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American Nocturne
American Nocturne is a tour de force of dark fantasy from two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author Hank Schwaeble, a collection of original, first-time stories of horror and noir alongside a select number of his published short fiction combined in what Edgar Award-winner Robert Jackson Bennett describes as "a hardboiled journey into the spectral nightscape at the edges of Americana."
A merging of Sin City and LA Confidential, with a touch of Twilight Zone for added spice, American Nocturne includes what could be the LAST authorised Carl Kolchak/Night Stalker novella.
Featuring a rousing Introduction by NY Times best-selling author Jonathan Maberry, AMERICAN NOCTURNE is a feast for the imagination, a smorgasbord of stories for those who like their thrills dark and dangerous.
A merging of Sin City and LA Confidential, with a touch of Twilight Zone for added spice, American Nocturne includes what could be the LAST authorised Carl Kolchak/Night Stalker novella.
Featuring a rousing Introduction by NY Times best-selling author Jonathan Maberry, AMERICAN NOCTURNE is a feast for the imagination, a smorgasbord of stories for those who like their thrills dark and dangerous.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
10 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Hank Schwaeble
21 books42 followersHank Schwaeble is a thriller writer and attorney in Houston, Texas. His first novel, Damnable, will be published by Penguin/Putnam in September 2009 under their Jove imprint.
Hank's first short story, “Mugwumps,” appeared in the anthology Alone on the Darkside in 2006. In 2007, he and Gary Braunbeck won a Bram Stoker Award for the anthology Five Strokes to Midnight, which included three of his short stories.
A graduate of the University of Florida and Vanderbilt Law School, Hank is also a former Air Force officer and special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He was a distinguished graduate from the Air Force Special Investigations Academy, graduated first in his class from the Defense Language Institute's Japanese Language Course, and was an editor of the law review at Vanderbilt where he won four American Jurisprudence Awards.
In addition to reading and writing, Hank enjoys keeping in shape and playing his guitars, his favorite being his Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Cut-away. He refuses to either confirm or deny rumors that he used to be a drummer.
Hank's first short story, “Mugwumps,” appeared in the anthology Alone on the Darkside in 2006. In 2007, he and Gary Braunbeck won a Bram Stoker Award for the anthology Five Strokes to Midnight, which included three of his short stories.
A graduate of the University of Florida and Vanderbilt Law School, Hank is also a former Air Force officer and special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He was a distinguished graduate from the Air Force Special Investigations Academy, graduated first in his class from the Defense Language Institute's Japanese Language Course, and was an editor of the law review at Vanderbilt where he won four American Jurisprudence Awards.
In addition to reading and writing, Hank enjoys keeping in shape and playing his guitars, his favorite being his Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Cut-away. He refuses to either confirm or deny rumors that he used to be a drummer.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 2, 2016
There are so many talented writers working in the fields of horror and speculative fiction that I'm constantly discovering authors I've not read before who immediately leave me wanting to read more of their work. Case in point, Hank Schwaeble. Prior to being sent a copy of this new collection from Cohesion Press, I'd never even heard of him. Maybe I just need to get out more or stay in and read more.
Jonathan Maberry, an author I have read and greatly respect, has penned an excellent introduction to Hank Schwaeble in general and specifically to American Nocturne. In essence, he says Hank is the real deal, and that's good enough for me.
Five of the stories in American Nocturne are original, never-before-published ("American Nocturne," "Cold Service," "Nurture," "Natural Selection," and "A Murmur of Evil"). The remainder are reprints. But, if you are new to Hank's work, as I was, that shouldn't make any difference.
American Nocturne - This piece truly sets the mood for the rest of the stories as it opens with a gal at the piano in a nearly empty bar. This quote pretty much sums up all of the stories which follow. "Pieces like this are call nocturnes. They're meant to capture the mood of the night, remind one of things that happen after dark." This particular story has the prose of a classic noir tale. Things aren't always what they seem and the truth is much darker than what you might expect.
