Black Noir (Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction by African-American Writers) by Robert Greer, Chester Himes, Walter Mosley, et al
A Review By: AT
Some of the best-known and most influential pieces of crime fiction have been from African American writers. Be it Walter Mosley's great Detective Easy Rawlins, or the mean streets of Harlem at the hands of Chester Himes, the stories and characters in this anthology have shaped the mystery genre with their own unique viewpoints and styles. Contributors to the collection include Robert Greer, Chester Himes, Walter Mosley, Cary Phillips, Frankie Bailey, and Richard Wright.
Review Notes:
Audio Book Publication Year: 2021
An installment in a Series? No
Narrator (s): Sean Crisden, Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Hard-boiled Noir.
A potpourri of crime fiction from some of the greats.
I truly enjoyed this collection of noir fiction from some of the best to ever do it. There was a variety of literary voices and compelling characters lending to a very satisfying experience. The two narrators were skillful in their deliveries of the stories. Some of these were written over a century ago but were still intriguing and held my interest. Standout stories were “On Saturday the Siren Sounds at Noon” by Ann Petry, “Talma Gordon” by Pauline E. Hopkins, and “John Archer's Nose” by Rudolph Fisher.
One aspect I really loved about this collection was the short author biographies that preceded each story. Great collection!
Reading Recommendation? Yes!
Rating: 5 (I need another one!)
Content Warnings? Human or animal loss, Physical abuse/violence
