Customer Reviews

Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Story

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Modern erotica at its best. The thing is, folks, this story rocks--hard. No pun intended. Tennyson Hardwick (is that the perfect name, or what!) is an ex-gigolo and struggling actor based in L.A. who chances upon a former client, the female superstar rapper Afrodite, and after some playful exchanges they wind up in bed. In fact, she's gung-ho on helping Ten get his acting career on track. Sounds like a lucky break, huh? Nope. This wouldn't be riveting fiction if our hero got his happily-ever-after so close to page 1. Afrodite is brutally murdered and Ten finds himself the unwitting #1 suspect. So, we're off to a rip-roaring start. From there, he hooks up with a feisty investigative reporter, April, and the duo team up to crack the case, and hopefully clear Ten's name. On top of that, they even carve out time to engage in some wild impromptu sex acts most probably haven't even heard of yet (you'll reread many MANY paragraphs more than once, trust me). I won't spoil all the many twists and turns of Ten's bumpy journey by giving them away here. But the bottom line is: Throw in Ten's decorated ex-cop dad, the sometimes treacherous world of gansta rap, a colorful array of supporting folks, and some of the spiciest sex scenes this side of a brothel, and what you have is an exquisite page-turning romp.

I've enthusiastically followed Tananarive Due since a friend recommended her brilliant MY SOUL TO KEEP (I'm a sci-fi/horror buff). And have enjoyed Blair Underwood's work ever since his L.A. LAW days. The masterful Steven Barnes' most recent novel, GREAT SKY WOMAN, is breathtaking. With the combined forces of all three, you can only expect explosive results!

Casanegra is Blair Underwood's latest novel that focuses on the adventures of a suave, male escort-turned- actor, Tennyson (Ten) Hardwick - yes, that is his name -- fitting for a former Los Angeles gigolo, huh? Ten, motherless at an early age, is also a former police academy drop-out who had a run in with the law during his escorting tenure. He views himself as a disappointment and embarrassment to his highly revered and retired police lieutenant father which not surprisingly fosters a strained relationship between the two.

Ten bumps into an old client, rapper-turned- actress, Afrodite and the two spend an afternoon of steamy sex together at her home where she kindly offers him bona fide acting work via her production company, Casanegra. When she turns up dead the next day, Ten finds himself as a suspect in the murder investigation. He reasons the best way to keep the LAPD from suspecting him is to find the real murderer and thus begins an escapade into rapper's rivalry, the seedy side of the sex trade, and a run-in with dirty cops. Ten's investigation has him digging into Afrodite and her associates' histories which lead him to the rough inner city where her childhood was less than perfect. Her salvation came via the idolatry of Shareef, a Tupac-like persona, who befriends Afrodite and propelled her to stardom. Ten notices similarities between Shareef's unsolved murder from years before and Afrodite's recent demise and with the aid of a reporter (and love interest) follows the clues that lead to Afrodite's sister, a rap rival who has a penchant for guns and underage girls, her childhood friend and business manager, and the mob. He haphazardly stumbles into a life-threatening situation where only his quick thinking and martial arts training save him.

Readers will love Ten because he is a good-looking, flawed, but easy-to-like hero whose heart is in the right place. Readers will like Casanegra because it is a fun, hip, page-turner that borrows from today's entertainment headlines blending the right amount of suspense, sex, and action to form a great summer read.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub
Nubian Circle Book Club

Casanegra doesn't fit perfectly into any single genre and that's why it's so fresh and original. The team of Blair Underwood, Tannarive Due and Steven Barnes manages quite well to create a believable black character that will be enjoyed by mystery and action lovers as well as those attracted to steamy romance and sex. Tennyson Hardwick is a former gigolo and current bodyguard/aspiring actor...he's also the son of an extremely well respected (but now retired) police detective.

Hardwick can best be described as 'a man of contrasts'. He is well educated and intelligent as well as good looking and athletic; at the same time Tennyson Hardwick has delved deeply into the sex for pay industry and not above lying to police and anyone else that he finds to be a threat. Through all this Hardwick has a rock solid code of ethics that shines through in this story.

After meeting up with Serena (AKA Afrodite, superstar rapper and actress); once a "customer" but now that Hardwick is out of the sex biz she becomes a recipient of "T"s talents for free. The next day Serena is found dead and Hardwick is the number one suspect. And it's up to Tennyson Hardwick to clear his own name and (more importantly to him) find justice for Serena. This novel does an impressive job of keeping the reader involved and interested in the story, while simultaneously giving an insiders view of the sex trade, hip-hop culture and the difficulties faced by upcoming actors. Underwood/Due/Barnes seem to be able to look at these three areas with relatively open minds. There are no hard lines here, the reader gets to see both the dark and the light side of what essentially (even the sex trade) is popular entertainment. Not easy to do in a world that more and more prefers absolutes.

