Customer Reviews

The black marble

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Black Marble" is not only the author's best, but quite possibly the best of the entire genre. Wambaugh's trademark dark humor, authentic Los Angeles setting, and genuinely likable characters propel this fast-paced tale about the LAPD and a dog-napping scheme gone woefully wrong. A.A. Valnikov, a slovenly, boozy, but tender-souled Slavic veteran, is determined to rescue the doggie in distress. His new partner, Natalie Zimmerman, is determined to get him fired from the Force and out of her life... until she comes to know him and the nightmares which torment him. This book is as terrific today as it was twenty years ago, even if now a trifle "dated". It's often poignant, sometimes tragic, frequently hilarious, and ultimately heart-warming. Read it; it will leave you feeling good and wishing you could really meet the characters!

This has all the Wambaugh hallmarks: eccentric characters, crude humor, intelligence. If you like action, humor, "real" people and not cardboard characters, police stories, this is a great book.

I loved "The New Centurions" and "The Blue Knight" and "The Glitter Dome" and I find his latest books to be big disappointments. This book, however, is something else. Wambaugh takes it to a new level. Magnificent!!

The first third of the book is a little slow to start. I was suspecting as I read that this was not going to be very good, perhaps an early work before his writing skills matured. But even bad Wambaugh would be decent, I figured.

The rest of the book more than made up for it, and I closed the book believing it is his best novel I've read so far.

I dreamed for days about how I would film it if it was a movie, only to discover today that it's already a 1979 movie (which I'll have to see now). It's a very visual story, with lots of humor (typically Wambaugh).

"The Black Marble" is one of my favorite of Wambaugh's novels. Taking a distinct step away from the boy's club that marked his three earlier novels, the author blended in an offbeat, reluctant romance into the storyline and made it fit beautifully with the character arcs of the protagonist and his partner. Touching, outrageously funny and filled with pathos, this is one story that stayed with me for a long time after I finished the book.

I discovered Wambaugh 2 years ago and this is the fifth one I've read. I have read so many bad books this year that this one shines out. Great plot, great characters, easy to read.
Highly recommended

The book was not bad. I found it a bit confusing at times and maybe a touch long but it was not a hard read so the pages went by.....

Wambaugh does have a great sense of humour and he is at his best with the cop banter. He possibly tried to over-reach his strengths by writing about the psychological aspects of death in this book.

The problem was that the crime of the dog stealing seemed to be rushed at the end (and after so many pages of excess padding) and it was almost as if the author decided that he wanted the book to finish quickly.

One thing that I really didn't like was where Philo cut the dogs ear off. I think that there are a number of taboo areas that should not be entered into and cruelty to animals is one of them.

I give this one three stars only because it's not up there with the great literature of our time. It's just a good read. The characters are well developed and you find yourself caring about them.

The slow motion chase scene at the end was very well written. Not the kind of thing you see every day. A nice touch!