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Blond Noir Mysteries #1
Skin and Blond
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B00PEWC8RC
Gritty. Provocative. Bloody. Blond.
Ever since blond detective Ivy Stern got herself kicked off the police force, she’s been slumming it as a private detective, mostly chasing cheating husbands. In some ways, it’s better this way. She’s free to do as she pleases, and there’s no one throwing around phrases like “sex addiction” or “conduct unbecoming an officer.” Ivy never figured her sex life was anyone’s business anyway.
When a distraught brother shows up in her office, claiming his sister has been murdered, Ivy’s all over the case. The only thing Ivy’s better at than sex is solving murder cases. And this one is intriguing.
There’s no evidence that the victim has been killed, but she’s gone, leaving everything behind from her cell phone to her credit cards. Everything except her bed sheets.
And that’s not even mentioning the victim’s cheating ex-boyfriend, her drug habit, and her ties to the Irish mob.
Gritty. Provocative. Bloody. Blond.
Ever since blond detective Ivy Stern got herself kicked off the police force, she’s been slumming it as a private detective, mostly chasing cheating husbands. In some ways, it’s better this way. She’s free to do as she pleases, and there’s no one throwing around phrases like “sex addiction” or “conduct unbecoming an officer.” Ivy never figured her sex life was anyone’s business anyway.
When a distraught brother shows up in her office, claiming his sister has been murdered, Ivy’s all over the case. The only thing Ivy’s better at than sex is solving murder cases. And this one is intriguing.
There’s no evidence that the victim has been killed, but she’s gone, leaving everything behind from her cell phone to her credit cards. Everything except her bed sheets.
And that’s not even mentioning the victim’s cheating ex-boyfriend, her drug habit, and her ties to the Irish mob.
312 pages, ebook
First published November 8, 2014
299 people are currently reading
787 people want to read
About the author
V.J. Chambers
104 books462 followersV. J. Chambers writes about being inexplicably attracted to the dangerously alluring. Her works span mundane settings and fantastic ones. She writes about serial killers, cult leaders, werewolves, witches, for-hire assassins, zombies, space pirates, and regular everyday people.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV, with her boyfriend Aaron and their cat Isis.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV, with her boyfriend Aaron and their cat Isis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 7, 2015
Total confession, I picked up this book because I was bored out of my mind with the things I had been reading, and thought I could use a "return to base" as I have always loved detective stories, going back to A.C.D. and Raymond Chandler. V.J. Chambers did not disappoint.
What we get in this first book in the Blond Noir series are pretty solid characters, many of the mandatory "noir" elements (in the vein of Raymond Chandler), a killer who actually does not come from central casting, and some dialog that made me chuckle. All of this made for a pretty decent experience.
Our cast:
Ivy Stern, disgraced police officer turned private investigator
Miles Pike, Ivy's ex-boyfriend and police captain
Crane Drakeley, English professor and sometimes-sex partner of Ivy's (Ivy's sex life is a plot point, trust me)
Brigit Johansen, Ivy's newly hired secretary
The lesser cast, some likely only for this book, others appearing to present potential for future stories, do come a bit out of central casting, but this is noir, we should expect nothing less. We have the killer, the mobsters, the suspects, the drug dealers, and the person who hires Ivy. Far be it from me to telegraph the ending, which actually made the feel like Chandler had come back was picked a female character to lead some new stories (did I mention I am a huge Chandler fan?) and, like Phillip Marlowe, she stumbles onto threads of the story completely by accident, which means the reader has no more idea of what is happening than Ivy does.
I should caution the reader: if some semi-graphic depictions of sex addiction and binge drinking are going to offend you, stay clear of this book. It does noir very well, and Ivy is quite the fallen character as we start out. Part of her appeal to me is that she is not some white knight, but neither is she some bum. She has standards, even if she falls short of them, and some of the best dialog in the book centers around Brigit or Miles reeling her back from the abyss. Also of great appeal is that the main plot pulls in threads that clearly telegraph future books; the landscape of the story is expansive and the lesser cast clearly matters to the author.
V.J. Chambers does something special here: we get a female lead, but she is a detective first and foremost. Being a woman serves her well, even if it also leads to a VERY disturbing scene when she tries to pull a stunt on a mobster. But a detective can take a beating, and she sure does.
Pick up this book, seriously. Its not a long read, and I am pretty sure that if you like noir, this book will hit all of the right buttons for you.
What we get in this first book in the Blond Noir series are pretty solid characters, many of the mandatory "noir" elements (in the vein of Raymond Chandler), a killer who actually does not come from central casting, and some dialog that made me chuckle. All of this made for a pretty decent experience.
