The Black-Eyed Blonde

novel by Banville

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July 21, 2026

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"The Black-Eyed Blonde" is a 2014 novel by Irish author John Banville, written under the pseudonym Benjamin Black. This novel features the iconic hard-boiled private detective Philip Marlowe, a character originally created by Raymond Chandler.12

In this mystery, Marlowe is drawn into a complex case involving themes of corruption, blackmail, and murder, typical of the genre. Banville, known for his intricate and referential fiction, brings his own style to the noir tradition, exploring the seedy underworld of Los Angeles through Marlowe's eyes. The novel continues the legacy of Chandler's creation, offering a fresh take on the classic detective narrative.321

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John Banville
Benjamin Black books and mystery series
Other Benjamin Black books include The Black-Eyed Blonde (2014), which features Raymond Chandler’s fictional private detective Philip Marlowe, and the historical crime novels Wolf on a String (2017) and The Secret Guests (2019). The latter introduced the Irish detective St. John Strafford, a Protestant character serving on a mostly Roman…
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Other Benjamin Black books include The Black-Eyed Blonde (2014), which features Raymond Chandler’s fictional private detective Philip Marlowe, and the historical crime novels Wolf on a String (2017) and The Secret Guests (2019). The latter introduced the Irish detective St. John Strafford, a Protestant character serving on a mostly Roman…
Read More