Customer Reviews

Orange County Noir (Akashic Noir)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Orange County Noir is a collection of short stories, some good and some not. A couple struck me as just flat out awful; they should have been rejected. Without playing up the distinction between "literary" and "popular" noir, readers should at least be aware that some of these stories read like treatments for movies or TV series episodes (Dick Lochte) while others are noirish as they remain more firmly rooted in the tradition of serious fiction (Susan Straight).

Readers with a serious noir addiction may be able to find something they can appreciate in every tale. Those who don't understand noir are likely to find nothing here that interests, but they woudln't take a run at this book anyway. OC residents will get some quick "Hey, there..." thrills ("Hey, I know that intersection!" or "Hey, I recognize the store he's describing!") but with rare exceptions the geography of these stories is pasted on, not central or integrated into the tale. In good geographical crime writing, the locale becomes another character. I can't say there is a lot of OC character on display here.

Superb stories that show that all is not "Real Housewives" cool. It's the dark side that you don't see in the glossy mags. I love this anthology, as I do many of the Akashic noir anthologies.

I am a fan of Akashic Noir series. This just as the rest of them have good and not so good stories. My opinion the good out weighs the not so good.

ORANGE COUNTY NOIR edited by Gary Phillips and LOS ANGELES NOIR 2: THE CLASSICS edited by Denise Hamilton are excellent, top recommended picks for any general California lending library. Each packs in classic stories by Raymond Chandler, Leigh Brackett, Walter Mosley, Ross MacDonald, and other big names. These mysteries explore the dark side of Orange and Los Angeles counties, offering settings filled with geographic references that residents of either county will appreciate. California libraries in particular will find the combination of big-name authors, varied settings and plots, and literary quality to be compelling. Highly recommended!