Tag Archives: Noir

After Pearl (Nicholas Bishop Mysteries 1) by Stephen G Eoannou

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After Pearl (Nicholas Bishop Mysteries 1) by Stephen G Eoannou -review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2025

1942. War rages in Europe. Pearl Harbor still smolders. And alcoholic private eye Nicholas Bishop wakes up on a hotel room floor with two slugs missing from his .38 revolver. The cops think he’ s murdered lounge singer Pearl DuGaye, mobsters think he saw something he shouldn t have, and Bishop remembers nothing… Together with his indomitable assistant Gia Alessi, who he may or may not have fired, a WWI vet who often flashes back to 1918, and a one-eyed female dog named Jake, Bishop tries to piece together the events that took place during his disastrous five-day bender. Along the way, he stumbles across a dirty politician, a socialite and her unfaithful husband, and a cabal of American Nazis who are undoubtedly up to no good. Written in the spirit of classic noir, Eoannou adds his own unique voice and flair to the genre in this, the first action-packed outing of the Nicholas Bishop Mysteries…

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REVIEW:AFTER PEARL is the first instalment in Stephen G Eoannou’s historical adult literary noir NICHOLAS BISHOP MYSTERIES focusing on PI Nicholas ‘Nick’ Bishop.

Told from third person perspective AFTER PEARL follows PI Nicholas ‘Nick’ Bishop, in the aftermath of an alcoholic bender, wherein not only are his money and car missing but so are five days in his life. Still struggling with the after effects of his bender, a new client, Mrs. Elizabeth Brandt hires Nick to get proof of her husband Meyer’s affair but something about the woman doesn’t sit well with Nicholas Bishop. All does not go according to plan when a black lounge singer, Pearl DuGaye goes missing and is presumed dead, and Nick Bishop is the last to see the singer alive, something our ‘hero’ does not remember. With the help of his on again, off again assistant Gia Alessi, attorney Ira Weiss, journalist Timothy Flynn and Benny the Junkman, Nicholas Bishop goes in search of his car, his money, a missing lounge singer, a rumored affair and the truth, only to find himself enmeshed in a Nazi conspiracy, and missing art.

The world building focuses on the hunt for a missing black woman in 1942 Buffalo New York, and her connections to everyone involved. Nick Bishop is a flawed anti-hero; an alcoholic whose alcoholic tendencies outshine his investigative skills, and his reputation has earned him the nickname the Weasel, and as such, Nick is usually the target of law enforcement, gangsters and the people of Buffalo New York.

There is a large ensemble cast of interesting, questionable and colorful secondary and supporting characters: Nick’s long suffering assistant/partner Gia Alessi, and his uncle Sal; alcoholic journalist Timothy Flynn, attorney ‘Fat’ Ira Weiss, Benny the Junkman, Lieutenant Darcy, The Gospel Brothers-Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; gangster Joseph Bonesutto aka Joey Bones, nightclub owner Phil Amigone, Doris Slater and Council Rhielman. The requisite evil has many faces.

AFTER PEARL is an intriguing and suspenseful story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and determination wrapped in a classic noir scenario in 1942 America during WWII. The Nazis, the Jews, and the Klan are prevalent and reflect the time period’s conspiracies, racism and attacks on someone consider ‘other’; everyone is suspect, American hands are dirty, and one man’s need to uncover the truth sets into motion the downfall of some powerful people.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Past Tense (Matt Moulton Mystery 1) by Michael Amedeo-review

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Past Tense (Matt Moulton Mystery 1) by Michael Amedeo-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 20, 2024

As America races toward the supposedly bright new decade of the 1950’s, disillusioned white private dick Matt Moulton finds himself faltering in the dark. Should he serve an amnesiac client whose recovering memories of paid murder intensify his own wartime guilt as an assassin? Should he risk endangering the person he loves, a beautiful black woman, for information on that case and an apparently related one? Does he imagine he can save her and himself from the corruption, the intolerance, and the apathy that linger in that violent nation’s shadows?

Taking place in a misty, sulky San Francisco, “Past Tense” appeals to readers who love their thrillers hardboiled. It brings pulp fiction back from the past, but here the genre seems more modern and yet more noir-like than ever before.

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REVIEW: PAST TENSE is the first instalment in Michael Amedeo’s historical, adult MATT MOULTON MYSTERY noir, mystery series focusing on private dick Matt Moulton.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers from more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Matt) PAST TENSE follows former US Army sniper / Detective turned private dick Matt Moulton. The year is 1949, and Matt Moulton, a successful private investigator is about to find himself in the middle of an investigation where the body count rises in proportion to the secrets and lies uncovered by our story line hero. Matt has been contracted to find a missing woman but the information Matt receives only veils the truth when another case involving an assassin with amnesia crosses over with Matt’s current case, involving a corrupt politician, and several unscrupulous law enforcement officers. With the aid of his office assistant Sara, and administrative assistant Gina, Matt begins to unravel the truth, a truth that becomes stranger than fiction as a killer takes aim at everyone involved.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and interesting secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Matt’s assistant Sara Manson; his girlfriend and detective bureau administrative assistant Gina Harner; Lieutenant Gilbert Brannigan; San Francisco mayor Anthony Rossini, and assassin John Boorman.

PAST TENSE is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, murder and corruption, race, acceptance and relationships. The premise is intriguing, suspenseful and dramatic; the characters are colorful and charismatic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Click HERE for more information about Michael Amadeo

The Writer with an Edge

It’s an edge in talent for conceiving and writing persuasive and engaging marketing, public relations, and journalism.

And now it’s an edge in subject matter and style: My two new hardboiled noir novels—with a third on the way—feature private dick Matt Moulton, whose opportunistic work uncovers and reluctantly confronts the dirty, violent underside of late 1940’s and early 1950’s America.

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Titanshade by Dan Stout – a Review

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Titanshade by Dan Stout – a Review

 

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Description:
Carter’s a homicide cop in Titanshade, an oil boomtown where 8-tracks are state of the art, disco rules the radio, and all the best sorcerers wear designer labels. It’s also a metropolis teetering on the edge of disaster. As its oil reserves run dry, the city’s future hangs on a possible investment from the reclusive amphibians known as Squibs.

But now negotiations have been derailed by the horrific murder of a Squib diplomat. The pressure’s never been higher to make a quick arrest, even as Carter’s investigation leads him into conflict with the city’s elite. Undermined by corrupt coworkers and falsified evidence, and with a suspect list that includes power-hungry politicians, oil magnates, and mad scientists, Carter must find the killer before the investigation turns into a witch-hunt and those closest to him pay the ultimate price on the filthy streets of Titanshade.

 

 

 

Review:

Titanshade by Dan Stout is his debut novel, which is a sci-fi/fantasy/noir thriller and the first book in the Carter Archives series.  We meet Carter, our hero, at the start, when he is called to a horrific murder scene; of a Squib diplomat (one of the different species in this sci-fi/fantasy noir). Carter is a veteran detective in Titanshade, as well as one of the best; but his past history forces police management to keep him away from the media. 

Carter, who is human, is forced to partner with Jax, another species, and together they must try to solve a complicated case that changes constantly; especially with corruption within the political side, the squibs, the rich oil magnets, scientists & prostitutes.  There are so many twists & turns that make this is an impossible and difficult case for Carter and Jax. 

This is a very difficult  review to write, as you really need to read this book to fully understand this different and complicated world. Titanshade is a gritty, fast paced, suspenseful, action packed adventure, which has a lot of world-building.  I thought Titanshade was very well written by Dan Stout, especially since it’s his debut novel.  I have to say that fantasy noir is not really my type of read, and it took me awhile to finish this.  However, if you enjoy this noir sci-fi fantasy, then you should read Titanshade

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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