Reviews

Queens Noir by Mary Byrne, Liz Martínez, Glenville Lovell, Megan Abbott, Beverly Farley, Alan Gordon, Joe Guglielmelli, Denis Hamill, Malachy McCourt, K.J.A. Wishnia, Shailly P. Agnihotri, Jill Eisenstadt, Maggie Estep, ori Carrington, Victoria Eng, Robert Knightly

creativerunnings's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.25

sireno8's review against another edition

4.0

This potent mix of short fiction is an enticing tour of the dark side of New York City's largest borough. The editor's introduction perfectly mirrors the tone of the entire collection--entertaining, educational and representing an appealingly broad diversity. This approach is also reflected in the stories themselves. Though all the stories have crime in common, how that criminal element is incorporated in each them is as varied as the stories themselves. The borough also seems to be an intregral element of each story, not just a backdrop, and the effect is rewardingly authentic. It's like a box of dark chocolates--the reader is bound to enjoy some pieces more than others but everything included here is delicious in its own way.

rebecca_dt's review

3.0

It captured the spirit of queens so faithfully I was moved as a local queens girl, but the stories were hit or miss. Most seemed rushed, confusing or not noir enough. Notable exceptions include "last stop, ditmars" and "viernes loco."