Raymond Benson

About, From the Black Stiletto Website

The Black Stiletto was a legend in her own time, an underground heroine who made a name for herself during the late Eisenhower years and early Kennedy years as a New York City vigilante. Although she was wanted by the law and would have been arrested had she been caught or had her secret identity been revealed, the Black Stiletto was a competent and successful crime-fighter. A feminist before the term was in everyday vernacular, she battled common crooks, Communist spies, the mafia, and worse—and was responsible for their capture and, in some cases, their deaths. But the Stiletto disappeared midway through the sixties and was never heard from again. Most people thought she had died, and no one ever knew her identity. Like pinup queen Bettie Page, her mythical image resurfaced in comics and other media during the 1980s and 90s. Millions of dollars were made by others exploiting her likeness and persona. Today, the questions remain. Who was she? Is she still alive? If so, where is she now?

The answers can be found in THE BLACK STILETTO, THE BLACK STILETTO: BLACK & WHITE, THE BLACK STILETTO: STARS & STRIPES, THE BLACK STILETTO: SECRETS & LIES, and the finale, THE BLACK STILETTO: ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS, all by internationally-known New York Times best-selling author Raymond Benson. The July 2011 issue of Library Journal calls THE BLACK STILETTO “a mash-up of the work of Gloria Steinem, Ian Fleming, and Mario Puzo, all under the editorship of Stan Lee.”

My Review:

January 4 2015…started and forcing myself to put it down as family and work duties are demanding my attention. My first question is…what if my mom was a secret hero? What secrets, other lives, have our parents held? Do we ever really know our parents? Or see them as other than our parents?

A few years back, I was lucky enough to review Mr. Benson’s “Dark Side of the Morgue.” A book I didn’t quite fully mix with; however, I’m losing myself in his “The Black Stiletto.

More to later…

Well, it’s later and in order to accomplish anything I had to force myself to turn my eReader off and back away from “The Black Stiletto.” Does this mean we were a mix? Oh Hades, yes!

Mr. Benson created an easy flowing story where I wanted to meet Judy Cooper aka The Black Stiletto. This lady has everything you want in a female hero. Is the idea a little over the top for the 50s? Maybe, but then again all the best super heroes are…a little over the top.

But, it’s not just about the era and the capturing of that time and story voice. Mr. Benson visits an aged super hero who no longer remembers who she was…or does she, that I’m not too sure about and hope to find out more as I move through the next books in the series. Think about it, though, what happens to crime fighters when they age, if/when Alzheimer’s lock away their memories?

What about their families…children? Do they ever learn about their parent’s past or is it buried away for the rest of time?

With “The Black Stiletto” Mr. Benson travels a different route…what if you discovered your parent was a super hero crime fighter from years ago? Someone who took on traitors and crime lords. It’s hard enough on adult children to realize their parents had lives before they had children…lives and dreams and experiences that don’t fit the mother/father picture. Now, the stories of some woman running the night in scandalously form-fitting tights and top, welding a needle sharp stiletto turns out to be your MOM?

And you can’t ask her anything about it.

“The Black Stiletto” is pure fun. Mr. Benson’s writing plays out as a movie in your mind…actually – Hey, Hollywood, stop making repeats of movies and get on board and give us something new, like The Black Stiletto.

Being part of a series there’s a trap some authors fall into…leaving too much open for the next book. Too few changes or too many closures in the first book. There’s a good balance here. And, if I wanted to give you hints and imprint these on you before you have a chance to enjoy this read, I would. Sorry, not going to happen.

Go and enjoy “The Black Stiletto” I’m off to my reading corner with book two.

By Raymond Benson

About, From the Black Stiletto Website

The Black Stiletto is back! The second book of the thrilling new series. It’s 1959 and Judy Cooper, the Black Stiletto, sets out to confront the heroin kingpin of Harlem when the teenage daughter of her beloved martial arts instructor becomes a prisoner in an uptown narcotics den… and she has fallen in love again, this time with an FBI agent who has standing orders to arrest her.

The Black Stiletto was a legend in her own time, an underground heroine who made a name for herself during the late Eisenhower years and early Kennedy years as a New York City vigilante. Although she was wanted by the law and would have been arrested had she been caught or had her secret identity been revealed, the Black Stiletto was a competent and successful crime-fighter. A feminist before the term was in everyday vernacular, she battled common crooks, Communist spies, the mafia, and worse—and was responsible for their capture and, in some cases, their deaths. But the Stiletto disappeared midway through the sixties and was never heard from again. Most people thought she had died, and no one ever knew her identity. Like pinup queen Bettie Page, her mythical image resurfaced in comics and other media during the 1980s and 90s. Millions of dollars were made by others exploiting her likeness and persona. Today, the questions remain. Who was she? Is she still alive? If so, where is she now?

The answers can be found in THE BLACK STILETTO, THE BLACK STILETTO: BLACK & WHITE, THE BLACK STILETTO: STARS & STRIPES, THE BLACK STILETTO: SECRETS & LIES, and the finale, THE BLACK STILETTO: ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS, all by internationally-known New York Times best-selling author Raymond Benson. The July 2011 issue of Library Journal calls THE BLACK STILETTO “a mash-up of the work of Gloria Steinem, Ian Fleming, and Mario Puzo, all under the editorship of Stan Lee.”

My Review:

Again, you would think I would read faster with books I enjoy and have the next few in the series. Nope, I drag because I don’t want to let go of them.

What the blurb doesn’t mention is how her son ends up visiting her old haunting grounds meeting up with…that’s enough for now.

I could end my review here with the simple words…I really enjoy this universe, these characters, and Mr. Benson’s writing…but that seems a little lame and a letdown. No matter how true.

Why and who should read this series?  Anyone who is a fan of secret heroes, the saying – only the shadows know. Is the Black Stiletto a hero or nuisance? We’re talking a time period that is pictured in shades of grey. Dark and seedy. Prim and Proper…hmmm, on the surface. A time of innocence, guilt, and hard justice. A female Mike Hammer or Sam Spade? Yesteryear’s Black Canary.

Weaved within is a son still discovering his mom. Being a dad wanting to protect his daughter. A lead female character who cannot speak for herself about her past, only what she wrote long ago.

No, it’s not easy writing a review for a straightforward, simply told story. I hope you give these a try and let me know your thoughts.

The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes

About, From the Black Stiletto Website

The Black Stiletto returns in the third book of the thrilling new series. It’s 1960 and the Black Stiletto, in her civilian persona as Judy Cooper, volunteers to work for JFK’s presidential campaign, only to become involved in a devious behind-the-scenes plot that could change the course of history. In the present, Martin, the Stiletto’s son, must deal with his mother’s worsening Alzheimer’s symptoms, his own mental health issues, and the dilemma of whether or not to reveal his family’s secrets to a new woman in his life. And then there’s Gina, the Stiletto’s granddaughter, who is exhibiting behavior that suggests she is closer in spirit to her grandmother than Martin would like.

My Review:

WOW!

The Black Stiletto and Kennedy. The Black Stiletto…reborn? The Black Stiletto meets the Tongs. The Black Stiletto takes on the Russians.

Any one of these would make an interesting read, but what you get is all of them in one book. No wonder Martin’s ready to fall apart. How do you keep all this a secret? How does one woman live through all of it?

Is this all over the top fiction? Sure it is and I’m glad I have two more Black Stiletto books to read. At first I didn’t like moving between Judy’s diaries and Martin’s present day chapters, but now they’ve become somewhat integrated. I’m liking Martin and want to see how his life continues. Something that annoyed me when I first started reading this series. Mr. Benson has weaved Martin’s own story into the emotional pull of his heroine’s adventures.

I’m rushing this writing because I want to get reading the next book. I know I’m going to miss this series when I finish book five. Logic tells me there’s an ending I won’t like, but it will be the most probable conclusion and only one we could possibly have.

Please, let me be wrong.

About, From the Black Stiletto Website

The Black Stiletto is back in the fourth book of the thrilling five-book saga. It’s 1961, and Judy, the Stiletto, meets Leo, a charismatic man who convinces her to move to Los Angeles when she is “run out” of New York by increasingly hazardous police heat. But Leo, who has connections with the West Coast mobs, has plenty of skeletons in his closet. His mysterious sister, Christina, who once served time for armed robbery, could also be a threat to the Stiletto’s new life in California. Meanwhile, in the present, Alzheimer’s-stricken Judy takes a turn for the worse as Martin comes to grips with the imminent end of his mother’s life. And when elements from the Stiletto’s past once again appear to threaten Martin’s family, it is up to his daughter, Gina, to step up and take matters into her own hands.

My Review:

Melancholy…a feeling of sadness usually without cause. Okay, my cause is the Black Stiletto and coming to the end of her stories. It’s a sadness of what Secrets and Lies brings us to as well as the anticipation of what’s next.

At first I didn’t want to have anything to do with Martin’s chapters. He was there for an intermission from the Black Stiletto’s adventures, an interruption. Given what happens in this stage of the series, I’m feeling more for him and what’s coming. His unanswered questions and the fears he’s recognizing.

This series is such an easy read that you might think why spread it over 5 books. Is it worth it? That’s the craft of strong writing and storytelling. Mr. Benson has kept it clean and simple. A straight knockout.

Your imagination will enhance, fill in any details, the scenes, emotions, action without any awareness on your part. I went back over a few scenes to see if what I pictured mentally was what was on the paper/screen…bits were, I coloured in the rest.

I think I know some answers. Think I know where the last book will take us. I’m not completely sure. I want to jump in and rush. I want to move slowly and savour. I’m afraid of the ending coming and I can’t wait.

There will be tears. I have no doubt at all about that. I’m looking forward to them. I plan on curling up in the dark and shutting everyone out while I say goodbye. I also don’t want to start because I don’t want to say goodbye.

The Black Stiletto is a favourite and I can’t tell you how much I think you should visit her world.

Author Amazon page: Raymond Benson amazon page

About, From the Black Stiletto Website

All secrets will be revealed! All questions will be answered! The thrilling finale of the Black Stiletto saga is here! It’s 1962 and Judy Cooper, the Black Stiletto, is devastated at the betrayal by her nemesis and former lover, Leo Kelly. Additionally, Leo and his psychotically dangerous sister, Christina, have set out to ruin the Stiletto’s reputation in LA with a series of crimes that are made to appear as if the crime fighter is responsible. The very pregnant Judy must fight back with her wits and cunning—until disaster strikes and she is forced to flee to Texas for the final showdown with destiny. Meanwhile, in the present, the Alzheimer’s that afflicts elderly Judy is in its last stage, but her son and granddaughter, Martin and Gina, must continue to protect her from the past’s last remaining assault, culminating in a cathartic and explosive conclusion. 

My Review:

40% left of the last book and I don’t want this tale to end. I mentioned in another review how every story starts having already taken place, and we know this is true with the Black Stiletto, her story is done, but it’s a sad feeling knowing there are no more adventures with her.

I don’t know how the whole thing will wrap up. I’m thinking there might be something of the next generation or maybe a moment of awareness yet to appear. I don’t know which I want to see.

I do know that at this point in my reading, Barry better stay a good guy.

(above written Jan 30 2024)

(Writing now as of October 2, 2024…life does get in the way of reading.)

Dangit, I want to do some shouting right now, but that will give too much away, it’s another reason it has taken me so long to get back to writing this review, I don’t want the book to end. I’ve promised myself the review will be finished this week.

Leo really does have a one track mind, but then again it’s so selfish no wonder. Cruel. YES!!

Although, reading my favourite parts…Judy’s Diary…I want to rush through and get back to the current time. I don’t know how true the fighting, martial arts, moves are; these do hold that much interest to me. I know they are vital to Judy. They’re something she’s very proud of, so I’m going with Mr. Benson’s honesty to research.

Can we trust Skipper? Maybe I’m just a bit edge-sitting waiting for the next drop to happen?

Dangit, I know, Reader, you can’t tell how long or how many screens I’ve read, but I’ve had to have jumped at least a dozen times from 75% read to the current 90%. The ending is coming and I have no clue how this will wrap up or if maybe there is a 6^th book?

Did we learn of this bit earlier? Could it be…

Okay, could, one last…too obvious? Kinda like the idea, will see soon enough.

And let the tears flow. My wild idea didn’t come true and it’s better that way. The story is done. The simple aspects of the telling reached the ending that was part “out there” maybe, and mostly the inevitable.

I don’t know if I’m sad for the ending or sad that there’s no more story to tell. It was a journey.

What is in our parents, our grandparents, past that we have no idea about? Who were they before our parents/grandparents? What exactly do our children and possible grandchildren see when they look at us?

Maybe I’m reading too much into what is a normal human super hero story. What I do know is the best stories always leave you feeling how I am now.

Thank you Mr. Benson.