In Abstract: Bold Black by Scott Price, Alex Black is an artist and detective who thrives on living dangerously and the excitement of solving crime. When Vickie Reeves enters his life looking for help in finding her husband, a wealthy businessman, he agrees to take on her case. James Reeves disappeared mysteriously three days previously and Vickie believes the police are not doing enough to help. Alex's investigations lead him into Miami's seedy and violent underworld of organized crime where he discovers that Mr. Reeves had business connections. Just when Alex believes the mystery has been solved, he returns to his gallery, unaware those responsible have him in their sights. As Alex joins forces with an unlikely ally, he soon finds himself at sea heading towards Cuba, in pursuit of the formidable and feared Luis 'The Shadow' Guzman. Alex realizes that Guzman's business is far more dangerous than he first thought.

Abstract: Bold Black by Scott Price has such a gripping plot with fantastic tension that begins immediately. The descriptive narrative was of the highest standard and definitely one of the strengths of this novel. Each character, even the minor ones, had an amazing amount of detail regarding their personalities which made them incredibly believable. I also thought the dialogue suited each character perfectly. Alex was a very interesting character with so many layers to his personality. He was not only extremely intelligent and fearless, but he could also think on his feet and maneuver himself out of danger. I also thought he had a great sense of humor and this was especially highlighted when confronted with the traffickers. The action and adventure were compelling and with so many exciting plot twists, I was completely engrossed in the story until the very end. The enigma that surrounded Guzman was superb and really heightened the tension of the story. I also loved how the endearing relationship developed between Alex and Diego. The climactic ending was also exceptional.

If you enjoy reading well-written investigative stories, Scott Price's Abstract: Bold Black is just the book for you. Alex Black is a painter living a laid-back life on the coast of Florida, whose side hustle is to do freelance investigative work for a private agency. When a woman named Vickie Reeves seeks his help to solve the case of her missing husband, Alex obliges her request, and the investigation takes him to the sandy beaches of Miami, where he inadvertently helps the police uncover a high-stakes drug operation. But a break-in of his house in San Isabel and a visit to his gallery by two thugs forces him to pursue a man named Luis Guzman, who may be behind the entire operation. With his friend Diego, Alex follows the trail to Cuba.

Written in a first-person perspective, Abstract: Bold Black takes you into the headspace of an artist as he utilizes his artistic abilities to do investigative work. Alex Black is a riveting protagonist who gathers clues by observing his surroundings and dissembling them piece by piece. Author Scott Price goes off on seemingly random abstract tangents that provide crucial expository information as well as necessary background knowledge about the protagonist to the reader. I found the narrative to be non-traditional, unique, and authentic. The plot itself feels like a slow burn that makes you think and forces the reader to read between the lines. Overall, I enjoyed Abstract: Bold Black. I would recommend it to readers who crave a refreshingly told crime thriller.