The Black-Eyed Blonde Analysis

The Black-Eyed Blonde by Benjamin Black is a fiction novel set in the 1950s in Bay City, California. The novel's central character is Clare Cavendish, a sexy gorgeous woman with black eyes. The interaction between a private detective, Philip Marlowe, Clare Cavendish and Derace reveals the glaring criminal activities in the streets of Bay City in California. The main themes in the novel include crime, thirst for wealth and deception.

Deception is a major theme in the novel because despite Derace knowing that he killed his wife, he reports her as a missing person. The novel opens when Derace Kingsley, a wealthy businessperson, approaches Philip Marlowe to search for his missing wife. Philip Marlowe is a renowned private detective in the city, and his primary role is helping people locate their missing loved ones. Derace is secretly dating Clare Cavendish, his accomplishments in the murder of Crystal. However, the two lovebirds trick Philip Marlowe into searching for Crystal, who no longer exists.

The other major point of focus in the novel is crime. When Marlowe begins his investigations concerning Crystal, he interviews several people in the city, including the last places Crystal visited before she went missing. During his investigations, Philips discovers several motels in the city where all manner of criminal activities take place during the day and night. For instance, Marlowe is attacked on several occasions while walking on the streets of Bay City while searching for Crystal. In addition, Marlowe interacts with a dangerous criminal named Tommy, who reveals that he works closely with Derace and Cavendish, among other prominent wealthy people in the city, to defraud people of their wealth.

The last significant issue in the novel is a thirst for wealth. Towards the novel's end, Marlowe discovers that Derace and his lover Cavendish are behind Crystal's death because they want to inherit her wealth in the city. Marlowe also discovers that the mighty businesspeople in the city are murderers because they have acquired their wealth by killing people and taking away their properties.

Despite the dangers of confronting Derace and Cavendish after discovering that they are killers, Marlowe is determined to get justice for Crystal. However, before Marlowe brings the culprits to justice, he accidentally shoots Derace and kills him instantly during a confrontation. A point man trailing her for a long time also kills Cavendish.