What do you think?
Rate this book
Louis Kincaid #3
Paint It Black
Paint It Black
Florida's Gulf Coast community of Sereno Key has been shaken to the core by a grisly ritualistic murder. Though an arrest is quickly made, Detective Louis Kincaid feels strangely unsettled. His uncertainty is confirmed as a second body is discovered, and then a third--each branded with the bizarre trademarks of a serial killer whose blood lust is growing. Now in a race against time, Kincaid will do whatever is necessary to stop the slaughter.
Before becoming the next victim of a predator more twisted than he ever imagined. . .
Praise for the novels of P. J. Parrish
"Dead Of Winter is a wild ride with a really fine writer." --John Sandford, New York Times bestselling author
"A suspenseful tale. . .Parrish's latest will appeal to those seeking a fast-paced thriller propelled by a cast of charismatic characters." -- Publishers Weekly
"Fast paced. . .well-conceived." -- Chicago Tribune
"Full of intrigue and edge-of-the-seat suspense." --Michael Connelly, New York Times bestselling author
Florida's Gulf Coast community of Sereno Key has been shaken to the core by a grisly ritualistic murder. Though an arrest is quickly made, Detective Louis Kincaid feels strangely unsettled. His uncertainty is confirmed as a second body is discovered, and then a third--each branded with the bizarre trademarks of a serial killer whose blood lust is growing. Now in a race against time, Kincaid will do whatever is necessary to stop the slaughter.
Before becoming the next victim of a predator more twisted than he ever imagined. . .
Praise for the novels of P. J. Parrish
"Dead Of Winter is a wild ride with a really fine writer." --John Sandford, New York Times bestselling author
"A suspenseful tale. . .Parrish's latest will appeal to those seeking a fast-paced thriller propelled by a cast of charismatic characters." -- Publishers Weekly
"Fast paced. . .well-conceived." -- Chicago Tribune
"Full of intrigue and edge-of-the-seat suspense." --Michael Connelly, New York Times bestselling author
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
83 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Parrish
26 books270 followersP.J. Parrish is the New York Times bestselling author of ten Louis Kincaid and Joe Frye thrillers. The author is actually two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols. Their books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today best seller lists. The series has garnered 11 major crime-fiction awards, and an Edgar® nomination. Parrish has won two Shamus awards, one Anthony and one International Thriller competition. Her books have been published throughout Europe and Asia.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
December 31, 2013
The third in P.J. Parrish's series featuring detective Louis Kincaid, "Paint it Black", is another suspenseful thriller, which, like the first two, examines race and racism in an interesting and entertaining way.
Kincaid, taking time off from official police work after his horrendous experience in Michigan, has been invited to the Florida Keys by former boss and friend, retired Mississippi sheriff Sam Dodie. He isn't invited for rest and relaxation, however. His investigative skills have been requested by the short-handed and old-school police department on the small Gulf Coast community of Sereno Key. A brutal murder of a black man has rocked the small town, and the main suspect is the victim's wife.
Reluctantly, Kincaid agrees to stay and help with the investigation strictly on a consultant basis. He is unable to carry a badge or gun, as he is not an employee of the police department nor is he legally licensed by the state of Florida to be a private investigator. When the body of a second black man is found, Kincaid's duties as "consultant" quickly increase. A young female FBI agent is assigned to assist in the investigation. She quickly butts heads with the good ol' boy police chief, and Kincaid, besides leading a serial killer manhunt and investigation, now has to play umpire between two very different schools of thought. Chief Wainwright doesn't buy or like the new-fangled "profiling" psychobabble that Agent Farentino brings to the table. He doesn't get the "new" face of the FBI.
Meanwhile, the killer is escalating, becoming more vicious in his killings, and the profile put together by the FBI may not even be accurate. Is the killer a white man? Ninety percent of serial killers are white heterosexual males. Are these racially-motivated hate crimes? Or is, as Kincaid begins to suspect, the killer possibly a black man, acting out some deep-rooted racial self-loathing? Because, sadly, Kincaid knows a little about self-loathing.
Parrish succeeds again in creating a fast-paced, twisty storyline that grabs the reader by the throat and also manages to provoke some interesting thoughts on race issues in this country.
Kincaid, taking time off from official police work after his horrendous experience in Michigan, has been invited to the Florida Keys by former boss and friend, retired Mississippi sheriff Sam Dodie. He isn't invited for rest and relaxation, however. His investigative skills have been requested by the short-handed and old-school police department on the small Gulf Coast community of Sereno Key. A brutal murder of a black man has rocked the small town, and the main suspect is the victim's wife.
Reluctantly, Kincaid agrees to stay and help with the investigation strictly on a consultant basis. He is unable to carry a badge or gun, as he is not an employee of the police department nor is he legally licensed by the state of Florida to be a private investigator. When the body of a second black man is found, Kincaid's duties as "consultant" quickly increase. A young female FBI agent is assigned to assist in the investigation. She quickly butts heads with the good ol' boy police chief, and Kincaid, besides leading a serial killer manhunt and investigation, now has to play umpire between two very different schools of thought. Chief Wainwright doesn't buy or like the new-fangled "profiling" psychobabble that Agent Farentino brings to the table. He doesn't get the "new" face of the FBI.
Meanwhile, the killer is escalating, becoming more vicious in his killings, and the profile put together by the FBI may not even be accurate. Is the killer a white man? Ninety percent of serial killers are white heterosexual males. Are these racially-motivated hate crimes? Or is, as Kincaid begins to suspect, the killer possibly a black man, acting out some deep-rooted racial self-loathing? Because, sadly, Kincaid knows a little about self-loathing.
Parrish succeeds again in creating a fast-paced, twisty storyline that grabs the reader by the throat and also manages to provoke some interesting thoughts on race issues in this country.
June 28, 2014
RATING: 4.25
The one constant in Louis Kincaid’s life has been inconstancy. Put into the foster system as a child, he has had a very rootless life which has continued into adulthood. As Paint It Black opens, he has moved from Michigan to Sereno Key, Florida. There are many allusions in the book that lead to the conclusion that he experienced a lot of trouble in his professional life in Michigan. Those readers who have read Dead of Winter will understand what is being referred to. I’m not so certain that people who have not read that book will grasp what happened in Louis’ life in the past.
At any rate, Louis is no longer a cop. He is asked by an old friend to assist in the investigation of the murder of a black man whose face has been defiled and whose body has been sprayed with black paint. When other murders occur, it looks like a serial killer is at work. The police of Sereno Key are ill prepared to handle these cases, their expertise being around the more usual criminal behavior of an established population. Louis is hired by the wife of the dead man since she is the prime suspect. Eventually, he is employed as a consultant by the police and assists them in working the case. He feels that he has been hired because he is black, as are the victims, which doesn’t sit well with him. At first it’s difficult for him, as he is used to standing behind a badge. Going private puts different parameters on what he can and can’t do.
As time goes on and Louis settles in, we see that he is indeed extremely competent at his job. The person that he reports to is experiencing problems of his own and often just walks away from the investigation. The other member of the team is an FBI profiler by the name of Emily Farentino who has zero street experience and is very petite, which does not exactly inspire confidence in those around her. One of Parrish’s great strengths is her ability to create these fallible, flawed characters and have them behave in believable ways. The reader cares about these people because they are not perfect. The only character that didn’t ring true to me was the killer who is essentially a deranged caricature whose motivations I had a hard time comprehending.
This is a series that I enjoy, and Paint It Black, the third book in the series, does not disappoint. In addition to the excellent characterization, Parrish excels at pacing and keeps the book moving along briskly. In addition, looking at the world through Louis’ eyes exposes the readers to some racial attitudes that cut deep.
At the book’s conclusion, Louis has to face up to things about himself that he’d rather not look at. Will he finally put down some roots and make a commitment to building a life? Or will he continue to run away? We’ll have to wait (impatiently) for Book 4 to find out. Recommended.
The one constant in Louis Kincaid’s life has been inconstancy. Put into the foster system as a child, he has had a very rootless life which has continued into adulthood. As Paint It Black opens, he has moved from Michigan to Sereno Key, Florida. There are many allusions in the book that lead to the conclusion that he experienced a lot of trouble in his professional life in Michigan. Those readers who have read Dead of Winter will understand what is being referred to. I’m not so certain that people who have not read that book will grasp what happened in Louis’ life in the past.
At any rate, Louis is no longer a cop. He is asked by an old friend to assist in the investigation of the murder of a black man whose face has been defiled and whose body has been sprayed with black paint. When other murders occur, it looks like a serial killer is at work. The police of Sereno Key are ill prepared to handle these cases, their expertise being around the more usual criminal behavior of an established population. Louis is hired by the wife of the dead man since she is the prime suspect. Eventually, he is employed as a consultant by the police and assists them in working the case. He feels that he has been hired because he is black, as are the victims, which doesn’t sit well with him. At first it’s difficult for him, as he is used to standing behind a badge. Going private puts different parameters on what he can and can’t do.
As time goes on and Louis settles in, we see that he is indeed extremely competent at his job. The person that he reports to is experiencing problems of his own and often just walks away from the investigation. The other member of the team is an FBI profiler by the name of Emily Farentino who has zero street experience and is very petite, which does not exactly inspire confidence in those around her. One of Parrish’s great strengths is her ability to create these fallible, flawed characters and have them behave in believable ways. The reader cares about these people because they are not perfect. The only character that didn’t ring true to me was the killer who is essentially a deranged caricature whose motivations I had a hard time comprehending.
This is a series that I enjoy, and Paint It Black, the third book in the series, does not disappoint. In addition to the excellent characterization, Parrish excels at pacing and keeps the book moving along briskly. In addition, looking at the world through Louis’ eyes exposes the readers to some racial attitudes that cut deep.
At the book’s conclusion, Louis has to face up to things about himself that he’d rather not look at. Will he finally put down some roots and make a commitment to building a life? Or will he continue to run away? We’ll have to wait (impatiently) for Book 4 to find out. Recommended.
March 7, 2009
Louis Kincaid is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. This third book of the series is my favorite so far. It had some good secondary characters, and an interesting storyline.
Louis Kincaid's career as a police detective is in limbo after a bad experience in Michigan. While he is trying to decide what to do next, he is contacted by his former boss from his short stint as a police investigator in Mississippi. Louis agrees to look into a murder case in Florida. Shortly after he arrives, it becomes obvious that the murder was not isolated, but is the work of a serial killer. The local police chief welcomes Louis and uses him as a consultant. Louis must deal with friction between the local police department, sheriff's office, and FBI while trying to determine the identity of the killer.
Louis Kincaid is a young detective whose career so far has been rocky. He carries some baggage left from childhood, as well as from his previous experiences as a detective. He is completely dedicated to the cases he works. The third book about him is fast paced and I was quickly caught up in the story. I am looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series.
Louis Kincaid's career as a police detective is in limbo after a bad experience in Michigan. While he is trying to decide what to do next, he is contacted by his former boss from his short stint as a police investigator in Mississippi. Louis agrees to look into a murder case in Florida. Shortly after he arrives, it becomes obvious that the murder was not isolated, but is the work of a serial killer. The local police chief welcomes Louis and uses him as a consultant. Louis must deal with friction between the local police department, sheriff's office, and FBI while trying to determine the identity of the killer.
Louis Kincaid is a young detective whose career so far has been rocky. He carries some baggage left from childhood, as well as from his previous experiences as a detective. He is completely dedicated to the cases he works. The third book about him is fast paced and I was quickly caught up in the story. I am looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series.
June 23, 2017
This is the third book in the series and it just gets better and better. This time Louis leaves Michigan and heads to Florida to see his old boss from when he worked in Mississippi. He gets hooked with another small town police department and the mystery begins again. Loved all the characters and their interaction. It left me thinking Louis might actually stay in Florida. Can't wait to start the next book, already checked it out from the library!
January 8, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
February 27, 2017
I am not sure about this series or if I like Louis Kincaid enough to keep reading. I would have like this book more if I had not read the previous two. Louis has a quick temper and doesn't follow orders well, and it gets him into trouble every time. I am a little tired of race being the main theme of the book. I don't think I will read another in the series for a while.
April 13, 2020
I thought this book was so well-written, I studied it to see how all of the elements worked together. It's a thriller that involves a serial killer. His motivation for choosing his victims fascinated me. The characters in the book were so well done that they complemented each other, and I especially liked how much they respected each other's space. The main characters are mostly cops, and they all have past events that haunt them, so they give each other plenty of respect, not prying or poking at each other. The tension builds and builds throughout the book, and the ending delivered. I'm putting this book high on my list of favorites.
August 24, 2020
One pet peeve I have, white authors who write sterotypical black lead characters. I just never feel attached (I came to this on a previous PJ novel before I even knew her race) the characters seem hollywood developed and not from life experience. All in all a fast read but there were too many references to actions in past novels. And her knowledge of the characters home, Michigan, made me wonder if she had ever even been there. (I am from michigan)
March 11, 2023
Not the greatest Louis Kincaid book. It took a long time to get started but picked up about 3/4 of the way in. I do like the character development though. The story itself is a bit cliche and unbelievable at the same time. And what’s with the incredibly gruesome descriptions at the morgue? It’s not necessary! I had to just skim those pages but not actually read them, and it happened a lot!
Anyway, despite this book I still like the authors and Louis.
Anyway, despite this book I still like the authors and Louis.
March 17, 2020
This was a pretty good mystery, set in 1986, about an African-American ex-cop visiting in Florida, who helps find a serial killer. The series was new to me, but apparently it is #3 of several books. I enjoyed it, found it hard to put down. Gave it 8 out of 10 stars.
February 14, 2021
In the past I've found the Louis Kincaid books enjoyable but now I find the books don't have enough action for me. Too much detective work I guess. The writing is always good, character development good but they leave we wanting more.
December 21, 2021
This is the third PJ Parrish book - all featuring Detective Louis Kincaid. Like the others, this is excellent. This time Kincaid is in Florida looking for a serial killer. Parrish paints vivid locales and writes great stories.
June 4, 2017
Another good story in this series.
January 21, 2018
I really enjoy this book series! This was a great book, but some of the other books in the series are better. I still recommend reading though!
March 2, 2018
Very enjoyable series.
December 16, 2018
Again an outstanding mystery/novel from this author....great series!! Highly recommend!!!
June 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this Louis Kincaid adventure. So far, it’s my favourite in the series. I have the next book in the series in hand and I’m ready to dive back in.
August 6, 2019
Good read.
Another quality story by PJ Parrish. Even so, I still feel like the first Louis Kincaid book (Dark Of the Moon) was a little better.
Another quality story by PJ Parrish. Even so, I still feel like the first Louis Kincaid book (Dark Of the Moon) was a little better.
May 2, 2020
Having gotten to know Kincaid better after reading the first 3 books in the series, I enjoy following his career.
December 14, 2020
Quite a good read, set in USA and 90% of my reading set in UK.
January 20, 2022
Picked this book up and couldn't put it down.
July 13, 2022
3 1/2 stars
September 4, 2025
This is an interesting mystery that keeps moving around. It introduces the suspects as the team figures out who might be involved. It brings in the thoughts of race and killers in a different way.
May 9, 2015
I could hardly wait to get my hands on this thriller, starring Louis Kincaid again.
Fresh from the Michigan debacle, Kincaid is invited to Florida to investigate a strange murder. Kincaid arrives with his cat - Isobel - in a cat carrier and stays with his friend, Dodie - a retired investigator - and his wife, Margaret who loves to look after her men.
It soon becomes apparent that the strange murder is one of many - a serial killer is on the loose and the local police are desperate to solve it before any more victims come to light. Louis is tagged onto the station by the local chief, Dan Wainwright, as an investigator consultant. All is well - the usual politics come into play because the victims spread into different jurisdictions - but imagine the men's surprise when the FBI agent requested turns out to be a small, nerdy woman!
Louis is a delightfully complex character, the plot is meticulous and the identity of the killer quite a surprise!
July 22, 2016
This is the first book I've read by P.J. Parrish and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's pretty gruesome so not for the weak stomached. No romance, strictly police work and murder.
A serial killer is hunting black men on a small peaceful island off the Florida coast. Louis Kincaid, out-of-state cop on "vacation" is working with the local cops to solve these murders. A female FBI profiler is also involved. This is well written with great clues that lead and mislead at the same time. Great twists and turns which totally throw you off the scent (the cops too). They went in so many wrong directions yet finally reached the proper conclusion which I guess is how real cops do it too. Of course, all the cops have issues and there is tension all over the place. A wrong word from one, sets another off and so forth. Very true to life and IMO as you'd expect a police department to function.
A serial killer is hunting black men on a small peaceful island off the Florida coast. Louis Kincaid, out-of-state cop on "vacation" is working with the local cops to solve these murders. A female FBI profiler is also involved. This is well written with great clues that lead and mislead at the same time. Great twists and turns which totally throw you off the scent (the cops too). They went in so many wrong directions yet finally reached the proper conclusion which I guess is how real cops do it too. Of course, all the cops have issues and there is tension all over the place. A wrong word from one, sets another off and so forth. Very true to life and IMO as you'd expect a police department to function.
March 18, 2021
I had never read any of this author's books, but enjoyed it immensely. Looking forward to reading more.
January 18, 2011
I'm enjoying this series with Louis Kincaid as a black detective. In this book, he is down south at the request of a former boss looking into the murder of a black man. The wife was initiallly arrested and charged but as the case progresses, the facts point to a serial killer. His new boss has a force that is inexperienced in dealing with this case. A sole rookie from the FBI is brought in to assist. Louis has to bridge the gap between the FBI agent and his new boss as the victims pile up.
November 4, 2011
found this book at Savers for a couple of bucks. really enjoyed it as part of my favorite murder mystery genre. it is an older book and so the idea of FBI profiling was new. now, we just "know" that idea because of shows like "criminal minds". anyway, still a solid mystery. i would only recommend it if you like this genre, because as always you deal with unsavory characters and some language...
April 14, 2013
This was an awesome psychological thriller! I also enjoyed how it talked about new things with the FBI, since this takes place in the 1980s, like profiling personalities and whatnot of the killers, and entering them in their big computer data base. VI-CAP..not sure if I spelled that right. Anyway, this was another good Louis Kincaid book! Louis is one of my fave fictional cops! lol! On to the next book!
August 27, 2015
I won Paint It Black in a contest. I started it late last night, and could hardly put it down to get some sleep. I hated that I had to wait until this evening to finish it. LOL
I loved it. I live in South Florida so I recognized many of the places mentioned. It is a great read. Makes you really think and change your mind about who did it. Loved it and have to hurry out to get some more of this series.
I loved it. I live in South Florida so I recognized many of the places mentioned. It is a great read. Makes you really think and change your mind about who did it. Loved it and have to hurry out to get some more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews