I love noir in books and films so when I read a description of this book and saw the cover, I knew that I had to read it.

Cal Goldberg, AKA Bronze, is a private eye in 1990's Washington DC. He is hired by a wealthy man to follow his wife because he suspects that she is having an affair with a high powered politician. When the politician is pulled out of the Potomac and the man who hired him is also killed, Bronze must do whatever he can to save the woman he has been following.

Blood and Mascara is gritty, filled with political intrigue, danger, lots of imagery with multiple timelines and points of view. Bronze is a flawed character that the reader can't help but root for and the other characters are well drawn.

Thanks to pulplit and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

this book was serving old detective movie, very black and white, very film noir. it simply wasn't for me.

This was a fairly new genre for me, but I want to get into more noir. It was hard to pick up, the backstory was confusing for me. It was pretty slow paced. And I wasn't overly keen on how the women were objectified. It wasn't for me.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

Colin Krainin's *Blood and Mascara* is a compelling modern noir set in late 1990s Washington, D.C. The story follows Bronze Goldberg, a troubled private investigator entangled in a complex web of political corruption, infidelity, and murder. Krainin masterfully captures the gritty atmosphere of the era, delivering a narrative rich in tension and moral ambiguity. While the plot's intricacies and multiple perspectives may challenge some readers, the novel's depth and character development make it a rewarding read for fans of hard-boiled detective fiction.

A unique blend of suspense and drama and the storyline is intriguing. I would have liked more character development with some depth to make them more believable and relatable. Still an interesting read.
Many thanks to Pulplit and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

not my vibe sorry…dnf’d this at 20% i really tried with it but it was so boring and felt like it was going nowhere!!

Blood and Mascara by Colin Krainin is a gritty, fast-paced crime thriller that combines suspense with a deep exploration of identity and morality. The story follows a complex protagonist entangled in the dangerous world of organized crime, where loyalty, betrayal, and violence collide. Krainin’s writing is sharp, vivid, and relentless, building tension with every page. With its compelling characters and high stakes, Blood and Mascara is an intense read for fans of dark, action-packed thrillers.

Blood and Mascara by Colin Krainin is a PI novel set in late '90s Washington, DC. While I typically enjoy any book with political intrigue, something about the elements did not come together for me on this one. Still, readers of the noir genre will likely enjoy this one.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I unfortunately DNF’d this book at about the 10% mark, as there was nothing wrong with it but the writing style did not fully mesh with me. This was written in a very gritty detective film noir/femme fatale fashion that I can really see working with those who were wanting a book in this style. I felt the introduction to the characters and conflicts to kind of meander, and nothing in how the story caught my attention enough to want to continue. However, if you were looking for a book that feels both character driven with a murder investigation from a detective PI that felt like watching a classic detective story, I’d recommend giving this book a chance.

Thank you to NetGalley and pulplit for providing this e-ARC.

I enjoyed the noirish vibe - I could practically taste the whisky and smell the smoke coming up from the manhole covers. Fun.

Blood and Mascara by Colin Krainin is a dark and thrilling dive into the world of high fashion, full of twists, intrigue, and unforgettable characters. The novel follows a determined protagonist who gets caught in a web of ambition, secrets, and betrayal in an industry that’s as glamorous as it is cutthroat. Krainin’s writing is sharp, fast-paced, and immersive, which made it easy to get sucked into the story.

The characters, particularly the lead, are complex and well-developed, with flaws and vulnerabilities that make them feel real and relatable. The plot is full of tension, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, another twist throws you off course. I really appreciated how Krainin balances the high-energy, suspenseful elements of the thriller with deeper reflections on identity, power, and the sacrifices made for success.

It's got to be incredibly difficult to write noir and it can, at times, be difficult to read noir as well.

I'm still sort of new to the noir genre and BLOOD AND MASCARA just wasn't a good fit for me.

I think it's probably more for people who are super into the genre, but I just couldn't connect with the main character.

Thank you NetGalley and PulpLit for an e-copy of BLOOD AND MASCARA to review.