Tennyson Hardwick is Hollywood's version of Robert B. Parker's Spenser or John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee. And just like Parker and MacDonalds hero's I had a ball reading Casanegra.

I'm looking forward to the next team up of these three artists. A great first outing for Blair Underwood and as always a novel up to the usual high standards of husband and wife team Steven Barnes and Tannarive Due.

You might think that with three authors, one of them an actor with no prior fiction credits, this book would be all over the place--but you'd be wrong. This book is written by sure and steady hands that know when to speed up, when to slow down, and how to create surprises that prompt amazement, suspense and delight rather than incredulity.

The basic story is nothing new to the genre: The protagonist, Tennyson Hardwick, is driven to find out who murdered an old friend. Since he's the prime suspect, his initial motivation is to save his own neck and avoid embarrassing his father, a former chief-of-police. What makes this novel "novel" is what we discover as the authors delve behind the scenes of the rap world, where the lines between real and pretended thuggery are so blurred as to be indistinguishable. Ten's jeopardy is only increased by the fact that many of the "protectors of law and order" he encounters are master thugs themselves. Deeper still, as the story progresses Tennyson develops a newfound sense of responsibility toward others, including his father, an attractive female reporter, and a teen runaway.


My guess--and again, it's just a guess because their roles are so tightly integrated--is that Underwood contributed his flair for the cinematic and a keen understanding of the indignities of being a hustling actor in Hollywood. Barnes contributed bone-crunching action, puckish humor and a familiarity with every room in the House of Pain. His wife, Tananarive Due, contributed the emotional, psychological, and sociological refinements that raise this well above the average level of genre fiction. (I wouldn't venture to guess who contributed the sexual content, but the more curious among us will definitely be tempted to try some of it at home.) I have little doubt that "Casanegra" will eventually appear at the local multiplex, but I suggest you read the book now to avoid the lines and the overpriced popcorn.

Considering he had not one, but two professional writers help him craft this book I have difficulty understanding why it was such a lame, dated, cliched piece of crap. I had a hard time committing to finishing this book, but I did it since it was already paid for. Some of the hip hop references are inaccurate, the portrait they painted of the slain character was this crazy juxtaposition of Lil' Kim and Queen Latifah as Dana Owens, and the idea of an actor/retired man-whore trained in martial arts who takes on gangster rappers is just hilarious to me. Lastly, yes I got the tongue-in-cheek humor of an ex-escort nicknamed Ten Hardwick, but for them to actually point out the irony within the story is akin to a sucky comedian explaining his bad joke.

I bought the second Ten Hardwick novel when I bought this. It's unread.

I'd like to give this more than 5 stars. This was an excellent, intriguing, engaging novel. I couldn't stop turning the pages, yet at the same time I wanted to stop just so that I wouldn't finish the book! Tennyson is truly an unforgettable character that I do hope to see again in future novels. Blair, Tananrive, Steven...beautiful work.

For weeks, I saw this book sitting on the shelves and passed it up. I don't know why either. Perhaps, I was jealous of the author's good looks and suave disposition. But my love for Tananarive Due got the best of me. I finally purchased what turned out to be an excellent book. Casanegra is hardboiled fiction for everyone, but its written from an urban perspective.

Iniitially it comes across as a "hood" book. Rappers. Pimps. Gangstas -- you get the picture. But its not the subject matter that determines a good read, but the skill of the author. Suffice to say, Underwood has been holding out on us. His character Tennyson is the equivalent of "Easy Rawlins" for the current generation.

The book starts off slow at first. But once Hardwick encounters M.C. Glazer in the club -- its fast and furious from there! I dont' want to spoil the book for those who haven't read it. But my favorite part of all was how Ten solved the murder. He's a hero with a head and a heart! I can't wait for this character to hit the big screen. Who should play Mother? Hmmm. In the meantime, I'll be following the book series with bated breath.

i was thrilled to get this book. in fact it was a birthday gift. i hate to say i was somewhat dissapointed. i expected more especially from Tanarive and her husband. Blair i understand isn't a writer but still. the plot was too busy and elementary at times. Tennyson's fighting skills were unbelieveable and too dramatic. he could fight off a slew of armed men in a club but not take down 2 in a desert since he was supposed to be such the martial artist. when everything finally fell into place it was done poorly the story has such potential and could've really been better. then i don't get the title the only thing it was referred to was the name of the murder victim's house and made reference to her father not Tennyson at all.

however, i will get the next installment just to see where it goes.

Page turner, suspenseful. This book was fast paced, very much kept your interest throughout the novel. Kudos to Blair, Tananarive, and Steven!!! I can not wait for the sequel.

This was entertaining enough to keep reading. However, the plot was too busy and somewhat implausible in spots. The fundamental goodness of Tennyson's character, was a strong point in the novel.