Noir – an often grim urban setting photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair.
Akashic Books is known for its cutting edge style. Their award-winning Noir series pulls no punches with its dark, cruel view of the world. Kingston Noir is no different. With 11 new stories, all set in the chaotically beautiful region of Kingston, Akashic once again proves why it’s one of the best.
In the first story, “My Lord” by Kwame Dawes, a man risks his marriage and his life to satisfy his lover. Using his street smarts and his contacts, he tracks down the woman’s despicable husband. But the woman may have sinister motives of her own.
In “The White Gyal with the Camera” by Kei Miller, readers are thrust into a battle between good vs. evil when an American woman comes over to Kingston in order to further her photography. She has her own reasons for being there, and the locals slowly warm up to her. But when she turns up dead, everyone realizes that nothing is as it seems.
“54-46 (That’s My Number)” by Christopher John Farley is an awesome little mystery about a cop who recruits his long-lost rasta brother to help solve a missing case. The brother’s math genius becomes instrumental in locating the missing track runner, who is stuck a situation darker than anyone realized. This is a story that makes you want a series.
Some of these stories are mysterious, some are straightforward, but all are dark. There isn’t a single light-hearted story in the bunch, which falls in line perfectly with the noir theme. Readers beware, there are some stories in this book that address the darkest parts of human nature: rape, torture, murder. It’s not for the faint of heart. However, they are all well-written and tap into the true underbelly of another culture.
You can find Kingston Noir at any of Tulsa’s local book stores: Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Gardners.
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