Midnight Bogey Blues - A bogey is a demon of sorts in this imaginative story of a serial killer traveling down a country road with a severed head in the truck's cab with him.
Gomorrah - In this story, a group of guys plan on a night of gay bashing, but things certainly don't go as planned. It also features one of the most disgusting opening lines ever. I can't even bring myself to quote it here. It's really gross.
Bone Daddy - A tale of a high priced call girl talked into an on-camera liaison with a very unusual partner.
Phantom Hill - Trying to find man with a pure heart in the weird west is anything, but easy.
A Murmur of Evil - And right in the middle of the collection is a Carl Kolchak story. What a pleasant surprise.
Nurture - One of my favorite stories in the collection and one of the best I've read this year. A cringe-worthy tale of rival academics.
To Judge the Quick - More fun in the weird west. A story of a cross and a double cross.
Mugwumps - A very effective way of making one's enemies disappear without a trace.
Cold Service - Another cool story, this one with a huge twist.
Natural Selection - A Lovecraftian tale, and a good one at that.
AB-IV - A story set in the world of Robot vs. Zombies, a retro-futuristic comic book universe created by Chris Rydall and Ashley Wood where the human population is facing extinction and pre-programmed robots are waging a post-apocalyptic war against a zombie plague that has blanketed the Earth.
Each story in American Nocturne has it's own distinct voice, it's own feel, it's own flavor. It's not at all like a single writer telling a series of stories. It's almost as if each story was written by a different writer.
American Nocturne is available now as an e-book from Cohesion Press. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this collection at no additional charge. Also, if you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can borrow this book for FREE from the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
This is one collection I can seriously recommend.
Hank's first short story, "Mugwumps," (which is included in this collection) appeared in the anthology Alone on the Darkside in 2006. In 2007, he won a Bram Stoker Award for the anthology Five Strokes to Midnight, which he co-edited with Gary Braunbeck. The book was highly regarded, winning two Bram Stoker Awards and a World Fantasy Award nomination.
Hank is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers Association. In addition to reading and writing, Hank enjoys keeping in shape and playing guitar. He is currently working on his next novel.
Jonathan Maberry, an author I have read and greatly respect, has penned an excellent introduction to Hank Schwaeble in general and specifically to American Nocturne. In essence, he says Hank is the real deal, and that's good enough for me.
Five of the stories in American Nocturne are original, never-before-published ("American Nocturne," "Cold Service," "Nurture," "Natural Selection," and "A Murmur of Evil"). The remainder are reprints. But, if you are new to Hank's work, as I was, that shouldn't make any difference.
American Nocturne - This piece truly sets the mood for the rest of the stories as it opens with a gal at the piano in a nearly empty bar. This quote pretty much sums up all of the stories which follow. "Pieces like this are call nocturnes. They're meant to capture the mood of the night, remind one of things that happen after dark." This particular story has the prose of a classic noir tale. Things aren't always what they seem and the truth is much darker than what you might expect.
Midnight Bogey Blues - A bogey is a demon of sorts in this imaginative story of a serial killer traveling down a country road with a severed head in the truck's cab with him.
Gomorrah - In this story, a group of guys plan on a night of gay bashing, but things certainly don't go as planned. It also features one of the most disgusting opening lines ever. I can't even bring myself to quote it here. It's really gross.
Bone Daddy - A tale of a high priced call girl talked into an on-camera liaison with a very unusual partner.
Phantom Hill - Trying to find man with a pure heart in the weird west is anything, but easy.
A Murmur of Evil - And right in the middle of the collection is a Carl Kolchak story. What a pleasant surprise.
Nurture - One of my favorite stories in the collection and one of the best I've read this year. A cringe-worthy tale of rival academics.
To Judge the Quick - More fun in the weird west. A story of a cross and a double cross.
Mugwumps - A very effective way of making one's enemies disappear without a trace.
