What do you think?
Rate this book
Danny Diamond Erotic Mysteries #1
The Money Shot
When your partner is murdered, you’re supposed to do something about it–even if he is a useless drunk. But for private detective Danny Diamond, it’s a little more complicated than that. He’s been sleeping with his partner’s wife.
The womanizing detective is a ready-made fall guy for the murder. To make matters worse, the new widow thinks they’re an item now. His secretary is full of “I told you so’s,” the police are knocking on his door, and a vicious pornographer is convinced Diamond has a set of negatives he’s never even heard of.
The key to unraveling the mystery and saving his own neck lies with his newest client, the beautiful heiress Patricia Carlyle. Patricia is dark and mysterious, the attraction between them electric. She knows far more about sex than any upstanding rich girl should, but is it just a smokescreen hiding an even more disturbing secret, or is she the genuine article?
The detective who swore he’d never be tied down to one woman finds himself ensnared by the heiress’s many talents. But if he lets his libido do the thinking for him, he may not make it out of this one alive. As he digs past the glitzy veneer of post-WWII Los Angeles, he uncovers a sordid world of sex, lies and greed–and with it, a “money shot” worth killing for.
The womanizing detective is a ready-made fall guy for the murder. To make matters worse, the new widow thinks they’re an item now. His secretary is full of “I told you so’s,” the police are knocking on his door, and a vicious pornographer is convinced Diamond has a set of negatives he’s never even heard of.
The key to unraveling the mystery and saving his own neck lies with his newest client, the beautiful heiress Patricia Carlyle. Patricia is dark and mysterious, the attraction between them electric. She knows far more about sex than any upstanding rich girl should, but is it just a smokescreen hiding an even more disturbing secret, or is she the genuine article?
The detective who swore he’d never be tied down to one woman finds himself ensnared by the heiress’s many talents. But if he lets his libido do the thinking for him, he may not make it out of this one alive. As he digs past the glitzy veneer of post-WWII Los Angeles, he uncovers a sordid world of sex, lies and greed–and with it, a “money shot” worth killing for.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2015
68 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Logan Black
46 books50 followersLogan Black is a husband, father, and corporate wage slave living in South Carolina. His moonlighting gig is way more interesting than his day job. His primary artistic endeavor is the Danny Diamond series of erotic mysteries set in 1940s Los Angeles—an erotic take on hardboiled and Noir classics like The Maltese Falcon. He has a penchant for old books, good whiskey, and everything kinky, and he shares them with his followers on Twitter. Find him there under the handle @LoganBlackAuthr or visit him at his website, https://loganblack.me.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 27, 2024
My first taste of Danny Diamond came in the form of Body Count which showed as a prequel novella of sorts before The Money Shot. It was a subtle tease at what I could expect from Danny. I still need to go back and read The Black Noel, which is another prequel, but I wanted to get to know Danny a bit more before I did that.
In the post WWII 40's detective noir we find Danny Diamond at the center of a scandal. After his partner is murdered, he is prime suspect number one. Not because he is a ruthless killer hellbent on revenge but because he was bedding his dead partner's wife. If that doesn't seem like a motive, I don't know what does.
In a race against time Danny is determined to find out all the sordid details of what happened and why. I'll get to the heat of the story in a minute, but the real showstopper was the attention to detail. I grew up watching Humphrey Bogart movies with my grandmother and there was definitely an attention to detail that I noticed was similar here. I do want to note I am no expert in the film noir department just in the Humphry Bogart era of movies. My love for him started with Casablanca and kind of spilled over from there. The banter, the wit, and mystery of this book rivals that of those movies. Danny Diamond forever has a place on my bookshelf for those points alone.
A romance, this is not. This book is a scorcher of hot moments shared between Danny and multiple women as he not only gets his rocks off but tries to find the killer. Huge nod to Black for not making each woman the same cookie cutter version of the previous. There was variety and as we all know variety is the spice of life.
As for the mystery it was there. It was brilliant! Even when I thought I figured out the "whodunnit" part of the story there were twists and turns that had me second guessing myself.
Logan Black delivered on everything I was expecting while still leaving me with several surprises that left me reeling and gasping. Was it from the mystery or the spice? I guess you will have to read The Money Shot for yourself to find out.
In the post WWII 40's detective noir we find Danny Diamond at the center of a scandal. After his partner is murdered, he is prime suspect number one. Not because he is a ruthless killer hellbent on revenge but because he was bedding his dead partner's wife. If that doesn't seem like a motive, I don't know what does.
In a race against time Danny is determined to find out all the sordid details of what happened and why. I'll get to the heat of the story in a minute, but the real showstopper was the attention to detail. I grew up watching Humphrey Bogart movies with my grandmother and there was definitely an attention to detail that I noticed was similar here. I do want to note I am no expert in the film noir department just in the Humphry Bogart era of movies. My love for him started with Casablanca and kind of spilled over from there. The banter, the wit, and mystery of this book rivals that of those movies. Danny Diamond forever has a place on my bookshelf for those points alone.
