Birmingham Noir »

Joel Lane is the author of The Blue Mask, The Earth Wire, The Edge of the Screen, and From Blue To Black. He is the editor of Beneath the Ground.

Dark-toned urban thrillers that combine graphic realism with emotional poignancy, steeped in the noir spirit of James Ellroy

From hazardous towpaths to love on an orange summer's night, and from cut-throat gangsters in a Little Moscow bar to childhood ghosts igniting the terrors of today, the darkness of pain, brightness of anger, and hard music of a society in transition are the spine tingling themes rampant in this new collection of urban thrillers. Perfect for enthusiasts of crime fiction everywhere, this anthology will entice and chill even the most seasoned murder mystery aficionado. The book showcases stories from John Harvey—author of the best-selling Resnick novels—and acclaimed novelist Nicholas Royle. Also included are the distinctive voices of Wayne Dean-Richards, Simon Avery, John Dalton—and many more, as life in the second city take a dark and violent turn.

Publishers Weekly

Birmingham Noir, an all-original crime anthology edited by Joel Lane and Steve Bishop, collects 23 tales set in the "heart of Midlands darkness," as Maxim Jakubowski so aptly puts it in his blurb. Contributors include Nicholas Royle, John Harvey, Judith Cutler and the two editors. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.