Cold Service - Another cool story, this one with a huge twist.
Natural Selection - A Lovecraftian tale, and a good one at that.
AB-IV - A story set in the world of Robot vs. Zombies, a retro-futuristic comic book universe created by Chris Rydall and Ashley Wood where the human population is facing extinction and pre-programmed robots are waging a post-apocalyptic war against a zombie plague that has blanketed the Earth.
Each story in American Nocturne has it's own distinct voice, it's own feel, it's own flavor. It's not at all like a single writer telling a series of stories. It's almost as if each story was written by a different writer.
American Nocturne is available now as an e-book from Cohesion Press. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this collection at no additional charge. Also, if you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can borrow this book for FREE from the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
This is one collection I can seriously recommend.
Hank's first short story, "Mugwumps," (which is included in this collection) appeared in the anthology Alone on the Darkside in 2006. In 2007, he won a Bram Stoker Award for the anthology Five Strokes to Midnight, which he co-edited with Gary Braunbeck. The book was highly regarded, winning two Bram Stoker Awards and a World Fantasy Award nomination.
Hank is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers Association. In addition to reading and writing, Hank enjoys keeping in shape and playing guitar. He is currently working on his next novel.
May 20, 2016
One of the greatest pleasures I have as a reader and reviewer is when I discover someone new. Someone whose work not only whittles its way into my head, but also lays eggs and starts to take over my brain.
You don't often come across writers like that. But, after finishing American Nocturne, I can safely say this. Schwaeble is the real deal... and American Nocturne is one of the most impressive collections of dark fiction I've read in years.
I have to admit that I was initially hesitant to read this collection. My hectic reading schedule aside, I had never come across Schwaeble's work before, and I wasn't sure if it was going to be for me. How very wrong I was. After five pages I was intrigued. After ten pages I was hooked. The opening story "American Nocturne" floored me with its dark and smokey tones, and left me yearning for more immediately.
Yes... yearning.
What followed was a hell of an adventure that took me to a myriad of dark and weird places that I never imagined could be tapped by a storyteller. But damn, Schwaeble taps them. From a high class call girl talked into a very unusual liaison ("Bone Daddy") through to an underworld figure utilising a very effective way of making his enemies disappear without a trace ("Mugwumps"), Schwaeble stunned and enthralled me with his unique exploration of dark ideas and tones in this collection. My mouth literally hit the floor when I got my head around some of the concepts and themes that Schwaeble was playing with in his stories. Within American Nocturne you will find reinterpretations of old legends ("Gomorrah"), a new take on a serial killer ("Midnight Bogey Blues"), academic rivalry over the nature versus nurture debate taken to extreme lengths ("Nurture"), and a blistering take down of the trope of pure hearted characters beating evil ("Phantom Hill").
However, what is even more impressive is what Schwaeble is actually able to achieve within the short story format. Each tale in this collection is written with an expert hand, and each unfolds wonderfully well with all the thrills and spills you'd expect from someone who clearly delights at writing short form fiction. The depth that Schwaeble is also able to convey with each story is astounding. The characters are all layered, sympathetic, and fascinating in each and every tale, and the pacing and execution unencumbered no matter what the genre or time period.
And fuck me... the twists!
I could literally write an entire doctoral thesis on Schwaeble's ability to turn a story on its head with just one line. "Cold Service" epitomises this. Starting out with a young woman on the trail of a serial killer, Schwaeble flips the story towards the end and unleashes mind numbing insanity that still has me completely baffled (and also delighted). I re-read this particular story a few times... and it still fries my circuitry when I mull on just what Schwaeble did with it.
Some readers may find the 'open' nature of Schwaeble's storytelling frustrating (most of the stories in this collection don't have definitive endings), but for me it wasn't an issue. In fact I think that's the point Schwaeble is trying to make. There are no anchor points to latch onto in the worlds of Schwaeble... no certainty in the darkness... just stories that terrify and stay with you for a long time afterwards.
