Blackbird, Farewell

by Robert Greer

Book Overview

Shandell Blackbird Bird has everything going for him, or so he thinks. Recently selected number two overall in the NBA draft, the 6'8," 250-pound superstar has a gleaming new ride and a salary and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1583942505
• ISBN13: 9781583942505
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Frog in Well
• Length: 338 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A pleasant departure from my normal reading...

Blackbird, Farewell is the seventh and latest in the series of CJ Floyd novels. CJ is only a minor character in this story, however. Shandell "BlackBird" Bird is a talented basketball player who's recently been drafted into the NBA. When he is found murdered, his best friend Damion vows to track down his killer, even though it means digging deep into Shandell's private life. It is painful for Damion to discover that his best friend was not who he pretended to be. This book was an easy read that has the potential to be a movie. It has a bit of everything - action, suspense, violence, romance, and a screenplay-like epilogue. This is my first CJ Floyd novel, so I was at a disadvantage because I did not know the regular characters, but I was still able to follow the plot. Normally I prefer cozy mysteries, and this is not a cozy. There is some profanity and violence, and a sex scene which were a little graphic for my tastes, but it would be mild to most readers. I was easily able to skim over any parts that bothered me and continue with the plot. So this book would appeal to a wide audience. I would recommend this book to modern day mystery fans - and also basketball fans. Greer does a good job of portraying the dark side of professional sports while weaving his mystery.

A top pick for those seeking a fresh mystery series

One's millions won't protect one from past transgressions. "Blackbird, Farewell" is the story of Shandell 'Blackbird' Bird, his meteoric rise to millions of dollars and superstardom, and his sudden violent death mid-Basketball Court. It's up to Damion Madrid, a rookie detective, and his mentor CJ Floyd to find out what exactly happened to Damion's friend, who's responsible, and what was Bird up to to provoke it. "Blackbird, Farewell" is an intriguing mystery and a top pick for those seeking a fresh mystery series.

(RAW Rating 4.5) Is an NBA contract the end all?

BLACKBIRD, FAREWELL by Robert Greer takes us into the world of basketball when Shandell "Blackbird" Bird is found shot to death on a basketball court in Glendale, Colorado. Blackbird had a promising career in basketball signing with the NBA and a contract to advertise athletic shoes. His good friend and college pal, Damion Madrid decides he cannot let this go and proceeds to investigate the murder. His godfather, fortunately, is CJ Floyd, who just happens to be on his honeymoon in Hawaii, but Flora Jean, CJ's partner, is there to help Damion. Flora Jean is a no-nonsense former military person, who doesn't take no for an answer. She attempts to guide, as well as help, through the investigation. Damion and Flora Jean discover many leads, some involving underworld figures and even Blackbird's girlfriend, Connie, falls under suspicion. While she claims to love him, they wonder if she might have been after the millions he would have been making. In addition, Blackbird's long absent father, Leon Bird, shows up on the scene. Will Damion and Flora Jean be able to solve the mystery before they cause serious issues for themselves? Shady characters begin to close in on them, causing them anxiety and even threatening their lives. BLACKBIRD FAREWELL is another wonderful mystery by Robert Greer. There are many characters involved in Blackbird's life, yet each character is so well developed they blend right into the story and you never forget who they are. While CJ Floyd is actually on his honeymoon, he still remains relevant to the novel since he gets phone calls from the main characters and enters when needed. The tension builds until the last page. It is truly a mystery worth reading. Reviewed by Alice Holman of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "A "3-POINTER".. BASKETBALL... MYSTERY... AND MURDER!"

Shandell "Blackbird" Bird, the 6-foot-9-inch 250-pound All-American basketball player for Colorado State University (CSU) seemed to have the world on a string when he deposited 7.2 MILLION DOLLARS (which included 4 Million Dollars for a Nike shoe contract and 3.2 Million Dollars from the Denver Nuggets as the number 2 draft pick in the NBA.) in the bank. If that wasn't enough to make the world at large envy every breath Shandell took... he also was driving a brand new $93,000.00 Range Rover... and his girlfriend Connie Eastland was a stone-cold-fox. Yet, within hours... Shandell is found shot to death by a murderer's bullet on a basketball court of his youth. Perhaps hardest hit by this shocking killing... in addition to Blackbird's Mother and the basketball community at large... is Blackbird's best friend since childhood... Damion Madrid... his CSU teammate and fellow All-American. Damion who stood 6-foot-6-inches tall and weighed 235-pounds had averaged an unmatched *TRIPLE-DOUBLE* at CSU averaging 22-points-11-rebounds-and-10-assists per game as the dynamic duo of "BLOOD" (Damion) and "BLACKBIRD" had led CSU to the NCAA National Championship game which they lost somewhat mysteriously to UCLA. Damion is so shook up from the murder of his lifelong friend and teammate, that despite warnings from all the people close to him in his life... refuses to "just-let" the police handle the investigation. Now it so happens... that Damion's impatience with the legal process, and refusal to just sit on the sidelines... can probably be partially explained by his bloodlines... and his upbringing. His Mother is a trial lawyer... and his Godfather C.J. Floyd is a Viet Nam vet and local longtime bail bondsman and sometime investigator... C.J's partner is Flora Jean Benson, a six-foot-one-inch former Marine intelligence operative with war experience in the Middle East... add to that Mario Satoni a semi-retired Mafia Godfather and Pinkie Niedemeyer a Viet Nam veteran and hit-man for the mob... who both treat Damion like he's their own flesh and blood... and you've got quite a cast of characters that Damion has at his disposal to call on... if the situation calls for it... and this situation "does" call for it... and Damion "does" call! This leads to Damion turning over rocks that raise the possibilities of Blackbird and other teammates possibly being involved in point shaving and pushing drugs. In fact, the overturned rocks start an avalanche of crime that includes multiple murders... threatened murders... knife fights... kinky sex... gold-digging women... arson... revealing of secrets kept hidden for entire lifetimes... and more. This story unfolds like an all-star fast break... that culminates into a crescendo that deftly combines murder, mystery, and basketball!

superb thriller

Denver based bail bondsman CJ Floyd is in Hawaii on his honeymoon when he learns that Shandell Bird, the friend of his godson reporter Damion Madrid, was shot and killed at center court. The two friends had led Colorado State University's basketball team to the NCAA basketball championship game losing to UCLA. Bird was the NBA's second overall draftee. With a desperate need to know why especially when rumors sprout that the late superstar tanked the UCLA game and the murder was obviously a professional hit, Madrid begins to investigate after receiving the investigator's point spread from CJ's partner Flora Jean Benson. From the islands CJ also arranges special protection of Damion by some cronies. Another former teammate insists Bird was dealing in their Five Points neighborhood, which seems illogical to Madrid as Shandell was worth millions once he went NBA. However, as he begins to uncover a side of his friend he never knew especially the roles of the superstar's retinue Madrid begins to learn the full truth including the secret that Bird tried to hide from everyone even in death. Whereas CJ takes a breather (see THE MONGOOSE DECEPTION), Madrid cuts his teeth on an investigation that at times is amateur sleuth because he fumbles and bumbles his way until he realizes what Benson warned of; this is no game with preset rules as his adversaries will make them as needed including killing nosy former teammates. The story line is driven by Madrid's obsessive need to know but along the way his naive innocence turns to hardball reality that in the game of life, your teammates better not be shaving the score. Harriet Klausner