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Buffalo Noir
Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.
Featuring brand-new stories by: Joyce Carol Oates, Lawrence Block, Ed Park, Gary Earl Ross, Kim Chinquee, Christina Milletti, Tom Fontana, Dimitri Anastasopoulos, Lissa Marie Redmond, S.J. Rozan, John Wray, Brooke Costello, and Connie Porter.
Buffalo, New York, is still the second-largest metropolis in the state, but in recent years its designation as the Queen City has been elbowed aside by a name that's pure noir: The City of No Illusions. Presidents came from here; and in 1901, a president was killed here while visiting the Pan-American Exposition, by a man who checked into a hotel under a name that translates as Nobody.
As Buffalo saw its prosperity wane, those on the outside could only see harsh winters and Rust Belt grit, chicken wings and sports teams that came agonizingly close. (Vincent Gallo's Buffalo 66 is less the doomed quest of a would-be assassin than the collective fever dream of every Bills fan.)
Anyone who has spent more than a few days in Buffalo will tell you that this city can spar with any other major American metropolis in the noir arena. This highly anticipated entry in the Akashic Noir Series includes stories from Buffalo-affiliated mystery titans as well as up-and-comers.
Featuring brand-new stories by: Joyce Carol Oates, Lawrence Block, Ed Park, Gary Earl Ross, Kim Chinquee, Christina Milletti, Tom Fontana, Dimitri Anastasopoulos, Lissa Marie Redmond, S.J. Rozan, John Wray, Brooke Costello, and Connie Porter.
Buffalo, New York, is still the second-largest metropolis in the state, but in recent years its designation as the Queen City has been elbowed aside by a name that's pure noir: The City of No Illusions. Presidents came from here; and in 1901, a president was killed here while visiting the Pan-American Exposition, by a man who checked into a hotel under a name that translates as Nobody.
As Buffalo saw its prosperity wane, those on the outside could only see harsh winters and Rust Belt grit, chicken wings and sports teams that came agonizingly close. (Vincent Gallo's Buffalo 66 is less the doomed quest of a would-be assassin than the collective fever dream of every Bills fan.)
Anyone who has spent more than a few days in Buffalo will tell you that this city can spar with any other major American metropolis in the noir arena. This highly anticipated entry in the Akashic Noir Series includes stories from Buffalo-affiliated mystery titans as well as up-and-comers.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2013
33 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
Brigid Hughes
53 books18 followersBrigid Hughes spent ten years at The Paris Review, where she worked as executive editor under the literary champion George Plimpton. After his death, Hughes decided there was a need for a new magazine dedicated to fiction. So began A Public Space, a quarterly literary journal that pursues the power of fiction and wider worldviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 16, 2019
I'm a big fat liar. I did not read this entire book. I never had any intention of reading all of these stories. I picked it up with the intention of only reading 2 stories. Which I did. And they were both pretty good.
The Ehrengraf Settlement by Lawrence Block. Apparently Mr. Block has written a series of stories about this attorney, Ehrengraf, and this story is the continuation and conclusion of those. It was good. I was hoping for more high-falutin' literature with a capital L, but it was still interesting reading.
Valentine by Joyce Carol Oates. Ms. Oates did not disappoint with this short story. Set in winter, it is cold and bleak and dark. Our protagonist is faced with all of these allusions to fairy tales, she is raised by distant relatives who only mildly tolerate her. She has a sad little attic room, just as neglected as she is. Then her young and lanky math teacher rolls up in his pumpkin-shaped VW Bug after midnight to entice her to come ice skating with him. There's layer upon layer of meaning here, which I'm still trying to sort out. When her teacher is bullied, she is compared to St. Veronica with her veil when a handkerchief is used to wipe his face. There's a lot of language of temptation on her part, innocent temptation that isn't strong enough to be actual seduction. Nothing untoward happens, but it is still a loss of innocence and a type of coming-of-age story none-the-less. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of Ms. Joyce's short stories.
The Ehrengraf Settlement by Lawrence Block. Apparently Mr. Block has written a series of stories about this attorney, Ehrengraf, and this story is the continuation and conclusion of those. It was good. I was hoping for more high-falutin' literature with a capital L, but it was still interesting reading.
Valentine by Joyce Carol Oates. Ms. Oates did not disappoint with this short story. Set in winter, it is cold and bleak and dark. Our protagonist is faced with all of these allusions to fairy tales, she is raised by distant relatives who only mildly tolerate her. She has a sad little attic room, just as neglected as she is. Then her young and lanky math teacher rolls up in his pumpkin-shaped VW Bug after midnight to entice her to come ice skating with him. There's layer upon layer of meaning here, which I'm still trying to sort out. When her teacher is bullied, she is compared to St. Veronica with her veil when a handkerchief is used to wipe his face. There's a lot of language of temptation on her part, innocent temptation that isn't strong enough to be actual seduction. Nothing untoward happens, but it is still a loss of innocence and a type of coming-of-age story none-the-less. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of Ms. Joyce's short stories.
October 27, 2015
Buffalo Noir is a collection of short stories written by Buffalo, NY natives about the city of Buffalo using the Noir Genre of Fiction. I started reading this book after I received it through the Goodreads Giveaways in return for an honest review. Having said all that, I'm not quite sure if every story is 100% Noir. I'm obviously not an expert on the genre, nor a writer in said genre, but after having finished the book and because of my confusion I looked up the definition online (and yes, I know that wikipedia is not a academically sound source of information, but I was not going to go in depth in my research). The explanation of the genre that I found was:
"Noir fiction (or roman noir) is a literary genre closely related to hardboiled genre[1] with a distinction that the protagonist is not a detective, but instead either a victim, a suspect, or a perpetrator. Other common characteristics include the self-destructive qualities of the protagonist.[2] A typical protagonist of the Noir fiction is dealing with the legal, political or other system that is no less corrupt than the perpetrator by whom the protagonist is either victimized and/or has to victimize others on a daily basis, leading to Lose-lose situation."
Therefore, going on the above definition of the genre, I would have to say that not all of these stories are technically noir. Yes, they are not from the 'detectives' point of view, if there is a detective - of which most are not really about any type of mystery - but not all of them end in a Lose-lose situation either.
*SPOILERS*
Having said all that, this doesn't mean that the stories aren't great in their own right. In fact, I found most of the stories intriguing and engaging. I have also been introduced to some author's that I would not have necessarily looked for before either. For example, Lawrence Block's 'The Ehrengraf Settlement,' a story about a lawyer named Ehrengraf who may, or may not, have done some very nefarious things for his clients was amazing. Mr. Block's character is very much in that traditional noir style, and even though he doesn't seem to come off badly in the end, there is definitely the elements of lose-lose - especially when his first client decides that not paying upon the agreed amount is reasonable, which ultimately leads to his demise. Also, Dimitri Anastasopoulous' 'The Bubble Man of Allentown' has that dark, almost hard-boiled feeling, and leaves you with that depressing feeling that is almost the reason one reads Noir Fiction.
However, after this the stories seem to become a little less bleak in many ways. 'Falling Ice', while having that dark edge doesn't really quite have the unsatisfying endings of a typical Noir; the protagonist actually does a good thing with seemingly no negative consequences. And the next story, 'Parkside' also lacks the lose-lose element of noir. Having said that, 'Parkside' is probably one of the best stories in the entire anthology. The story is about a young boy who, like many children picks on another child - his cousin - because he doesn't really understand that the kid's parents are abusive. Yet, the chilling moment comes at the end of the story where it's very obvious that, although the kid doesn't do what he does on purpose, his is totally aware that what happened was wrong (I don't want to spoil it because it is very disturbing).
Overall the stories are quite good, and I highly recommend it. In fact, the only story that seemed out of place to me was the Joyce Carol Oates story, 'Valentine' which didn't really seem to fit into the Noir category at all. The story was about a young girl's crush on her high school teacher, and it plays out in a dreamlike sequence that blurs dream, memory and present together. However, nothing bleak or untoward's seems to happen, and in fact it almost has a bit of an uplifting ending - I couldn't really place it. It's not a bad story, it's actually really good, but it's not really what one thinks of when looking Noir. Otherwise, this is a great compilation, and I highly recommend it. In fact, I'm very interested in reading some of their other anthologies such as the Accra Noir (Ghana), Tehran Noir (Iran) and other cities that I hadn't really thought of as being hotbeds of Noir Fiction.
