Black (4 Novel Bundle)

By: Russell Blake

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 29 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Artemus Black doesn't believe in fate...but even a hardened Hollywood PI can question destiny when cases turn ugly.

With an assistant who mocks him relentlessly, an obese cat that loathes him, a romantic life that's deader than Elvis, money problems, booze, nicotine, and anger management issues, how much worse can it get?

The answer is plenty, and Black finds himself in a web of deceit, betrayal, and murder - and bad hair days.

If you love Chandler and Hammett, Black's irreverent nod to the noir classics is sure to draw smiles and keep you listening late into the night.

Get it now!

A four-novel bundle of the critically acclaimed Black series from a New York Times best-selling author.

©2018 Russell Blake (P)2018 Russell Blake

It made me laugh!

You will enjoy this book! Love the lead character. And Roxy is secretary made this book funny and enjoyable. Take a chance I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy

Too good to turn off.

I have to warn you you’re going to lose sleep because this is impossible to turn off and go to sleep. And be careful not to lay there trying to quietly listen to headphones in the dark next to your sleeping spouse, because you’re gonna burst out laughing and wake them I know that I did.

This is a great book series I loved it I laughed so much, and RC Bray is of course the best in the business. It was a blast. I recommend it to everyone. It’s the most entertainment I’ve gotten from one credit in a long time.
Enjoy 😉

Jewel 💎

Great series!!!

This is one of those series that I can't get enough of. A mystery to solve, humor and smart alic humor. I really liked off for books but number 4 was by far the best. RC Bray is awesome as usual narrating.

These 4 books were awesome

I enjoyed all 4 books stories and RC's narration. The stories were so interesting I had a hard time put i my tablet down.

Interesting and often humorous characters, but...

This was a treat to listen to, despite not getting five stars. Black is a full fledged character with lots of history built into the stories that doesn't need to be read between the lines but isn't thrown in one's face with long explanations and his interactions with everyone are consistent and entertaining. His assistant, Roxy, and his police detective friend, Stan, along with Mugsy, the office cat, really help to flesh out his character and the driving forces behind his morality, ethics, and desire to achieve his goals. Sadly, there are a few negatives, but they don't take away from the pleasure of hearing these stories. First, he never really solves any of the mysteries he gets involved in, really. Comes very close, but they always seem to resolve themselves while he seems to be the reluctant observer and chronicler of tragedy. As a PI, he does do the legwork, but he always seems to fall short of the mark in solving the major cases he gets involved in. However, much like life, that is pretty close to the mark for reality, I'm guessing, where a detective can only put together the pieces after the fact and give a full narrative to the tale of woe. Case B, his therapist is disturbing, obviously a pervert, and a distraction to me relating to Black as a detective. I'm sure that's part of the overall entertainment, but Black's obvious ignorance of the therapist's questions and reactions to the women in Black's life and his interactions with them I found annoyingly distracting. He can't be that naïve and be a PI, I keep thinking. Lastly, there's a contrived feeling to the progression that, while not detracting from the pleasure of the story, does seem to force the story along. While it didn't hurt the entertainment of the story, it did give it a slightly less than flowing narrative. Overall, a pleasure to listen to and one I would recommend to a select group of people. If you enjoy the old Noir detectives and comedy, this is certainly well worth the listen. The down on his luck and perpetually scrounging detective stories will never grow old to me, and this modern rendition certainly fits that bill. With some minor improvements this could go from being a sitcom detective noir to something Sam Spade and David Spade could likely enjoy.

Bundle is a great bargin

I listened to all 4 books in a row. The first one was so-so. The constant distraction of his sarcastic secretary, his ragged car and horrible cat kept making me loose the thread and forget what the case was about. I'm glad it was good enough to keep listening because the series got better with each book! It's set in LA with each story being related to an actor, singer or band. The last book he is on a reality TV show while investigating a case, which was the best of the 4 books.
The main character, Black, is likeable and smart. RC Bray is the best narrator ever. I highly recommend this bundle.

Very well done! most enjoyable!

very good writing. interesting characters and preference was perfect! kept me engaged and entertainmed. all around good books

excellent, So funny I was LOL, good mysteries too

you can't go wrong with this purchase. Black, the detective comes with a whole cast of screwball characters you just have to love: parents who don't like money but make 1 fortune after another. The ex wife who got all his musical career hits in the divorce. And best of all, Roxie, the wise-cracking secretary who does it all while continuing a line of hilarious insults.

Updated and upbeat noir

I was wonderfully surprised with this modern and relevant Murder mystery noir genre. The stories are fresh, the dialog and characters are funny and dynamic. The performance by R C Bray was fantastic, he nailed the characters and truly kept me involved in the novel. More interesting than a cozy Murder but not as intense as a Harry Bosch novel. In addition it’s a 4 book bundle, you gotta love that if nothing else about the genre appeals to you.

Excellent! Excellent stories, characters and one of the best narrators I’ve ever heard.

I used to go to Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar books for stories like this, but the Black series is quite superior in every way. And I think I’ve found a new favorite narrator in RC Bray. Highly recommended detective series if you like good stories, humor, and EXCELLENT narration.