober while the kennel owner tries to extort money from one of the dog owners.
Good story
Interesting story about show dogs, greedy kennel owner and police officers. Both the kennel owner and at least one of the police officers are alcoholics. The police officer is trying to get sober while the kennel owner tries to extort money from one of the dog owners.
Good story
September 24, 2021
I found this book very strange. It took me forever to read it because I easily got bored with the funny story. The names and descriptions were funny and I did find myself laughing out loud at times. Pushed myself to finish and found the much of the ending to be as I would have guessed. Does not make me want to read more by this author.
September 27, 2025
Not a fan. Dog trainer kidnaps a dog he is showing a Russian cop and his partner track down Philo skinner. Skinner ransomed the dog to the owner for 20K owed his bookie 15K ran to Mexico and was caught. I thought these were police procedural books, and maybe they are but they are too disguised. Pass on others
July 27, 2019
I get suckered into the Daily Book Deals. This is the first book of his I have read. There is a interesting and heart touching story about police officers. Spoiler alert: Dogs are injured and killed in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2019
Most Unusual
Got off to a very slow start and then picked up rapidly. This book is not a mystery novel with dead bodies and who “done it” intrigue. The characters were wonderfully well developed.
Got off to a very slow start and then picked up rapidly. This book is not a mystery novel with dead bodies and who “done it” intrigue. The characters were wonderfully well developed.
May 18, 2020
Michael Connelly says this is one of his favorite crime novels because of how it shows the people we take on the job. There is some humor and a look at the people behind the badge, but Wambaugh's style is not for me.
January 1, 2022
This guy is great. He writes brilliant true crime, terrific thrillers, and darkly humourous stuff like this and The Choirboys.
And what I love most is that he can be refreshingly offensive. Good on you Joe!
And what I love most is that he can be refreshingly offensive. Good on you Joe!
April 8, 2023
I worked as a homicide investigator for 22 years, and this novel was like reading about myself and my colleagues. Wambaugh can you have you falling off the sofa laughing on one page and weeping the next. This is as real as it gets, and in my opinion, his finest work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews