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Blues in the Dark
From the New York Times bestselling and internationally acclaimed author comes a Hollywood crime drama set in the 1940s and present day that tackles racism, sexism, and murder.
Karissa Glover is a movie producer who moves into a decrepit but functional old mansion in the West Adams Heights area of Los Angeles, where black celebrities of yesteryear—Hattie McDaniel, Louise Beavers, and others—once resided. The former owner was a white actress, Blair Kendrick, who often starred as the "bad girl"—a femme fatale—in films noirof the 1940s. However, Blair’s career was cut short when she was tragically killed by the mob after allegedly witnessing the slaying of a corrupt studio head in 1949.
As Karissa and her producing partner decide to develop a modern film noir about Blair Kendrick, malevolent forces from the past attempt to stop them—first with intimidation, and then with the thread of murder.
Is this because Karissa has learned that Blair was involved in a then-taboo interracial relationship with jazz musician Hank Marley? What really happened on the night that death struck in a dimly lit studio mogul’s office? The consequences of Blair and Hank’s doomed love affair still resonate in the present day as Karissa attempts to unravel Blair’s secrets.
Seeping with mystery, intrigue, Hollywood history, and forbidden romance, Blues in the Dark is Raymond Benson at his most insightful and page-turning best.
Karissa Glover is a movie producer who moves into a decrepit but functional old mansion in the West Adams Heights area of Los Angeles, where black celebrities of yesteryear—Hattie McDaniel, Louise Beavers, and others—once resided. The former owner was a white actress, Blair Kendrick, who often starred as the "bad girl"—a femme fatale—in films noirof the 1940s. However, Blair’s career was cut short when she was tragically killed by the mob after allegedly witnessing the slaying of a corrupt studio head in 1949.
As Karissa and her producing partner decide to develop a modern film noir about Blair Kendrick, malevolent forces from the past attempt to stop them—first with intimidation, and then with the thread of murder.
Is this because Karissa has learned that Blair was involved in a then-taboo interracial relationship with jazz musician Hank Marley? What really happened on the night that death struck in a dimly lit studio mogul’s office? The consequences of Blair and Hank’s doomed love affair still resonate in the present day as Karissa attempts to unravel Blair’s secrets.
Seeping with mystery, intrigue, Hollywood history, and forbidden romance, Blues in the Dark is Raymond Benson at his most insightful and page-turning best.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2019
About the author
Raymond Benson
161 books310 followersRaymond Benson is the author of approximately 40 titles. Among his works are the critically-acclaimed and New York Times best-selling serial THE BLACK STILETTO, and he was also the third--and first American--continuation author of the official James Bond 007 novels. His latest novels are HOTEL DESTINY--A GHOST NOIR, BLUES IN THE DARK, IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT and THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 19, 2019
Raymond Benson writes of the darker side of Hollywood and Los Angeles in the 1940s, the movie studios with their racism, sexism, controlling film stars, the corruption and the heavy involvement of the mob, actions and behaviour that continues to haunt the present in a narrative that goes back and forth in time. In the present, 46 year old mixed race producer Karissa Glover is on the verge of getting divorced from her cheating husband, Willy Puma, and in desperate need of a home. A fortuitous meeting with a real estate agent leads to her moving into an old mansion in the West Heights district of LA, also known as Sugar Hill, once an area where the black celebrities lived, such as the likes of Hattie McDaniel. Karissa is overjoyed to get the house at such an advantageous rent, it turns out it used to be the former home of the well known Blair Kendrick, a white film actress who played bad girls, the femme fatale of film noirs in the 1940s.
No-one else has lived in the house, and it contains some of Blair's possessions and mementos of her film career. All this sparks Karissa's interest in Blair who was tragically killed by the mob after apparently witnessing the murder of corrupt film studio head, Eldon, in 1949. None of Blair's films get shown, so little is known about her that Karissa finds herself delving into her life, becoming so curious and enthused that she and her business partner, Marcello, make the decision to make a film noir movie about her life. However, it appears there are powerful forces from the past that are determined that should not happen, as Karissa finds herself facing intimidation and death threats. In a narrative that includes Blair's life in the past, interspersed excerpts from a future film about Blair, Karissa uncovers the secrets of Blair's life and her taboo interracial relationship with the black jazz musician, Hank Marley, who disappeared in 1949.
Benson writes of the tinsel town, of Hollywood's criminal underbelly, its unsavoury past, the controlling film studios, with their fixers, past and present, the power they exercised against those who challenged them, and the racism they perpetuated. Karissa is the perfect protagonist to look into this seedy business as a mixed race woman, as she encounters the power of the Hollywood studios in the present, determined to prevent her from producing a film on Blair's life by whatever means necessary. This is a wonderfully entertaining and twisted read, its a beguiling look behind the glamour of Hollywood that I could not help but get immersed in. Many thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for an ARC.
No-one else has lived in the house, and it contains some of Blair's possessions and mementos of her film career. All this sparks Karissa's interest in Blair who was tragically killed by the mob after apparently witnessing the murder of corrupt film studio head, Eldon, in 1949. None of Blair's films get shown, so little is known about her that Karissa finds herself delving into her life, becoming so curious and enthused that she and her business partner, Marcello, make the decision to make a film noir movie about her life. However, it appears there are powerful forces from the past that are determined that should not happen, as Karissa finds herself facing intimidation and death threats. In a narrative that includes Blair's life in the past, interspersed excerpts from a future film about Blair, Karissa uncovers the secrets of Blair's life and her taboo interracial relationship with the black jazz musician, Hank Marley, who disappeared in 1949.
Benson writes of the tinsel town, of Hollywood's criminal underbelly, its unsavoury past, the controlling film studios, with their fixers, past and present, the power they exercised against those who challenged them, and the racism they perpetuated. Karissa is the perfect protagonist to look into this seedy business as a mixed race woman, as she encounters the power of the Hollywood studios in the present, determined to prevent her from producing a film on Blair's life by whatever means necessary. This is a wonderfully entertaining and twisted read, its a beguiling look behind the glamour of Hollywood that I could not help but get immersed in. Many thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for an ARC.
September 27, 2019
just beautiful lovely story and great and sensitive writing. Benson is writing so nice telling a noir story about a white woman and a black man who chose to be together in a racist society. the story moves from Hollywood in the 40th to the present day. it is smart and clever and great read.
September 22, 2019
Blair Hendrick came to Hollywood in 1946 and quickly began to appear in the movies. Her involvement with Hank Marley, a black musician, got her into trouble with her movie studio. The head of the studio was murdered, reportedly by mobsters, and Blair died in a car crash soon thereafter. Her lover disappeared at about the same time. In present day Hollywood, the movie producer Karissa Glover rented Blair’s old house, which had been kept off the market since her death. The house was still filled with Blair’s possessions and Karissa and her producing partner thought that Blair’s story would make a good movie.
The book had interesting elements, but it progressively got more and more ridiculous. If the author had just told the story of Blair and Hank, I might have liked it more, although I thought that the author’s treatment of racial prejudice was somewhat ham handed. He kept throwing in facts about court decisions, restrictive covenants and interracial marriage. His treatment of sexual harassment wasn’t handled any better. I don’t think he was the right author for this material. And the twist ending was not only cheesy, it was telegraphed. My rating started off as 3 stars, but the ending just killed the book for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
The book had interesting elements, but it progressively got more and more ridiculous. If the author had just told the story of Blair and Hank, I might have liked it more, although I thought that the author’s treatment of racial prejudice was somewhat ham handed. He kept throwing in facts about court decisions, restrictive covenants and interracial marriage. His treatment of sexual harassment wasn’t handled any better. I don’t think he was the right author for this material. And the twist ending was not only cheesy, it was telegraphed. My rating started off as 3 stars, but the ending just killed the book for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
June 18, 2019
Blues in the Dark by Raymond Benson is more than just a mystery novel. It is also a tragic tale of romance and bigotry. There are two different story lines taking place in two different eras. First in present day Hollywood, film producer Karissa Glover meets a real estate agent who gives her a tip about a house that has just come up for rent. Karissa can't believe her good fortune when she tours the home that has been abandoned for decades and learns a little about its former owner, hollywood femme fatale Blair Kendrick, and how affordable the rent is. Upon further research, Karissa learns about Blair's untimely death and the circumstances surrounding it and the death of her lover, Hank Marley, and decides she wants to dig deeper into their story and make a film about the couple.
