Toronto Noir

January 28, 2008
Most U.S. readers will be surprised to learn from the editors' introduction to this fine addition to Akashic's noir series that Toronto is “North America's most multicultural metropolis outside of Miami.†That diversity is well served by the volume's 16 selections, only one of which is by an author likely to be familiar to American mystery fans. Peter Robinson (Friend of the Devil
and 16 other Inspector Banks novels) demonstrates his mastery of the short story with “Walking the Dogâ€: Lloyd Francis's attractive wife, Laura, begins a torrid affair with a model, Ray Lanagan, and before long Laura and Ray are scheming to bring about Lloyd's untimely demise. Robinson deftly inserts two major surprises into the plot, which should please James M. Cain and Cornell Woolrich fans. The anthology's other standout is Gail Bowen's “The King of Charles Street West,†which, with its complex and insightful revenge plot line, should help gain Bowen, an Arthur Ellis Award winner, a wider U.S. following.

April 1, 2008
If you like your mystery short stories dark with a Canadian flavor, this latest entry in the "Akashic Books Noir" series is for you. New tales by such Canadian authors as Gail Bowen, Kim Moritsugu, Janine Armin, and Andrew Pyper are set in various Toronto neighborhoods, from the affluent middle-class Beaches and Bloor West Village to gentrified Parkdale to tawdry basement flats in East York and Queen West. Featuring bored housewives, wronged lovers, mad scientists, murderous best friends, movie stars, wannabes, and peeping toms, the stories are engrossing and entertaining. This book gives readers a taste of Toronto as experienced by Torontonians and, discounting the noir aspect of the stories, shows why Canadians both love and hate their biggest city. This gem should be considered for every short story collection, particularly those in Canadian libraries.Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg

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