Our cast:
Ivy Stern, disgraced police officer turned private investigator
Miles Pike, Ivy's ex-boyfriend and police captain
Crane Drakeley, English professor and sometimes-sex partner of Ivy's (Ivy's sex life is a plot point, trust me)
Brigit Johansen, Ivy's newly hired secretary
The lesser cast, some likely only for this book, others appearing to present potential for future stories, do come a bit out of central casting, but this is noir, we should expect nothing less. We have the killer, the mobsters, the suspects, the drug dealers, and the person who hires Ivy. Far be it from me to telegraph the ending, which actually made the feel like Chandler had come back was picked a female character to lead some new stories (did I mention I am a huge Chandler fan?) and, like Phillip Marlowe, she stumbles onto threads of the story completely by accident, which means the reader has no more idea of what is happening than Ivy does.
I should caution the reader: if some semi-graphic depictions of sex addiction and binge drinking are going to offend you, stay clear of this book. It does noir very well, and Ivy is quite the fallen character as we start out. Part of her appeal to me is that she is not some white knight, but neither is she some bum. She has standards, even if she falls short of them, and some of the best dialog in the book centers around Brigit or Miles reeling her back from the abyss. Also of great appeal is that the main plot pulls in threads that clearly telegraph future books; the landscape of the story is expansive and the lesser cast clearly matters to the author.
V.J. Chambers does something special here: we get a female lead, but she is a detective first and foremost. Being a woman serves her well, even if it also leads to a VERY disturbing scene when she tries to pull a stunt on a mobster. But a detective can take a beating, and she sure does.
Pick up this book, seriously. Its not a long read, and I am pretty sure that if you like noir, this book will hit all of the right buttons for you.
July 15, 2016
This wasn't your typical "noir" mystery with a craggy he-man in charge of cranking up the V8 engine and driving mercilessly from point A to point B. It was more of a slow, kind of thoughtful burn that gives us surprising insight into the character of Ivy Stern. We learn about her "romantic" escapades, her exit from the police force, her over-drinking, the loss of her parents, etc. Oh, yeah, and there's a mystery that she's working on, too; and the client is a jerk. Possibly not a book for every reader, but I liked her a lot as a protagonist. She's honest and earthy, even if she drinks too much. I'm definitely curious to see where she goes next. I'd certainly invite her over for a summer cook-out to liven up the scene.
(Disclosure: I got this book free one day during an Amazon giveaway in June, but it would have been worth paying for. The author is now on my list of people to buy coffee for when they show up to claim it.)
(Disclosure: I got this book free one day during an Amazon giveaway in June, but it would have been worth paying for. The author is now on my list of people to buy coffee for when they show up to claim it.)
May 8, 2015
Ivy Stern is so dysfunctional it's almost tragic. That's probably why I like her. She's brave, she's bold, but she's crazy reckless in her work life and personal life. Her assistant Brigit tickles me as the perfect balance to Ivy. Sweet and innocent to Ivy's moody and promiscuous. I don't see Ivy losing her edge. However, I do hope we see more of her softer side emerging. It's buried deep, but she has one. I look forward to see how V.J. Chambers proceeds with Ivy's character's strengths, demons and shortcomings.
August 30, 2016
One of the worst private eye yarns I have ever read.
February 28, 2019
Some things were over the top but all in all, I liked it.
April 11, 2017
Yuck
One of the dumbest books I have ever read....I need to read something else right away to try and forget...
One of the dumbest books I have ever read....I need to read something else right away to try and forget...
March 11, 2015
V.J. CHAMBERS HAS DONE IT AGAIN! Loved this book...waiting for the 2nd one!!!! Need meow!
December 4, 2017
This was a really good detective mystery. Great character development.. Ivy Stern is a complicated woman. Seems like she'd be tough and strong (like a male detective might be) but instead she's flawed, she has several vices, which she abuses frequently. But above all that, she is a solid detective, intelligent, intuative and most of all determined, almost to the point of obsession. Once she has a case, she simply cannot let it go until it's solved. I admire that tenacity.
The supporting cast of characters in this story are interesting and all have an important role to play here. Miles was an intriguing character, never read about someone like him before, so that was interesting. Crane was her main sounding board (among other things) and I enjoyed their interactions. Brigit was a breath of fresh air, all innocence and bright cheeriness and a wonderful contrast to Ivy's cynicism. I would have liked to know more about her painting.
I thought the conversations between them all seemed real, and amusing at times, which I appreciate immensley, fake sounding dialogue really smothers a story.
Even more interesting, of course, was the case and the list of suspects! The twists in the case were frustrating and realistic. Nothing comes easy. Mostly though, I have to say (without adding spoilers) that the twist at the end was worth waiting for.. did not see that one coming.
Really outstanding book.
Five stars.
