Short stories are a tougher thing to do well than writing a regular length book, or so it sometimes seems.
Belfast Noir is part of a series that gathers together writers who live in or are associated with a particular city around the world. The problems I had with this book were:
1. By its very title Noir- one would expect mysteries, or darker edgier stories, and especially with Belfast being the setting for all of the stories in the book, where as a number of the stories in this collection definitely didn't meet this criteria.
2. A number of the stories just weren't that interesting.
On the plus side with this book as with any short story collection the reader is exposed to writers they may not have been familiar with. That was certainly true with Belfast Noir, and I look forward to reading a couple of full size novels from Sam Millar, and Steve Cavenagh.
( )

Short stories are a tougher thing to do well than writing a regular length book, or so it sometimes seems.
Belfast Noir is part of a series that gathers together writers who live in or are associated with a particular city around the world. The problems I had with this book were:
1. By its very title Noir- one would expect mysteries, or darker edgier stories, and especially with Belfast being the setting for all of the stories in the book, where as a number of the stories in this collection definitely didn't meet this criteria.
2. A number of the stories just weren't that interesting.
On the plus side with this book as with any short story collection the reader is exposed to writers they may not have been familiar with. That was certainly true with Belfast Noir, and I look forward to reading a couple of full size novels from Sam Millar, and Steve Cavenagh. ( )

BELFAST NOIR was a real treat to read. It is one title in the Akashic Publishers noir series. I have read several now and each one is interesting, unusual and radiates a great sense of place.
BELFAST NOIR edited by Adrian McKinty and Stuart Neville is no exception.
It consists of an introduction by Adrian McKinty and Stuart Neville; a foreword by David Torrans; a Table of Contents; a map (I love the map); a section about the authors/contributors; a sneak peek at USA Noir; more series titles; Akashic Noir series awards and a blurb about Akashic Books.
There are four parts with 14 stories.
The story POISON by Lucy Caldwell (taking place in Dundonald) was very disturbing to me - the friends’ actions and deceitful antics, and the lingering question - Was the young girl with Mr. Knox his daughter Melissa?
WET WITH RAIN by Lee Child (taking place on Great Victoria Street) was very disturbing.
TAKING IT SERIOUS by Ruth Dudley Edwards (taking place on Falls Road) made me cringe.
THE RESERVOIR by Ian McDonald (taking place in Holywood) was downright nasty.
LIGATURE by Gerard Brennan (taking place in Hydebank) was pitiful.
(I am getting depressed rereading these stories. Does nothing happy ever happen in Belfast?)
THE GREY by Steve Cavanagh (taking place in Laganside, Queen’s Island) was a ‘teeny bit’, a ‘wee bit’ ok. Not happy, but ok.
PURE GAME by Arlene Hunt (taking place in Sydenham) - I didn’t see this ending coming.
CORPSE FLOWERS by Eoin McNamee (taking place in Ormeau Embankment) was extremely evil.
(I will ask again - is anything normal in Belfast Northern Ireland?)
These stories are more than gritty and grim; they are true blackness - true noir.
All the stories were grim, gritty, violent and nasty at their worst and puzzling at their best.
The series by Akashic Books is terrific and I can’t wait to read even more titles. ( )

This is a wonderful collection of short stories based in Belfast--very noir and many of them bleakly funny. Multiple narrators add to the appeal of this book.
The stories range from the time of the Troubles to more modern times and look at stories of thugs, tricksters and relationships. ( )

I really liked this collection of short stories. It was a little uneven , but for the most part it worked well. I was introduced to some authors I wasn't familiar with, which is always good. I like the concept of focusing on noir in a particular city. This is a nice focus, giving the flavor and tone of a city in a noir setting, clever. Belfast has quite a history, which is nicely covered in the introduction.
I especially liked Lee Child, Ian McDonald, and Arlene Hunt's work.
I highly recommend this book.