The Cold Dark Forever

Monterey Bay, 1942. The ocean is rough, the pay is thin, and commercial fisherman Gene Ackerly is just trying to stay afloat. But when his crewmate murders a G.I. during a drunken brawl, Gene makes a choice that threatens to drag him under the surface for good.

On the run from the feds, the local PD, and his own conscience, Gene escapes into California’s dark underbelly along desolate dunes, haunted highways, and finally to a fog-drenched boathouse where a deadly mystery unfolds. He soon finds solace with a mob-connected woman named Violeta Stampa who offers him a golden opportunity. But Gene knows the rules of the game: nothing comes easy, and no one gets out clean.

If he's not careful, he'll end up just another drifter slipping into the cold, dark forever...

For readers who love the emotional depth and social realism of John Steinbeck, wrapped in the tense shadows of classic noir.

What folks are saying...

“A unique blend of grit, violence and tall tale.”

—Charles Ardai, author of Death Comes Too Late

“Paradoxically beautiful and tough-minded, The Cold Dark Forever places us squarely in the shoes of a mariner-turned-fugitive whose strange encounters—backlit by the scorching spread of fascism—grow more intriguing with each chapter. Blackwell’s pages overflow, as ever, with evocative language, pithy dialogue, and terrific suspense.”

—Frank Vatel, author of Chains

“If you’ve had the pleasure of reading C.W. Blackwell’s work, then you already know he’s one of the best noir writers working today. His latest novel, The Cold Dark Forever, continues his winning streak, bringing WWII-era Monterey Bay to vivid life through the eyes of Gene Ackers, a struggling commercial fisherman who finds himself in waters more troubled than he’s prepared for when a crewmate murders a GI on leave. Blackwell’s insightful exploration of life’s darker side, his knack for writing memorable plots, and his deep understanding of character secure The Cold Dark Forever’s place as a California noir classic.”

—Holly West, Anthony Award-winning editor of Killin’ Time in San Diego