Manhattan Noir

February 27, 2006
A pleasing variety of Manhattan neighborhoods come to life in Block's solid anthology, the latest entry in Akashic's city-themed noir series (Brooklyn Noir
, etc.). "Building" by S.J. Rozan, for example, brings the reader a strong sense of Harlem, while "The Most Beautiful Apartment in New York" by Justin Scott perfectly presents the Chelsea landscape. Purists may balk at a tale like Liz Martínez's "Freddie Prinze Is My Guardian Angel," which is offbeat and funny but not really noir. Charles Ardai's "The Good Samaritan," on the other hand, offers bad weather, night and even cigarettes. Thomas H. Cook's "Rain" is nothing if not bleak, though it's really just an elaborate sketch. The most satisfying story, Jeffery Deaver's "A Nice Place to Visit," is long enough to develop a full plot, and it's got a hell of a twist at the end. Block contributes a respectable entry, "If You Can't Stand the Heat," but it certainly doesn't rival his best writing. Though not all the story lines are uniformly compelling, the writing is of a high order and a nice mix of styles.

April 1, 2006
The publisher's fast-growing Noir series includes Brooklyn, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Dublin, Chicago, San Francisco--and now Manhattan. The volumes are uneven, but when the right editor sits at the desk, the results can be well worthwhile, as is the case here. Where George Pelecanos' " D.C. Noir" felt more political, with sympathies for the downtrodden little guys, Block's selections, generally speaking, span the social spectrum. But all involve moral compromise, existential hells, or revenge (even if a couple of sort-of-happy endings may offend noir purists). Quality is high throughout, but standouts include Carol Lea Benjamin's "The Last Supper," a snappy story of spousal separation; Jeffery Deaver's "A Nice Place to Visit," a twisty tale of con men, cops, and comeuppance; and Justin Scott's "The Most Beautiful Apartment in New York," which gives a dark twist to the New York obsession, real estate. Any irony in the evolution--a book created to celebrate Brooklyn becomes a series in which one of the best installments honors Manhattan--is New Yorkers' to enjoy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)