Category Archives: World Literature

**Books translated from the original language to English**

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, Noir-esque fiction, Short stories | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Marrakech Noir (Akashic Noir Series) – Yassin Adnan (Editor)

House of Beauty- Melba Escobar (Author), Elizabeth Bryer (Translator)

Posted on February 13, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I also hate the ladies of Bogotá among whom I count myself, though I do all I can to stand apart. I hate their habit of using the term “Indians” to refer to people they consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Latin American Literature, World Issues, World Literature | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on House of Beauty- Melba Escobar (Author), Elizabeth Bryer (Translator)

Death in Shangri-La (A Dotan Naor Thriller Book 1) – Yigal Zur (translated from Hebrew by Sara Kitai

Posted on January 17, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Would I have taken the bet if I’d known that as a result Israelis would be murdered, innocent people would die, the popular Israeli image would be shattered, India and Pakistan would be on the verge … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Middle Eastern Literature, World Literature | Tagged , | Comments Off on Death in Shangri-La (A Dotan Naor Thriller Book 1) – Yigal Zur (translated from Hebrew by Sara Kitai

Sydney Noir (Akashic Noir Series)- John Dale (Editor)

Posted on January 8, 2019 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Noir is as much a part of Sydney’s character as frangipanis and cockroaches, rusted iron lace and sandstone terraces, torrential rain and potholed roads.” “Crime and Sydney have always been inseparable: a deep vein of corruption … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian Literature, Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Noir-esque fiction, Our Best, Short stories | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sydney Noir (Akashic Noir Series)- John Dale (Editor)

Baby Blue (Stratos Gazis Series) – Pol Koutsakis (Author), Anne-Marie Stanton-Ife (Translator)

Posted on October 15, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The kind of work I do defines who I am. Who I am defines the kind of work that I do. I am my work. It gives my life meaning. I clear the world of filth … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, World Literature | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Baby Blue (Stratos Gazis Series) – Pol Koutsakis (Author), Anne-Marie Stanton-Ife (Translator)

Poso Wells- Gabriela Alemán (Translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster)

Posted on September 3, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Something crouches in the streets of Poso Wells, and it attaches the nerves like a persistent drumbeat. Whatever it is haunts the dreams of the residents, panting I their faces, slobbering them with noxious saliva and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Latin American Literature, Noir-esque fiction, Political fiction, World Issues, World Literature | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Poso Wells- Gabriela Alemán (Translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster)

Absinthe: A Thriller – Guido Eekhaut

Posted on August 19, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “His methods are unconventional at best and border on illegal at times. And his opinion of women, well, I won’t go into that topic.” This is what AIVD Chief inspector Alexandra Dewaal has to deal with … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Political fiction, World Issues, World Literature | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Absinthe: A Thriller – Guido Eekhaut

Lagos Noir – Chris Abani (Editor)

Posted on June 19, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I have never been to Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria and actually, the largest city in the entire African continent. In fact, I have never been anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa. That said, I enjoyed the … Continue reading →

Posted in African Literature, Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Culture, Noir-esque fiction, Short stories, World Literature | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Lagos Noir – Chris Abani (Editor)

Sexographies – Gabriela Wiener (translated from the Spanish by Jennifer Adcock and Lucy Greaves)

Posted on June 12, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Gabriela Wiener is not just any journalist. This Peruvian-born writer prefers to experience topics first-hand. That may even involve putting herself in extreme and often risky situations and then writing about her participation. So when it … Continue reading →

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Latin American Literature, Non-fiction, World Literature | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Sexographies – Gabriela Wiener (translated from the Spanish by Jennifer Adcock and Lucy Greaves)

Verklempt – Peter Sichrovsky (Author), Ari Roth (Foreword), John Howard (Translator)

Posted on May 6, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Thomas remained a man without a past, without memories, without old photographs and without stories from earlier years.” He is just one of the many Jews who chose to live in a land where their parents … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Best, Short stories, World Issues, World Literature, WWII | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Verklempt – Peter Sichrovsky (Author), Ari Roth (Foreword), John Howard (Translator)