American Nocturne left me reeling like an overweight amateur boxer taking on Joe Frazier in his prime... and to this day I still find myself staring off into nothingness as my mind ponders the brilliance of Schwaeble's writing and dark storytelling.
American Nocturne is one of the most impressive collections I have ever read. Exciting, thrilling, and completely enthralling... this collection will claw its way into your soul and refuse to budge.
Highly recommended.
5 out of 5 stars.
You don't often come across writers like that. But, after finishing American Nocturne, I can safely say this. Schwaeble is the real deal... and American Nocturne is one of the most impressive collections of dark fiction I've read in years.
I have to admit that I was initially hesitant to read this collection. My hectic reading schedule aside, I had never come across Schwaeble's work before, and I wasn't sure if it was going to be for me. How very wrong I was. After five pages I was intrigued. After ten pages I was hooked. The opening story "American Nocturne" floored me with its dark and smokey tones, and left me yearning for more immediately.
Yes... yearning.
What followed was a hell of an adventure that took me to a myriad of dark and weird places that I never imagined could be tapped by a storyteller. But damn, Schwaeble taps them. From a high class call girl talked into a very unusual liaison ("Bone Daddy") through to an underworld figure utilising a very effective way of making his enemies disappear without a trace ("Mugwumps"), Schwaeble stunned and enthralled me with his unique exploration of dark ideas and tones in this collection. My mouth literally hit the floor when I got my head around some of the concepts and themes that Schwaeble was playing with in his stories. Within American Nocturne you will find reinterpretations of old legends ("Gomorrah"), a new take on a serial killer ("Midnight Bogey Blues"), academic rivalry over the nature versus nurture debate taken to extreme lengths ("Nurture"), and a blistering take down of the trope of pure hearted characters beating evil ("Phantom Hill").
However, what is even more impressive is what Schwaeble is actually able to achieve within the short story format. Each tale in this collection is written with an expert hand, and each unfolds wonderfully well with all the thrills and spills you'd expect from someone who clearly delights at writing short form fiction. The depth that Schwaeble is also able to convey with each story is astounding. The characters are all layered, sympathetic, and fascinating in each and every tale, and the pacing and execution unencumbered no matter what the genre or time period.
And fuck me... the twists!
I could literally write an entire doctoral thesis on Schwaeble's ability to turn a story on its head with just one line. "Cold Service" epitomises this. Starting out with a young woman on the trail of a serial killer, Schwaeble flips the story towards the end and unleashes mind numbing insanity that still has me completely baffled (and also delighted). I re-read this particular story a few times... and it still fries my circuitry when I mull on just what Schwaeble did with it.
Some readers may find the 'open' nature of Schwaeble's storytelling frustrating (most of the stories in this collection don't have definitive endings), but for me it wasn't an issue. In fact I think that's the point Schwaeble is trying to make. There are no anchor points to latch onto in the worlds of Schwaeble... no certainty in the darkness... just stories that terrify and stay with you for a long time afterwards.
American Nocturne left me reeling like an overweight amateur boxer taking on Joe Frazier in his prime... and to this day I still find myself staring off into nothingness as my mind ponders the brilliance of Schwaeble's writing and dark storytelling.
American Nocturne is one of the most impressive collections I have ever read. Exciting, thrilling, and completely enthralling... this collection will claw its way into your soul and refuse to budge.
Highly recommended.
5 out of 5 stars.
