Some cases require a gun.
Others need magic.
This one demands both.
A Damned Dirty Thing:
The Jake Bishop Files
by Doc Blalock
Genre: Noir Paranormal Sleuth Suspense
The explosion should have killed him . . .
Jake Bishop is back on the streets of Solomon City, ten months after a mob bombing destroyed his office and murdered his partner and secretary. But Bishop isn’t just any private detective—he’s a “ditch wizard” able to step through shadow and bend reality to his will.
When the beautiful and mysterious Portia Vance answers his ad for a new secretary, Bishop thinks his luck might finally be changing. Together, they begin hunting Vito Morelli, the mob boss who ordered the hit that nearly ended Bishop’s life.
Their investigation leads them through the city’s darkest corners—from strip clubs to shadow banking operations, from corrupt cops to magical wards. But in a world where bullets and spells are equally deadly, and where everyone has secrets worth killing for, Bishop discovers that the line between hunter and hunted is thinner than he thought.
Some cases require a gun. Others need magic. This one demands both.
In the shadows of Solomon City, justice comes with a price—and revenge wears a beautiful face.
A gritty noir fantasy that proves sometimes the most dangerous magic is the human heart.
Amazon * Edgeweaver Books* Bookbub * Goodreads
Christopher “Doc” Blalock is a US Navy veteran Corpsman and retired counselor. He is a prolific fine artist, illustrator, musician, sculptor and writer, cursed with the itch to create. He draws inspiration from sources ranging from JRR Tolkien to Tom Clancy. He additionally draws from his love of classic black-and-white noir films, infusing their moody aesthetic and storytelling into his writing. A helpless coffee addict, he lives in the Atlanta suburbs with his childhood sweetheart and a dog of dubious moral character.
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Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been a lifelong reader of great literature. Writers like Hemingway, Tolkien, and Tom Clancy shaped how I think about storytelling—the efficiency of Hemingway, the poetry of Tolkien, and the attention to detail and complexity of Tom Clancy.
As a counselor, I’ve spent a lifetime listening to people talk—not just what they’re saying, but how they say it, where they hesitate, and what’s happening underneath the words. That sensitivity to voice and subtext is where I think the real strength of my writing lies, particularly in characterization.
When I retired, I finally had the time to dedicate myself fully to writing. Bringing together those literary influences with years of close listening felt like a natural progression.
What inspired you to write A Damned Dirty Thing?
A Damned Dirty Thing grew out of my lifelong fascination with the World War II era and the years immediately after it—the aesthetics, the atmosphere, and the moral certainty people believed in at the time. It was an era that tended to see the world in stark terms of right and wrong, especially in the aftermath of the war.
Jake Bishop came out of that moral framework. He’s an amalgam of characters like Rick from Casablanca and Jake Barnes from The Sun Also Rises—flawed men doing the best they can with the circumstances they’re given. They’re damaged, they’re compromised, but when it matters, they still choose to do the right thing, even when it costs them. That tension—between ideals and reality, between damage and decency—is what drives the book. The voice, the choices, and the moral pressure all flow out of watching that kind of man try to live honestly in a world that keeps asking him not to.
Convince us why you feel your story is a must read.
A Damned Dirty Thing is the story of a man with a wry sense of humor, a sharp cynicism, and a strong moral code, navigating a world of absolutes. Jake Bishop isn’t a hero in the traditional sense—he’s flawed, he’s honest, and he refuses to compromise when it comes to doing the right thing. At a time when much of literature leans toward YA, cozy romances, or heavy-handed political messaging, I wanted to offer something different: no lecturing, no moralizing, no hidden agenda—just a straightforward, Scotch-soaked, cigarette-smoked story of a man on a mission.
Readers who appreciate character-driven noir storytelling, moral tension, and a protagonist who’s as smart as he is sardonic will find this a story that stays with them long after the last page.
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Jan 23
Kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
Book Bites….with a side of coffee
Jan 24
☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ with M.C.V. EGAN
Jan 25
Jan 26
Karen J. Mossman – World of Stories
Books all things paranormal and romance
Jan 27
Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree
Jan 28
Jan 29
Tina Donahue Books – Heat with Heart
Stormy Nights, Books and Blogging
Inside the Insanity – GUEST POST
Jan 30
The Dungeon Crawlers – GUEST POST
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Sounds like a really good read. I like the cover art.
This so sounds like my kind of read and the cover is just perfect.
I just love the cover- perfect.
What an intriguing cover and title. Sounds like a great new read!
This sounds amazing
The book sounds like an exciting read. I love the "film noir" inspired cover.
The cover is very cool, I would love a poster of this cover
I love the cover art! Great job!
This sounds like a great Noir Paranormal Sleuth Suspense book. I like the cover.
Sounds like a great read.
Looks exciting Do you write in a daily journal?
I'm excited to read this one! thank youu!
This looks like a good read
Looks like a good read.
looks like a fun one.
I love paranormal mysteries!! A Damned Dirty Thing: The Jake Bishop Files looks awesome!
Sounds like a really good paranormal read
This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
Do you have any advice for new writers?
Sounds like a great read.
I like the book details.
The cover looks great!
I really enjoy the historical stories; it's always interesting to see if the author can take you 'back' to the times. This sounds very interesting!
this sounds really interesting
Sounds like a good combination of magic and mystery. Should be a good read.
Looking forward to reading this.
I enjoyed reading the guest post. Thanks for the giveaway!
What an unusual interesting read!
Thank you for the excerpt.
This would be my first read for Doc, but it sounds gritty and worthy for the top of my TBR!
Sounds like an exciting story.
Definitely looking forward to reading this.
I like book details
Fantastic cover art
This is an interesting combination of genres! The cover sets the stage for the book.
Sounds like an exciting book. Thanks for sharing.
The cover is really nice!
Good luck with your current release.
This book looks fun to read and I love the vintage look of the cover.
Sounds like a great book. I'm looking forward to reading it.
The cover looks really cool.
You got me with that vintage style cover!
Looks like a great cover!