A Film Noir Detective Series by John Kemp
Four cases. One London detective. No clean endings.
If you're looking for comfort this isn't it. Missing persons. Bad alibis. Worse truths.
Meet Sterling — a London private investigator with a taste for trouble, a dry sense of humour and a knack for finding himself in cases where nothing is quite what it seems.
Inspired by the hard-boiled detective novels and classic film noir that John Kemp has enjoyed over the years, the Sterling P.I. series brings that distinctive atmosphere into the modern world.
Film Noirs and Mini Bars
Sterling P.I. Series #1
“Reminiscent of classic noir fiction... with a protagonist possessing the magnetism of a modern-day Philip Marlowe.” — Readers’ Favorite
“A gripping narrative... brimming with cynicism and a sharp, sardonic wit.” — Readers’ Favorite
A desperate client. £10,000 in cash. A mysterious holdall. And a trip to Los Angeles that is anything but straightforward.
When a desperate client carrying a hefty wad of cash pleads for Sterling's help, the down-on-his-luck private investigator thinks it will be a straightforward job.
He soon discovers that nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
Sterling must decide between doing what's right and focusing on his bottom line: £10,000. His task? Babysit a client to L.A. and deliver a mysterious holdall to some decidedly nefarious unknowns.
Will Sterling's instincts steer him in the right direction — or lead him straight into danger? Collect your boarding pass at London HR and find out.
“The magnetism of a Philip Marlowe mystery.”
★★★★★ Readers' Favorite — 5 Stars
Film Noirs and Spanish Guitars
Sterling P.I. Series #2
"John Kemp brilliantly captures the essence of classic hard-boiled detective fiction." - Readers' Favorite
"The thrill and shadow play of a classic noir." - Readers' Favorite
A missing boss. A mysterious señorita. Two Manchester hotels. And someone who wants Sterling out of the picture.
When Sterling is hired to investigate a missing person, the case seems straightforward enough. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more trouble he finds — and the more visits to hospital he has to make.
A Spanish señorita, a missing boss and two hotels in Manchester hold the clues. Sterling must find the missing thread that links them all together before someone sends him somewhere far more permanent than the Emergency Department.
A classic film-noir mystery filled with danger, dry humour and shadowy twists. Check in to the Albion Hotel to find out more.
“The thrill and shadow play of a classic noir.”
★★★★★ Readers' Favorite — 5 Stars
Film Noirs and Pullman Cars
Sterling P.I. Series #3
“A must-read for true fans of traditional noir.” – Readers’ Favorite
A diamond heist. A luxury train. Twenty-four hours to find the culprit.
Sterling may be at rock bottom, but the only way is up. Or so he hopes.
With an ex-wife to remind him of his parental duties, Sterling needs a fresh case — and money — fast.
When Charles Swift, the owner of a diamond emporium, hires him to work undercover and retrieve a precious stone, Sterling has just 24 hours to identify the guilty party behind a clever heist.
But with a luxury Pullman train bound for Vienna, a carriage full of suspects and a priceless diamond at stake, Sterling can't afford to be derailed. Climb onboard The Balmoral Pullman and join Sterling to follow the case.
“Think Agatha Christie/Nita Prose! I can't wait to read the next adventure.”
Amazon Customer — 5 Stars
Film Noirs and Doused Cigars
Sterling P.I. Series — Latest Instalment
"Sterling is the detective noir fiction has been waiting for." — Based on Readers' Favorite praise
A murder conviction. A desperate wife. A dog, a diary and DNA. And one case that could change everything.
Sterling heads to Scotland for his most challenging case yet.
A spouse in denial hires him to overturn her husband's murder conviction — the Crown Prosecution's infamous “Silver Bullet Case.”
With only a dog, a diary and DNA to guide him, Sterling must navigate tangled twists, dark turns and a trail of clues that refuses to lead where he expects.
Is Sterling chasing a wild goose, or is he honourably trying to reset the Scales of Justice? Even Sterling isn't sure. Sign up at the Gladstone Health Retreat to follow the case.
“An interesting detective story, with dry as a bone dialogue, that ticks all the film noir boxes. A great fun read.”
Shaun — Amazon — 5 Stars
Meet Sterling
A London private investigator. A former policeman. A man who rarely gets the easy cases.
Sterling is the kind of detective who knows that trouble rarely announces itself at the door. Sometimes it arrives with a missing person, a suspicious client or a case that looks simple until the bodies start piling up.
A former policeman turned private investigator, Sterling carries a healthy dose of cynicism, a dry sense of humour and an instinct for trouble. He's not always sure where the next case will take him — but he usually knows that it won't be straightforward.
The character of Sterling was inspired by John Kemp's long-standing love of hard-boiled detective novels and classic film noir. The series brings that atmosphere into the modern world, combining mystery and crime with dry dialogue, colourful characters and the occasional touch of dark humour.
Four cases. One detective. And plenty of trouble along the way.
A review of Film Noirs and Mini Bars (2.30 secs) on Obscure Book Adventures: https://www.youtube.com/@ObscureBookAdventures
And if you love film noir: https://filmnoirfoundation.org/