A romance, this is not. This book is a scorcher of hot moments shared between Danny and multiple women as he not only gets his rocks off but tries to find the killer. Huge nod to Black for not making each woman the same cookie cutter version of the previous. There was variety and as we all know variety is the spice of life.
As for the mystery it was there. It was brilliant! Even when I thought I figured out the "whodunnit" part of the story there were twists and turns that had me second guessing myself.
Logan Black delivered on everything I was expecting while still leaving me with several surprises that left me reeling and gasping. Was it from the mystery or the spice? I guess you will have to read The Money Shot for yourself to find out.
November 12, 2015
Logan Black describes her debut novel, "The Money Shot", as "erotica with a side of murder". That ain't the half of it. TMS is an original and well-written 40's-era detective novel into which Ms. Black has seamlessly entwined smoking-hot sex scenes. The hero, Danny Diamond, is a private eye whose partner, Sam Bowman, is murdered. Since Diamond's banging Bowman's wife like a cheap screen door, he is Suspect Number One as far as the LAPD is concerned. Diamond's in a race against time to find and piece together clues, many of which he has to mercilessly fuck out of clients and witnesses. In the end, he is able to clear both his name and his seminal vesicles, and send the bad guys to jail or the grave.
Let me unreservedly recommend you read this book. First, the detective story is a tight interpretation of the hard-boiled tradition of Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett. If you haven't read those, it's got the kind of snappy dialogue you get watching "The Thin Man" series or watching any Humphrey Bogart movie. There are clues and false leads throughout the story to keep you on your toes, and challenge you to figure out who killed Bowman. The protagonist, Diamond, certainly has elements of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, but he's his own man, and you'll be looking forward to seeing him again. And if the detective mystery weren't enough, the sex scenes are simply top-notch in terms of content, timing, and distribution throughout the tale.
In the hands of a less-talented author, the change from the dry dialogue and rapid-fire narrative of the noir detective genre to the details and raw passion of high-quality erotica would be too much to keep together. However, Ms. Black takes the reader between the two points of view without any sense of disconnectedness. The way "Blade Runner" brings to life an alternate future version of LA, Black builds an alternate past LA. In Black's version, it's perfectly natural for Diamond to tease and finger a bi-curious lesbian desk clerk for a room key; find some crucial negatives and a dead bad guy with said room key; then have the desk clerk drop by later to provide some of the dead guy's mail...and then stay for a good old-fashioned threesome. The sex scenes are varied as well, so you aren't stuck reading the same thing over and over again.
Just a little way into this book, I got a lady friend started on it as well. She liked it quite a bit. This friend isn't normally the most motivated in the bedroom, but reading this book sure put her in the mood. I was getting calls at odd hours to come over and discuss some of the more nuanced plot lines, if you know what I mean. So if you've got someone special in your life, be sure to let them read TMS. Or even get two copies, and make your own little book club. Neither one of you will regret it.
In short, "The Money Shot" is an engaging, well-written book that works on all levels. It's both a hard-boiled detective novel and a collection of awesome erotica. I'm looking forward to the release of the book, currently scheduled for January 2016, as well as any follow-on books Ms. Black has in the works.
Let me unreservedly recommend you read this book. First, the detective story is a tight interpretation of the hard-boiled tradition of Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett. If you haven't read those, it's got the kind of snappy dialogue you get watching "The Thin Man" series or watching any Humphrey Bogart movie. There are clues and false leads throughout the story to keep you on your toes, and challenge you to figure out who killed Bowman. The protagonist, Diamond, certainly has elements of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, but he's his own man, and you'll be looking forward to seeing him again. And if the detective mystery weren't enough, the sex scenes are simply top-notch in terms of content, timing, and distribution throughout the tale.
In the hands of a less-talented author, the change from the dry dialogue and rapid-fire narrative of the noir detective genre to the details and raw passion of high-quality erotica would be too much to keep together. However, Ms. Black takes the reader between the two points of view without any sense of disconnectedness. The way "Blade Runner" brings to life an alternate future version of LA, Black builds an alternate past LA. In Black's version, it's perfectly natural for Diamond to tease and finger a bi-curious lesbian desk clerk for a room key; find some crucial negatives and a dead bad guy with said room key; then have the desk clerk drop by later to provide some of the dead guy's mail...and then stay for a good old-fashioned threesome. The sex scenes are varied as well, so you aren't stuck reading the same thing over and over again.
Just a little way into this book, I got a lady friend started on it as well. She liked it quite a bit. This friend isn't normally the most motivated in the bedroom, but reading this book sure put her in the mood. I was getting calls at odd hours to come over and discuss some of the more nuanced plot lines, if you know what I mean. So if you've got someone special in your life, be sure to let them read TMS. Or even get two copies, and make your own little book club. Neither one of you will regret it.
In short, "The Money Shot" is an engaging, well-written book that works on all levels. It's both a hard-boiled detective novel and a collection of awesome erotica. I'm looking forward to the release of the book, currently scheduled for January 2016, as well as any follow-on books Ms. Black has in the works.
October 9, 2015
"The Money Shot" is Logan Black's first novel. It's a sexually-driven crime story that takes place in 1946. Danny Diamond, a private detective, is a 'dick' with women - he's been in every pussy including his secretary, his partner's wife, and his clients - and the women all drawn to him; but who could blame these women. Diamond is seeping sex and masculinity with a huge cock! The book lives up to Black's penchant for old movies, murder, and sex - a lot of sex! This is a MF and MFF erotic story with crime and murder as its backdrop. If you're looking for romance, this isn't a book for you, but if you enjoy dead body mysteries and a lot of hot, explicit sex, then you'll love this book!
August 21, 2023
First and foremost, I want to say Logan Black did not ask me for a review or give me the book for free. (To comply with any federal rules about trading reviews.)
I have been reading mystery & suspense books for over 20 years, easily completing over 400 different titles. I first became interested in that genre when I read Dean Koontz. I remember after the first two books of his I read, my mind just raced with ideas, and the whole who did it became something I craved to read. Catherine Coulter and Tami Hoag eventually shifted their romance writing into romance/mystery, and that's when I fell just in love with this genre.
Today, as I shut the book on Logan's erotic mystery novel, I have these same feelings of enjoyment that those three authors also gave me. I NEED to know what happens to these characters, and I CRAVE more from this author.
This is a 5-star read, in my opinion, and let me tell you why.
The first point goes to the sex. I mean, wow. Steamy, hot, insane scenes, just wow. I have read some detailed books in my time, but none have dove into some of the detail Mr. Black did in his storytelling. It was clear that he took it very seriously the idea that his readers have a vividly painted picture of what the characters were experiencing. Some scenes were an entire chapter long. You have to appreciate a man that pays that much attention to detail.
The second point goes towards the details in the book themselves. There was not a single shortcut taken. Mr. Black paid such close attention to detail that sometimes it made me think, how could he have possibly known all of this from a time period he didn't live in? This tells me the research he had to do in order to accomplish this was intense.
The third point goes to his time period accuracy. I am not saying that I loved every term he used in the book. But I really appreciate the attention to detail on how people spoke in the 40s. I recognize that language changes over the decades, and what was acceptable in the 40s isn't today. I appreciate Mr. Black stayed true to the time period.
The fourth point is that he gives representation to chubby girls and makes them feel good about their sexuality and being desirable. Often times that is a demographic that is overlooked. The fact that attention to detail was given to this really made me feel good about the character diversity.
The fifth and final point goes to the fact that while I did call the murderer out in the beginning, Mr. Black had me questioning my selection in every chapter. He had a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing, and I really loved that. He didn't make it so obvious that reading the book was pointless. Every chapter added more elements that made me want more.
In the end, I would highly encourage you to pick up this book if A) you like mystery and B) you like erotica. If either one of those isn't your cup of tea, then I would avoid it. But, if you do, you will love The Money Shot.
I have been reading mystery & suspense books for over 20 years, easily completing over 400 different titles. I first became interested in that genre when I read Dean Koontz. I remember after the first two books of his I read, my mind just raced with ideas, and the whole who did it became something I craved to read. Catherine Coulter and Tami Hoag eventually shifted their romance writing into romance/mystery, and that's when I fell just in love with this genre.
Today, as I shut the book on Logan's erotic mystery novel, I have these same feelings of enjoyment that those three authors also gave me. I NEED to know what happens to these characters, and I CRAVE more from this author.
This is a 5-star read, in my opinion, and let me tell you why.
The first point goes to the sex. I mean, wow. Steamy, hot, insane scenes, just wow. I have read some detailed books in my time, but none have dove into some of the detail Mr. Black did in his storytelling. It was clear that he took it very seriously the idea that his readers have a vividly painted picture of what the characters were experiencing. Some scenes were an entire chapter long. You have to appreciate a man that pays that much attention to detail.
The second point goes towards the details in the book themselves. There was not a single shortcut taken. Mr. Black paid such close attention to detail that sometimes it made me think, how could he have possibly known all of this from a time period he didn't live in? This tells me the research he had to do in order to accomplish this was intense.
The third point goes to his time period accuracy. I am not saying that I loved every term he used in the book. But I really appreciate the attention to detail on how people spoke in the 40s. I recognize that language changes over the decades, and what was acceptable in the 40s isn't today. I appreciate Mr. Black stayed true to the time period.
The fourth point is that he gives representation to chubby girls and makes them feel good about their sexuality and being desirable. Often times that is a demographic that is overlooked. The fact that attention to detail was given to this really made me feel good about the character diversity.
The fifth and final point goes to the fact that while I did call the murderer out in the beginning, Mr. Black had me questioning my selection in every chapter. He had a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing, and I really loved that. He didn't make it so obvious that reading the book was pointless. Every chapter added more elements that made me want more.
In the end, I would highly encourage you to pick up this book if A) you like mystery and B) you like erotica. If either one of those isn't your cup of tea, then I would avoid it. But, if you do, you will love The Money Shot.
July 2, 2023
In this erotic and compelling read, Logan Black has confidently carved a distinguished place for his work in both the erotica and mystery genres, something I've never before seen done to this level of skill.
The Money Shot is everything you'd want in a book labeled under his enticing branding: erotica with a side of murder.
Taking place in the 1940's, this erotic mystery by Logan captures both the delightful and distasteful of this decade. His descriptions immerse the reader into a beautifully rick and delightfully grimy world drowning in conspiracy and tension. The flapping of pigeons can be heard, the thermals off the hot pavement can be felt, and whatever happens between the sheets... or on top of them... can definitely be seen. The characters are so real that they each have a unique and striking flavor. The dialogue is also sharp, clever and cuts to the point because Logan Black excels at balancing details. This makes the book a streamlined, engrossing read from start to end.
I'm brought back to the decades straddled by Dick Tracy's private investigations. This has just as much Tracy, but a lot more... well... you know.
The Money Shot is everything you'd want in a book labeled under his enticing branding: erotica with a side of murder.
Taking place in the 1940's, this erotic mystery by Logan captures both the delightful and distasteful of this decade. His descriptions immerse the reader into a beautifully rick and delightfully grimy world drowning in conspiracy and tension. The flapping of pigeons can be heard, the thermals off the hot pavement can be felt, and whatever happens between the sheets... or on top of them... can definitely be seen. The characters are so real that they each have a unique and striking flavor. The dialogue is also sharp, clever and cuts to the point because Logan Black excels at balancing details. This makes the book a streamlined, engrossing read from start to end.
I'm brought back to the decades straddled by Dick Tracy's private investigations. This has just as much Tracy, but a lot more... well... you know.
November 6, 2023
I loved the narration of S.R. Thomas, who brings you into the world of a gumshoe and the action that follows
We are in post-WWII Los Angeles, where we find sex, lies, greed and murder.
Private detective Danny Diamond, partner has been murdered. He has more problems as he has been sleeping with his partner’s wife. Making him the perfect suspect and the widow expecting more from him.
He has also a pornographer convinced Diamond has a set of negatives, that he’s never even heard of.
His newest client a beautiful heiress called Patricia Carlyle, is full of mysterious. Does she have dark secrets, or is she what she seems. Can Patricia be the one that can save him.
This book has mystery, suspense , heat and steam
We are in post-WWII Los Angeles, where we find sex, lies, greed and murder.
Private detective Danny Diamond, partner has been murdered. He has more problems as he has been sleeping with his partner’s wife. Making him the perfect suspect and the widow expecting more from him.
He has also a pornographer convinced Diamond has a set of negatives, that he’s never even heard of.
His newest client a beautiful heiress called Patricia Carlyle, is full of mysterious. Does she have dark secrets, or is she what she seems. Can Patricia be the one that can save him.
This book has mystery, suspense , heat and steam
December 2, 2023
The case is engaging, the booze is cheap, and the dames are hot. Couldn’t ask for more. I love the pulpy-noir feel of Logan Black’s mysteries. They remind me of the Laurence Block and Mickey Spillane novels I read back in the 80’s, but the spice is way hotter.
For me, the narrator of an audiobook makes it or breaks it, and S.R. Thomas’ voicing just nailed it. Men voicing women and women voicing men is the place where many audiobooks lose me. But I’m especially impressed with how Thomas brings the female characters to life in this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from StoryOrigin and a copy of the audiobook from the author and am leaving my review.
For me, the narrator of an audiobook makes it or breaks it, and S.R. Thomas’ voicing just nailed it. Men voicing women and women voicing men is the place where many audiobooks lose me. But I’m especially impressed with how Thomas brings the female characters to life in this book.
I received a copy of this ebook from StoryOrigin and a copy of the audiobook from the author and am leaving my review.
April 16, 2025
The Money Shot
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is honestly a breath of fresh air!! It’s fabulous! This niche of detective & LOTS of spice. Set in the 1940’s, is a great mystery. It was well thought out & written, including the HEAVY dose of spice sprinkled throughout the story. Think of this as a 1940’s detective p0rn. Let me just tell you, the spice starts in UNDER A MINUTE.
Favorite Quote “Whiskey and pu$$y go well together.”
🕵️♂️ Detective
🔍 Mystery
🕵️♂️ 1940s
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ MF & MFF
📍CA
🎧. Hrs S.R. Thomas - AMAZING! Perfect voice for the setting of the book. I cannot say enough about the narrator.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is honestly a breath of fresh air!! It’s fabulous! This niche of detective & LOTS of spice. Set in the 1940’s, is a great mystery. It was well thought out & written, including the HEAVY dose of spice sprinkled throughout the story. Think of this as a 1940’s detective p0rn. Let me just tell you, the spice starts in UNDER A MINUTE.
Favorite Quote “Whiskey and pu$$y go well together.”
🕵️♂️ Detective
🔍 Mystery
🕵️♂️ 1940s
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ MF & MFF
📍CA
🎧. Hrs S.R. Thomas - AMAZING! Perfect voice for the setting of the book. I cannot say enough about the narrator.
July 24, 2023
If you (like me) wish that Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, and Jim Thompson had been a bit steamier, than this is the story for you. It's a classic post-war private eye story full of double-crossing, criminal schemes, and a cast of low-life but fascinating characters in the noir tradition, but with incredibly hot sex throughout. And the sex isn't just there to titillate (though it certainly does that -- the scene with Patricia and the whiskey is a toe-curler), it's integral to the story and the characterization. Highly recommended!
November 15, 2023
1940's noir, erotic mystery. So good. So well written. So well told. Interesting characters. Complicated plot. So very filled with erotic steam. I'll be listening to this book again. P I Danny just can't say "no" to any female!
I was gifted an Audible version of this book from the author through Story Origin. SJ Thomas, the narrator has the perfect voice for PI Danny. And his female voices even sound 1940's noir. 5 stars for him, too.
I was gifted an Audible version of this book from the author through Story Origin. SJ Thomas, the narrator has the perfect voice for PI Danny. And his female voices even sound 1940's noir. 5 stars for him, too.
December 28, 2024
Full steam ahead
Going where Chandler and Hammer never could, this well written and well crafted takes some frankly derivative characters, immerses them in an incredibly steamy adventure and adds a couple of fabulous and dry frisky companiond. A delightful romp with hardboiled motives and central characters I am already pursuing.
Going where Chandler and Hammer never could, this well written and well crafted takes some frankly derivative characters, immerses them in an incredibly steamy adventure and adds a couple of fabulous and dry frisky companiond. A delightful romp with hardboiled motives and central characters I am already pursuing.
September 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ 3 🌶️ I enjoyed this book. The era this book is written and it being from the male POV by a male author is my fav part of the book! The spicy scenes were really well written, not over the top and didn’t feel forced while still feeling taboo for the time period. Glad I found this indie author and will gladly read more by him!
September 7, 2025
Noir meets spicy romance. This is a fun mystery series. It keeps you guessing throughout the book. It is full of steamy encounters, intrigue, and fun. I listened to the audio version. My only issue is that a man narrates it, and hearing women's voices done by a man during sexy dialogue makes it more comical than sexy. I will definitely continue with the series.
November 16, 2025
Awesome read!
I was absolutely glued to this book—it was wild! 🤯 I couldn't stop and binge-read the whole thing in one go! 📖✨ The characters were fabulous, the plot was a rollercoaster, and oh boy, the spice was sizzling hot! ♨️🥵🔥 You’ve got to dive into this book and the whole series; trust me, you’ll be hooked too! 🎉📚❤️
I was absolutely glued to this book—it was wild! 🤯 I couldn't stop and binge-read the whole thing in one go! 📖✨ The characters were fabulous, the plot was a rollercoaster, and oh boy, the spice was sizzling hot! ♨️🥵🔥 You’ve got to dive into this book and the whole series; trust me, you’ll be hooked too! 🎉📚❤️
June 16, 2023
Hot and Intriguing
I couldn’t get enough of this book! Between the steamy sex and the expertly written detective noir style of writing, I was sucked in from the get-go. Colorful characters, witty dialogue, and intriguing mystery. What’s not to love?
I couldn’t get enough of this book! Between the steamy sex and the expertly written detective noir style of writing, I was sucked in from the get-go. Colorful characters, witty dialogue, and intriguing mystery. What’s not to love?
September 5, 2023
Classic Private Eye Noir Mickey Spillane rides again
Reminds me of my father’s paperbacks, I read them after he’d finished ok this has more explicit sex, the story’s good and well written. Nostalgia and erotica in one place what’s not to like.
Reminds me of my father’s paperbacks, I read them after he’d finished ok this has more explicit sex, the story’s good and well written. Nostalgia and erotica in one place what’s not to like.
November 26, 2023
This mysterious story had me guessing all the way! It’s so very well written and full of drama and erotica. I enjoy the 1940’s era, so this really entertained me. It held my interest all the way through. It’s an amazing PI story. *this was a complimentary copy and this is my honest review*
November 27, 2023
I really liked the whole story and it was a perfect fun story with everything blended together really well
July 12, 2024
The Big Sleep Meets the Maltese Falcon
If Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett wrote sex scenes, it would look like this. This a fun, erotic read. Well done.
If Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett wrote sex scenes, it would look like this. This a fun, erotic read. Well done.
November 23, 2024
Great mystery with a ton of fun spice!!
January 19, 2025
This is a great piece of steamy hardboiled fiction. Danny Diamond is a cool rugged protagonist and the perfect guy to follow in a series. To keep it simple. Get yourself a copy and you're welcome 😉
September 10, 2025
Very well written. Nice character development. Setting is a 1940s detective. with enough spice and sex to keep turning pages. Highly recommend
March 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this! I saw
It recommended in a book group and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the blurb, I knew I had
To give it a try. It didn’t disappoint. The
Cover tho 💕
It recommended in a book group and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the blurb, I knew I had
To give it a try. It didn’t disappoint. The
Cover tho 💕
November 29, 2025
A reader might walk into an erotic pick-a-genre story and think that there are caveats, that the story can't really be good because, well, it's erotic. Those reading this might think, "5 stars to an erotic mystery; yeah, because he thought it was hot." But this is the crazy part, friends; those five stars are there because this is an excellent story.
Okay, let's get this out there first. This is an erotic mystery, and there are entire chapters devoted to sex. In fact, the final outcome hinges on a chapter-long sex scene. And nothing about this is a problem because it works. All the sex scenes are well done, thoughtful, hot, and completely within character, if your main character happens to be a single man who likes to fuck and he's surrounded by some willing accomplices. It works. Run with it because the rest of the story works, too.
Danny Diamond is your typical gumshoe, but there's nothing wrong with that. He's living in 1950s Los Angeles, a place where the world of Hollywood is taking shape. It's grimy. It's decadent. It's a place with no-nonsense cops, femme fatales and even the occasional damsel in distress, and Danny is here for it. He was kicked off the force and now runs his own detective agency with his friend. This is a perfect setup for a guy who has no problem bending, even breaking, some rules and arms. He can look the other way, pocket some cash, and deliver a beatdown without spending the rest of his life repenting. But he's got morals. Yeah, he's fucking his partner's wife, but he's not a murderer.
Enter the femme fatale, or is she a damsel in distress? You'll have to read the book to find out. She's got a problem, and she's smoking hot. Will Danny help? His dick's already hard; fuck yeah he's ready to help. She's got no cash though, but they'll work out a payment plan somehow. You get the picture. Is it cheesy? No, because it works. Patricia Carlyle is a solid character, not just a side piece. Her motivations will come through over time, but in the meantime, she's the spark that ignites Danny's flame.
And off we go. Danny has a case he didn't expect, and everything that happens thereafter turns out to be pretty unexpected. There are twists and turns, and they all work. Danny navigates them all with the grace of a bull in a china shop, but that's his style, and you can't begrudge a man for having a style. He's a hard-boiled gumshoe. He's supposed to barrel around and knock shit over. And if the occasional pussy lands in his lap, what's a guy to do?
So, where do we end up? With a well-written novel, a solid plot, and sex scenes you won't skip over. Logan nails it front to back (and so does Danny). Danny Diamond is a great character - smart, resourceful, conniving but with a heart. The cast of supporting characters are fully developed and have purpose. Even the sex has purpose, and that's the key to writing a good erotic story. The fucking isn't gratuitous. It's purposeful AND fun. And in the end, Logan delivers a score that should have you eager to go on to the other books in the series, of which I already have two: Cherchez La Femme and Old Flames Never Die.
If you like hard-nosed detectives you can cheer for, and you're not afraid to stick around when the lights go out, give Danny Diamond a try. And ladies, if you've ever had the hots for Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, here's what you've been missing.
Okay, let's get this out there first. This is an erotic mystery, and there are entire chapters devoted to sex. In fact, the final outcome hinges on a chapter-long sex scene. And nothing about this is a problem because it works. All the sex scenes are well done, thoughtful, hot, and completely within character, if your main character happens to be a single man who likes to fuck and he's surrounded by some willing accomplices. It works. Run with it because the rest of the story works, too.