"Noir fiction (or roman noir) is a literary genre closely related to hardboiled genre[1] with a distinction that the protagonist is not a detective, but instead either a victim, a suspect, or a perpetrator. Other common characteristics include the self-destructive qualities of the protagonist.[2] A typical protagonist of the Noir fiction is dealing with the legal, political or other system that is no less corrupt than the perpetrator by whom the protagonist is either victimized and/or has to victimize others on a daily basis, leading to Lose-lose situation."
Therefore, going on the above definition of the genre, I would have to say that not all of these stories are technically noir. Yes, they are not from the 'detectives' point of view, if there is a detective - of which most are not really about any type of mystery - but not all of them end in a Lose-lose situation either.
*SPOILERS*
Having said all that, this doesn't mean that the stories aren't great in their own right. In fact, I found most of the stories intriguing and engaging. I have also been introduced to some author's that I would not have necessarily looked for before either. For example, Lawrence Block's 'The Ehrengraf Settlement,' a story about a lawyer named Ehrengraf who may, or may not, have done some very nefarious things for his clients was amazing. Mr. Block's character is very much in that traditional noir style, and even though he doesn't seem to come off badly in the end, there is definitely the elements of lose-lose - especially when his first client decides that not paying upon the agreed amount is reasonable, which ultimately leads to his demise. Also, Dimitri Anastasopoulous' 'The Bubble Man of Allentown' has that dark, almost hard-boiled feeling, and leaves you with that depressing feeling that is almost the reason one reads Noir Fiction.
However, after this the stories seem to become a little less bleak in many ways. 'Falling Ice', while having that dark edge doesn't really quite have the unsatisfying endings of a typical Noir; the protagonist actually does a good thing with seemingly no negative consequences. And the next story, 'Parkside' also lacks the lose-lose element of noir. Having said that, 'Parkside' is probably one of the best stories in the entire anthology. The story is about a young boy who, like many children picks on another child - his cousin - because he doesn't really understand that the kid's parents are abusive. Yet, the chilling moment comes at the end of the story where it's very obvious that, although the kid doesn't do what he does on purpose, his is totally aware that what happened was wrong (I don't want to spoil it because it is very disturbing).
Overall the stories are quite good, and I highly recommend it. In fact, the only story that seemed out of place to me was the Joyce Carol Oates story, 'Valentine' which didn't really seem to fit into the Noir category at all. The story was about a young girl's crush on her high school teacher, and it plays out in a dreamlike sequence that blurs dream, memory and present together. However, nothing bleak or untoward's seems to happen, and in fact it almost has a bit of an uplifting ending - I couldn't really place it. It's not a bad story, it's actually really good, but it's not really what one thinks of when looking Noir. Otherwise, this is a great compilation, and I highly recommend it. In fact, I'm very interested in reading some of their other anthologies such as the Accra Noir (Ghana), Tehran Noir (Iran) and other cities that I hadn't really thought of as being hotbeds of Noir Fiction.
February 26, 2017
I received this book for free through the GoodReads first reads program in exchange for an honest review.
Buffalo Noir is part of a series of books that Akashic Press is releasing. Each book pertains to a certain city, everywhere from Washington DC to Addis Ababa. The stories are straight noir, whether that pertains to the commonly accepted definition of being a dark mystery, or the more modern interpretation of focusing more heavily upon minority communities is largely up to the authors interpretation. The result is a varied collection of stories that all grip and intrigue in a truly admirable way.
These stories dig into the very heart of human nature, and in the process highlight both the better nature and the worst that can exist in a man. While the stories are all engaging, there were a number that truly stuck out to me as being more among the perfect short story that, say, some of the tales in Einstein's Beach House reached. In particular the story of Frankie was chilling, as was the last story in the collection and the second. This was also the book to finally introduce me to the beauty of Joyce Carol Oates's writing.
This is a solid collection, though the finer points of it are likely lost on me as I do not live in Buffalo itself. I'd be curious to pick up the Washington DC. collection at some point, and definitely commend Akashic Press for what they're doing. This is a wonderful experiment, and a wonderfully successful one in my eyes.
Buffalo Noir is part of a series of books that Akashic Press is releasing. Each book pertains to a certain city, everywhere from Washington DC to Addis Ababa. The stories are straight noir, whether that pertains to the commonly accepted definition of being a dark mystery, or the more modern interpretation of focusing more heavily upon minority communities is largely up to the authors interpretation. The result is a varied collection of stories that all grip and intrigue in a truly admirable way.
These stories dig into the very heart of human nature, and in the process highlight both the better nature and the worst that can exist in a man. While the stories are all engaging, there were a number that truly stuck out to me as being more among the perfect short story that, say, some of the tales in Einstein's Beach House reached. In particular the story of Frankie was chilling, as was the last story in the collection and the second. This was also the book to finally introduce me to the beauty of Joyce Carol Oates's writing.
This is a solid collection, though the finer points of it are likely lost on me as I do not live in Buffalo itself. I'd be curious to pick up the Washington DC. collection at some point, and definitely commend Akashic Press for what they're doing. This is a wonderful experiment, and a wonderfully successful one in my eyes.
August 17, 2016
OMG - if you're from Buffalo (as I am) this is a MUST READ. I gave it four stars mostly because the stories aren't all equally riveting but - overall - this is a very fun read. It's always great to recognize the locales in a book but this one does a great job capturing Buffalo's own, unique grittiness.
March 11, 2025
With most books of this time you will find something that entertains you. I did find some stories enjoyable, however, if you are publishing a book about buffalo the whole point Is the connection of the reader to the area. By allowing a writer to make up locations and buildings that do not exist in Buffalo takes away from the whole reason I purchased this book.
October 25, 2017
Limited source material, but really fun to read about the places and people in Buffalo.
June 24, 2024
The Akashic “Noir” series includes basically two kinds of collections - “literary” and “mystery.” Buffalo Noir, edited by Brigid Hughes and Ed Park, is typical of the former - not surprisingly, given Hughes’ professional background. Almost all the stories are short (even Oates’!), and most are good; Park’s own is hands-down the best. They have a real sense of authenticity* in that they they read like accounts of things which happen in that particular city rather than merely stories set there. Good reading for those whose criteria are not limited to death and detection.
* they sure convinced me that I’d never ever want to live in Buffalo
* they sure convinced me that I’d never ever want to live in Buffalo
November 15, 2015
Buffalo, New York, also called "The Queen City" is noted as the second-largest city in the state. Known for spicy little chicken wings and very big, very cold snows, Buffalo has a unique character all its own. "Buffalo Noir", edited by Ed Park and Brigid Hughes, is a compelling collection of short stories which offers a glimpse into the diversity of this multi-faceted metropolis. Beginning with Ed Park's fascinating, detailed introduction, this anthology takes the reader on a journey through the neighborhoods and streets of Buffalo--and each section of the city has a story to tell. Divided into three parts, "Buffalo Unveiled", "Hearts & Minds", and "Bloodlines", the book features twelve tales from thirteen talented authors: Joyce Carol Oates, Lawrence Block, Ed Park, Gary Earl Ross, Kim Chinquee, Christina Milletti, Tom Fontana, Dimitri Anastasopoulos, Lissa Marie Redmond, S.J. Rozan, John Wray, Brooke Costello, and Connie Porter. If "Noir" is just your shade for reading enjoyment, be sure to check the amazing roster of Noir Anthologies from Akashic Books--each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.
Review Copy Gratis Library Thing
Review Copy Gratis Library Thing
December 22, 2015
While I loved some stories more than others, I really loved reading this book. I think it's brilliant to compose a book of short stories that detail a specific place, like Buffalo, and I love when a place becomes a character. While I look forward to reading others in this series, I think one of the most appealing aspects about this book is that anyone who has lived in Buffalo can relate and know exactly where these stories are taking place through the named streets, neighborhoods, stores, and restaurants.
February 4, 2016
Kim Chinquee and Joyce Carol Oates's stories are very good, but some of the others are negligible and many are too obsessed with Buffalo sports.
July 14, 2016
Short stories with history or places in Buffalo as the backdrop. Not my favorite book, but not bad for a book of short stories.