November 9, 2023
It's not everyday that one gets offered a free book from a 2 time Bram Stoker award winner, but it happened to this lucky gal. I saw a post on a FB group for a free paperback, and jumped right on it. No, it wasn't this book. But after accepting the free paperback, the author gifted me a digital copy of this book. As with most books like this, there's a mixture of tales in here. A grabbag of sorts. One of my faves was about a vigilante serving justice to a female that has been kidnapped, bound, and tortured. Many of them just weren't my style. Such as a robots vs zombies story, but best of luck to the author for having gotten that one optioned to become a movie. Based on awards and movie options, and by what I read, this author has a talent and more readers should jump on a chance to read his work
February 15, 2016
As of today, I think Hank Schwaeble may be my new favourite author. I love this collection. It scared me to the marrow, the stories twisting and turning, plummeting down darker and darker pathways where feral things lurk, dead things sink and sometimes sway, and people will go to almost any lengths to prove a point. If I had to pick a favourite, maybe AV-IV because in a battle between zombies against sci-bots the humans are always going to come last, or maybe Unnatural Selection because, as Jonathan Mayberry rightly points out, there is that masterful quote about goats. Unfortunately, I can’t elaborate because no one likes a reviewer who drops spoilers, so you’ll just have to get your own copy. Bringing together some of Schwaeble’s previously published work as well as a couple of original stories, and packaging it in ‘pick-me’ noir artwork by Dean Samed, Cohesion Press delivers the chills again.
July 10, 2016
This is a collection of short stories. They're all very dark. Some have a noir feel, others straight up horror story. I enjoyed some more than others but that's how it works with collections. ALL were well written, it's just that some grabbed me better. Personal taste and all.
The stories that made it worth the price of admission was a Cthulhu mythos tale involving time travel. It was a perfect homage to Lovecraft in that it wasn't so much about the tentacled horrors but the tininess of man and our useless struggles against the old ones.
The other story that really made this collection for me was a Kolchak the Night Stalker tale. I'm so happy the author obtained the rights to write this tale. It was a perfect match for the feel of the old 70s series that I loved as a young teen.
Give this book a read. You'll find something you'll enjoy.
The stories that made it worth the price of admission was a Cthulhu mythos tale involving time travel. It was a perfect homage to Lovecraft in that it wasn't so much about the tentacled horrors but the tininess of man and our useless struggles against the old ones.
The other story that really made this collection for me was a Kolchak the Night Stalker tale. I'm so happy the author obtained the rights to write this tale. It was a perfect match for the feel of the old 70s series that I loved as a young teen.
Give this book a read. You'll find something you'll enjoy.
July 25, 2016
Hank Schwaeble delivers the goods in this collection of short noir fiction. Each story is compelling and masterfully crafted. There isn’t a bad story in the bunch. Plus you get to read the amazing introduction by Jonathan Maberry.
Here are some of my favorites:
American Nocturne – A dime store detective attempts to solve the most baffling case of his life. This tale will leave you questioning reality.
Midnight Bogey Blues – How do you get rid of a boogeyman? Read this story and find out. You might not like the answer, but you’ll enjoy reading it.
Gomorrah – A story about the darker side of destiny. An initiation ritual gone wrong leads a participant down a very dark path.
Bone Daddy – This twisted tale goes into very dark territory. Made me feel a little queasy while reading it. A guilty pleasure for sure.
Phantom Hill – A weird western with a unique and compelling twist.
A Murmur of Evil – Who doesn’t like an officially sanctioned Kolchak: The Night Stalker novella?
Nurture – The argument between nature vs. nurture played out literarily and in the darkest sense. A bleak and disturbing tale with just a touch of politically incorrect humor.
There’s plenty more to enjoy. I can’t recommend this collection enough. Absolutely fantastic! If you like noir, have at it. You won’t be disappointed.
Here are some of my favorites:
American Nocturne – A dime store detective attempts to solve the most baffling case of his life. This tale will leave you questioning reality.
Midnight Bogey Blues – How do you get rid of a boogeyman? Read this story and find out. You might not like the answer, but you’ll enjoy reading it.
Gomorrah – A story about the darker side of destiny. An initiation ritual gone wrong leads a participant down a very dark path.
Bone Daddy – This twisted tale goes into very dark territory. Made me feel a little queasy while reading it. A guilty pleasure for sure.
Phantom Hill – A weird western with a unique and compelling twist.
