Alabama Noir
Edited by Don Noble
Akashic Books, April 2020
ISBN 978-1617758089
Trade Paperback
Yet another in the successful and popular series from this publisher, Alabama Noir contains pieces by sixteen fine authors who have, based on the works herein, fully grasped the meaning of “noir.”
The stories, all set in areas of a state sometimes considered perplexing and “different,” range from deeply dark and fraught to some definitely tongue-in-cheek and mildly humorous. Some, like Ace Atkins “Sweet Baby,” come with a surprising twist, others like “Exhaustion,” by Anita Miller Garner, are more straight-forward in their dark plotting.
The book is organized by the editor into four sections: COLD COLD HEART, YOUR CHEATING HEART, I’M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY, and THE ANGEL OF DEATH. A following section provides pictures and short biographies.
As with all the noir series from Akashic, every fan of dark, fraught, short stories will find several pleasurable stories well worth their time.
Reviewed by Carl Brookins, January 2021.
http://www.carlbrookins.com http://agora2.blogspot.com
Traces, Grand Lac, Reunion, Red Sky.
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