Danny Diamond is your typical gumshoe, but there's nothing wrong with that. He's living in 1950s Los Angeles, a place where the world of Hollywood is taking shape. It's grimy. It's decadent. It's a place with no-nonsense cops, femme fatales and even the occasional damsel in distress, and Danny is here for it. He was kicked off the force and now runs his own detective agency with his friend. This is a perfect setup for a guy who has no problem bending, even breaking, some rules and arms. He can look the other way, pocket some cash, and deliver a beatdown without spending the rest of his life repenting. But he's got morals. Yeah, he's fucking his partner's wife, but he's not a murderer.
Enter the femme fatale, or is she a damsel in distress? You'll have to read the book to find out. She's got a problem, and she's smoking hot. Will Danny help? His dick's already hard; fuck yeah he's ready to help. She's got no cash though, but they'll work out a payment plan somehow. You get the picture. Is it cheesy? No, because it works. Patricia Carlyle is a solid character, not just a side piece. Her motivations will come through over time, but in the meantime, she's the spark that ignites Danny's flame.
And off we go. Danny has a case he didn't expect, and everything that happens thereafter turns out to be pretty unexpected. There are twists and turns, and they all work. Danny navigates them all with the grace of a bull in a china shop, but that's his style, and you can't begrudge a man for having a style. He's a hard-boiled gumshoe. He's supposed to barrel around and knock shit over. And if the occasional pussy lands in his lap, what's a guy to do?
So, where do we end up? With a well-written novel, a solid plot, and sex scenes you won't skip over. Logan nails it front to back (and so does Danny). Danny Diamond is a great character - smart, resourceful, conniving but with a heart. The cast of supporting characters are fully developed and have purpose. Even the sex has purpose, and that's the key to writing a good erotic story. The fucking isn't gratuitous. It's purposeful AND fun. And in the end, Logan delivers a score that should have you eager to go on to the other books in the series, of which I already have two: Cherchez La Femme and Old Flames Never Die.
If you like hard-nosed detectives you can cheer for, and you're not afraid to stick around when the lights go out, give Danny Diamond a try. And ladies, if you've ever had the hots for Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, here's what you've been missing.
January 24, 2016
Film Noir Erotica
“It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window.” – Raymond Chandler, “Farewell, My Lovely”
Logan Black’s full-length debut novel, “The Money Shot,” is a thoroughly entertaining trip to the land of a 1940s Los Angeles private detective named Danny Diamond. Like “The Black Dahlia” or “The Maltese Falcon,” this book has the dark sensibilities of film noir: there’s a murder (or two), a crime to solve, and a lot of potential suspects – some of whom are involved in an illegal pornography ring. You’re drawn in to this world because the writing is faithful to the era with the lingo, the details, and the subject matter. In fact, I wish I was as good a writer as Logan, to be able to write this review in the same style as the novel, because it is so freaking awesome.
But for me as a romance/erotica enthusiast, it was even better than those Dashiel Hammet/ Philip Marlow books because back then, it was “fade to black.” Now, as this is erotica, it is explicit, and really, really hot.
I was blown away by Logan’s writing. Some examples:
“She flopped onto her back like a marionette with its strings cut, her face flushed and chest heaving.”
“They skirted the gravel parking lots with their rows of slumbering black sedans, side-stepping the other couples and knots of teenagers flocking to the neon monolith like moths to flame.”
“I’m a cop,” he said, “I’m never happy. And I did her a favor. She’s a swell kid, way too good for the likes of you.”
“He was about to join Sam six feet under. Maybe he could ask him when he got there.”
“She held on as the orgasmic catharsis mounted, building into a towering wave that came crashing down on top of her. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment, and she let loose with a cry that shook the rafters. It was a full body scream, the kind of scream that welled from all the way down in her toes, gathering steam as it surged upward, and exploded from her lungs like a banshee wail. It was the cry of a woman set free.”
“The Money Shot” combines skillful writing, moody atmosphere, glorious hot sex, a thumping good murder mystery, and fantastic characters. Check it out!
“It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window.” – Raymond Chandler, “Farewell, My Lovely”
Logan Black’s full-length debut novel, “The Money Shot,” is a thoroughly entertaining trip to the land of a 1940s Los Angeles private detective named Danny Diamond. Like “The Black Dahlia” or “The Maltese Falcon,” this book has the dark sensibilities of film noir: there’s a murder (or two), a crime to solve, and a lot of potential suspects – some of whom are involved in an illegal pornography ring. You’re drawn in to this world because the writing is faithful to the era with the lingo, the details, and the subject matter. In fact, I wish I was as good a writer as Logan, to be able to write this review in the same style as the novel, because it is so freaking awesome.
But for me as a romance/erotica enthusiast, it was even better than those Dashiel Hammet/ Philip Marlow books because back then, it was “fade to black.” Now, as this is erotica, it is explicit, and really, really hot.
I was blown away by Logan’s writing. Some examples:
“She flopped onto her back like a marionette with its strings cut, her face flushed and chest heaving.”
“They skirted the gravel parking lots with their rows of slumbering black sedans, side-stepping the other couples and knots of teenagers flocking to the neon monolith like moths to flame.”
“I’m a cop,” he said, “I’m never happy. And I did her a favor. She’s a swell kid, way too good for the likes of you.”
“He was about to join Sam six feet under. Maybe he could ask him when he got there.”
“She held on as the orgasmic catharsis mounted, building into a towering wave that came crashing down on top of her. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment, and she let loose with a cry that shook the rafters. It was a full body scream, the kind of scream that welled from all the way down in her toes, gathering steam as it surged upward, and exploded from her lungs like a banshee wail. It was the cry of a woman set free.”
“The Money Shot” combines skillful writing, moody atmosphere, glorious hot sex, a thumping good murder mystery, and fantastic characters. Check it out!
January 7, 2016
Nobody ever said the road we pave for ourselves is ever easy and without its bumps. Even though sometimes we find ourselves at a cross road in our life that we were not prepared for. Thus the situation PI Danny Diamond is now facing with each decision he is making in his personal and business life.
The Money Shot is based in the 1940’s and I have to say I really went into this story expecting one thing and got something totally different. I loved the feel of this story and it made me feel like I was really reading a story written in the 40’s. Danny Diamond is a PI I have grown fond of even with his womanizing ways. But even the most harden man can find love and grow up.
This story will keep you entertained from beginning till the end. I was reading and thinking ok this is what’s going on and when I thought I had it figured out I was completely wrong. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for an involved read that will keep you involved until the end then yes this is the book for you.
Ms. Black has definitely given me a new outlook PI books. The Money Shot from the characters to the plot will drag you and leave you wanting more.
Review by Lindsey
The Money Shot is based in the 1940’s and I have to say I really went into this story expecting one thing and got something totally different. I loved the feel of this story and it made me feel like I was really reading a story written in the 40’s. Danny Diamond is a PI I have grown fond of even with his womanizing ways. But even the most harden man can find love and grow up.
This story will keep you entertained from beginning till the end. I was reading and thinking ok this is what’s going on and when I thought I had it figured out I was completely wrong. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for an involved read that will keep you involved until the end then yes this is the book for you.
Ms. Black has definitely given me a new outlook PI books. The Money Shot from the characters to the plot will drag you and leave you wanting more.
Review by Lindsey
January 8, 2016
Nobody ever said the road we pave for ourselves is ever easy and without its bumps. Even though sometimes we find ourselves at a cross road in our life that we were not prepared for. Thus the situation PI Danny Diamond is now facing with each decision he is making in his personal and business life.
The Money Shot is based in the 1940’s and I have to say I really went into this story expecting one thing and got something totally different. I loved the feel of this story and it made me feel like I was really reading a story written in the 40’s. Danny Diamond is a PI I have grown fond of even with his womanizing ways. But even the most harden man can find love and grow up.
This story will keep you entertained from beginning till the end. I was reading and thinking ok this is what’s going on and when I thought I had it figured out I was completely wrong. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for an involved read that will keep you involved until the end then yes this is the book for you.
Ms. Black has definitely given me a new outlook PI books. The Money Shot from the characters to the plot will drag you and leave you wanting more.
The Money Shot is based in the 1940’s and I have to say I really went into this story expecting one thing and got something totally different. I loved the feel of this story and it made me feel like I was really reading a story written in the 40’s. Danny Diamond is a PI I have grown fond of even with his womanizing ways. But even the most harden man can find love and grow up.
This story will keep you entertained from beginning till the end. I was reading and thinking ok this is what’s going on and when I thought I had it figured out I was completely wrong. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for an involved read that will keep you involved until the end then yes this is the book for you.
Ms. Black has definitely given me a new outlook PI books. The Money Shot from the characters to the plot will drag you and leave you wanting more.
January 6, 2016
I love the fact that this story is set in the 40's. So different from what I have been reading. It is a murder mystery with a lot of twists and turns. Diamond is a Private Investigator who doesn't know how to think with his big head. He is always with a dame. When he partner is found shot in an alley he needs to get answers. So keeping his high profile client a secret is a must until it all unravels. Keeps you on your toes until the very end.
You think you know whose done it so many times, then nope, no you don't. Once Diamond thinks he has it figured out though, something else always gets thrown at him. Following leads seems to keep getting him in trouble.. with the law and the ladies.
I enjoyed the story and would read this again I liked it that much.
February 4, 2025
The Money Shot: A Danny Diamond Mystery (Book 1), my first read from author Logan Black. If you're offended by adult themes you might not like this book. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Read
February 24, 2016reviewed for NDF
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews