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Marlowe Black Mystery #1
Beholden
Marlowe Black, a WWII combat veteran, walks the streets of New York with a PI license to serve justice, a .45 automatic and his fists to enforce it, and a steely determination to solve a case...regardless of the consequences. When a stranger's body mysteriously lands in his office after a long Fourth of July weekend, Black is determined to learn why, regardless of what New York City cops say or do. As bullets fly, he hunts the killer through a maze of government agents, missing Russian gold coins, Nazi SS fugitives, dangerous greed, and women worth fighting for and knowing intimately. But to succeed, Black must right an old mistake, make a heart-wrenching discovery, and wrestle with a decision to adhere to personal principles of honor that will force him to look beyond love and death. Beholden paints a grim picture of American city life, corruption, and death. And with a morally insecure protagonist and an irresistible love interest, this hard-boiled detective novel promises to be darkly satisfying.
202 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2017
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5935 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 28, 2018
Reviewed by Michel Violante for Reader Views (2/18)
“Beholden: A Marlowe Black Mystery” by Gabriel FW Koch begins with a dead body sitting in the chair at Marlowe Black’s office desk the day after the fourth of July weekend in 1950. Being a veteran turned private investigator after WWII, and having no open cases at the moment, it is no surprise that Black takes on the case of the dead body himself. Yet he is later hired by the sister of the dead man and she offers what little she can pay Black to find the killer. But she will not be his only client – a beautiful woman also requires his services to find some missing Russian coins for her. Finally Black also gets hired by the Treasury Department. Little did he know that, what he thought to be different cases, would take him into a web of intrigue between the Mob, the US Treasury Department, and German SS hidden in the US – all related to the dead body in his office…
Gabriel FW Koch did a great job creating an impressive page turning mystery. This novel is well written and filled with intrigue and action that will take the reader to a credible adventure set in New York during the 1950s. I found myself at the edge of my seat more than once as I immersed myself in this plot driven read. The character development was spot on, the pace kept increasing along with the scheming. The dialogue moved the story forward as it developed characters even more. The contrast of what is right and what is wrong within Black’s own conscious added even more to this mystery.
Overall, I found “Beholden: A Marlowe Black Mystery” by Gabriel FW Koch to be a five star awesome page turner. I totally
“Beholden: A Marlowe Black Mystery” by Gabriel FW Koch begins with a dead body sitting in the chair at Marlowe Black’s office desk the day after the fourth of July weekend in 1950. Being a veteran turned private investigator after WWII, and having no open cases at the moment, it is no surprise that Black takes on the case of the dead body himself. Yet he is later hired by the sister of the dead man and she offers what little she can pay Black to find the killer. But she will not be his only client – a beautiful woman also requires his services to find some missing Russian coins for her. Finally Black also gets hired by the Treasury Department. Little did he know that, what he thought to be different cases, would take him into a web of intrigue between the Mob, the US Treasury Department, and German SS hidden in the US – all related to the dead body in his office…
Gabriel FW Koch did a great job creating an impressive page turning mystery. This novel is well written and filled with intrigue and action that will take the reader to a credible adventure set in New York during the 1950s. I found myself at the edge of my seat more than once as I immersed myself in this plot driven read. The character development was spot on, the pace kept increasing along with the scheming. The dialogue moved the story forward as it developed characters even more. The contrast of what is right and what is wrong within Black’s own conscious added even more to this mystery.
Overall, I found “Beholden: A Marlowe Black Mystery” by Gabriel FW Koch to be a five star awesome page turner. I totally
February 6, 2023
Beholden by Gabriel F.W. Koch is the first book in the Marlow Black series that follows Private investigator Marlowe Black. The dead body of a stranger turning up in Marlowe’s chair in his own office leads him to take on the job of solving the murder. Little does Black know that two other of his cases are linked to the dead body and he finds himself wrapped in a web of deceit, intrigue and a great deal of danger, oh, and also romance…
Koch’s writing is intelligently crafted and really exciting, Beholden is a well-written story, set at just the right pace for the PI genre…no lagging at times like some of these books seem to do. I’m looking forward to reading more by Gabriel Koch, as he’s emerged as a current favourite of mine for this type of read.
Koch’s writing is intelligently crafted and really exciting, Beholden is a well-written story, set at just the right pace for the PI genre…no lagging at times like some of these books seem to do. I’m looking forward to reading more by Gabriel Koch, as he’s emerged as a current favourite of mine for this type of read.
March 17, 2023
I’ve previously read one of Koch’s science fiction novels ‘Paradox Effect’ and found it to be intelligent, insightful, and thoroughly engrossing. So when I saw that he had released a mystery novel ‘Beholden’ I was definitely intrigued to see if Koch could turn his hand as well to the thriller genre as he does to science fiction.
After reading ‘Beholden’ cover-to-cover over the weekend, it’s clear that Koch is a seriously versatile writer and has come up with a character in gumshoe ‘Marlowe Black’ that is compelling, troubled, and complicated.
The novel follows Black as he tries to solve a mysterious murder case that occurs over the July 4th weekend. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but expect a riveting hunt for a killer, plenty of corruption and betrayal, and even a little romance thrown in for good measure.
After reading ‘Beholden’ cover-to-cover over the weekend, it’s clear that Koch is a seriously versatile writer and has come up with a character in gumshoe ‘Marlowe Black’ that is compelling, troubled, and complicated.
The novel follows Black as he tries to solve a mysterious murder case that occurs over the July 4th weekend. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but expect a riveting hunt for a killer, plenty of corruption and betrayal, and even a little romance thrown in for good measure.
March 16, 2023
Beholden: A Marlowe Black Mystery by Gabriel FW Koch is a great post-World War II detective novel, following a veteran who turns into a private investigator, Marlowe Black, as he uncovers a deadly conspiracy with corruption in the government, gold coins, Nazi fugitives, and dangerous greed. What sets this book apart is Koch's skillful blend of hard-boiled detective fiction with emotional romance, creating a compelling story full of twists and turns. With clear writing and a darkly intriguing storyline, Beholden is an amazing read. You will love this book as you become immersed in the plot and action. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended.
March 14, 2023
It's been a couple of years since I've cracked open the pages of a Koch book, but this would be my fourth. It was nice to get back into the swing of Koch's style. He has a distinct voice that persists throughout the genres in which he dabbles. This book is a bit different than the others you may find, like "Paradox Effect,"... this one being the first in the Marlow Black mystery series (I, admittedly, read the second one a couple of years ago first).
This book has a great cast of characters, and it's nice to see some of the beginnings of threads that persist in the second book in the series. My favorite part continues to be how human Black is throughout. Koch did a great job keeping Black consistent in his persona. His thoughts, sentiments, and actions aren't always exemplary examples of what we expect in a hero, but he always pulls through.
This book has a great cast of characters, and it's nice to see some of the beginnings of threads that persist in the second book in the series. My favorite part continues to be how human Black is throughout. Koch did a great job keeping Black consistent in his persona. His thoughts, sentiments, and actions aren't always exemplary examples of what we expect in a hero, but he always pulls through.
March 14, 2023
If you enjoy hard-boiled PIs set in the world before modern technology took over, you’re going to fall in love with Marlowe Black. This was a promising start to a new detective series, and I enjoyed getting to know Marlowe as the story unfolded. Koch did an excellent job of bring the post-WWII world to life, really drawing the reader in with a fast-paced plot and more twists than a country back road. There is a smidge of romance woven in, but it blended well with the mystery side of the plot, and didn’t feel forced or gratuitous at all. Highly recommend, especially for those who enjoy the old pulp mysteries.
March 28, 2023
Lately I’ve been reading a lot of PI stories and to be honest I am convinced this is an underrated genre. I love a good story with a plot, and this not only delivers that but so much more, this time is it Marlow Black´s turn to be the main character in the investigation of a crime, full of elements that make each chapter more interesting than the last.
Definitely a must read if you love a good mystery book.
Definitely a must read if you love a good mystery book.
Want to read
June 3, 2022
January 24, 2023
An edge of the seat thriller!
Multiple award winning writer and photographer Gabriel F.W. Koch has published six books to date – the WOMEN WHO DEFY TIME MAKE HISTORY Box Set (PARADOX EFFECT and EMMA AND THE DRAGON TOOTH SWORD), NO ESCAPING THE STORM, and AND COME DAY’S END of his MICHAEL MCKAYBEES Mystery set, and his MARLOWE BLACK MYSTERY series - BEHOLDEN is volume 1 and DEATH LEAVES A SHADOW, volume 2. W. Of interest, the Michael McKaybees character is the son of his Marlowe Black character – suggesting the positive impact Marlowe Black created on Koch’s audience!
The new series takes off like a lightning strike - ‘Marlowe Black, a WWII combat veteran, walks the streets of New York with a PI license to serve justice, a .45 automatic and his fists to enforce it, and a steely determination to solve a case...regardless of the consequences. When a stranger's body mysteriously lands in his office after a long Fourth of July weekend, Black is determined to learn why, regardless of what New York City cops say or do. As bullets fly, he hunts the killer through a maze of government agents, missing Russian gold coins, Nazi SS fugitives, dangerous greed, and women worth fighting for and knowing intimately. But to succeed, Black must right an old mistake, make a heart-wrenching discovery, and wrestle with a decision to adhere to personal principles of honor that will force him to look beyond love and death. Beholden paints a grim picture of American city life, corruption, and death. And with a morally insecure protagonist and an irresistible love interest, this hard-boiled detective novel promises to be darkly satisfying.’
Koch blends romance – and its myriad effects of emotional commitment – with impressive mystery weaving, and the result is a memorable, involving story that grows even after finishing the book.
Writing of this quality is a treasure: combining keen storyline with philosophical overtones makes it a true gem. Very highly recommended!!!
Multiple award winning writer and photographer Gabriel F.W. Koch has published six books to date – the WOMEN WHO DEFY TIME MAKE HISTORY Box Set (PARADOX EFFECT and EMMA AND THE DRAGON TOOTH SWORD), NO ESCAPING THE STORM, and AND COME DAY’S END of his MICHAEL MCKAYBEES Mystery set, and his MARLOWE BLACK MYSTERY series - BEHOLDEN is volume 1 and DEATH LEAVES A SHADOW, volume 2. W. Of interest, the Michael McKaybees character is the son of his Marlowe Black character – suggesting the positive impact Marlowe Black created on Koch’s audience!
The new series takes off like a lightning strike - ‘Marlowe Black, a WWII combat veteran, walks the streets of New York with a PI license to serve justice, a .45 automatic and his fists to enforce it, and a steely determination to solve a case...regardless of the consequences. When a stranger's body mysteriously lands in his office after a long Fourth of July weekend, Black is determined to learn why, regardless of what New York City cops say or do. As bullets fly, he hunts the killer through a maze of government agents, missing Russian gold coins, Nazi SS fugitives, dangerous greed, and women worth fighting for and knowing intimately. But to succeed, Black must right an old mistake, make a heart-wrenching discovery, and wrestle with a decision to adhere to personal principles of honor that will force him to look beyond love and death. Beholden paints a grim picture of American city life, corruption, and death. And with a morally insecure protagonist and an irresistible love interest, this hard-boiled detective novel promises to be darkly satisfying.’
Koch blends romance – and its myriad effects of emotional commitment – with impressive mystery weaving, and the result is a memorable, involving story that grows even after finishing the book.
Writing of this quality is a treasure: combining keen storyline with philosophical overtones makes it a true gem. Very highly recommended!!!
November 30, 2025
Beholden: A Marlowe Black Mystery by Gabriel FW Koch is a fast-paced, hard-boiled detective novel set in post-World War II New York City. The story follows Marlowe Black, a WWII combat veteran turned private investigator, as he navigates the dangerous underworld of corrupt government agents, missing Russian gold coins, Nazi SS fugitives, and dangerous greed.
The book starts with a stranger's body mysteriously landing in Black's office after the Fourth of July weekend, and from there, the plot takes off like a lightning strike. As Black hunts the killer through the maze of dangerous allies and even more dangerous enemies, he must also confront his own past and make some tough decisions about his future.
What sets Beholden apart is Koch's skilful blending of hard-boiled detective fiction with emotional romance, making for an engaging and memorable read. Black is a morally ambiguous protagonist with a heart of gold, and his love interest is just as complex and compelling.
Koch's writing is gritty and vivid, painting a bleak picture of American city life, corruption, and death. The story is full of twists and turns, and the plot is gripping from start to finish. Beholden is a darkly satisfying novel that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
The book starts with a stranger's body mysteriously landing in Black's office after the Fourth of July weekend, and from there, the plot takes off like a lightning strike. As Black hunts the killer through the maze of dangerous allies and even more dangerous enemies, he must also confront his own past and make some tough decisions about his future.
What sets Beholden apart is Koch's skilful blending of hard-boiled detective fiction with emotional romance, making for an engaging and memorable read. Black is a morally ambiguous protagonist with a heart of gold, and his love interest is just as complex and compelling.
Koch's writing is gritty and vivid, painting a bleak picture of American city life, corruption, and death. The story is full of twists and turns, and the plot is gripping from start to finish. Beholden is a darkly satisfying novel that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
January 29, 2024
Beholden: A Marlowe Black Mystery by Gabriel F.W. Koch is a detective piece of work that follows the story of Marlowe Black, a private investigator, whose new case involves the body of an unknown person that he found in his office on the weekend of the Fourth of July. Little did Marlowe know that finding the killer would take him on a dangerous and full of surprises journey that would change his life. What will Marlowe discover as he navigates the corrupt, dangerous, and full of secrets road of New York in his search for the killer? How will Lois change his life?
What I really liked about Koch’s novel is the combination of the opposite themes of death and corruption with love and hope. The intercalation of these two opposite worlds in Koch’s book gets the best of his characters, especially Marlowe Black. In a gray-painted world, we can see colors as the heart of Marlowe finds love. I also liked the fast pace of the story, which was full of questions and collisions with new dangers in the process of catching the killer. Past, present, and future all come together, shaping the characters and plot in an unforgettable novel. I was also kept hooked in the story as numerous attempts on Marlowe’s life were made, trying to guess who may be responsible and the connection with the case. Was it the SS or the mob?
What I really liked about Koch’s novel is the combination of the opposite themes of death and corruption with love and hope. The intercalation of these two opposite worlds in Koch’s book gets the best of his characters, especially Marlowe Black. In a gray-painted world, we can see colors as the heart of Marlowe finds love. I also liked the fast pace of the story, which was full of questions and collisions with new dangers in the process of catching the killer. Past, present, and future all come together, shaping the characters and plot in an unforgettable novel. I was also kept hooked in the story as numerous attempts on Marlowe’s life were made, trying to guess who may be responsible and the connection with the case. Was it the SS or the mob?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews