The Black Stiletto

May 29, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller, may-2012-to-read-shelf, noir

A fresh pleasant surprise of a story. I only wished I read it when it came out.
The main character the black stiletto is a vigilante, a living lethal weapon, a woman who can kill.
She fights crime and protects the innocent.
A woman who's not the typical woman of the 1950's, she's trained herself and learned the art of fighting and molded herself to become an unstoppable force of a woman.
This history of her reign is delivered in diary fashion, which she kept and wrote. Her son discovers it and narra...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Kelley rated it 4 of 5 stars

The premise is simple: The Black Stiletto was a costumed vigilante in New York in the late 1950s and nobody knew who she was. Then in the present day, a somewhat boring accountant discovers that his 72 year old mother, suffering from Alzheimers in a nursing home, was The Black Stiletto. We seldom wonder what happens to masked crime fighters when they grow old. Or, also, in this case, what happens when someone they put behind bars 50 years ago, who is also now old, gets out of prison. Raymond Ben...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Dianne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, action-and-adventure, child-abuse, drama, dysfunctional-families, netgalley, own, recommended, psychological-thriller, strong-female-characters, survival

First, I have to say, this book rocked me back on my heels! I had NO idea what I would find or how much I would get involved in the story!

The diaries of an aging Alzheimer's patient reveal the story of a young woman driven to becoming a legendary 'superhero' fighting for justice, against any evil that gets in her way.

Imagine being the middle aged man learning the secrets of his mother's past through a series of diaries she had written long ago. Mind boggling, to say the least, because her entrie...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, superhero

This book is a lot easier to read in a quick gulp. A gulp of a day, maybe no more than two. For the simple reason that reading it quickly will allow the negative, arrogant, ignorant, jerky character of Martin fester less, or at least have less time to fester in the readers mind. Quick gulp and you just get the idea without letting it dig into your brain, burrowing deep, planting seeds of disgust. With a quick read, you can avoid that.

The individual storylines all would make an interesting book b...more This book is a lot easier to read in a quick gulp. A gulp of a day, maybe no more than two. For the simple reason that reading it quickly will allow the negative, arrogant, ignorant, jerky character of Martin fester less, or at least have less time to fester in the readers mind. Quick gulp and you just get the idea without letting it dig into your brain, burrowing deep, planting seeds of disgust. With a quick read, you can avoid that.

The individual storylines all would make an interesting book by themselves. There are three points of view. Martin, previously mentioned, is the son of a single mother, Judy, currently residing in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s. Martin's mother left something with the family lawyer to given to Martin on Judy's death or incapacitation. An envelope with keys. So, the first storyline involves Martin, in the present, reading his mothers diary from 1958 and learning that there was more to his mother than he suspected or expected. His mother was the Black Stiletto, a vigilante crime fighter in the 1950s, and early 1960s.

Which leads directly to the second point of view, Judy’s diary from 1958? The diary section has both "dear diary", and giggling combined with a more narrative, novelesque type of presentation of the information. While being Judy's diary from 1958, it also contains Judy's life from, if I recall correctly, 1952-1958.

The third point of view also takes place in the present, though is lead by a person who knew Judy in the 1950s. Roberto has spent the last fifty odd years in prison and his section opens with him being released from prison. Roberto had been an enforcer, bodyguard in an Italian crime family.

All three points of view could be interesting books, or short stories on their own. A book about a female crime fighter in the 1950s, with a spark of realism, as opposed to superhero fantasy. Judy's section is the strongest of the three.

Martin's story could also make an interesting short story on its own. About a person who learns, late in life, that their parent had been a superhero-esque figure in the middle of the twentieth century. While Judy's section could probably be read by itself, alone, Martin's section includes a little too much of the "and now I turn to reading this diary I found" material. There are bits and pieces of a story, a broken marriage, a growing daughter, etc.

Roberto's story, cut out from all the superhero/vigilante type oddness, could also be an interesting slice of life book. Here's a man who went into prison in the prime of his life. His job skills being purely criminal in nature. Spending most of his adult life in prison - the Twin Towers are built and fall while he is in prison, cell phones spread to the point where it would look odd if he didn't have one, and being released at the age of 78. No civilian job skills. His criminal job skills are out of date and most of his old crew are dead. And the crime is no longer controlled by the Italians, but now by the Russians and east Europeans. It would be an interesting book, a look at an old man trying to figure out how to live in this new world of computers and the like. Roberto's story is, more or less, limited, though, to his quest to find and take care of the woman who put him in jail and killed his twin brother.

All in all, it is an interesting book. There is an impression given that this might be a first in a series, and if so, I might look at a second book. Though the book works well enough on its own. There are some interesting concepts, and the characterization is actually deeper than I've been implying. I suppose I somewhat recommend the book.(less)

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Feb 29, 2012 Jessica Bronder rated it 5 of 5 stars

Martin Talbot is an accountant with an ex-wife, a daughter that wants to be an actor instead of getting a business degree, and a mother with Alzheimer’s. He gets a call from his mother’s lawyer. The attorney tells him that his mother wanted him to have an envelope and locked box if she passed away or if she became incapacitated. Martin opens the envelope and box and learns that his mother was The Black Stiletto.

He goes to their old house and finds a secret room in the basement with her costume,...more Martin Talbot is an accountant with an ex-wife, a daughter that wants to be an actor instead of getting a business degree, and a mother with Alzheimer’s. He gets a call from his mother’s lawyer. The attorney tells him that his mother wanted him to have an envelope and locked box if she passed away or if she became incapacitated. Martin opens the envelope and box and learns that his mother was The Black Stiletto.

He goes to their old house and finds a secret room in the basement with her costume, newspaper and magazine clipping, other Black Stiletto memorabilia, and a collection of diaries. Martin starts reading and gets sucked into her story.

The book starts with the past and the year 1958. Judy Cooper grew up in Texas with her mother and two brothers. Her father died during the war and her mother remarried Douglas, a roughneck from the oil fields. After an assault from Douglas, she runs away from home. She gets to New York City and makes a living for herself. There she finds that she is drawn to helping others. She starts learning boxing, karate, judo, and how to use a knife. This leads her to becoming The Black Stiletto.

Back in the present time, Martin is bitter that his mother never told him any of this before. He is also having a hard time at work and dealing with his daughter’s career choice. We also meet Roberto. He has finally been released from prison after doing his time for murder charges. He is 78 and has a personal vendetta toward The Black Stiletto. So Roberto begins his hunt for Judy.

I really liked this book. Judy was the best character; it’s great to see someone rise about their beginnings. What’s nice is I have learned some of the techniques that she used to defend herself and it helped me to relate to her. Martin had his own issues and I admit that I was not impressed with him as a person, great for the character though. I loved how the book goes through 1958.

I can’t think of anything that I was not impressed with and can’t think of a single thing. I have to say that I can’t wait to get the next book in this series. If you like thrillers and super heroes, I think that this is one book that you need to read.

I received this book for free from netGalley in exchange for an honest review.
(less)

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Feb 15, 2012 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternating-pov, amazing-antagonist, confusing, not-really-contemporary, netgalley, wtf-ending, takes-place-over-many-years, adult, male-pov, female-pov

3.5 Stars

The Black Stiletto was an extraordinary read of a crime-fighting superwoman who went by the name of the Black Stiletto and the story of her son discovering her secret. A fast paced read, I finished this one in an hour and half.

The Black Stiletto starts out with Martin discovering his mother, Judy's, secret. When she was younger, she was the infamous Black Stiletto who fought crime. She was so famous, in fact, there is even a comic series based on her glorious days. At first, Martin is i...more 3.5 Stars

The Black Stiletto was an extraordinary read of a crime-fighting superwoman who went by the name of the Black Stiletto and the story of her son discovering her secret. A fast paced read, I finished this one in an hour and half.

The Black Stiletto starts out with Martin discovering his mother, Judy's, secret. When she was younger, she was the infamous Black Stiletto who fought crime. She was so famous, in fact, there is even a comic series based on her glorious days. At first, Martin is in disbelief. His mother, a fighter? But as he continues on reading his mother's diary, he comes to an understanding and sees his mother in a whole new light.

The plot of The Black Stiletto was inconsistent as each chapter ventured into the present or the past. There were three POV; Martin, his mother's diary entries and the mysterious Roberto. All of these POVs, except the diary entries were extremely dull. Just telling anyone, the other two POVs are extremely slow and I found them pointless and dull. Meanwhile, the diary entries are full of action, intrigue and are fun, enjoyable scenes to read. Honestly, if anyone plans to read The Black Stiletto, I recommend to skim through the other chapters and to just savor the action of The Black Stiletto.

However, there was another plot line occurring as Martin is discovering his mother's secret. The mysterious Roberto is looking for the Black Stiletto. There is not a clear reason given, but it is soon obvious as he appears in the diary entries. The plot line about Roberto was pathetic. The whole thing is hinted and confirmed in the same chapter. In fact, it is quite obvious of his motives as well as his plan. As we devour the action and misdeeds of the Black Stiletto, there is always a sudden shift to modern day world. The end of The Black Stiletto is unfulfilling. The whole purpose of Martin discovering his mother's secret is totally pointless. It contributes nothing to the modern day plot and the end is supposed to be seen as a confirmation of the Black Stiletto's secret. But seriously, it was a shallow end that tied the lose ends pathetically. I admit, the end was successful in its purpose, but was sloppily done.

Not to mention, there was no real climax or building up for the major ending. The ending was an "action" scene caused by the Black Stiletto's past. The build-up to the climax was there, it just was not exciting or forcing the reader to be pumped for this final Black Stiletto battle scene. I admit, it is challenging to end such interesting novel well, but the Black Stiletto ending was less than average.

The Black Stiletto was an enjoyable, fast-paced story of the infamous Black Stiletto. I hope all who read this enjoyed the Black Stiletto's moments as much as I did. Those moments deserve five stars; sadly, the present-day scenes, not as much.

Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for allowing me to read and review an ARC of The Black Stiletto.(less)

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Jan 21, 2012 Webbweaver Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

At age 48, Martin just found that his mom, presently in a nursing home with Alzheimer's, is the famous vigilante/superhero, the Black Stiletto. Her real name is Judy Cooper, and during the 1950’s, she became a masked avenger who thwarted evil-doers until she disappeared from site. A lawyer friend gives Martin a key to a room at the house where he grew up, and what he finds are the secrets his mother left for him along with a diary that tells her story.

This was a good book and made me wish I was...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read all my reviews at www.readingreality.net
What if you found out your mother used to be a superhero? That's the premise behind Raymond Benson's The Black Stiletto, and it makes for one amazing story.

When I say superhero, don't think of the family from Pixar's The Incredibles. It wasn't that kind of book, and this isn't that kind of family. Benson's Black Stiletto is way more like a female version of the original Bob Kane Batman.

What do I mean by that? Unlike Superman, the X-Men or the Fantasti...more Read all my reviews at www.readingreality.net
What if you found out your mother used to be a superhero? That's the premise behind Raymond Benson's The Black Stiletto, and it makes for one amazing story.

When I say superhero, don't think of the family from Pixar's The Incredibles. It wasn't that kind of book, and this isn't that kind of family. Benson's Black Stiletto is way more like a female version of the original Bob Kane Batman.

What do I mean by that? Unlike Superman, the X-Men or the Fantastic Four, Batman is an unmutated, grown on Earth, human being. Highly trained and highly skilled, and possibly obsessive-compulsive to the max, but completely human. In the original Bob Kane comics of the late 1930's, Batman began by avenging the deaths of his parents.

The Black Stiletto also has revenge on her mind.

But the story begins with a middle-aged man named Martin Talbot reading his mother's diaries from the late 1950's. His mother Judy is in a nursing home in suburban Chicago with Alzheimer's; she doesn't recognize him, or anyone else, anymore. So her lawyer gives him a floorplan of her house which shows a secret room in the basement, and a key.

Behind that hidden door, Martin discovers a treasure-trove and a puzzle. His mother's diaries are there, from 1958 onwards. All of the original comic books featuring the Black Stiletto, which are worth a fortune on the collectible market. Two Black Stiletto costumes. But the diaries are astounding. The diaries of his mother's life in New York City as a young woman, when she lived over a gym and learned to fight.

Martin remembers his mother always kept in shape. There's still a punching bag hanging in that basement. He remembers her practicing in every place they lived. He knows she lived in New York, but not with him. He was born in Los Angeles. But he never knew his father, the mysterious Richard Talbot. And reading the diaries, he realizes that he never knew his mother. But for the diaries, because of Alzheimer's he never would.

But was she really the Black Stiletto? And was the Stiletto a hero, or a just a vigilante? Read along with Martin to find out.

Escape Rating B: What an astonishing book! Superheroes are always larger than life. To suddenly discover that one of your parents was one, how much would that rock your world? When Martin discovers that his mother was nothing like he thought she was, it makes him question the whole of his life.

The diary that Martin is reading only covers the very earliest period of Judy's time as the Black Stiletto. Those early years do come back to haunt the present, but it's those early years that I really want to know about. Martin has lots more diaries to read, and I'm dying to know what's in them. Read The Black Stiletto and you will be too.(less)

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Dec 27, 2011 Jeannie Mancini rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Martin Talbot is called by the family lawyer to pay a visit, he can't imagine what he is being summoned for. Sitting in the attorney's office Martin is presented with a set of keys, and an explanation that upon his mother's death, or in the event that she becomes incapacitated, he was to be given items that will tell a very unusual story and reveal some incredibly shocking news that will soon turn his life upside down. He walks away from the lawyer with an envelope of cryptic letters and ke...more When Martin Talbot is called by the family lawyer to pay a visit, he can't imagine what he is being summoned for. Sitting in the attorney's office Martin is presented with a set of keys, and an explanation that upon his mother's death, or in the event that she becomes incapacitated, he was to be given items that will tell a very unusual story and reveal some incredibly shocking news that will soon turn his life upside down. He walks away from the lawyer with an envelope of cryptic letters and keys that will open up a secret room that is walled up in the basement of his childhood home, currently up for sale.

Totally bewildered and mystified, and wondering if this was some kind of joke, Martin immediately drives to the old abandoned house. While unlocking the room he never knew existed, he sets free a story of all stories that will after fifty years, unleash a mind-blowing family secret. One that will also solve a criminal mystery the nation never forgot, and that the police and feds never resolved.

Martin Talbot's mother, now in her seventies and residing in a nursing home suffering with Alzheimer's, left her son a box of memories and trinkets, and a set of diaries that penned her life story, and confessed that she was the outlandish superhero female crime fighter known as the Black Stiletto in the 1950s. Yes, Judy Cooper Talbot, was a mixture of Batman and Cat Woman, defending the weak and avenging New York's victims of violence and Mafia mayhem.

From the point where Martin begins his mother's first diary entry, Benson deftly alternates between the past and the present to write a novel that is beyond unique, cool, and of riveting page-turning quality. This reader could not put this book down for a minute and read it in one sitting from page one to the finale. The author is outstanding in his period presentation giving the reader a totally realistic atmosphere of the 1950's, and an inside look at the Italian mob and the family power it wields. Benson shows outstanding talent to not only write a hard-core crime novel, but creatively blends in romance, adventure, and a heartwarming story of a little girl lost, who overcomes her victimization by turning herself into a powerhouse of guts and glory.

You will be amazed at how 14 year old Judy Cooper, a runaway innocent little girl with a secret, finds her courage to travel to the big city, to then turn herself into a fighting warrior to not only avenge others, but to get revenge for the horrible act that made her turn her heels from a small town in Texas and run for her life.

Part coming-of-age story, part comic book crusader adventure, The Black Stiletto delivers top-notch suspense that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, and promises to be on of the best new series fiction has to offer. This reviewer gives The Black Stiletto a standing ovation and a flashing five star rating! Bravo! (less)

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Oct 10, 2011 Tammy Dotts rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

The explosions of an action movie or the “Pow! Bam!” of a comic strip are always exciting, but, for most superhero fans, what really makes a successful hero is the story. Setting aside the science-fiction bent of teens with mutant powers or mad scientists exposed to chemicals, underneath the mask is usually a normal person. What made him (or her) reach for a cape and start prowling city streets at night?

Raymond Benson’s The Black Stiletto offers a case study to answer such questions. Eisenhower’...more The explosions of an action movie or the “Pow! Bam!” of a comic strip are always exciting, but, for most superhero fans, what really makes a successful hero is the story. Setting aside the science-fiction bent of teens with mutant powers or mad scientists exposed to chemicals, underneath the mask is usually a normal person. What made him (or her) reach for a cape and start prowling city streets at night?

Raymond Benson’s The Black Stiletto offers a case study to answer such questions. Eisenhower’s in the White House, and Judy Cooper escapes an abusive stepfather, only to find herself embroiled in romance, murder, the mafia and vigilantism in New York City.

Her exploits as the Black Stiletto (named for her favorite knife) make her a household name through the 1960s. The police don’t know what to make of her, but, since Judy keeps her identity hidden successfully, they never have a chance to catch her.

When the book opens, Judy’s son, Martin, is going through her belongings at their old home. Stricken with Alzheimer’s disease, Judy is now in a nursing home. Benson skillfully switches from the son’s point of view to Judy’s diary as the reader and Martin uncover his mother’s secrets.

Benson’s previous credits include several James Bond novels and several movie and video game adaptations. His experience writing action sequences works well in The Black Stiletto. Judy’s escapades have more than a note of comic-book/action-movie realism to them, but this works well within the context of the novel.

What doesn’t work so well is the introduction of a third point of view. This one is from Roberto Ranelli, recently out of prison and with a vendetta against the Stiletto. The information in Ranelli’s sections is important and of interest, but the point of view is jarring. It makes sense for Judy’s sections to be written in the first person – we’re reading her diary along with her son. And since Martin is the first character we meet, it is easy to accept his sections in the first person. But when Ranelli is introduced, questions about how readers know what he’s thinking start to interfere with the story. Benson may have been better served to write Martin and Ranelli from a third-person point of view, saving the first person for Judy’s diary.

The point-of-view problem is a small quibble (as is the unnecessary preternatural hearing, grace, etc Judy exhibits from puberty). The Stiletto comes across as a believable vigilante, albeit one in a mask and black leather outfit. Her motivations are straightforward and she has justifications for becoming involved in the crimes detailed in the novel. Yes, she ends up with an almost-cliched job at a boxing ring and some of her back story reads as if Benson worked his way down a checklist of genre tropes, but he uses the cliches and tropes well. The story and Judy’s character remain the most important aspects to The Black Stiletto. And Benson captures the voice of 15-year-old Judy.

Benson’s website announces a second book in the Stiletto series (coming in May 2012). If the first novel is any indication, the second will be an exciting read.(less)

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Sep 01, 2011 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought it sure a different way to hear about super hero. Martin Talbot mother's lawyer gave him a letter and lockbox and it he learned that his mom was the black stiletto. She was famous back in the 60's and he had no clue. In the box was blueprints of their house and it had a hidden room in basement. Their house has been up for sale for two years.
Martin found the hidden room their house and in it was
a bunch of journals two costumes, the knife,gun and other things. So Martin reads the journa...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Stephanie Johnson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I really liked the concept. I thought that reading from Judy's Diary was an interesting way to go about telling a story going from third person to first person. I liked her journey, and the writing about the period in time was vivid, transporting you to the time when women wore dresses, were expected to get married and have kids, and everyone smoked. Even the music was a great character for the plot. Telling about the changing of the guard from crooners to rock-n-roll.

There never was a real expl...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Anna rated it 1 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book. The title was interesting, the time period was different. It had a lot going for it, but it just didn't live up to what I wanted it to be.

Judy is a girl growing up in the nineteen-fifties. Her stepfather abuses her, so she runs away and gets a job and trains at a gym and lives with a man who's kind of like a father-figure. She learns karate and starts to date a gangster. He's a "good" gangster, apparently. But when his "family" turns on him and kills him, then...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Shay (Shannon) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: librarything

The Black Stiletto
Raymond Benson
Martin is presented with some keys to a secret room in the house he grew up in by his mother’s attorney. There he discovers his mother’s secret life; the same woman who lives in a nursing home suffering from Alzheimer’s. All the clues, meaning her diaries, are leading him to believe that she is the infamous, costumed heroine from the 1950’s called The Black Stiletto. Martin isn’t the only one who is interested in Judy Cooper’s past. Someone who wants revenge is do...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Bill Mackela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Martin Talbot has discovered that his mother may have been a masked and costumed crime fighter in New York City back in the 50s. His mother, Judy, suffering from Alzheimer's, is in a nursing home. Her lawyer gives Martin a package that leads him back to the empty family home, where he discovers a hidden room in the basement. When he enters the room, he finds some black leather costumes, weapons, and a bunch of books. When he looks inside, he sees that they are diaries. He starts to read the firs...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gratis

I received this from the author, autographed and hardcover (thank you!!!).
I actually really like the book and the premise behind it. The idea that this old lady, riddled with Alzheimer's could be someone as notorious as the Black Stiletto...WOW! I love the way this book was written and typically I don't like the switching back and forth between past and present but in this case, it still flowed well.

The ONLY thing I couldn't get past, that in my opinion, is a little far fetched is the fact tha...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Cheeyee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, 2011, mystery, suspense

Review At: I Read, I Think, I Share

Review Date: 10 Aug 2011

Review URL: http://littlemermybooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/black-stiletto-by-raymond-benson.html

Summary:

The story is written in first POV, switching between Martin, Judy and Roberto (Stiletto’s old enemies). However majority of the story is from Judy's diaries. She wrote down her background, what happened to her, how she becomes Black Stiletto, and the adventures after that. It is actions packed, and details fight scenes allow you to imag...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Bonny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, ebooks, my-50-in-11, youngadultfiction

This book was reviewed from a galley received from NetGalley.

Imagine discovering that your 72 year old mother used to be a super hero! Well that is exactly what happened to Martin Talbot. Through his mother's diaries he learns how she ended up on the path to being an infamous super hero wanted for question by the police and the FBI.

His mother, Judy Cooper, was raped at the age of 13, ran away from her Texas home and moved to New York City during the 1950s. There she learned how to defend hersel...more

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May 04, 2012 Kurt Lieber rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: disliked

I loved the vigilante idea of the story and the basic premise was sound. I also liked the idea of telling the story via a diary format. However, the actual writing was rather clumsy and poor. The author tried to make each main character have his/her own style, but the instruments used to do this were clumsy. Adding lots of "hahas" to one character....dropping the g's from another character (gonna instead of going), etc. Also, one of the main characters, who I assume we're supposed to like (the s...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Elie Harriett rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a book! I love the superhero genre, anyone that believes superheroes must be confined to the 4 color prison of comic books need to check out this book. The story is told, primarily in flashback form, by the hero's son reading her mom's diaries. His mom, now in her early seventies and suffering from Alzheimers, was once the legendary superhero, the Black Stiletto. This book is focused on the Black Stiletto's origins, how she became a superhero, and the insecurities that come with a youn...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Kandice rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, mystery, historical

I was looking forward to this book based on the summations I'd read - a woman in the 1950's takes it into her head to become a female vigilante and champion the underdog. Working to combat injustice and overcome her own victimization, she becomes immortalized as a comic book heroine of her day - The Black Stiletto. What a great idea for a book! Sadly, the book is pretty much just an introduction to Judy and how she came to be The Black Stiletto. Since the story is told as we read her diary with...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4review, audiobook, eternal, female-lead, historical-fiction, intense, thriller-horror, super-hero

I did not want to put this book down. Judy Cooper’s survival spirit caught me right away and swept me off to New York with her, through her years of training and growth, and finally to the super hero clad in practical boots, a balanced knife, and chic leather outfit. The story was so believable, so every day life of masked crime fighter. Raymond Benson has created a kickass heroine in the super hero realm where so few clothed, practical, female crime fighters exist in literature. Judy is so very...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Amie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, netgalley

Imagine finding out that your mom is a famous superhero from the 1950s and you never had a clue. This is the discovery Martin Talbot makes about his elderly mother. All his life, his mom was really the Black Stiletto, a vigilante crime fighter. Martin has a million questions--What caused his mom to become the Black Stiletto? Where did she learn to fight? But most importantly, why didn't she ever tell him? Martin begins reading his mother's diaries, hoping to learn more about the woman known as t...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Jake rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-detective

(2.5) You get what you pay for. I need to stop expecting books that are really cheap on Kindle to be good, no matter how interesting the plot. I always go on a big Batman kick after seeing the movies in theaters so when I stumbled on this tale of a woman becoming a masked vigilante, I thought it would be a good read. It was a fun read...not necessarily a good one. Benson has little idea how to write for a female protagonist and too much of what he did was rushed and underdeveloped. Still...I cou...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, urban-fantasy, ya-fantasy

I'm putting this on my Urban Fantasy shelf (along with a few other shelves) as I don't have a comic-book type novels shelf. This is in many ways a very young read, yet in other ways the reader needs to be mature enough to handle adult situations. (view spoiler) So I put the book also on my YA shelf, but be sure that your "youth" is "adult" enough to read this one.

So, here we have a novel that takes advanta...more I'm putting this on my Urban Fantasy shelf (along with a few other shelves) as I don't have a comic-book type novels shelf. This is in many ways a very young read, yet in other ways the reader needs to be mature enough to handle adult situations. (view spoiler) So I put the book also on my YA shelf, but be sure that your "youth" is "adult" enough to read this one.

So, here we have a novel that takes advantage of the comic-book tradition of the 1950s and 1960s. The Black Stiletto is a good-guy (well girl...but a girl can be one of the "good-guys) who believes in might for the right purposes and because of her own past can't stand to see the weak abused and taken advantage of. Told from three points of view I was slightly surprised to see that this really didn't slow the story much. When we're following Martin's story things do slow down a bit but it's not bad and it never takes long to begin moving again. By the same token the story of Judy's background isn't an action story but still Benson does a good job of using it to set up the story and letting us get to know Judy.

The plot device is one you've probably seen before. Martin gets a parcel from his mother who's been in a nursing home for years with Alzheimer's. Her lawyer was given the letter but being an old friend of her's he's held on a log time hoping against hope she'd somehow "get well". Finally he realizes he needs to follow Judy's instructions and passes the parcel on to her son.

Inside he finds instructions that lead him to a secret room in the house where he was raised...a room he never suspected was there. Inside are his mother's diaries...or the diaries of a famous costumed vigilante/crime fighter from the late '50s and '60s, the Black Stiletto.

The book is set up as Judy's diaries Vol.1 and it's very readable very enjoyable. If like me you remember the comic-book era in question fondly that will be even more of a plus.

There are a couple of things about the book that push some of my own personal negative buttons, I'll mention them under a spoiler tag. Still they may simply be "my" hot buttons and not yours. (view spoiler)

Other than those personal quibbles however I like this one and recommend you give it a try. 4 stars, enjoy. (less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Lani rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

I'm pretty sure I got this as a Kindle Daily Deal, so I don't think I paid more than a couple bucks for it. I'm glad I bought it, but also glad I didn't pay much.

The book is a neat blend of family drama in the present - real believable characters - and superhero origin story. It shows some of the pathos that creates this vigilante, and the consequences that follow from her fight for justice. I liked that it made it clear that the Black Stiletto acted for selfish reasons, even when she was trying...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Tami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-giveaways

I haven't received the book yet, just received notice I had won. 8/1/11
Just received yesterday, have 2 in front, but hope to start soon. 8/9/11
Started last night. 8/18/11
Finished Friday 8/19/11

Martin Talbot, an accountant, has had to put his mother, Judy, into a nursing home. She suffers from alzheimers. After moving her to the home and packing most of her things, he puts her house up for sale. Her lawyer gave Martin a folder containing some important information in case Judy became incompacitat...more

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Nov 05, 2012 The Puzzling Mind rated it 4 of 5 stars

Clever premise. Good, strong female protagonist. I thought the writing was pretty good and the plot was interesting enough as a page turner, however, the climax was rather anti-climatic. To some, the ending might be outright predictable. However, if you are willing to suspend disbelief, and aren't looking for high-brow literature, this is a good action-adventure novel.

One thing that did irritate me about the Black Stiletto's diary was her stupid use of haha. It could be argued that it was a cha...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller

Raymond Benson knows how to tell a thriller story. Except this time, he tells the story in a new, creative way.

Judy Talbot has secrets. Now in her late 70s, her Alzheimer's keeps those secrets hidden even from her. Her son, however, has found her long-hidden diaries. Benson shares both the son's story, set in the present day, and Judy's story--as retold through her diaries. Judy, who has had to fight for her independence and safety from an early age, was The Black Stiletto. As the storied, mask...more

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May 10, 2012 Lauren Good rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: abandoned

I really tried to read this book. And maybe I'll try again. I really like the premise. But it's hard for me to get past the writing, which is... immature. I don't mean there's youth sensibility that I don't appreciate, I mean it feels like the writer needs more practice and development. Maybe he actually reached his goal too well. Part of the conceit of the novel is that we're reading a young woman's diary, but the reason so few diaries get published is that they're poorly written -- this is no...more

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title link	preview: The Black Stiletto: The First Diary--1958
avg rating	preview: The Black Stiletto: The First Diary--1958 Goodreads rating: 3.51 (366 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11395296-the-black-stiletto?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347270935l/11395296.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11395296-the-black-stiletto?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Black Stiletto: The First Diary--1958 by Raymond Benson[/url]

The Black Stiletto: The First Diary--1958 (The Black Stiletto #1)

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