The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes: A Novel

by Raymond Benson

Overview

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author

1960: Election Year—The Black Stiletto—a Kennedy girl

It’s 1960. The Black Stiletto, in her civilian persona as Judy Cooper, volunteers to work for John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, only to become involved in a devious behind-the-scenes plot that could change the course of history.

Is the mysterious Eastern European man she briefly dated associated with a Cuban/Soviet spy ring?

Closer to home, the Stiletto must challenge dangerous tongs in Chinatown after befriending a teenage boy whose father was killed by the gangs. She soon discovers what a different—and very deadly—world exists in lower Manhattan. In the present, Martin, the Stiletto’s son, must deal with his mother’s worsening Alzheimer’s symptoms, his own mental health issues, and the dilemma of whether or not to reveal his family’s secrets to the new woman in his life.

Meanwhile, his daughter, Gina, continues to bring trouble to herself, exhibiting behavior that suggests she is closer in spirit to her grandmother than Martin would like. Every major character, past and present, experiences a turning point in this third chapter of The Black Stiletto Series.

Perfect for fans of vigilante justice

While all of the novels in The Black Stiletto Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:

The Black Stiletto
The Black Stiletto: Black & White
The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes
The Black Stiletto: Secrets & Lies
The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608091058
Publisher:	Oceanview Publishing
Publication date:	04/08/2014
Series:	The Black Stiletto , #3
Pages:	325
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Raymond Benson is the award-winning author of almost 40 published titles. Benson is well known as the official James Bond 007 continuation author between 1996 and 2002. He is the author of the five novels that comprise The Black Stiletto Series—The Black Stiletto; The Black Stiletto: Black & White; The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes; The Black Stiletto: Secrets & Lies; and The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings. Benson lives in the Chicago area.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Black Stiletto Series

“The Black Stiletto isn’t Wonder Woman, but her moxie is sure to be a hit with the Comic-Con crowd.” —Library Journal


“Top notch espionage and action, family drama and a superhero!” —Crimespree Magazine


“Benson has created one of the most original heroines I’ve read in a long time. Adventure and suspense made this book a rollicking good read. But the story is about much more than simply the evolution and escapades of The Black Stiletto. It’s about relationships and just how well we know—or not—even the people we love most." —Sandra Brown, New York Times best-selling author


“Irresistible: Suppose you found out—just too late—that your mother had been a superhero crime fighter. What would you do? Sit back, take a deep breath, and let Raymond Benson tell you.” —Lee Child, New York Times best-selling author


“A thriller that brilliantly succeeds at that most difficult of authorial endeavors: blending the past and the present into a single compelling story. Filled with cutting-edge suspense, wry humor and heart-wrenching warmth, not to mention great period detail, The Black Stiletto will grab you instantly and simply not let go until the final page—no, make that the final sentence.” —Jeffery Deaver, New York Times best-selling author


“A terrifically fun thrill ride featuring an intrepid heroine you won’t soon forget.” —Tess Gerritsen, New York Times best-selling author


“It’s action! It’s adventure! It appeals to women—and to men! It’s faster than a speeding bullet, and a truly terrific read.” —Heather Graham, New York Times best-selling author


“Judy is a fantastic character, and Benson absolutely nails the way women write in their diaries. I think this sort of strong woman will be enormously appealing to female readers. The action is great, and Benson writes in a voice that’s accessible and engaging.” —Tasha Alexander, author of Dangerous to Know


“The Black Stiletto is a wonderfully stylish (and addictively page-turning) return to the days of yesteryear. Full of action, full of suspense, and brimming with originality, this sleek and charming adventure will win your heart.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning author

From the Publisher

Excerpts from Judy Cooper’s 1960 diary provide the main narrative for Benson’s diverting, nostalgia-filled third thriller featuring the costumed vigilante known as the Black Stiletto (after 2012’s The Black Stiletto: Black and White). In the present, Judy’s grown son, Martin Talbot, tries to come to terms with the past of his mother, who’s now afflicted with Alzheimer’s. That past is revealed by her diaries. In Eisenhower-era New York City, Judy has various adventures that touch on such burning issues of the day as the communist menace and race relations. In particular, the naïve but game Judy attempts to help teen Billy Shen Lee, whose father was killed by neighborhood gangsters in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Later, she becomes a “Kennedy Girl” and meets the candidate (“I swear, if he wasn’t married, I’d be all over him”). Judy gives and takes a lot of punishment as the misunderstood Black Stiletto literally fights crime with girlish enthusiasm. Agent: Peter Miller, Global Lion. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Middle-aged Martin knows his mother, who has Alzheimer's, was once the Black Stiletto, a vigilante heroine who fought crime in New York, but he's determined not to betray her secrets. But through Judy Cooper's diary entries readers learn of her adventures in 1960. Judy's martial arts skills prove crucial as she helps protect presidential candidate John F. Kennedy; in her spare time she also tackles the local gang wars in New York's Chinatown and takes a stab at civil rights work. In the present day Martin suspects his college-age daughter is exhibiting talents similar to her grandmother's. The sandwich-generation Martin must act. VERDICT This action-packed thriller, told through diary entries, conveys the spirit of 1960, as an exciting presidential hopeful captures the nation's hearts. While the third entry in Benson's series (after The Black Stiletto: Black & White) is occasionally off-putting (the diary format isn't for everyone), Benson's knack for toggling back and forth in time gives readers two engaging storylines to pursue. The Black Stiletto isn't Wonder Woman, but her moxie is sure to be a hit with the Comic-Con crowd.

Library Journal