A Murmur of Evil – Who doesn’t like an officially sanctioned Kolchak: The Night Stalker novella?
Nurture – The argument between nature vs. nurture played out literarily and in the darkest sense. A bleak and disturbing tale with just a touch of politically incorrect humor.
There’s plenty more to enjoy. I can’t recommend this collection enough. Absolutely fantastic! If you like noir, have at it. You won’t be disappointed.
July 18, 2016
I was expecting this to be a full length novel. Much to my surprise, it is a collection of short stories. While I was disappointed at first, I soon realized that the author knew exactly what they were doing. The shifting from story to story, and the content of those wonderful stories, made me not want to put the book down.
July 25, 2018
Nice mix of stories, most of which I enjoyed. Standouts for me were:
American Nocturne: 4 stars. Unusual noire story.
Midnight Bogey Blues: Psycho or saviour?
Bone Daddy: One should always think REALLY carefully about what one will do for money.
Murmur of Evil: This was the gem of the book and one story by Hank Schwaeble you should read, especially if you're a fan of the old 1970s television drama, Kolchak: The Night Stalker. This would be a perfect episode of the series; reading this, you can hear and imagine all the characters.
Mugwumps: Story where the lawyer isn't the asshole and should ALWAYS remain impartial.
The collection of stories overall is great so definitely check them out.
American Nocturne: 4 stars. Unusual noire story.
Midnight Bogey Blues: Psycho or saviour?
Bone Daddy: One should always think REALLY carefully about what one will do for money.
Murmur of Evil: This was the gem of the book and one story by Hank Schwaeble you should read, especially if you're a fan of the old 1970s television drama, Kolchak: The Night Stalker. This would be a perfect episode of the series; reading this, you can hear and imagine all the characters.
Mugwumps: Story where the lawyer isn't the asshole and should ALWAYS remain impartial.
The collection of stories overall is great so definitely check them out.
January 3, 2025
Always nice to find a new author whose work I enjoy. This was my first introduction to Schwaeble, and the collection displays quite the range of tones and massive talent. Even tales that start out familiar in theme have something to them that makes them different and surprising each time. As with most short story collections, there are definitely those that were bigger "hits" than others, but I put that more down to personal preference (and, in one case, knowledge of the licensed tie-in property) than anything else.
A further note on said licensed tie-ins: this collection contains a fantastic Kolchak story, one of (if not the) very last authorized by the estate of the creator (Jeffrey Grant Rice). It's a great story, and has a few excellent surprises of its own.
A further note on said licensed tie-ins: this collection contains a fantastic Kolchak story, one of (if not the) very last authorized by the estate of the creator (Jeffrey Grant Rice). It's a great story, and has a few excellent surprises of its own.
November 21, 2016
Really good genre-hopping collection that encompasses crime, horror, and sci-fi. Hank Schwaeble does the occult and demons very, very well. There are many standout stories here, but two in particular topped my list. First was "Murmur of Evil" -- as a huge fan of the '70s TV movies and series "The Night Stalker", I thought Schwaeble nailed the tone: the comical newsroom bickering, Carl Kolchak's lovable obnoxiousness, and the discovery of/battle with the monster. The serial killer story "Cold Service" also really got me.
March 27, 2017
I read this after it turned up on a bookbub recommendation list. Best collection of short horror stories I've read for years! Absolutely loved it. Haven't read any of Hank's other work yet, but I will definitely be doing so.
September 20, 2018
American Nocturne is dark, immersive and leaves the reader guessing what lurks on the next page. A truly great read.
February 5, 2017
Please give me a helpful vote on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/review/R2XLDG5...
American Nocturne by Hank Schwaeble
This story collection by author Hank Schwaeble is so good that I would give it six stars if I could.
That might sound hyperbolic, but it is such a pleasure to read a set of stories with beginning, middle and ending, and interesting plots and characters, that went some place, after suffering through another “Best of the Year in Fantasy and Science Fiction” where the stories missed those elements and went exactly nowhere.
