Category Archives: Short stories

Short stories

Berkeley Noir (Akashic Noir Series) edited by Jerry Thompson and Owen Hill

Posted on May 12, 2020 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung) “I arrived in Berkeley, back in 1991. A Berkeley that seemed to be still living off the fumes of the late sixties, which were fumes so strong you might just want to breathe them in all … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Short stories | Tagged dark, noir, San Francisco, short stories | Comments Off

Miscreants, Murderers, and Thieves: a collection of short stories about devious behavior – edited by Samuel W. Reed

Posted on March 26, 2020 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung) When I started reading Miscreants, Murderers, and Thieves, I was hoping for raw and gritty stories. I immediately discovered that I would have to change my expectations. Once I did that, I appreciated this eclectic collection. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Short stories | Tagged crime fiction, short stories | Comments Off

The Stone Building and Other Places – Asli Erdogan (Author), Sevinç Türkkan (Translator)

Posted on February 21, 2020 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung) “When they’ve had their fill of despair, of stories, crimes, sins, confessions- each one the same as any other –they leave the back alleys behind and revert to their destiny, picking up where they left off. … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle Eastern Literature, Short stories, World Literature | Tagged book reviews. fiction, Turkish literature | Comments Off

Shades: Detroit Love Stories – Esperanza M. Cintrón

Posted on August 13, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s the 1960s and we follow two women into a bar who just want a diversion from the hardships of everyday life. From there, Shades draws us in and takes hold of us through the entire … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories | Tagged Detroit, sex, urban fiction, women's fiction | Comments Off

Amsterdam Noir (Akashic Noir Series) -René Appel and Josh Pachter (Editors), Josh Pachter (Translator)

Posted on May 22, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “It wasn’t until he’d come to see me a dozen times that he told me he wanted to concentrate on women who looked like the victims who’d escaped from him his first time around.” This man … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories, World Literature | Tagged Amsterdam, crime fiction, noir, short stories, translated literature | Comments Off

Fight No More: Stories – Lydia Millet

Posted on May 3, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “South Africans were rumored to be rapists. The white ones especially.” Nina, a single real estate agent specializing in expensive Los Angeles homes was nervous about meeting a potential buyer. Little did she know that her … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories | Tagged family, fiction, Los Angeles, short stories | Comments Off

The Sadness of Beautiful Things:Stories-Simon Van Booy

Posted on April 20, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) The title, The Sadness of Beautiful Things, provides an accurate description as well as the essence of the stories in this short book. These eight tales take a somber look at life and memories and reveal … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories | Tagged death, life, love, short stories | Comments Off

Marrakech Noir (Akashic Noir Series) – Yassin Adnan (Editor)

Posted on March 3, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Morocco has no tradition of noir literature.” “Marrakechis are willing to read every type of story about the city—except those that are garbed in black.” Yassin Adnan, the editor of Marrakech Noir had a difficult time … Continue reading →

Posted in African Literature, Short stories | Tagged crime fiction, Marrakech, multiculture, noir, Religion | Comments Off

Vancouver Noir (Akashic Noir Series) – Sam Wiebe (Editor)

Posted on January 27, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…Vancouver may seem idyllic. But living here is different—cold and baffling and occasionally hostile…locals see a heroin crisis…It’s ground zero for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a nationwide catastrophe involving … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Short stories | Tagged Canadian fiction, crime fiction, noir, Vancouver | Comments Off