I rate BLOOD AND MASCARA two out of five stars.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy
After so much contemplation I finally decided to put this to rest. While I can see that many readers might enjoy it, it simply did not resonate with me I must admit that I was initially drawn in by the cover art, but upon starting the book, I discovered it falls into the noir genre, which is not something I typically enjoy, this realization ultimately led me to DNF because it would be quite unfair of me to push through a book knowing I won't enjoy. I do wanna stress that this could be a hit for fans of the genre, my inability to connect with the story is not a reflection of its quality but rather of my own literary preferences.

3/5 Stars: Intriguing Premise, Uneven Execution

Blood and Mascara by Colin Krainin offers an ambitious blend of noir mystery and psychological tension, but the final result feels uneven. The novel starts strong, immersing readers in a shadowy world of secrets, obsession, and moral ambiguity. Krainin’s prose is sharp and evocative, drawing atmospheric scenes that feel almost cinematic. The titular “blood” and “mascara” serve as compelling metaphors for violence and vulnerability, hinting at the book’s larger themes.

The protagonist, while intriguing, comes across as overly enigmatic at times, making it difficult to fully connect with their journey. Similarly, the supporting characters feel underdeveloped, leaving some plotlines frustratingly unresolved. The narrative’s pacing also wavers, with some sections dragging while others rush through pivotal moments.

Where Blood and Mascara shines is in its vivid imagery and the way it explores the duality of appearance versus reality. There’s a clear effort to weave deeper commentary into the story, but it occasionally gets lost in the chaotic plot structure.

This book is a decent read for fans of dark, gritty storytelling, but it may not fully satisfy those looking for a tightly woven narrative or deeply relatable characters. While the potential is clear, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.

This book wasn’t for me. I wanted to branch out of my normal genre but this didn’t really make me excited to pick up anything similar. Though I would recommend to my friends who read books like this to give it a try.

A lot of words and some fine writing, but not much of a story or a thriller. So many characters, situations and jumping around that it was hard to follow a storyline. This was not an enjoyable read at all. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bronze Goldberg is a down-on-his-luck private eye working the streets of D.C. Tailing cheating spouses is his bread and butter. His new assignment, tailing a gorgeous femme fatale, should be no different from all the other cases, until the man who hired him, an up-and-coming congressman and the woman's husband, is murdered in broad daylight. Now Bronze is in the crosshairs of the assassin, and his nosey landlady.
The story is told from different viewpoints and varying time frames, which come together nicely to reveal how Bronze's past frames his current predicament. While the book isn't a quick, light read, it is worth the time and effort to connect the apparent random pieces of information together to the climaxing solution.

Blood and Mascara by author Colin Krainin is a noir novel that takes place in the 90s and the character is centered around a character who goes by the nickname Bronze that he was tagged with after winning an Olympic bronze medal in Judo competition in his younger days, but he has fallen on hard times as a private investigator since his days of recognition as a star investigative reporter who put himself at risk to succeed at getting inside information to expose those involved in his articles.

Bronze has acquired a reputation as a womanizer and alcoholic who has relied on his good looks and charm to get by in life, although he is an enigma to any who know him and who he really is and what his early life was like that has made him closed off from the friends and women who love him in spite of (or because of) his shortcomings.

Iris is the neighbor of the building that Bronze lives in and being directly below him imagines what he’s doing in her obsessive fixation on and attraction to him that she hides to him and all others.

Esther is a woman from his past that we learn more about throughout the book and how they were involved in the past.

Roth is a cop who is investigating the death of a politician named Billy Kopes who was involved with Carolyn, wife of a powerful man named Roger Haake and he enlists (or coerces) into aiding in the investigation.

Several of the characters that are already or become part of the personal life of Bronze become part of the investigation he’s taken on, and he struggles to draw lines between his personal involvement with them and his professional conduct.

Author Krainin writes a novel that has a noir feel to it and involves interesting characters and especially the lead character that keeps an interest level throughout the early part of the book that is slowly evolving into action that makes the story succeed at maintaining an interest into the investigation and the life of Bronze.

4 stars, and short of 5 due to the lengthy lead up to the action remainder of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early review copy. This book took me a while to get into. The writing kept drawing me in and out and I couldn't connect with any of the characters because of the way this book deals with flashbacks.

I really didn't like any of the characters and the plot didn't draw me in enough.

I think this book has potential but it was not for me!