The Black-Eyed Blonde - Benjamin Black

As if penning crime novels under a pseudonym wasn’t enough, John Banville has added an extra layer of complication with his latest book – the conceit of The Black Eyed Blonde is that it’s a brand new novel featuring one of the most famous detectives in noir fiction, Philip Marlowe, meaning the novel is basically Banville doing Black doing Raymond Chandler. The hoarier elements – the near parodic title and the generic ‘50s LA mystery plot – mean it all threatens to get a little Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid. However, The Black Eyed Blonde is saved by Banville’s formidable literary gifts. Quite simply, he imitates Chandler brilliantly, masterfully capturing his unique mixture of deadpan humour and melancholic observation. A light offering, perhaps, but a hugely enjoyable one nonetheless.