A review by learnthuman
Manila Noir by Jessica Hagedorn

5.0

Being a city full of mystery, hardship and superstition, Manila is definitely a great location for Noir-esque narratives and crime-filled drama. The collection is subdivided into three main themes: Us Against Them, Black Pearl of the Orient, and They Live by Night and features multiple noteworthy stories. Among my favourites include 'Aviary' which tells the tale of a group of poor youths infiltrating GreenBelt Mall, whose management had officially banned "the poor" from entering. There's also 'Broken Glass' featuring mysterious gossip about a murder that occurred in an upperclass suburban community, told through the lenses of a little girl. Last but not least is 'Trese: Thirteen Stations' which is a gorgeously Komiks-esque graphic short story which is essentially Filipino lower mythology meets the classic Noir Private 'I' motif.