Description
The reviews of Akashic Books’ 2017
anthology Montreal Noir are in.
“There are no bad stories here, but there are many standouts. I particularly liked the selections in the section called On The Edge, especially Howard Shrier’s Milk Teeth.” –Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail
“Howard Shrier (Miss Montreal, 2013) vividly evokes the mid-century Plateau in “Milk Teeth,” a grim police procedural about the murder of a young girl.” — Yutaka Dirks, Montreal Review of Books
“As in any good noir, poverty, drugs, and despair cloud many of the characters’ lives. But even the stories about druggies have a certain je ne sais quoi. Murderers also have their own cachet. Max, the hero of Howard Shrier’s “Milk Teeth,” searches for a young girl’s killer among the champions of professional wrestling… Noir’s different north of the border. Here’s hoping readers will say Vive la difference.” –Kirkus Reviews
“The stories in Montreal Noir are frequently graphic and push their material to the limits of what some readers might consider good taste, most especially in stories by Geneviève Lefebvre and Howard Shrier dealing with themes of pedophilia and child murder. Then again, readers who are uncomfortable being taken to some fairly grim places should probably avoid an anthology of noir fiction altogether.” — Quill and Quire
“Includes award-winning and best-selling authors such as Catherine McKenzie, Brad Smith, Peter Kirby, Robert Pobi, Johanne Semour, Melissa Yi, and Howard Shrier… Their tales will keep you up nights, first to finish them, and then because you can’t sleep.” — Jim Napier, Reviewing the Evidence
“American crime fiction fans will welcome the opportunity to sample the short fiction of some worthy Canadian authors.” — Publishers Weekly
“Montreal’s reputation as separate and distinct from the rest of Canada is reflected in this collection of diverse and often disorienting stories. Verdict: For fans of the series, the work provides an enjoyable introduction to many Montreal-based mystery authors.—Julie Elliott, Indiana Univ. Lib., South Bend
“A bicultural roster of talent by some of the city’s best crime-fiction specialists, with tales from the city’s many neighbourhoods.” —Sarah Murdoch, “Books That Will Spark Great Discussions,” Toronto Star
“A simply outstanding short story collection that will have very special appeal for dedicated mystery buffs.” — Midwest Book Review
