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Rolly Waters #1
Black's Beach Shuffle: A Rolly Waters Mystery
Rolly Waters is a recovering rock musician and part-time private eye. One night his band performs at a blowout party for EyeBitz.com, a fast-rising Internet startup that has the city of San Diego talking. When Rolly returns after hours to retrieve his guitar from the host's mansion, he finds a dead body floating in the swimming pool. His discovery sets in motion a series of intrigues that drag him into the surreal world of dot.com culture, as well as the dark heart of his own uneven past. Black's Beach Shuffle updates the classic Southern California gumshoe world of Raymond Chandler and Ross McDonald with contemporary technology riffs, new millennium anxieties and sun-blotted humor. It pumps out a page-turning mix of plot twists, colorful characters and laugh-out-loud humor as Rolly's investigation ricochets him from the high-tech industrial parks of Torrey Pines Mesa to downtown blues clubs, from street taco shops to the penthouse of the La Jolla Hyatt, from the hallowed halls of academia to the sands of Black's Beach, San Diego's official clothing-optional playground.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2006
127 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Corey Lynn Fayman
11 books81 followers“A powerful new voice on the crime-fiction scene” (ForeWord Reviews), Corey Lynn Fayman has made a career of avoiding the sunlight in his hometown of San Diego, California, where he’s done hard time as a keyboard player for local bands, a sound designer for the world-famous Old Globe Theatre, and an interactive designer for organizations both corporate and sundry. Armed with a B.A. in Creative Writing from UCLA and an M.A. in Educational Technology from SDSU, he’s also taught technology and design courses at various colleges and universities in Southern California.
Fayman's adventures working for the infamous Internet startup MP3.com led him to conceive the character of Rolly Waters, the guitar-playing detective first featured in the San Diego Book Awards nominated mystery, Black’s Beach Shuffle. Encouraged by this early success, he set about writing a second Rolly Waters Mystery, Border Field Blues, winner of the Genre Award at the 2013 Hollywood Book Festival. Desert City Diva, the third novel in the series, was a bronze award winner in the 2015 Indiefab Book of the Year Awards. The latest in the series, Ballast Point Breakdown, was awarded the best-in-show Geisel Award at the 2021 San Diego Book Awards.
Fayman's adventures working for the infamous Internet startup MP3.com led him to conceive the character of Rolly Waters, the guitar-playing detective first featured in the San Diego Book Awards nominated mystery, Black’s Beach Shuffle. Encouraged by this early success, he set about writing a second Rolly Waters Mystery, Border Field Blues, winner of the Genre Award at the 2013 Hollywood Book Festival. Desert City Diva, the third novel in the series, was a bronze award winner in the 2015 Indiefab Book of the Year Awards. The latest in the series, Ballast Point Breakdown, was awarded the best-in-show Geisel Award at the 2021 San Diego Book Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 6, 2023
Rolly Waters is a 39-year-old musician and has been playing guitar in bars, and clubs, etc. for many years now. Up until about five years ago, he lived the rock guitarist life too: booze, drugs, women…a sordid life all around. But a catastrophic event changed all that and now he’s sober. Still playing with his band. He’s good too but not quite good enough to make the big time and earn enough dough for a quality life.
So, he’s taken up that age-old profession of private investigator. Usually, he’s hired to find lost children/grandchildren, obtain photographic evidence of marital affairs, etc. But now, out of the blue, he’s hired by a new-age dot.com style start-up company who has plans to make loads of money. However, seems they’ve lost (or had stolen) a key piece of hardware without which they’d be sunk even before the launch. Could it be corporate espionage? Revenge? Or something even more sinister?
I really enjoyed this novel. It’s cleverly written, well-plotted, and kept me interested all the way through. The setting of San Diego is also well-handled. As a frequent visitor, I recognized many of the landmarks and I thought the author (a life-long resident) succeeded at what so many crime authors strive for: establishing the setting as a character in and of itself.
One thing bugged me somewhat, but not so much as to lessen my enjoyment of the book. The characters’ names are almost all derived from guitar brands or have tie-ins to the music industry. I picked up on this right off the bat when the character of “Fender” was introduced. Then when I met “King Gibson” I was on to the scheme. Now, I’m not particularly knowledgeable about guitars but I found myself looking up every name I came across and sure enough…names like “Marley” or “Simmons”. Some names combine two brands, like “Curtis Vox”. A foxy lady is named “Alesis” (a music company), “Porter” and “Hayes” are a pair of insurance investigators. Even our main protagonist, Roland “Rolly” Waters” is a conglomeration of two brands. I suppose that’s all fine, but it smacks of being too cute. As I say, it bothered me some because it took me out of the narrative every time I met a new character and had to look up where their name came from. But overall, not enough to knock off a star.
This is a solid story with a well-thought-out mystery plot. The author’s own background in music really shines through in a realistic way. Other than their names, the characters are well-rounded and interesting, especially Rolly, who struggles to overcome his past choices.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
So, he’s taken up that age-old profession of private investigator. Usually, he’s hired to find lost children/grandchildren, obtain photographic evidence of marital affairs, etc. But now, out of the blue, he’s hired by a new-age dot.com style start-up company who has plans to make loads of money. However, seems they’ve lost (or had stolen) a key piece of hardware without which they’d be sunk even before the launch. Could it be corporate espionage? Revenge? Or something even more sinister?
I really enjoyed this novel. It’s cleverly written, well-plotted, and kept me interested all the way through. The setting of San Diego is also well-handled. As a frequent visitor, I recognized many of the landmarks and I thought the author (a life-long resident) succeeded at what so many crime authors strive for: establishing the setting as a character in and of itself.
One thing bugged me somewhat, but not so much as to lessen my enjoyment of the book. The characters’ names are almost all derived from guitar brands or have tie-ins to the music industry. I picked up on this right off the bat when the character of “Fender” was introduced. Then when I met “King Gibson” I was on to the scheme. Now, I’m not particularly knowledgeable about guitars but I found myself looking up every name I came across and sure enough…names like “Marley” or “Simmons”. Some names combine two brands, like “Curtis Vox”. A foxy lady is named “Alesis” (a music company), “Porter” and “Hayes” are a pair of insurance investigators. Even our main protagonist, Roland “Rolly” Waters” is a conglomeration of two brands. I suppose that’s all fine, but it smacks of being too cute. As I say, it bothered me some because it took me out of the narrative every time I met a new character and had to look up where their name came from. But overall, not enough to knock off a star.
This is a solid story with a well-thought-out mystery plot. The author’s own background in music really shines through in a realistic way. Other than their names, the characters are well-rounded and interesting, especially Rolly, who struggles to overcome his past choices.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
February 11, 2017
Rolly Waters isn't what you expect when you think of a private investigator. A recovering alcoholic and aging rock musician, Rolly spends his days spying on cheating spouses and his nights playing gigs. When he stumbles across a body after one such gig, Rolly finds himself way over his head in a case involving murder, industrial intrigue, and violence.
Black's Beach Shuffle is the first in author Corey Lynn Fayman's award-winning Rolly Waters mysteries. With a touch of humor and a touch of noir, Rolly stubbornly pursues his case despite beatings, threats, and a less than cooperative ancient automobile. A musician, theatrical sound designer, and interactive designer for corporations, Fayman paints a detailed and realistic picture of San Diego's treacherous dot.com industry as well as the nightlife and environs of California's southernmost city.
Overall, Black's Beach Shuffle is a good choice for sleuth reading.
Black's Beach Shuffle is the first in author Corey Lynn Fayman's award-winning Rolly Waters mysteries. With a touch of humor and a touch of noir, Rolly stubbornly pursues his case despite beatings, threats, and a less than cooperative ancient automobile. A musician, theatrical sound designer, and interactive designer for corporations, Fayman paints a detailed and realistic picture of San Diego's treacherous dot.com industry as well as the nightlife and environs of California's southernmost city.
Overall, Black's Beach Shuffle is a good choice for sleuth reading.
February 18, 2025
This book is fascinating and reminds me in part of Sue Grafton with its time frame being pre- Y2K. I was captured by the story as well as the characters of Rolly Waters and the guys from Eyebitz.
This story made me want to read more about this musician - slash PI and I will be on the lookout for more. Recommended 4/5
[Disclaimer: I won this book in a giveaway by the author but in no way did it affect this review]
This story made me want to read more about this musician - slash PI and I will be on the lookout for more. Recommended 4/5
[Disclaimer: I won this book in a giveaway by the author but in no way did it affect this review]
June 17, 2020
Black’s Beach Shuffle by Corey Lynn Fayman is an eye-opening pleasant surprise. It is not often that I discover a writer of the caliber of Mr. Fayman. Mr.Fayman is the author of three additional private investigation novels starring his protagonist Rolly Waters. This time out he has been hired by his friend's company to find a missing box that holds a coveted secret for internet innovation. At the outset Rolly, after leaving his guitar at a party returns for it and finds a dead body floating in the pool. How the body connects to the missing computer component is the essence of this highly entertaining and nicely conceived take on the private eye novel. As a bonus Mr. Fayman's mysteries of which there are three in addition to Black's Beach Shuffle take place in the picturesque city of San Diego. Those of us who have lived there or have been frequent visitors will experience pleasure at being treated to the memorable landmarks that make San Diego what it is. As always, it is a bonus to recommend a talented author with an extensive backlist. Do yourself a favor start with Black's Beach Shuffle and continue with the rest.
August 3, 2023
A very unusual story, but an intriguing mystery. A musician who is a recovering drunk and becomes a private investigator does not seem like a person to solve the kind of mystery that unfolds in this story. But when you are someone with the right kind of friends and a lot of dumb luck, I guess anything is possible.
There are plenty of surprises in this story, and they keep the reader guessing what may happen next. People are not who they pretend to be, and there are many lies that are told. It makes you wonder how Rolly Waters, the musician/detective can ever figure things out. But if you have patience as reader, Rolly won't let you down. He is a very unusual character, but actually very likeable.
There are plenty of surprises in this story, and they keep the reader guessing what may happen next. People are not who they pretend to be, and there are many lies that are told. It makes you wonder how Rolly Waters, the musician/detective can ever figure things out. But if you have patience as reader, Rolly won't let you down. He is a very unusual character, but actually very likeable.
May 12, 2024
I’m always excited when I find a new (to me!) series that peaks my interest! Rolly Waters is a guitar-playing recovering alcoholic who also happens to be a private eye. He’s hired by a dot con company to recover some missing (stolen?) technology. Things get dangerous, as they often do when millions of dollars are involved…
Between the story, the smart ass dialogue, and the music references, I’m hooked! Definitely reading the rest of the series!
Between the story, the smart ass dialogue, and the music references, I’m hooked! Definitely reading the rest of the series!
January 18, 2024
Far from my favorite , but a decent book
Rolly is the main character. I don't like him a lot. I don't like the other characters much, either.
Holly is so lost, trying to be a big time Detective but his lack of experience is a major handicap.
Almost everyone is deceitful.
The most likable person was the female cop.
Rolly is the main character. I don't like him a lot. I don't like the other characters much, either.
Holly is so lost, trying to be a big time Detective but his lack of experience is a major handicap.
Almost everyone is deceitful.
The most likable person was the female cop.
April 4, 2020
Unbelievably good first book
The author combines his knowledge of musicians and police procedures into a wonderful story. Lots of music allusions including performers, guitar manufacturers, equipment, and other stuff. Really enjoyable.
The author combines his knowledge of musicians and police procedures into a wonderful story. Lots of music allusions including performers, guitar manufacturers, equipment, and other stuff. Really enjoyable.
May 22, 2022
First rate with a tone all its own.
This is a noir you shouldn't miss. High quality writing and compelling characters. I look forward to the next one.
This is a noir you shouldn't miss. High quality writing and compelling characters. I look forward to the next one.
October 7, 2022
Not the usual rock band story, which is a good thing. Very well written. Keeps the reader guessing and intrigued.
February 21, 2023
This is a long overdue review. I received a copy from the author in 2020.
I enjoy a good PI story and this was very well written. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was unique.
Rolly Waters is a recovered alcoholic, and a musician with the day job of private investigator. He lives near his mother with an abundance of guitars.
He is hired to find a missing data "key" by a computer startup company on the brink of an IPO.
He is promised a boatload of "shares" which could set him up financially.
He is able to find the missing object fairly quickly, but feels that something is wrong about the set up and tries to investigate what is actually happening.
This causes his drummer to be assaulted and him to be confronted by the company "fixer".
There is a nice reveal at the end which will remind me to find book two in the series.
I enjoy a good PI story and this was very well written. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was unique.
Rolly Waters is a recovered alcoholic, and a musician with the day job of private investigator. He lives near his mother with an abundance of guitars.
He is hired to find a missing data "key" by a computer startup company on the brink of an IPO.
He is promised a boatload of "shares" which could set him up financially.
He is able to find the missing object fairly quickly, but feels that something is wrong about the set up and tries to investigate what is actually happening.
This causes his drummer to be assaulted and him to be confronted by the company "fixer".
There is a nice reveal at the end which will remind me to find book two in the series.
April 21, 2025
This is the first book in the Rolly Waters mystery series by Corey Lynn Fayman. Rolly Waters is a recovering rock musician and part-time private investigator. Rolly's band performs at a party in San Diego for an internet start up company EyeBitz.com. After the party Rolly goes back to the host's mansion to retrieve his guitar and discovers a dead body floating in the swimming pool. This sets in motion a series of events that pulls Rolly into the secretive and surreal world of dot--com culture, as well as his own troubled past. This novel combines the essence of a Southern California detective story with contemporary twists, delivering a captivating blend of mystery, wit and compelling characters. I really enjoyed this fascinating crime fiction novel. I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am leaving an honest review.
March 3, 2025
Rolly is a recovering alcoholic, guitar playing private eye.
He plays his guitar at night and does his PI work during the day.
He feels like he hit the big time when he’s hired by a dot. com to find some missing/ stolen technology. When one of the dot.com employees is murdered, he looks into this as well.
There’s lots of action, snappy dialogue, and great descriptions of places in San Diego. Looking forward to reading the whole series!
He plays his guitar at night and does his PI work during the day.
He feels like he hit the big time when he’s hired by a dot. com to find some missing/ stolen technology. When one of the dot.com employees is murdered, he looks into this as well.
There’s lots of action, snappy dialogue, and great descriptions of places in San Diego. Looking forward to reading the whole series!
May 6, 2023
Blacks Beach Shuffle -
This was an ok read. Not great, not terrible. Feels like it was written 20 years ago, which I think may be accurate. As a musician I found the musical references and the names used in the book to be fun.
This was an ok read. Not great, not terrible. Feels like it was written 20 years ago, which I think may be accurate. As a musician I found the musical references and the names used in the book to be fun.
May 9, 2023
Where is the. magic key?
What do you think happens when Rolly a musician plus a small time PI takes on a job that is way out of his league. That's right, he winds up in a heap of trouble. It's interesting to see how he handles this situation. A fairly good story.
What do you think happens when Rolly a musician plus a small time PI takes on a job that is way out of his league. That's right, he winds up in a heap of trouble. It's interesting to see how he handles this situation. A fairly good story.
March 12, 2025
A book about my one town.
The plot was easy to figure out but the journey to the end made it an enjoyable read. While I nearly cried when the guitars got busted up I knew it was coming. A fast enjoyable read.
The plot was easy to figure out but the journey to the end made it an enjoyable read. While I nearly cried when the guitars got busted up I knew it was coming. A fast enjoyable read.
August 18, 2020
Second Rolly book I've read.
The
se are cool books and I look forward to reading all of them! Now if I could just get to San Diego!
The
se are cool books and I look forward to reading all of them! Now if I could just get to San Diego!
January 2, 2022
Taut and interesting suspense with an awesome main character. I really enjoyed this story, so much so that I spent the day inhaling it.
Want to read
January 1, 2023Complimentary from FreeBooksy
May 10, 2023
Great descriptive Mystery
Enjoyed this Mystery, I thought your description was great of the location and It was a good read for my first time reading this author.
Enjoyed this Mystery, I thought your description was great of the location and It was a good read for my first time reading this author.
June 10, 2025
Enjoyed this mystery with a guitarist/PI as the main character. As a guitarist and vocalist, I loved the musical references. Rolly is an interesting character, coming out of a dark place in his life and working hard to remain on an even keel, despite the insanity of the case he is on. Looking forward to the next book.
June 27, 2025
I really like the character, but the supporting cast and the plot were a bit uneven. The thrilling parts were intense, but the various motivations and choices didn't always add up for me.
I'll read another one to see if I'm off base.
I'll read another one to see if I'm off base.
September 10, 2023
An enjoyable read by a talented author. Rolly Waters is an interesting character with just the right amount of angst.
February 2, 2023
Fun light read - takes place in San Diego so it is fun to hear his descriptions of places I know.
August 13, 2007
Black's Beach Shuffle is the great San Diegan novel. The title itself tells anyone who's been to San Diego (or grown up there, like I did) what to expect. Black's Beach is as the author puts it "a clothing optional" beach and that's putting it politely. Looking at the cover art with all the computers one can guess that the high tech sector of the "Golden Triangle" and the industrial parks behind UCSD (also near Black's Beach) will play a part in the book. In a nutshell, Black's Beach Shuffle is a mystery involving a post dot-com bubble start-up being investigated by a P. I. who is also in a band.
The description of EyeBitz.com was so much like some actually sketchy dot-com's I've worked for that I figured out their part of the mystery but there was still enough left to keep me guessing and reading.
The best part though are the descriptions of San Diego. The locations are correct, the culture is there (including the love/hate relationship with the Padres). Rolly, the protagonist, lives within spitting distance of my best friend. This 180 page mystery was a quick trip home and I stayed up past my bed time to finish it. Black's Beach Shuffle is one of the most entertaining books I've read so far this year.
The description of EyeBitz.com was so much like some actually sketchy dot-com's I've worked for that I figured out their part of the mystery but there was still enough left to keep me guessing and reading.
The best part though are the descriptions of San Diego. The locations are correct, the culture is there (including the love/hate relationship with the Padres). Rolly, the protagonist, lives within spitting distance of my best friend. This 180 page mystery was a quick trip home and I stayed up past my bed time to finish it. Black's Beach Shuffle is one of the most entertaining books I've read so far this year.
August 26, 2024
intriguing mystery
This was an intriguing well contrived story that held my interest throughout. I typically read books with a female protagonist but this book was a treat to read with the male protagonist who one can easily identify with because he has a good heart and a good soul, is smarter than he gives himself credit for, and has these character traits either despite or because of a background of experiences where he foundered and failed again and again but didn’t give up! He has challenges to deal with in his personal life on a daily basis like so many of us. It is nice to see the struggle and the integrity. The writing style was enjoyable. The mystery was not readily predictable. I would look forward to reading other books by this author and do not hesitate to recommend this story to others.
This was an intriguing well contrived story that held my interest throughout. I typically read books with a female protagonist but this book was a treat to read with the male protagonist who one can easily identify with because he has a good heart and a good soul, is smarter than he gives himself credit for, and has these character traits either despite or because of a background of experiences where he foundered and failed again and again but didn’t give up! He has challenges to deal with in his personal life on a daily basis like so many of us. It is nice to see the struggle and the integrity. The writing style was enjoyable. The mystery was not readily predictable. I would look forward to reading other books by this author and do not hesitate to recommend this story to others.
September 5, 2021
Rolly Walters is a musician who recently got his license to be a private eye. The computer company, EyeBitz.com, hires him to find a missing key. Rolly is in over his head, but slowly starts to piece together the solution to the mystery. This is Black’s Beach Shuffle by Corey Lynn Fayman.
I liked Rolly Walters. He was a simple joe, a bit of a screwup, and yet, you found yourself rooting for him. The author had a nice round up of characters that worked well within the mystery. The plot was clever, and the ending was gratifying. I loved the writing style of the author. It remind me of “noir” without it being “noir”. It just has that feel as you read it. This is definitely a series I want to continue with.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are my own.
I liked Rolly Walters. He was a simple joe, a bit of a screwup, and yet, you found yourself rooting for him. The author had a nice round up of characters that worked well within the mystery. The plot was clever, and the ending was gratifying. I loved the writing style of the author. It remind me of “noir” without it being “noir”. It just has that feel as you read it. This is definitely a series I want to continue with.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are my own.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews