The Black Stiletto's Autograph

A free short story "teaser" to Raymond Benson's upcoming thriller THE BLACK STILETTO (September 2011) from Oceanview Publishing.

"Benson has created one of the most original heroines I've read in a long time" -- Sandra Brown, author of LETHAL

In 1958, the Black Stiletto, the legendary vigilante crimefighter, made an unnannounced appearance in a bar in New York City--and Joey, one lucky patron, obtained her autograph. But what else happened that fateful night, and how did it change Joey's life?

The Black Stiletto was a legend in her own time, an underground heroine who made a name for herself during the late Eisenhower years and early Kennedy years as a New York City vigilante. Although she was wanted by the law and would have been arrested had she been caught or had her secret identity been revealed, the Black Stiletto was a competent and successful crime-fighter. A feminist before the term was in everyday vernacular, she battled common crooks, Communist spies, the mafia, and worse—and was responsible for their capture and, in some cases, their deaths. But the Stiletto disappeared midway through the sixties and was never heard from again. Most people thought she had died, and no one ever knew her identity. Like pinup queen Bettie Page, her mythical image resurfaced in comics and other media during the 1980s and 90s. Millions of dollars were made by others exploiting her likeness and persona.

Today, the questions remain. Who was she? Is she still alive? If so, where is she now?

Raymond Benson is the author of 25 published books, including nine James Bond novels written between 1996-2002. THE BLACK STILETTO is the first of a new thrilling series.