The second story line follows Blair Kendrick, new to 1940s Hollywood, as she begins to pursue her dreams as an actress. In only her second audition, she lands a role of a "bad girl" in a movie. While on the set she meets the band who plays a part in the film, and their leader, Hank Marley. Now, in the 1940s, it was against the studio's policy that Blair is under contract with for these two to date, as Hank is an African American and Blair is white. It was also against California, and many other states laws for interracial couples to be together, or married. We get to see their story unfold and learn what happened to both of the lovers. Speaking of the studio Blair works for, we also get a peek at the darker side of Hollywood and how much sexism and mysoginy there was. As studio head Eldon tries to get Blair to sleep with him as he does his other actresses.
The author does a wonderful job weaving the two time lines together and developing the main characters with a rich history. His descriptions of the jazz clubs and other places in old Hollywood are so rich you could smell the cigarette smoke and hear the jazz Hank and his band play. I did figure out part of the plot twist about halfway through, but it didn't stop me from flying through the pages to see how the author was going to bring it all together. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.
I want to thank Raymond Benson, Skyhorse Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a gifted copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The second story line follows Blair Kendrick, new to 1940s Hollywood, as she begins to pursue her dreams as an actress. In only her second audition, she lands a role of a "bad girl" in a movie. While on the set she meets the band who plays a part in the film, and their leader, Hank Marley. Now, in the 1940s, it was against the studio's policy that Blair is under contract with for these two to date, as Hank is an African American and Blair is white. It was also against California, and many other states laws for interracial couples to be together, or married. We get to see their story unfold and learn what happened to both of the lovers. Speaking of the studio Blair works for, we also get a peek at the darker side of Hollywood and how much sexism and mysoginy there was. As studio head Eldon tries to get Blair to sleep with him as he does his other actresses.
The author does a wonderful job weaving the two time lines together and developing the main characters with a rich history. His descriptions of the jazz clubs and other places in old Hollywood are so rich you could smell the cigarette smoke and hear the jazz Hank and his band play. I did figure out part of the plot twist about halfway through, but it didn't stop me from flying through the pages to see how the author was going to bring it all together. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.
I want to thank Raymond Benson, Skyhorse Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a gifted copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
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February 23, 2021i read it and loved it. and wrote a review which been lost somewhere here...
July 7, 2019
Loved it - an excellent page-turner. It was my first ARC I received at BookExpo and I was so excited to read it. Perfectly paced, extremely well-written, and I loved the back and forth between present day and the movie set in the late 1940s. (Minor detail spoiler alert) My only strife was the minor plot detail of the two main present day characters having an affair in the past, which was brought up a few times and I thought it was trivial, pointless, and merely served as the "well-we-need-to-have-SOME-kind-of-act-of-infedility-somewhere?" plot point. It didn't serve a purpose. Other than that, I loved how everything merged together and kept me on my toes guessing, but still left me surprised.
September 3, 2019
Not quite an old-style noir thriller, not quite a modern murder mystery, Blues in the Dark is - appropriately - something in between. Appopriate, because the action, too, shifts between two distict eras - the Hollywood of the 1940s and the present day, as a modern movie maker struggles to uncover the truth behind three high profile killings, committed seventy years before. And finds there are still people who don't want the truth to be told.
Chapters alternate between then and now, framed by the movie that is being made, and they're each short enough that the book rattles breathlessly along. Plenty of twists keep your attention in place (you may guess a few, but others will catch you cold), and the storytelling is strong.
Only the dialogue lets the book down - in part, anyway. The heart of the story is set against the racial divides of 1940s Hollywood, and it's good to have the precise situation explained; the changing laws that swept away barriers without really affecting attitudes.
Unfortunately, Benson's explanations read like they were cut-and-pasted from Wikipedia(they weren't, I checked... but they read like it), and they jar horribly. Not only that, but he keeps doing it, even repeating the same themes on occasion. It breaks the flow of the story and it almost knocked a star from my rating. In the end, though, it was a great read, even keeping me up late to finish it. So, highly recommended, but be warned....
Chapters alternate between then and now, framed by the movie that is being made, and they're each short enough that the book rattles breathlessly along. Plenty of twists keep your attention in place (you may guess a few, but others will catch you cold), and the storytelling is strong.
Only the dialogue lets the book down - in part, anyway. The heart of the story is set against the racial divides of 1940s Hollywood, and it's good to have the precise situation explained; the changing laws that swept away barriers without really affecting attitudes.
Unfortunately, Benson's explanations read like they were cut-and-pasted from Wikipedia(they weren't, I checked... but they read like it), and they jar horribly. Not only that, but he keeps doing it, even repeating the same themes on occasion. It breaks the flow of the story and it almost knocked a star from my rating. In the end, though, it was a great read, even keeping me up late to finish it. So, highly recommended, but be warned....
July 21, 2019
I love reading about the darker side of Hollywood - who doesn't love reading about a salacious scandal, a mysterious death (or two), blackmail, the infamous "casting couch", the "fixers" who kept the stars' secrets from becoming front page news, and studio bosses who ruled them all.
"Blues In The dark" covers all of the above, through alternating and interweaving narrative from the present and the past, when a modern-day film maker decides to make a film on a long dead movie start, and in the process uncovers secrets many would kill to ensure remain well hidden.
We all know there's a mystery and a film, but how we get there is slowly teased out chapter by chapter, the tension constantly building as both stories unfold before us and little clues click into place. When the stories do merge, what is revealed is a cycle of destruction and sadness.
I was nearly tempted to categorise this as a cosy mystery - but cosy noir is more apt.
"Blues In The dark" covers all of the above, through alternating and interweaving narrative from the present and the past, when a modern-day film maker decides to make a film on a long dead movie start, and in the process uncovers secrets many would kill to ensure remain well hidden.
We all know there's a mystery and a film, but how we get there is slowly teased out chapter by chapter, the tension constantly building as both stories unfold before us and little clues click into place. When the stories do merge, what is revealed is a cycle of destruction and sadness.
I was nearly tempted to categorise this as a cosy mystery - but cosy noir is more apt.
November 3, 2019
Studios execs loved their new starlet, sold to the public as a femme fatal, perfect for the movies of the late 1940s. Far from a dangerous woman, Blair Kendrick was just a fresh faced teenager from Chicago looking for her big break. Still, she wasn’t willing to submit to the casting couch, societal racial norms or all of the studio’s rules.
As a script premise, Blair’s story seemed full of potential to producer Karissa Glover, all the more so because of how Blair died. Yet, what did exactly happen in between arriving in Hollywood and that fatal night? Raymond Benson’s latest thriller, Blues in the Dark, unfolds using two intriguing parallel story lines: how Alice discovered the facts surrounding the life and death of Blair Kendrick, and Blair’s story as told on the silver screen by Karissa.
As Karissa begins to pull on the threads of a mystery going back to the late 1940s, she finds that revenge can simmer for a very long time, greed endures and that Hollywood’s racism could kill.
After nearly 40 titles with his byline, Blues In The Dark lets Raymond Benson explore some of his personal favorite subjects, film history and film noir. Racism and sexism, long a part of Hollywood history, make Benson’s new novel timely. Although Karissa’s story takes place in the present day, the Blair Kendrick movie honors the film noir tradition of struggle against fate and destiny, plot twists, and voice-over narration. Even Benson’s use of parallel storyline reflects a common film noir device, the flashback. As with many of the finest examples from the film genre, you may have an early idea about who did it—but how and why are other questions. The films may be described as “black and white,” but never the plots.
Benson has used Los Angeles for a backdrop before, notably for the later books in his popular Black Stiletto series. Yet Blues In The Dark offers his deepest exploration to date of current social issues. By providing rich details with historical context, Blues may not be Benson’s darkest exploration of human nature, yet it emerges as a classic Benson thriller. As they say in Hollywood, that’s entertainment.
As a script premise, Blair’s story seemed full of potential to producer Karissa Glover, all the more so because of how Blair died. Yet, what did exactly happen in between arriving in Hollywood and that fatal night? Raymond Benson’s latest thriller, Blues in the Dark, unfolds using two intriguing parallel story lines: how Alice discovered the facts surrounding the life and death of Blair Kendrick, and Blair’s story as told on the silver screen by Karissa.
As Karissa begins to pull on the threads of a mystery going back to the late 1940s, she finds that revenge can simmer for a very long time, greed endures and that Hollywood’s racism could kill.
After nearly 40 titles with his byline, Blues In The Dark lets Raymond Benson explore some of his personal favorite subjects, film history and film noir. Racism and sexism, long a part of Hollywood history, make Benson’s new novel timely. Although Karissa’s story takes place in the present day, the Blair Kendrick movie honors the film noir tradition of struggle against fate and destiny, plot twists, and voice-over narration. Even Benson’s use of parallel storyline reflects a common film noir device, the flashback. As with many of the finest examples from the film genre, you may have an early idea about who did it—but how and why are other questions. The films may be described as “black and white,” but never the plots.
Benson has used Los Angeles for a backdrop before, notably for the later books in his popular Black Stiletto series. Yet Blues In The Dark offers his deepest exploration to date of current social issues. By providing rich details with historical context, Blues may not be Benson’s darkest exploration of human nature, yet it emerges as a classic Benson thriller. As they say in Hollywood, that’s entertainment.
December 30, 2019
Wow fantastic. The femme fatale story was thrilling and the process of finding the history was exciting! This has become my favorite book by Raymond Benson. Here's a book I would love to see on the big screen. Great characters that really come to life. And love how it all came together with an exciting end.
February 10, 2023
I started reading this book because the main character has the same name as my Daughter. It was pretty good. I could see the ending a mile away though. I am glad that it was historical and it has some black characters so that counts as a black history month book. My number of black history books for the month is now 3.
October 5, 2019
Karissa, a movie producer, finds more than she expected when she moves into Blair Kendrick's house. This moves between Karissa in the present and Blair's story in the 1940s. Blair was a white actress in love with Hank Marley, a black jazz musician. Unfortunately for both of them, they stepped into more than a big pool of nastiness in Hollywood. Their deaths remain unsolved until Karissa begins to work through Blair's diaries and all the stuff in her house, which has been untouched since she was killed. Benson has touched on many themes - racism, sexism, corruption, old Hollywood. It's a fast read which would have benefited from a detached edit of both style and substance . Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC.
November 9, 2020
A Hollywood Mystery
When film producer Karissa moves into the home of 1940s star Blaire Kendrick, she becomes obsessed with telling her story. However, there are people who don't want the truth about Blaire's firey death to be known.
When film producer Karissa moves into the home of 1940s star Blaire Kendrick, she becomes obsessed with telling her story. However, there are people who don't want the truth about Blaire's firey death to be known.
November 15, 2019
Originally published on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Blues in the Dark is a Hollywood noir with parallel alternating plotlines from the 1940s and present day by Raymond Benson. Released 8th Oct 2019 by Skyhorse on their Arcade Crimewise imprint. It's 336 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The author uses the parallel story lines to pretty good effect here and main character Karissa (a filmmaker) becomes more and more involved in the 1940s life and death of femme fatale movie star Blair Kendrick after renting Blair's house which hasn't been changed much since her death in 1949. The plot revolves around dirty money, corruption, racism, sexism, and the motion picture industry of the golden age of Hollywood.
This is a gritty thriller; the language is rough, there's sexual content, murder, etc. The plotting and dialogue are well done, and the writing is entertaining - the author is a competent writer. I will say that the main plot twists are so heavily foreshadowed that I assumed they were meant to be known before the denouement reveal.
I would heartily recommend this one to fans of noir and golden age Hollywood. Highly readable and entertaining.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Blues in the Dark is a Hollywood noir with parallel alternating plotlines from the 1940s and present day by Raymond Benson. Released 8th Oct 2019 by Skyhorse on their Arcade Crimewise imprint. It's 336 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The author uses the parallel story lines to pretty good effect here and main character Karissa (a filmmaker) becomes more and more involved in the 1940s life and death of femme fatale movie star Blair Kendrick after renting Blair's house which hasn't been changed much since her death in 1949. The plot revolves around dirty money, corruption, racism, sexism, and the motion picture industry of the golden age of Hollywood.
This is a gritty thriller; the language is rough, there's sexual content, murder, etc. The plotting and dialogue are well done, and the writing is entertaining - the author is a competent writer. I will say that the main plot twists are so heavily foreshadowed that I assumed they were meant to be known before the denouement reveal.
I would heartily recommend this one to fans of noir and golden age Hollywood. Highly readable and entertaining.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
November 27, 2019
A riveting mystery novel of love and crime that is impossible to put down until the final page is turned!
October 10, 2019
I’ve never before read anything by Raymond Benson. I was curious about his Black Stiletto series and his James Bond books, but, you know -- so many writers, so little time. I was glad to get an advance readers copy of Blues in the Dark.
This book has a lot going for it: A 21st century movie production company is trying to make a film about a femme-fatale star of the 1940s. This involves an expose of seamy, sexist and sinister (don’t forget racist!) Old Hollywood.
The premise was intriguing. The alternating timelines are handled well. The research was apparently thorough.
What didn’t work: The writing was clumsy and repetitive, and could have benefited so richly from a vigorous edit that I assumed at first it was self-published. Nope. Skyhorse Publishing is a legitimate independent publisher, apparently one that takes a laissez-faire approach to content.
Plus, the ending was not just telegraphed but foreshadowed in nearly every chapter with what might as well have been neon arrows.
Many readers (a substantial number of us) have a taste for noir fiction that is rendered in clean, simple, sophisticated and intelligent prose. Alas, we are often disappointed.
This book has a lot going for it: A 21st century movie production company is trying to make a film about a femme-fatale star of the 1940s. This involves an expose of seamy, sexist and sinister (don’t forget racist!) Old Hollywood.
The premise was intriguing. The alternating timelines are handled well. The research was apparently thorough.
What didn’t work: The writing was clumsy and repetitive, and could have benefited so richly from a vigorous edit that I assumed at first it was self-published. Nope. Skyhorse Publishing is a legitimate independent publisher, apparently one that takes a laissez-faire approach to content.
Plus, the ending was not just telegraphed but foreshadowed in nearly every chapter with what might as well have been neon arrows.
Many readers (a substantial number of us) have a taste for noir fiction that is rendered in clean, simple, sophisticated and intelligent prose. Alas, we are often disappointed.
July 9, 2021
The ending was rushed and so trite that it ruined what was otherwise a decent read.
October 23, 2019
Blues in the Dark begins when indie film producer Karissa Glover finds a rental offer she can’t refuse. It’s the mansion of the long-dead Blair Kendrick, still furnished, her clothes still in the closets, untouched since 1949, when she was murdered. And all for $1000 a month. An incredible deal and a built-in story, how can she resist? When she discovers that Blair, a white film star dated Hank Marley, a Black jazz musician, even before interracial marriages were legalized in California, the story strikes a chord with Karissa’s own history, a biracial woman who was adopted by a white family with no knowledge of her history.
As Karissa and her producer-partner Marcello research Blair and Hank’s story, someone is clearly trying to block them. They suspect it is Blair Kendrick’s former studio which was implicated in Blair’s death since the studio recalled all her films and won’t let them be shown. A business making a costly business decision is suspicious.
Although I thought Blues in the Dark has a great foundation for a story, I was disappointed in the writing. I didn’t find the seventy-year obsession with revenge that credible. Sure, the Hatfield and McCoy feud is legendary, but these were not Hatfields nor McCoys.
However, what was most difficult for me was the dialogue. Clearly, Benson did a lot of research on Black Hollywood and just could not bear to leave any of it out. There were a few conversations that felt like a Wikipedia download with different characters dropping nuggets off the notecards of research. Did you know Hatty McDaniel lived down the street? Research should form the context and atmosphere, not the dialogue. A paragraph of description would have given us an understanding of the neighborhood and its history without such an inauthentic conversation.
I thought the device of using a movie produced by Karissa to tell the story of Blair and Hank was ingenious, but I think Karissa and Marcello’s film was not well done. Flipping calendar pages, montages, and narration are such old-fashioned tropes to be used in a 21st-century film. Also, the contemporary film narrative used “Negro” rather than African-American or Black, striking a sour note. It’s one thing used in past events, but not in the narration.
Nonetheless, Karissa was a great character, with persistence, courage, and intelligence. She wanted information and she knew how to get, including going to the library and using microfiche. Nothing stopped her and she was thoughtful about her next steps in her investigation. Benson knows how to tell a story, I wanted to know what happened next and read the book through in two big bites. A disappointing book is not a bad book, it just is not as good as I thought it would be.
I received a copy of Blues in the Dark from the publisher through NetGalley.
Blues in the Dark at Skyhorse Publishing | Arcade Crimewise
Raymond Benson author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
As Karissa and her producer-partner Marcello research Blair and Hank’s story, someone is clearly trying to block them. They suspect it is Blair Kendrick’s former studio which was implicated in Blair’s death since the studio recalled all her films and won’t let them be shown. A business making a costly business decision is suspicious.
Although I thought Blues in the Dark has a great foundation for a story, I was disappointed in the writing. I didn’t find the seventy-year obsession with revenge that credible. Sure, the Hatfield and McCoy feud is legendary, but these were not Hatfields nor McCoys.
However, what was most difficult for me was the dialogue. Clearly, Benson did a lot of research on Black Hollywood and just could not bear to leave any of it out. There were a few conversations that felt like a Wikipedia download with different characters dropping nuggets off the notecards of research. Did you know Hatty McDaniel lived down the street? Research should form the context and atmosphere, not the dialogue. A paragraph of description would have given us an understanding of the neighborhood and its history without such an inauthentic conversation.
I thought the device of using a movie produced by Karissa to tell the story of Blair and Hank was ingenious, but I think Karissa and Marcello’s film was not well done. Flipping calendar pages, montages, and narration are such old-fashioned tropes to be used in a 21st-century film. Also, the contemporary film narrative used “Negro” rather than African-American or Black, striking a sour note. It’s one thing used in past events, but not in the narration.
Nonetheless, Karissa was a great character, with persistence, courage, and intelligence. She wanted information and she knew how to get, including going to the library and using microfiche. Nothing stopped her and she was thoughtful about her next steps in her investigation. Benson knows how to tell a story, I wanted to know what happened next and read the book through in two big bites. A disappointing book is not a bad book, it just is not as good as I thought it would be.
I received a copy of Blues in the Dark from the publisher through NetGalley.
Blues in the Dark at Skyhorse Publishing | Arcade Crimewise
Raymond Benson author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
September 10, 2020
TITLE: Blues In The Dark
AUTHOR: Raymond Benson
GENRE: Mystery/Thriller
PAGES: 336
FORMAT: E-book
Raymond Benson is not stranger when it comes to writing thrillers. If you look at his body of work, you will see what I mean. When I heard he had a new book out, I could not wait to get my hands on it. Sure, it made it to my TBR (To Be Read) pile, but I got to it, and i am glad that I did.
Blues In The Dark is a thriller that crosses decades. In the 1940’s, Actress Blair Kendrick, a noted femme fatale in her movies, was killed by the mob. In the present day, movie producer Karissa Glover who moves into the house once owned by Blair Kendrick. As Karissa goes through some of the belongings left behind by Blair, she gets the idea to make a movie about the life and tragic death (Kendrick was murdered by the mob) of the houses former owner. However, someone does not want the truth to come out, and they are willing to do anything to stop the production of this movie.
Raymond Benson does a fantastic job juggling the story from the 1940’s with today. I felt no confusion going from one time to another. The story is rich in atmosphere, and I got sucked into the mystery right away. Where the book really shines is it is not a quick ratchet of tension, but more of a slow progression and before I knew it, I was totally sucked in to the story and HAD to finish it. Like, right NOW!
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
AUTHOR: Raymond Benson
GENRE: Mystery/Thriller
PAGES: 336
FORMAT: E-book
Raymond Benson is not stranger when it comes to writing thrillers. If you look at his body of work, you will see what I mean. When I heard he had a new book out, I could not wait to get my hands on it. Sure, it made it to my TBR (To Be Read) pile, but I got to it, and i am glad that I did.
Blues In The Dark is a thriller that crosses decades. In the 1940’s, Actress Blair Kendrick, a noted femme fatale in her movies, was killed by the mob. In the present day, movie producer Karissa Glover who moves into the house once owned by Blair Kendrick. As Karissa goes through some of the belongings left behind by Blair, she gets the idea to make a movie about the life and tragic death (Kendrick was murdered by the mob) of the houses former owner. However, someone does not want the truth to come out, and they are willing to do anything to stop the production of this movie.
Raymond Benson does a fantastic job juggling the story from the 1940’s with today. I felt no confusion going from one time to another. The story is rich in atmosphere, and I got sucked into the mystery right away. Where the book really shines is it is not a quick ratchet of tension, but more of a slow progression and before I knew it, I was totally sucked in to the story and HAD to finish it. Like, right NOW!
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
April 22, 2022
The novel is about a “ femme fatale” from the days of film noir. It traverses back and forth from this era and the mystery of this actress to the present day and the the movie producer who is trying to find out her true story and put it into a movie. There are twists and turn and bad guys in both the past and present stories. It really reads like a film noir and one can picture the past scenes like a black and white movie. I thought it was going to be pretty kitschy but it all managed to work and be totally engaging.
May 17, 2020
A compelling noir mystery set during the 1940's in Hollywood. Parallel, alternating plot lines from the present to the 1940's. A gritty and rough thriller, which will appeal to today's audience.
Raymond Benson has done an admirable job in presenting in a noir mystery with a more modern up to date approach to its readers. Readers, in general, will not be disappointed.
I want to thank Net Galley for the advance copy to review.
Raymond Benson has done an admirable job in presenting in a noir mystery with a more modern up to date approach to its readers. Readers, in general, will not be disappointed.
I want to thank Net Galley for the advance copy to review.
March 13, 2022
La Hollywood degli anni '40 è uno scenario davvero affascinante e le premesse sono ottime. Il libro però è un po' lento, tanto che ne ho trascinato la lettura, e abbastanza prevedibile. La trama però, nella sua prevedibilità, è costruita molto bene e con indizi ben seminati, però appunto troppo facili da individuare. Mi aspettavo di meglio.
March 28, 2023
Blues in the Dark
I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting glimpse into old Hollywood and the studio system. It was also an exciting crime drama and a bittersweet love story with likable characters. It’s told from the viewpoint of two different characters in two different time periods.
Very entertaining, and I will be looking for more books from this author.
I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting glimpse into old Hollywood and the studio system. It was also an exciting crime drama and a bittersweet love story with likable characters. It’s told from the viewpoint of two different characters in two different time periods.
Very entertaining, and I will be looking for more books from this author.
August 6, 2024
A good-enough story with good-enough writing, sometimes kind of basic but even though the ending is somewhat telegraphed well in advance, it was still a quick and easy read. The 1940s interracial love angle was interesting, as was the modern sleuthing that uncovered the truth about Karissa and Blaire Kendrick.
August 30, 2022
I was zealous about this mystery for about four-fifths of the way, but towards the end the plot became so loaded with outlandish coincidences that my passion for it cooled. It was still a good mystery, though.
February 26, 2024
Though the plot becomes predictable, therefore twists not as impactful, Benson’s noir novel is an entertaining read. The plot’s structure and layout serve not only to tell a good story but pay tribute to the genre it is looking to invoke.
April 25, 2020
One-dimensional characters, obvious plot line. Read like a bad movie script.
August 16, 2020
Could not put this book down. I was holding my breath by the end. Great read!
May 17, 2021
A well-written mystery however got a bit slow.
July 27, 2021
a real sentence describing a bad neighborhood that's also predominantly black: "Crime was an issue, along with low income, systemic racism, and the whole nine yards."
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