Schwaeble writes horror stories, although he delivers a brilliant homage to Karl Kolchak in one. His stories usually feature someone getting their just desserts. The stories work nicely and kept my attention.
The anthology features ten stores plus two “bonus” stories. The stories are:
American Nocturne – This is a story dying for film noire treatment. A detective follows the clue to find a murderer with surprising results.
Midnight Bogey Blues – A possessed man searches for the anti-Christ.
Gommorah – Street thugs pick on absolutely the wrong person.
Bone Daddy – A story about making a porn film, a hooker and a mummy.
Phantom Hill – A horror story set in the old West. A lawman hunting demons who requires a pure heart.
Murmur of Evil – Mr. Schwaeble got permission from the family of the author of the Night Stalker to write a Karl Kolchak story. This story gets the tone, tempo, language and character down perfectly. It was fun to see Karl, Tony and even Ron back in action.
Nurture – Nature or nurture, with a healthy topping of revenge. This was a grisly story, not my favorite, but way off the charts in terms of “creep factor.”
To Judge the Quick – Another tale of Horror set in the Old West. This one involves witchcraft and Western justice.
Mugwump – Grant Lomax is a lawyer with a loathsome client, but breaching fiduciary duties has consequences.
Cold Service – Marlie wants to kill a serial killer and save his victims. Doing both is metaphysically impossible.
Again, the genre here is Horror. Most of the stories are “dark,” in that they involve nasty people doing nasty things and getting their just desserts, even if we feel sympathetic to the nasty person, as in the case of Grant Lomax. These are cautionary tales that warn us to step back from the edge of dubious ethics and morality.
Some of the stories are sort of upbeat, in that we get to root for the good guy, as in the case of “Cold Service.” But even there, the happy ending is a mixed bag.
The best story as far as I was concerned was the Karl Kolchak/Night Stalker story. This story had all the elements of humor, action and creepy horror. As I was reading this story, the voice of the late great Daren McGavin was narrating the story in my mind.
This is good fiction. Buy a copy and subsidize this author.
American Nocturne by Hank Schwaeble
This story collection by author Hank Schwaeble is so good that I would give it six stars if I could.
That might sound hyperbolic, but it is such a pleasure to read a set of stories with beginning, middle and ending, and interesting plots and characters, that went some place, after suffering through another “Best of the Year in Fantasy and Science Fiction” where the stories missed those elements and went exactly nowhere.
Schwaeble writes horror stories, although he delivers a brilliant homage to Karl Kolchak in one. His stories usually feature someone getting their just desserts. The stories work nicely and kept my attention.
The anthology features ten stores plus two “bonus” stories. The stories are:
American Nocturne – This is a story dying for film noire treatment. A detective follows the clue to find a murderer with surprising results.
Midnight Bogey Blues – A possessed man searches for the anti-Christ.
Gommorah – Street thugs pick on absolutely the wrong person.
Bone Daddy – A story about making a porn film, a hooker and a mummy.
Phantom Hill – A horror story set in the old West. A lawman hunting demons who requires a pure heart.
Murmur of Evil – Mr. Schwaeble got permission from the family of the author of the Night Stalker to write a Karl Kolchak story. This story gets the tone, tempo, language and character down perfectly. It was fun to see Karl, Tony and even Ron back in action.
Nurture – Nature or nurture, with a healthy topping of revenge. This was a grisly story, not my favorite, but way off the charts in terms of “creep factor.”
To Judge the Quick – Another tale of Horror set in the Old West. This one involves witchcraft and Western justice.
Mugwump – Grant Lomax is a lawyer with a loathsome client, but breaching fiduciary duties has consequences.
Cold Service – Marlie wants to kill a serial killer and save his victims. Doing both is metaphysically impossible.
Again, the genre here is Horror. Most of the stories are “dark,” in that they involve nasty people doing nasty things and getting their just desserts, even if we feel sympathetic to the nasty person, as in the case of Grant Lomax. These are cautionary tales that warn us to step back from the edge of dubious ethics and morality.
Some of the stories are sort of upbeat, in that we get to root for the good guy, as in the case of “Cold Service.” But even there, the happy ending is a mixed bag.
The best story as far as I was concerned was the Karl Kolchak/Night Stalker story. This story had all the elements of humor, action and creepy horror. As I was reading this story, the voice of the late great Daren McGavin was narrating the story in my mind.
This is good fiction. Buy a copy and subsidize this author.
August 5, 2016
I have been reading horror novels since I was a teen. I remember first reading Stephen King's Salem's Lot in a cabin in Maine while I was away in summer camp on Sebago Lake. What a context to discover and read King for the first time! I quickly read anything by King but was disappointed to discover that few good writers in horror exists. They are out there, but they are difficult to find in this cluttered market. Nevertheless, I got hooked on this kind of fiction and have been looking for good horror novels ever since.
As anyone who loves this genre of fiction knows, however, rarely does a writer come along who is as talented as King or Poe, but damn if Schwaeble isn't it. He is as good, if not even better. Why? I bought this novel on kindle. I could not put it down. Each story is very short, but Schwaeble's skills as a writer develops engaging characters immediately. The pace of each story is just perfect. Just when you want more, the story ends, leaving you wanting more. The variety of characters, settings, and plot is immense, and Schwaeble's talents lies in the fact that he can suck you into a world inhabited by interesting characters and plot twists. Don't bother trying to anticipate the ending of either of these short stories. You will be wrong. Nothing in them prepares you for their great endings. If someone at Netflix or Amazon Prime video is reading this review, PLEASE consider turning these short stories into a television series. They are that good. At the very least, Audible needs to produce audiobook versions of this book. I would love to revisit these stories with a great narrator. Buy this book. You will not regret it. Just make sure you read it in a well lighted room, as it will scare the living hell out of you.
As anyone who loves this genre of fiction knows, however, rarely does a writer come along who is as talented as King or Poe, but damn if Schwaeble isn't it. He is as good, if not even better. Why? I bought this novel on kindle. I could not put it down. Each story is very short, but Schwaeble's skills as a writer develops engaging characters immediately. The pace of each story is just perfect. Just when you want more, the story ends, leaving you wanting more. The variety of characters, settings, and plot is immense, and Schwaeble's talents lies in the fact that he can suck you into a world inhabited by interesting characters and plot twists. Don't bother trying to anticipate the ending of either of these short stories. You will be wrong. Nothing in them prepares you for their great endings. If someone at Netflix or Amazon Prime video is reading this review, PLEASE consider turning these short stories into a television series. They are that good. At the very least, Audible needs to produce audiobook versions of this book. I would love to revisit these stories with a great narrator. Buy this book. You will not regret it. Just make sure you read it in a well lighted room, as it will scare the living hell out of you.
December 13, 2016
I'm a sucker for hardboiled horror, and was thrilled to discover an official Kolchak story (authorized by the show's creator) in this collection. All of the stories in this collection are excellent. A few highlights: American Nocturne (the title story), Gomorrah (in addition to having the most alarming opening line, this is a dark and gritty story), and Cold Service...wow! But Murmurs of Evil (the Kolchak story) is one of the very best short stories I've read in a long time.
July 5, 2016
Managed to claw my way to 20 odd percent but really didn't enjoy this. I felt the stories were pointless and hud no rhyme or reason. Suppose you get the odd did though from time to time...
July 27, 2016
Vert good Suspense/Horror/Sci-Fi anthology. Stand out stories for me are
AB-IV, Phantom Hill, the Kolchak story and Cold Service.
AB-IV, Phantom Hill, the Kolchak story and Cold Service.
August 24, 2016
Really enjoyed reading this book!
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