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The Black Eyed Blonde

A Philip Marlowe Novel

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The Black Eyed Blonde

By: Benjamin Black
Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris
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About this listen

In this gripping and deeply evocative crime novel, Benjamin Black returns us to the dark, mesmerising world of Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye and his detective Philip Marlowe; one of the most iconic and enduringly popular detectives in crime fiction.

Now a major film, Marlowe, starring Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger.

It is the early 1950s. In Los Angeles, Private Detective Philip Marlowe is as restless and lonely as ever, and business is a little slow. Then a new client arrives: young, beautiful, and expensively dressed, Clare Cavendish wants Marlowe to find her former lover.

Soon Marlowe will find himself not only under the spell of the Black-Eyed Blonde; but tangling with one of Bay City’s richest families – and developing a singular appreciation for how far they will go to protect their fortune . . .

'Somewhere Raymond Chandler is smiling, because this is a beautifully rendered hardboiled novel that echoes Chandler's melancholy at perfect pitch' – Stephen King

 Crime Thrillers Detective Historical Mystery Private Investigators Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime

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Marlowe By: John Banville
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Very evocative , of a time ,place and style. Perfect escape from today . Wonderful that Raymond Chandlers characters have more stories to inhabit .

Wonderful

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Where does The Black Eyed Blonde rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's a great bedtime listen but the story, while well told, will appeal only to those who are raymond carver fans since banville (the pen behind benjamin black) is really entering into the mindset of the time…so dont expect a Benjamin Black novel!

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It's the voice which I love and the fun one liners which capture the genre

Love the voice on this reading

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This is probably the best of the Philip Marlowe tribute novels. The prose of Benjamin Black is worthy of that of the Master himself, and the plot is pretty good. Please persuade him to write another Marlowe novel.
The reading , by Dennis Boutsikaris is also excellent – in the class of the great Ray Porter.

Great listen/read!

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Would you listen to The Black Eyed Blonde again? Why?

Yes, There were so many really good lines in the story, the author has produced this book with the dedication of a master craftsman.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The world weary private detective Marlowe who just doesn't seen to fit into the life he lives, yet can't (or won't because he's a stubborn cuss) change the path he's be set on.

What about Dennis Boutsikaris’s performance did you like?

Absolutely nailed the character to a 'T' I really hope he continues with this.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It surprised me how the author kept a lid on the plot until the final few pages. Bravo I didn't guess who did it!

Any additional comments?

Let me know when the next book is out.

Vintage Marlowe

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