The supporting cast of characters in this story are interesting and all have an important role to play here. Miles was an intriguing character, never read about someone like him before, so that was interesting. Crane was her main sounding board (among other things) and I enjoyed their interactions. Brigit was a breath of fresh air, all innocence and bright cheeriness and a wonderful contrast to Ivy's cynicism. I would have liked to know more about her painting.
I thought the conversations between them all seemed real, and amusing at times, which I appreciate immensley, fake sounding dialogue really smothers a story.
Even more interesting, of course, was the case and the list of suspects! The twists in the case were frustrating and realistic. Nothing comes easy. Mostly though, I have to say (without adding spoilers) that the twist at the end was worth waiting for.. did not see that one coming.
Really outstanding book.
Five stars.
August 7, 2020
The book was okay, but felt like it took forever to actually hook me into the story (well over 50%). The author appears to attempt to combine "hard-boiled detective mystery" with "noir fiction". While I can appreciate both genres, this attempt did not endear me to the author's writing style. The protagonist, Ivy Stern, certainly fits the noir character attributes; to quote James Ellroy," protagonists who are seriously flawed and morally questionable. The tone is generally bleak and nihilistic, with characters whose greed, lust, jealousy, and alienation lead them into a downward spiral as their plans and schemes inevitably go awry." (The Best American Noir of the Century, 2010). Ivy definitely fits the bill with her alcoholism and sex addiction. I will say the character development was good for both the main and minor characters, however, the mystery fell flat. I would recommend this book only if you are looking for a casual read.
June 24, 2017
The story is great and dares the reader to track the clues with the detective to identify the killer. The writing is simple an direct, following a timeline through the action. The characters are definitely unique, and for the most part completely unlikeable. The main character is an alcoholic nymphomaniac with social issues and a background of problem with the local Irish mob. Her ex boyfriend is borderline autistic and doesn't like to be touched. Her primary client is manic and carried on an incestuous relationship with his sister, who has gone missing. Her new administrative assistant is bubbly, and approaches normal. The style of writing focuses more on the relationship between the people than on the murder investigation. That makes the story interesting, but more as an excursion into noir than a criminal investigation. It's a quick read with lots of oddball interests.
June 19, 2017
Adult situations, but nothing too graphic...
A sex addict detective kicked off the police force for conduct unbecoming is now a private investigator tasked with finding a missing woman. The brother is the the person who hired her and is "very close" to his sister. The local mob, unfriendly former co-workers/police, a sometimes drinking buddy/sometimes sex partner, a new administrative assistant, a client/one night stand turned stalker and numerous other one night stands, some comic relief and all in all a decent detective story.
A sex addict detective kicked off the police force for conduct unbecoming is now a private investigator tasked with finding a missing woman. The brother is the the person who hired her and is "very close" to his sister. The local mob, unfriendly former co-workers/police, a sometimes drinking buddy/sometimes sex partner, a new administrative assistant, a client/one night stand turned stalker and numerous other one night stands, some comic relief and all in all a decent detective story.
February 18, 2020
Ivy is raw, funny, self deprecating, and almost honest with herself about her issue. It is a big issue, but at least she owns it and lives her truth..somewhat.
I would like to read more in this series and see if her and Pike can find a better common ground to move forward, Ivy needs some grounding.
I also hope she can learn to fight a little better, although she did a great job towards the end. Her and Brigit make a great team, and maybe she will also find a female friend in her since Ivy seems to have no female friends.
I would like to read more in this series and see if her and Pike can find a better common ground to move forward, Ivy needs some grounding.
I also hope she can learn to fight a little better, although she did a great job towards the end. Her and Brigit make a great team, and maybe she will also find a female friend in her since Ivy seems to have no female friends.
January 21, 2025
This was just . . . okay. It felt like there were significant red herrings designed to lead the reader in one direction, only to snatch the rug out from under us at the ending with a less than satisfactory ending. The author seems to be under the misconception that most serial killers contact the police to announce themselves or are eager to have their crimes grouped together for investigation -- but, in fact, I don't think there is much evidence this is the case.
If you like your noir MC wallowing in self-destruction and pity, this will do the case for you. There's not much else here.
If you like your noir MC wallowing in self-destruction and pity, this will do the case for you. There's not much else here.
August 21, 2017
The book got off to a good start but stalled after a while. At 50% through the book it was still focused on the same topic as in the beginning, with nothing moving in any sort of direction. It didn't hook me at all. If there's a serial killer then shouldn't there be a hint of that before you're halfway in? There wasn't enough pace moving the plot along and I got bored.
A nymphomaniac protagonist with a drinking problem can only move a book along so far before an actual plot needs to take over.
A nymphomaniac protagonist with a drinking problem can only move a book along so far before an actual plot needs to take over.
May 30, 2017
An intriguing start to a series
Ideally I would have this 3.5. I liked the characters ( I must admit I wish I could have had the occasion to run into Ivy! ) But someone with a police background would, or should be a bit more prepared for stressful or dangerous situations. It just didn't seem realistic.
Ideally I would have this 3.5. I liked the characters ( I must admit I wish I could have had the occasion to run into Ivy! ) But someone with a police background would, or should be a bit more prepared for stressful or dangerous situations. It just didn't seem realistic.
August 8, 2019
What a fantastic book (again!) by V.J. Chambers. I love her thrillers, they are always very tense, fastpaced and have their share of twists and surprises. Like in the other books of her I read, the main female person is quite troubled and has a lot of issues, but at the same time still attracks. Well, me anyway.
April 3, 2022
Not Exactly What I Expected
Well, Ivy is a private detective and a!so way too sexually over active
There are a couple of characters with serious personal problems that, in my opinion, don't add to the plot
It's fairly straightforward mystery discounting the sexual deviants. Too bad for that.
Well, Ivy is a private detective and a!so way too sexually over active
There are a couple of characters with serious personal problems that, in my opinion, don't add to the plot
It's fairly straightforward mystery discounting the sexual deviants. Too bad for that.
January 2, 2018
I read this without too many expectations. I was filling up my Nook(tm) with easy books to take on a long flight.
It’s a teenage boy’s wet dream wrapped in a mystery which does have it’s tension. I figured it out before the pretty blonde detective did. But it was enjoyable enough to get 3 stars.
It’s a teenage boy’s wet dream wrapped in a mystery which does have it’s tension. I figured it out before the pretty blonde detective did. But it was enjoyable enough to get 3 stars.
May 22, 2018
Kept Me Going
This does have quite an adult theme. Just so you know. The detective part of The book was great. It would be better if the Private Detective didn't drink like she was an immature college chick but the plot of the book is very good.
This does have quite an adult theme. Just so you know. The detective part of The book was great. It would be better if the Private Detective didn't drink like she was an immature college chick but the plot of the book is very good.
Read
December 27, 2019this book was very good. I didn't enjoy all the talk of sex, I think a little would have been better, but the story itself was good and the ending was really unexpected. I would like to read more from V.J.Chambers.
September 30, 2020
Great police thriller
Loved this book. It !you guessing until the end. Lots of humor and suspense. The main character Ivy was really flawed but still likeable. Would love to read more from this author.
Loved this book. It !you guessing until the end. Lots of humor and suspense. The main character Ivy was really flawed but still likeable. Would love to read more from this author.
Read
November 12, 2021I enjoyed the self-destructive nature of Ivy Stern though I lost interest when she showed few detective skills after years of being a police murder detective. Had her skills been more developed, I would have enjoyed the story and the relationships a little more.
December 27, 2023
crazy, funky, and definitely not uplifting.
Ivy Stern is one of the most unbelievable and crazy characters that were created. The story was unbelievable, and the mystery continued throughout the whole book. This is the kind of story that holds my attention.
Ivy Stern is one of the most unbelievable and crazy characters that were created. The story was unbelievable, and the mystery continued throughout the whole book. This is the kind of story that holds my attention.
August 9, 2024
A dark and intriguing tale
A broken heroine struggling through life while trying to come to grips with her inner demons while doing her job as a private detective. There are so many twists and turns in this story that you get sucked right in and just have to know how it ends.
A broken heroine struggling through life while trying to come to grips with her inner demons while doing her job as a private detective. There are so many twists and turns in this story that you get sucked right in and just have to know how it ends.
May 20, 2025
A good stiry
Was the girl missing dead or still alive? Lot of clues but nothing concrete to solve the case. Finally another person was missing with the same detail. The PI was not a good person but she kept looking to solve the crimes.
Was the girl missing dead or still alive? Lot of clues but nothing concrete to solve the case. Finally another person was missing with the same detail. The PI was not a good person but she kept looking to solve the crimes.
September 19, 2017
This book is great! Sexual and cop like! Now on the hunt for the second one!
May 5, 2019
Creepy and fun
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was edgy and creepy. I liked that the main characters are flawed and relatable. I highly recommend this author.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was edgy and creepy. I liked that the main characters are flawed and relatable. I highly recommend this author.
August 12, 2019
Vb h h h
Can I I I I I I I I I I I n get really excited!and I'm still working?or did she
Can I I I I I I I I I I I n get really excited!and I'm still working?or did she
September 19, 2021
very sexually explicit
November 27, 2023
Terrific book
Enjoyed this book immensely, largely due to the fascinatingly flawed protagonist. Well written and with a twist you probably won't see coming. Strongly recommend.
Enjoyed this book immensely, largely due to the fascinatingly flawed protagonist. Well written and with a twist you probably won't see coming. Strongly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews