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Nevada Noir : A Trilogy of Short Stories
In these three dark and brooding short stories, set in and around the US state of Nevada, a cast of disparate characters struggle with greed and temptation, and the cursed lure of easy money... an old man goes in search of his son in the aftermath of a terrible storm, a couple down on their luck make a life-changing discovery and an ex-cop has one last impossible decision to make...
- GenresShort Stories
48 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2020
22 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
David Arrowsmith
7 books68 followersAuthor. My new book Narcoball: Love, Death and Football in Escobar’s Colombia is out now!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
November 29, 2020
I will give it 3 stars for now, but I think that I need to read it again. It’s very small, anyway, so it does not take too long.
I did not find gripping.
I think that if I have to read a phrase twice in order to grasp its meaning then I think that the author tried too hard to impress.
Yes, I will definitely re-read it, probably later tonight or tomorrow, and, if needed, I will edited this review accordingly.
This is my first book using Kindle Unlimited (I’m on a 3 months trial at $0.99, starting today, so I couldn’t resist - I will probably cancel before, as I like to support our public library).
PS. added on the following day: So, I did read it a second time. It did feel a lot better and I could add another half star, but I did not find the storyline that engaging or thrilling.
I did not find gripping.
I think that if I have to read a phrase twice in order to grasp its meaning then I think that the author tried too hard to impress.
Yes, I will definitely re-read it, probably later tonight or tomorrow, and, if needed, I will edited this review accordingly.
This is my first book using Kindle Unlimited (I’m on a 3 months trial at $0.99, starting today, so I couldn’t resist - I will probably cancel before, as I like to support our public library).
PS. added on the following day: So, I did read it a second time. It did feel a lot better and I could add another half star, but I did not find the storyline that engaging or thrilling.
April 22, 2023
Dark, gritty
Very well written, dark gritty and raw
You can taste the dessert in your mouth
Great character development and I especially liked the way this author creates the scene as if you are watching it in black and White.
It has a Quentin Tarantino vibe which I really enjoyed.
A talented author and looking forward to the next book
Kerry Kennedy Author
Very well written, dark gritty and raw
You can taste the dessert in your mouth
Great character development and I especially liked the way this author creates the scene as if you are watching it in black and White.
It has a Quentin Tarantino vibe which I really enjoyed.
A talented author and looking forward to the next book
Kerry Kennedy Author
June 23, 2022
Nevada Noir came highly recommended from a friend on Twitter so I decided to check it out. Since it's less than 50 pages long, it's a quick read that I actually finished in a single sitting.
The writing was great and I enjoyed how all three of the short stories fit together to form a larger picture of the story, but I still wish it would've been a bit longer. It would've been cool to get to know the characters better and have a better understanding of why they made the choices they did. I had a lot of unanswered questions at the end.
However, like I said, the writing is fantastic. The plot was super fast-paced and captivating from the very start. The premise is dark though so if you're looking for a light, cheery read, this isn't it.
Overall, I'm glad I checked out Nevada Noir and I hope to see more from this talented author in the future.
The writing was great and I enjoyed how all three of the short stories fit together to form a larger picture of the story, but I still wish it would've been a bit longer. It would've been cool to get to know the characters better and have a better understanding of why they made the choices they did. I had a lot of unanswered questions at the end.
However, like I said, the writing is fantastic. The plot was super fast-paced and captivating from the very start. The premise is dark though so if you're looking for a light, cheery read, this isn't it.
Overall, I'm glad I checked out Nevada Noir and I hope to see more from this talented author in the future.
September 21, 2021
Excellent collection of short thriller stories. The descriptions of Nevada made me feel like I was there. I loved the way the stories were all interconnected. Very cleverly written. Want to read them all again.
August 29, 2021
Turbo-charged crime-em-up that kicks like a shotgun to the heart
Welcome to Nevada - please drive carefully and try not to get involved in the chaos and bloodshed that trails a kidnap gone awry, several murders and some life-changing decisions for everyone who comes into contact with a bag of dirty money… Nevada Noir is a smart combo of three dark short stories (The Last Storm, One Good Deed and A Slow Death) all interlinked and set in and around the US state of Nevada.
The pacy prose grabs you as soon as you’re a few pages in and from then on you’re aboard a turbo-powered rollercoaster of crime and punishment. Don’t get too attached to the characters like Jimmy and Donna, small-time crooks who might just have struck it lucky. Their narrative comes in at the end of the first story and rides out the rest of the book. It’s dirty money that draws not just these Bonnie and Clyde wannabe lovers but also a businessman with everything to lose and an ageing police officer whose life is turned upside-down along the way.
Who will survive and what will be left of them emotionally is anyone’s guess and the cast struggle with greed and temptation, and the cursed body count that follows the lure of easy money...
I enjoyed Arrowsmith’s writing style, his tense, economic prose is evocative and highly cinematic, allowing you to picture the scenes by drawing on tropes we’ve experienced in many films such a Drive, True Romance, Hell or High Water to name but a few. If you’ve ever played Grand Theft Auto on Playstation or read anything by Elmore Leonard or James Ellroy - you’ll be well equipped to take this bloody, exciting trip.
Nevada Noir is a full-on crime-em-up that delivers emotional payoff whilst still leaving you wondering what might happen after the papers have ended. Highly recommended for those who like their crime brutal and beautiful - like a Dodge Charger kicking up dirt and grit as it tailspin’s away and disappears in a cloud of grimy dust. Am now looking forward to Arrowsmith’s next work!!
Welcome to Nevada - please drive carefully and try not to get involved in the chaos and bloodshed that trails a kidnap gone awry, several murders and some life-changing decisions for everyone who comes into contact with a bag of dirty money… Nevada Noir is a smart combo of three dark short stories (The Last Storm, One Good Deed and A Slow Death) all interlinked and set in and around the US state of Nevada.
The pacy prose grabs you as soon as you’re a few pages in and from then on you’re aboard a turbo-powered rollercoaster of crime and punishment. Don’t get too attached to the characters like Jimmy and Donna, small-time crooks who might just have struck it lucky. Their narrative comes in at the end of the first story and rides out the rest of the book. It’s dirty money that draws not just these Bonnie and Clyde wannabe lovers but also a businessman with everything to lose and an ageing police officer whose life is turned upside-down along the way.
Who will survive and what will be left of them emotionally is anyone’s guess and the cast struggle with greed and temptation, and the cursed body count that follows the lure of easy money...
I enjoyed Arrowsmith’s writing style, his tense, economic prose is evocative and highly cinematic, allowing you to picture the scenes by drawing on tropes we’ve experienced in many films such a Drive, True Romance, Hell or High Water to name but a few. If you’ve ever played Grand Theft Auto on Playstation or read anything by Elmore Leonard or James Ellroy - you’ll be well equipped to take this bloody, exciting trip.
Nevada Noir is a full-on crime-em-up that delivers emotional payoff whilst still leaving you wondering what might happen after the papers have ended. Highly recommended for those who like their crime brutal and beautiful - like a Dodge Charger kicking up dirt and grit as it tailspin’s away and disappears in a cloud of grimy dust. Am now looking forward to Arrowsmith’s next work!!
Read
July 4, 2020Three intriguing stories set in the American West. The author, with a keen sense of detail, manages to weave a thread until all the tales are connected. And by the end, it's clear this thread is a thick, binding cord that unveils a deeper truth some readers may find disturbing. Well worth the read. Looking fwd to the author's next work.
October 29, 2020
Excellent writing!
This author needs to make movies! His writing captivated you with so much depth to his characters in such a short page span! The descriptive writing could make an excellent screenplay. The transition from perspective to combined, yet cleverly separated, storyline had me anxious for what was to come! I enjoyed his character development, his geographical plot venue and his skill in making you feel the scene!
This author needs to make movies! His writing captivated you with so much depth to his characters in such a short page span! The descriptive writing could make an excellent screenplay. The transition from perspective to combined, yet cleverly separated, storyline had me anxious for what was to come! I enjoyed his character development, his geographical plot venue and his skill in making you feel the scene!
July 27, 2022
A quick morsel of three interconnected gritty, noir stories that twist and turn and ultimately connect. I’m by no means well-read in this genre, but I connected with the stories and their Nevada-set locales which leapt off the page with Arrowsmith’s cinematic prose.
June 27, 2020
Arrowsmith provides way more than skilled storytelling in these interwoven dark character-driven tales. Arrowsmith's work reads like poetry - a skilled poet describing a masterpiece of paint on canvas. I found myself re-reading passages like "The shadow of a single, solitary rock cast far from where the road should be. The sudden tilting of the horizon. Metal shearing, glass shattering, the forlorn flatline call of the horn soon drowned out by the roar of the storm."
You may be asking yourself "Should I purchase this little Trilogy and give it a go?"
The question you'll be asking yourself upon reading the final sentence will be: "When the hell is his next release going to be available?" Answer - not soon enough.
You may be asking yourself "Should I purchase this little Trilogy and give it a go?"
The question you'll be asking yourself upon reading the final sentence will be: "When the hell is his next release going to be available?" Answer - not soon enough.
March 6, 2021
I just finished reading one of my favorite genres "Short Stories". Nevada Noir is a collection of 3 short stories that you will not be able to put down. It is such a page turner in the sense that everything that is happening in the stories is connected and leaves you wondering what exciting thing will happen next. The characters are creative and surprising and learn some valuable lessons in each story about getting to that point in the road where they make a decision whether they go this way or that way. The ending leaves you wanting more and I can't wait to read the next story coming soon.
June 16, 2021
Smooth as bourbon, David Arrowsmith's gorgeous and atmospheric writing paints a vignette of sweat-stained, dust-beaten Americana. Evocative and moody, three stories intertwine along with the fate of the characters, taking the reader along for a journey of loss, desperation, hope and redemption. David does an excellent job at bringing them to life in such a short space of time and drawing empathy from the reader. A fantastic first offering, I am looking forward to reading more of David's work.
July 4, 2020
The book gripped me from start to finish, and I read all three stories in a single setting. The author expertly weaves in the different characters - moving between them so that you're always alert, but never too disjointed that you lose sight of what's going on. The separate stories all come together deftly at the end.
November 6, 2021
Like a belt of fine whiskey
This story collection could be recommended for the taught, crackling pose alone. Reminiscent of the hard-bitten joys to be found in the writings of Western stalwarts like Elmore Leonard and Cormac McCarthy, Nevada Noir renders its modern desert pulp in compelling fashion. There’s a well-orchestrated sense of impending doom throughout, as you wait for these broken characters to meet their inevitable fates. I only wish it were longer.
This story collection could be recommended for the taught, crackling pose alone. Reminiscent of the hard-bitten joys to be found in the writings of Western stalwarts like Elmore Leonard and Cormac McCarthy, Nevada Noir renders its modern desert pulp in compelling fashion. There’s a well-orchestrated sense of impending doom throughout, as you wait for these broken characters to meet their inevitable fates. I only wish it were longer.
September 28, 2022
Three cleverly interwoven follow-the-money stories that leave you wiping the desert sand out of your eyes and knocking back a slug of rye from your flask as you contemplate the stars in the clear Nevada sky. Good stuff!
December 11, 2020
Greed indeed.
It all starts with greed. David Aerosmith has written three short stories that connect through greed. I found the a fast paced and very good read. An unusual premise.
It all starts with greed. David Aerosmith has written three short stories that connect through greed. I found the a fast paced and very good read. An unusual premise.
September 29, 2021
Beautifully written
The sights and smells of this collection of stories are palpable. Reading these made me feel like I was out there in the wilds of Nevada, and having traveled through the state by train a number of years ago these stories really brought back the stark beauty of the landscape. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these three short interconnected stories. Each one adds a layer to the mix and the whole becomes even greater than the sum of its parts. With wonderful descriptions and a terrific sense of atmosphere and character, this is good writing.
The sights and smells of this collection of stories are palpable. Reading these made me feel like I was out there in the wilds of Nevada, and having traveled through the state by train a number of years ago these stories really brought back the stark beauty of the landscape. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these three short interconnected stories. Each one adds a layer to the mix and the whole becomes even greater than the sum of its parts. With wonderful descriptions and a terrific sense of atmosphere and character, this is good writing.
July 29, 2021
A brief but deeply descriptive brush with the dark…
Deep description and pace take centre stage in these three interconnected tales that act like a brief encounter of the dark and enjoyable kind. Shorter stories and books don’t get nearly enough credit and this one certainly deserves it for the small amount of time you spend, you get the maximum experience.
Balance is the key word here as each story is atmospheric and vivid in equal parts where life, death, greed, crime and the many elements of human nature are represented in that unique noir style. There’s intrigue everywhere as these tales are set in the moment but stir the imagination for where the characters came from and where they will ultimately end up. For someone looking to be whisked away for a few hours this is the book for you. Having been recommended this from the vibrant and supportive writing community on Twitter I’m glad to have discovered ‘Nevada Noir’ and I’ll be sure to look out for more works by David Arrowsmith.
Deep description and pace take centre stage in these three interconnected tales that act like a brief encounter of the dark and enjoyable kind. Shorter stories and books don’t get nearly enough credit and this one certainly deserves it for the small amount of time you spend, you get the maximum experience.
Balance is the key word here as each story is atmospheric and vivid in equal parts where life, death, greed, crime and the many elements of human nature are represented in that unique noir style. There’s intrigue everywhere as these tales are set in the moment but stir the imagination for where the characters came from and where they will ultimately end up. For someone looking to be whisked away for a few hours this is the book for you. Having been recommended this from the vibrant and supportive writing community on Twitter I’m glad to have discovered ‘Nevada Noir’ and I’ll be sure to look out for more works by David Arrowsmith.
July 22, 2022
A dark and gritty trio of linked short stories
This book lives up to its promise with plenty of Nevada and a whole lot of Noir. As a Californian who visits the books namesake often, the author does a great job describing the vast dirty desert living that is Nevada.
Arrowsmith’s description of characters and scenery is wonderful. In such a short amount of time you really feel the characters and the world they live in. The stories read like a Tarantino movie with plenty of action and darkness.
I appreciated each story line individually with enough time being given for us to be invested in the characters but still such short easy reading stories. I highly recommend and hope for more crazy short stories in the future!
This book lives up to its promise with plenty of Nevada and a whole lot of Noir. As a Californian who visits the books namesake often, the author does a great job describing the vast dirty desert living that is Nevada.
Arrowsmith’s description of characters and scenery is wonderful. In such a short amount of time you really feel the characters and the world they live in. The stories read like a Tarantino movie with plenty of action and darkness.
I appreciated each story line individually with enough time being given for us to be invested in the characters but still such short easy reading stories. I highly recommend and hope for more crazy short stories in the future!
May 8, 2021
A cracking trilogy of cleverly linked short stories.
Pretty quick read, but enjoyed every page. The writing is exquisite, the description vivid and nicely done and the atmosphere is classic gritty noir.
Action, violence, death and decay all feature heavily, but there are a couple of lighter moments too.
Emotionally charged, character driven short stories that are brilliantly conceived. Very well done.
Pretty quick read, but enjoyed every page. The writing is exquisite, the description vivid and nicely done and the atmosphere is classic gritty noir.
Action, violence, death and decay all feature heavily, but there are a couple of lighter moments too.
Emotionally charged, character driven short stories that are brilliantly conceived. Very well done.
November 13, 2021
Over far too soon. Yes, I know they were short stories, but they were so good I wanted more! This would be great expanded as a full length novel.
Three shorts that weave through each other in a Pulp Fiction kind of way. Jimmy & Donna were real, deeply flawed characters that I like to read.
I loved the authors style and will be looking out for more!
Three shorts that weave through each other in a Pulp Fiction kind of way. Jimmy & Donna were real, deeply flawed characters that I like to read.
I loved the authors style and will be looking out for more!
November 29, 2022
These are excellently written. I'm not personally a fan of first person and present tense, but I would read this writer all day long. He really captures the mood with a poetic edge to his prose.
The interlinked stories here are pithy, emotionally charged and character driven all the way. I recommend.
The interlinked stories here are pithy, emotionally charged and character driven all the way. I recommend.
September 29, 2020
These short stories are gritty, very realistic, and mysterious. I also enjoyed the poetic language. I wanted to know what happened next. No spoilers but the stories kind of end on a cliffhanger. I would like to read a sequel.
March 1, 2021
When I sat down to read this book, I really didn't know what I was about to stumble into. Short story collections can be hit and miss, and with only three in this one, I was a bit skeptical about the journey I was about to partake in.
Silly me worried for nothing. This little book blew away my expectations.
I did find myself rereading the first page and a half twice, but I think that was me getting used to a new author's voice and finding my bearings. And as soon I wrapped my head around how this tale was going to unfold, I fastened my seatbelt, sat back, and enjoyed the ride.
I absolutely loved how they built off each other and grew into a bigger overall story. Brain hoping usually messes with me, but it worked great here. I really felt I was in each of their lives for those short moments.
The characters were flawed but memorable and also beautiful in their own special ways. Most of all they brought forth a lot of emotion from me. When shorter books are able to do this in so few pages, they always win high praise from me. Sometimes lengthy books elicit nothing from me.
The author is truly a wordsmith and used his craft to paint some amazing pictures in my mind. I found myself highlighting so many different passages because they were so artfully done.
The only reason I didn't give this book a full five stars is because even though I absolutely enjoyed reading it, there were places editing was still needed. It was minor, though.
I was sad when it ended and wish it could have kept going just a tad more. Perhaps we'll get a second collection. I know I'll read it, and after looking through the other reviews, I know others would be happy to as well.
And please, someone turn this into a movie or something.
Silly me worried for nothing. This little book blew away my expectations.
I did find myself rereading the first page and a half twice, but I think that was me getting used to a new author's voice and finding my bearings. And as soon I wrapped my head around how this tale was going to unfold, I fastened my seatbelt, sat back, and enjoyed the ride.
I absolutely loved how they built off each other and grew into a bigger overall story. Brain hoping usually messes with me, but it worked great here. I really felt I was in each of their lives for those short moments.
The characters were flawed but memorable and also beautiful in their own special ways. Most of all they brought forth a lot of emotion from me. When shorter books are able to do this in so few pages, they always win high praise from me. Sometimes lengthy books elicit nothing from me.
The author is truly a wordsmith and used his craft to paint some amazing pictures in my mind. I found myself highlighting so many different passages because they were so artfully done.
The only reason I didn't give this book a full five stars is because even though I absolutely enjoyed reading it, there were places editing was still needed. It was minor, though.
I was sad when it ended and wish it could have kept going just a tad more. Perhaps we'll get a second collection. I know I'll read it, and after looking through the other reviews, I know others would be happy to as well.
And please, someone turn this into a movie or something.
February 10, 2021
Money isn’t everything, but unfortunately for a few unlucky souls, it costs them everything. A group of unsuspecting individuals soon become entwined in a mystery revolving around $100K of cash, and with each turn, this cash leads them down the path of wrong. Can any of them escape the lust and greed of wealth? Or will it cause them to meet untimely demises?
In a set of three short stories that are woven together through one common thread, we see how greed leads to death, destruction, and heartbreak. The stories reminded me of Pulp Fiction, and similar stories, where a common factor links multiple individuals together.
David Arrowsmith is without a doubt a skilled writer, able to paint the picture of Nevada clearly in our minds and heart. The tension is high in the air, the money lust aplenty, and sadness a clear trickle in the air. The imagery is the type you might see when reading a book for an English class, but all in the right ways.
Of all three stories, my favorite was the middle; this one had the most direct storyline that linked the start and finish, with the chance to really get to know the characters more than the rest. These two bank robbers are the focal point, and from here the stories branch out. Without this middle one, the other two stories don’t quite make as much sense, which I feel like was done masterfully and on purpose.
It did take a bit for me to get into this short book (and by that I mean it took me 30 minutes to really start it rather than getting sucked in right away). In addition, the stories are dark, filled with violence and murder, so they are not for the feint of heart.
Definitely a fascinating read though, with a vital message: greed isn’t always worth it.
In a set of three short stories that are woven together through one common thread, we see how greed leads to death, destruction, and heartbreak. The stories reminded me of Pulp Fiction, and similar stories, where a common factor links multiple individuals together.
David Arrowsmith is without a doubt a skilled writer, able to paint the picture of Nevada clearly in our minds and heart. The tension is high in the air, the money lust aplenty, and sadness a clear trickle in the air. The imagery is the type you might see when reading a book for an English class, but all in the right ways.
Of all three stories, my favorite was the middle; this one had the most direct storyline that linked the start and finish, with the chance to really get to know the characters more than the rest. These two bank robbers are the focal point, and from here the stories branch out. Without this middle one, the other two stories don’t quite make as much sense, which I feel like was done masterfully and on purpose.
It did take a bit for me to get into this short book (and by that I mean it took me 30 minutes to really start it rather than getting sucked in right away). In addition, the stories are dark, filled with violence and murder, so they are not for the feint of heart.
Definitely a fascinating read though, with a vital message: greed isn’t always worth it.
July 4, 2021
I joined a conversation in a Facebook group where I suggested that I didn't really have time for self-published books. I read enough professionally edited and produced books that are only partly successful or worse that I have chosen not to make time for books that don't pass the threshold necessary to get picked up by even a small press. I was challenged in the group, which seemed to be made up of a lot of self-published authors used to being patted on the back by their peers, and one chap in particular suggested that I give his book a go to dislodge some of my prejudices. So I ordered David Arrowsmith's slim book and now I've read it.
It's very short. Three interconnected tales. Not sure any of them would stand on their own. It's not incompetent which is about as backhanded a compliment as no one could wish for. It's authentically noirish in the way that a couple of mannequins in a curated museum tableau might seem authentically neanderthal. It's fine, but it feels like it was written by a tourist.
There were a couple of typos in my Amazon, print-on-demand copy, but who cares? I'm no publisher, so I have no idea whether or not the author could get an actual deal and an actual editor. I've read way worse stuff than this, but there was none of the surprising heft of genuine pulp and I couldn't shake the feeling that while the author might have wanted to ground his story in Nevada, he was really only passing through.
It's very short. Three interconnected tales. Not sure any of them would stand on their own. It's not incompetent which is about as backhanded a compliment as no one could wish for. It's authentically noirish in the way that a couple of mannequins in a curated museum tableau might seem authentically neanderthal. It's fine, but it feels like it was written by a tourist.
There were a couple of typos in my Amazon, print-on-demand copy, but who cares? I'm no publisher, so I have no idea whether or not the author could get an actual deal and an actual editor. I've read way worse stuff than this, but there was none of the surprising heft of genuine pulp and I couldn't shake the feeling that while the author might have wanted to ground his story in Nevada, he was really only passing through.
July 18, 2020
David Arrowsmith’s crafty little trilogy of interconnected short stories “Nevada Noir” brought to mind two films: Wim Wenders’ "Paris, Texas" (mentioned in the middle story) and David Mackensie’s "Hell or High Water" (mentioned by the author as an influence). Like those two films, Arrowsmith’s collection represents a European outsider’s view of the American West. The author uses the British spellings of common words, giving his stunningly atmospheric prose the depth of the exotic.
Characters here are all addicted to something...gambling, killing, robbing, trouble. The trilogy builds to a noirish, nightmarish, crescendo…yet somehow there’s still a glimmer of hope. Each of the stories is better than the one before it, the high note at the end, the tone echoing that of the best works of Annie Proulx.
For fans of the genres…noir…and westerns…it doesn’t get much better than this.
Characters here are all addicted to something...gambling, killing, robbing, trouble. The trilogy builds to a noirish, nightmarish, crescendo…yet somehow there’s still a glimmer of hope. Each of the stories is better than the one before it, the high note at the end, the tone echoing that of the best works of Annie Proulx.
For fans of the genres…noir…and westerns…it doesn’t get much better than this.
July 16, 2020
Three great noir stories
I loved this trilogy of intertwined stories.
The writing here is snappy and evocative, dropping you right into the heart of the action. The characters too are well rounded - you find yourself sympathizing with them, rooting for them and feeling the inevitable gut punches with them along the way. This is no mean feat in the short time we spend with them.
The stories flow in and out of each other effortlessly, helping to flesh out the world, giving a feel of something that is more than the sum of the stories parts.
I will definitely be looking out for more from this author in the future - maybe we will see another noir trilogy set in the authors next travel destination.
I loved this trilogy of intertwined stories.
The writing here is snappy and evocative, dropping you right into the heart of the action. The characters too are well rounded - you find yourself sympathizing with them, rooting for them and feeling the inevitable gut punches with them along the way. This is no mean feat in the short time we spend with them.
The stories flow in and out of each other effortlessly, helping to flesh out the world, giving a feel of something that is more than the sum of the stories parts.
I will definitely be looking out for more from this author in the future - maybe we will see another noir trilogy set in the authors next travel destination.
July 8, 2022
I don’t tend to read reviews in advance of trying for myself, but looking now, lots of the reviews say the same things ; gritty, interconnected, atmospheric, beautifully written. I can’t argue with any of that and really enjoyed this collection. While some people note the shortness of the text, I think this is missing the point in two ways. First, stories should always be as long as they need to be, and these didn’t need to be any longer, adding padding for the sake of it would have diminished their impact. Second, which can’t be over stated for me, the shortness means you want to read them again straight away, to pick up on all the hints and links you know will be there but you may have missed on first reading, and it will be a pleasure to do so. That’s my plan for this afternoon.
May 16, 2020
This collection of three vignettes reminded me of Pulp Fiction: grit and violence, but also emotion and excitement. Each short story not only builds on the one before, but adds its own depth to the trilogy. The first time I read it, I could not wait to turn the page. I got to the end wanting more but then went back to read again: a second reading made me appreciate the complexity of the characters and the sensitive subtlety with which the author manages to bring them to life. Highly recommended.
July 19, 2021
Three interconnecting stories from a talented author.
I only meant to read one of these stories today but had to keep going once I had started. These succinct tales perfectly capture noir, I think, with its gritty atmosphere, venial characters, impulsive and tragic decisions, and mostly unhappy outcomes! The prose was spot on, and if you like noir, you will really enjoy these. Not my preferred genre but I think the author did a great job and I was left wanting to read more. I hope his next offering is longer – I will certainly be watching out for it!
I only meant to read one of these stories today but had to keep going once I had started. These succinct tales perfectly capture noir, I think, with its gritty atmosphere, venial characters, impulsive and tragic decisions, and mostly unhappy outcomes! The prose was spot on, and if you like noir, you will really enjoy these. Not my preferred genre but I think the author did a great job and I was left wanting to read more. I hope his next offering is longer – I will certainly be watching out for it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews