addypap's review
5.0
Nothing special but greatly enjoy. Mix of Michael Connelly and Robert Galbraith.
tiggum's review
3.0
Something of a Raymond Chandler vibe but in a more modern setting. Black isn't as good a protagonist as Marlowe, and the bits about his parents weren't great, but over all it was pretty decent.
vesper1931's review
3.0
Artemus (Jim) Black is a Hollywood P.I. who dresses from the forties. He takes a case working for a director because the paparazzi following him starting getting killed off.
First in a series, an enjoyable read with the interplay between the characters.
First in a series, an enjoyable read with the interplay between the characters.
gretel7's review
4.0
It's an easy fun read. Murder, mayhem and lots of sarcasm. I figured out 'who done it' before the end but that's ok. Really enjoyed the book. On to book #2.
imzadirose's review
3.0
Wasn't sure if I should rate this a 2 or 3. It was a 2.5 read for me.
The good ~ I MOSTLY liked the main character. I think he should kick his so called therapist to the curb. The therapist is an asshole, but so were a lot of other characters. Black is set in his ways and only he can (and does sometimes) modify his behavior. He doesn't need a therapist making things worse. The storyline was ok, kept me engaged for the most part. Saw the main thing coming.
The bad ~ Roxie would be ok if she tapered back the attitude a little. Perhaps only 60% of the time, instead of 99% of the time. There's some times that professionalism is called for. But the thing that pissed me off most was the parents. His MOTHER refused to let him call her as such, he HAD to call her by her first name ever and only, but yet she would NOT stop using HIS first name (which he hates) when he asks her to. I fucking HATE parents who are so self important that they don't give a rats ass about their child, or what their child asks for, either as a child or a grown fucking adult. She made this book much worse for me and I don't know that I'll read more.
The good ~ I MOSTLY liked the main character. I think he should kick his so called therapist to the curb. The therapist is an asshole, but so were a lot of other characters. Black is set in his ways and only he can (and does sometimes) modify his behavior. He doesn't need a therapist making things worse. The storyline was ok, kept me engaged for the most part. Saw the main thing coming.
The bad ~ Roxie would be ok if she tapered back the attitude a little. Perhaps only 60% of the time, instead of 99% of the time. There's some times that professionalism is called for. But the thing that pissed me off most was the parents. His MOTHER refused to let him call her as such, he HAD to call her by her first name ever and only, but yet she would NOT stop using HIS first name (which he hates) when he asks her to. I fucking HATE parents who are so self important that they don't give a rats ass about their child, or what their child asks for, either as a child or a grown fucking adult. She made this book much worse for me and I don't know that I'll read more.
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