Black Shadows by Simon Swift is a very enjoyable noir. Swift seems to have captured all the elements that make up the classic detective noirs. From the first page I was drawn into the mystery and intrigue that Black Shadows offered. This story is told from the perspective of Errol Black. Errol is a private eye, a detective with a not so clean background. Errol takes on the case of the beautiful and alluring damsel in distress, Claudia. He gets more than he bargains for when he investigates her fiancée. Errol gets mixed up in a world-wind of problems including getting involved with well known gangsters and being suspected of murdering his former partner, Dyke Spanner. Errol is a flawed, tough, cynical type of guy. He has a soft spot for the sweet and innocent and a weakness for the femme fatals. Errol doesn't know who to trust. Practically everyone he knows has some sort of motive why they wanted Spanner dead and why they want the priceless blue Tavernier Diamond. The closer Errol gets to finding the killer the more dead bodies start to pile up. This story is full of red herrings that keep you captivated. With so many motives and opportunities for murder it was hard to eliminate any of the suspects. The characters are shady with motivations of greed and lust. I found it interesting that one of the characters is based on the real life gangster, Dutch Schultz This book had such a vintage feel to it. Simon Swift did a great job sorting out the details of this time period to make it as authentic as possible. I absolutely loved the 1940's New York setting. This book had everything I had expected to find in a noir and more. The story is very entertaining and definitely worth reading. Black Shadows is the first book in the Errol Black trilogy.

Move over Raymond Chandler, there's a new kid in town, and he's good...damned good. I have always loved Chandler's work and usually find myself comparing anything in the same genre to him.Well guess who has a new benchmark? I am still smiling at the pristine and rapid fire dialogue. 1940's USA and it's all there...the attitude, the sights, smells, sounds of that time and place are alive and well and living on these pages, luring you in and holding you captive. I dare you not to smile at the verbal exchanges. The pacing is as perfect as it gets, author Simon Swift doesn't rush you through, he uses his unique style to edge you into that marvelous state of "I must know more!" Don't misunderstand, the characterizations lose nothing in this pace. They are rich and intensely visual. I am putting this on my list of best books for 2011. Do yourselves a favor...read it.