June 22, 2022
I've long been interested in Akashic Books Noir series, but I have never picked one up because I've never had a strong relationship to any of the dozens of cities and locations covered. When I saw that Early Reviewers was offering Buffalo, a city where I went to school for a couple of years and lived close to for a number of years, I jumped.
While the cold, Midwestern, Rust Belt city definitely adds character to these stories, I don't think you need a familiarity with the city to get a lot from these stories.
Anthologies are always hard to review because of the different authors and styles contained within. There were a few stories that I wouldn't have categorized as noir in my opinion, but still entertaining.
The stories that entertained and stayed with me the most were Lawrence Block's The Ehrengraf Settlement, Lissa Marie Redmond's Falling on Ice, Gary Earl Ross's Good Neighbors, and S.J. Rozan's Parkside. Ed Park, also the editor, whose introduction was enlightening, contributed The Odd, which was also a standout.
While the cold, Midwestern, Rust Belt city definitely adds character to these stories, I don't think you need a familiarity with the city to get a lot from these stories.
Anthologies are always hard to review because of the different authors and styles contained within. There were a few stories that I wouldn't have categorized as noir in my opinion, but still entertaining.
The stories that entertained and stayed with me the most were Lawrence Block's The Ehrengraf Settlement, Lissa Marie Redmond's Falling on Ice, Gary Earl Ross's Good Neighbors, and S.J. Rozan's Parkside. Ed Park, also the editor, whose introduction was enlightening, contributed The Odd, which was also a standout.
June 23, 2021
You don't need to be a Buffalonian, past or present, to appreciate and enjoy this cornucopia of noir stories set in Nickle City. This former, yet lifelong, Buffalo Gal thoroughly delighted in these tales from writers both locally and nationally well-known.
I came to Buffalo Noir looking for "Good Neighbors", a quintessential modern noir story by Gary Earl Ross, after reading the three books in his Nickle City series.
I was happily surprised to find other great tales by Connie Porter (author of the novel Imani All Mine, and many others) , writers new to me like Kim Chinquee, Brigid Hughes, Ed Park, Christina Milletti, Lissa Marie Redmond, Dimitri Anastasopoulos Tom Fontana, S.J. Rozan, and long-celebrated writers like Joyce Carol Oates and Lawrence Block, who each contribute noir gems.
The City of No Illusions was once also known as The City of Light; these stories give glimpses of the shadowy grit and the legendary ironic resilience of my beloved home town.
I came to Buffalo Noir looking for "Good Neighbors", a quintessential modern noir story by Gary Earl Ross, after reading the three books in his Nickle City series.
I was happily surprised to find other great tales by Connie Porter (author of the novel Imani All Mine, and many others) , writers new to me like Kim Chinquee, Brigid Hughes, Ed Park, Christina Milletti, Lissa Marie Redmond, Dimitri Anastasopoulos Tom Fontana, S.J. Rozan, and long-celebrated writers like Joyce Carol Oates and Lawrence Block, who each contribute noir gems.
The City of No Illusions was once also known as The City of Light; these stories give glimpses of the shadowy grit and the legendary ironic resilience of my beloved home town.
January 7, 2019
My daughter gave me my first "city noir" book and now I am hooked on the series. I've started by reading books about places where I have lived and eventually will move on to other cities that intrigue me.
Buffalo is an acquired taste, my first experience living in a snowy climate. I love the architecture, the variety of ethnic cuisines and most importantly, the people. My husband, a Buffalo native, is passionate about his city and we try to visit every few years. I found several stories that brought back interesting memories of places I have loved.
This series of stories is akin to many anthologies. There are some excellent stories and a couple I found rather bizarre. On the whole, however, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to discover more about the Queen City.
Buffalo is an acquired taste, my first experience living in a snowy climate. I love the architecture, the variety of ethnic cuisines and most importantly, the people. My husband, a Buffalo native, is passionate about his city and we try to visit every few years. I found several stories that brought back interesting memories of places I have loved.
This series of stories is akin to many anthologies. There are some excellent stories and a couple I found rather bizarre. On the whole, however, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to discover more about the Queen City.
June 17, 2018
A collection of 12 short stories, each based on a neighborhood in Buffalo NY, and loosely centered around the hard-boiled genre of crime noir. Some stories are more macabre than Noir, and are quite disturbing, while two have lighter - dare I say - comedic tones. Although a few stories could have taken place at any locale, if you are familiar with the city of Buffalo, it will certainly aid in your enjoyment of the stories where the neighborhood plays an important role. A few stories did not resonate with me but, overall, the collection was enjoyable. I enjoyed Connie Porter’s “Peace Bridge” so much, that I intend to search for more of her work.
July 31, 2024
Stories by various authors all taking place in sections of Buffalo, NY. Since I live near there I like seeing Buffalo as a character in these stories. A few of my favorite local authors took part in this anthology. Lissa Marie Redmond is a fave author of mine and her story is excellent....but all of them are...well there was one I couldn't get through, but only one. After reading these you'll have a better idea about the WNY city on Lake Erie called Buffalo with it's quirky Allentown Bubble man, the affluent neighborhood near Delaware park, the Psych hospital and great Greek food.
June 18, 2018
I waited for this book to be published and I pleased to report it now exists. It's a decent collection of odd-ball short stories. (Co-editor Ed Parks' prologue about the .22-Caliber Killer reminded me of being a kid in the 1970s.) I liked most of these stories, but reading Buffalo Noir reminded me of how much I enjoyed a recent collection of short stories by the author of Buffalo Lockjaw, Greg Ames. My mind works in mysterious ways.
October 16, 2025
This is one of the worst books I’ve read.
I’m a fan of “noir”. I enjoyed the writing of Lissa Marie Redmond. I imagine I bought the book because I’m born and raised in Buffalo. The places and some of the events were familiar.
That being said, the majority of these stories was convoluted and seemed to have no ending, mysterious or otherwise.
This is only my opinion, of course, but it was generally a waste of time.
I’m a fan of “noir”. I enjoyed the writing of Lissa Marie Redmond. I imagine I bought the book because I’m born and raised in Buffalo. The places and some of the events were familiar.
That being said, the majority of these stories was convoluted and seemed to have no ending, mysterious or otherwise.
This is only my opinion, of course, but it was generally a waste of time.
February 23, 2020
From the Akashic Noir series, this book is a series of short stories set in the Buffalo, New York area. Like all anthologies the quality of work is a crap shoot and this is no different, ranging from the mediocre to the good, there are a few very good stories in here, but you have to hunt towards near the end of the book.
September 13, 2022
It’s not the city…
… it’s the editor. The stories he chose for this collection are more often bad and/or forgettable than good. No memorable ones. Also, there is a misguided attempt to highbrow literature that plagues this collection and makes it pretentious and quite boring. Two stars is a fair rating, in my opinion, because the book is not unreadable, just lackluster.
… it’s the editor. The stories he chose for this collection are more often bad and/or forgettable than good. No memorable ones. Also, there is a misguided attempt to highbrow literature that plagues this collection and makes it pretentious and quite boring. Two stars is a fair rating, in my opinion, because the book is not unreadable, just lackluster.
October 19, 2025
Very few of these stories evoke the feeling of the Buffalo vernacular. Many times the geography is simply wrong. Many of the writers either grew-up in Buffalo and no longer live here, or are transplants working at a local college, and it shows. The Joyce Carol Oates and Gary Earl Ross stories are the strongest, in my opinion.
October 14, 2020
Hit and miss. My favorites were
Valentine by Joyce Carol Oates (5 stars)
Good Neighbors by Gary Earl Ross (4 stars)
Hand by Kim Chinquee (4 stars)
Valentine by Joyce Carol Oates (5 stars)
Good Neighbors by Gary Earl Ross (4 stars)
Hand by Kim Chinquee (4 stars)
February 1, 2022
Really uneven mix here. Loved Oates and Rozan.
August 23, 2022
A mixed collection of short stories: some excellent, some skipped over after a page or two. Many captured classic Buffalo elements of snow, Sabres, Bills, and the many neighborhoods.
August 16, 2023
This was a great collection of stories. The authors show a real knowledge of Buffalo, which elevates Buffalo Noir to a must-have for any reader from WNY.
March 17, 2022
Buffalo Noir is a very strong collection of 12 stories written by 13 authors, including Joyce Carol Oates and Lawrence Block. This collection is among my top five of the entire Location Noir series. The editors Ed Park and Brigid Hughes did an outstanding job creating and assembling this collection. This book exceeded my expectations. I enjoy this series the most when the stories are strongly connected to the location and when the stories are true noir. This collection is the most literary collection in the series that I have read to date and at the same time, each story and author has a direct connection to the location. Each story also presents a different aspect of noir. The stories are organized in three themes- Buffalo Unveiled, Hearts and Minds, and Bloodlines. My only reservation about this book is the inclusion of the last story, Hand. I found Hand to be a little too creepy and I am usually not bothered by creepiness in stories. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the series and also to anyone who is a fan of great editing and writing. The narration performances by Peter Berkrot, Brian Sutherland, Vikas Adam, Jonathan Davis, Mirron Willis, and Allyson Johnson are top rate.
July 4, 2016
I don't often read short stories, so the idea of short stories set in one place was kind of intriguing. I was also kind of intrigued by the "noir" aspect.
Sorry to say, this overall was disappointing. I thought the crime aspects of the various stories had a nice balance of serious crime down to bad ethics. So from that perspective, it was fun. I have been to other places in New York, but not Buffalo, so maybe if I was more familiar with the town, these would have felt more like Buffalo stories. I think for most of them you could have said they were set in Oakland, or Chicago, or Des Moines, etc. and the story would have read just the same.
Three of the stories did stand out for me. (This paragraph will make more sense after you have read the book! haha!) My favorite was "Falling on Ice" on page 85. I also really liked "Dr Kirkbride's Moral Treatment Plan" on page 21 and "Good Neighbors" on page 164.
Thank you to Akashic Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Sorry to say, this overall was disappointing. I thought the crime aspects of the various stories had a nice balance of serious crime down to bad ethics. So from that perspective, it was fun. I have been to other places in New York, but not Buffalo, so maybe if I was more familiar with the town, these would have felt more like Buffalo stories. I think for most of them you could have said they were set in Oakland, or Chicago, or Des Moines, etc. and the story would have read just the same.
Three of the stories did stand out for me. (This paragraph will make more sense after you have read the book! haha!) My favorite was "Falling on Ice" on page 85. I also really liked "Dr Kirkbride's Moral Treatment Plan" on page 21 and "Good Neighbors" on page 164.
Thank you to Akashic Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
November 7, 2015
I wasn't really familiar with the "Noir" series, but spotting this on the Library Thing give-away list prompted me to ask for it. I am somewhat familiar with Buffalo as I have visited family there a number of times. Buffalo's reputation as a dowdy rust belt city is not fair. It's got a lot to offer -- some great beaux arts architecture, a surprisingly good theater district, a top caliber symphony and many distinctive neighborhoods.
This slim volume of crime stories is quite worth the read. The authors all are from (or were from) Buffalo and/or Western New York. Each story takes place in a different section of the city.
I especially liked "The Bubble Man of Allentown" by Dimitri Anastasopolos, "Falling on Ice" by Lissa Marie Redmond (whose day job is detective on the Buffalo PD), "Valentine" by the terrific Joyce Carol Oates and "Good Neighbors" by Gary Earl Ross.
Knowing the city featured in the volume helps, but these stories stand out even without such familiarity.
This slim volume of crime stories is quite worth the read. The authors all are from (or were from) Buffalo and/or Western New York. Each story takes place in a different section of the city.
I especially liked "The Bubble Man of Allentown" by Dimitri Anastasopolos, "Falling on Ice" by Lissa Marie Redmond (whose day job is detective on the Buffalo PD), "Valentine" by the terrific Joyce Carol Oates and "Good Neighbors" by Gary Earl Ross.
Knowing the city featured in the volume helps, but these stories stand out even without such familiarity.
July 17, 2016
I finished this book on 716 Day!
So fun reading stories set in familiar locations. Especially enjoyed the ones by Lawrence Block, Ed Park, and Joyce Carol Oates. But the most noir (noirest?) of them all was the one by Gary Earl Ross. Love his writing.
So fun reading stories set in familiar locations. Especially enjoyed the ones by Lawrence Block, Ed Park, and Joyce Carol Oates. But the most noir (noirest?) of them all was the one by Gary Earl Ross. Love his writing.
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