Baltimore Noir

by Laura Lippman (Editor)

Overview

Mystery queenpin Lippman and cohorts dissect the urban locale unaffectionately called Bulletmore, in the state of the Union ingloriously labeled Murderland.

Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.

Brand-new stories by: David Simon, Laura Lippman, Tim Cockey, Rob Hiaasen, Robert Ward, Sujata Massey, Jack Bludis, Rafael Alvarez, Marcia Talley, Joseph Wallace, Lisa Respers France, Charlie Stella, Sarah Weinman, Dan Fesperman, Jim Fusilli, and Ben Neihart.

From the introduction by Laura Lippman:

The writers in this collection eschew nostalgia without sacrificing affection. They confront the full irony that is Charm City, a place where you can go from the leafy beauty of the North Side neighborhoods to the gutted ghettos of the West Side in less than twenty minutes, then find your way to the revamped Inner Harbor in another ten. Homegrown Baltimore philosopher Virginia Baker once said: “If it ain’t right and it ain’t decent, stay the hell away from it.” Alas, Virginia, Baltimore’s not right. It’s hardly even polite anymore. But for a Baltimore writer, escape is the one concept where the imagination steadfastly fails. We belong here.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781888451962
Publisher:	Akashic Books, Ltd.
Publication date:	05/01/2006
Series:	Akashic Noir Series
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

LAURA LIPPMAN is the award-winning writer of more than twenty crime-fiction novels. She is the editor of Baltimore Noir and the author of Liza Jane & the Dragon, which is her debut children’s picture book.

Hometown:

Baltimore, Maryland

Date of Birth:

January 31, 1959

Place of Birth:

Atlanta, Georgia

Education:

B.S., Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, 1981

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: The Way Things Used To Be

“Easy As A-B-C” by Laura Lippman (Locust Point)

“Fat Chance” by Robert Ward (Old Northwood)

“Pigtown Will Shine Tonight” by Jack Bludis (Pigtown)

“Over My Dead Body” by Rob Hiaasen (Fell’s Point)

“The Invisible Man” by Rafael Alvarez (Highlandtown)

Part II: The Way Things Are

“Stainless Steel” by David Simon (Sandtown-Winchester)

“Home Movies” by Marcia Talley (Little Italy)

“Liminal” by Joseph Wallace (Security Boulevard-Woodlawn)

“Almost Missed It By a Hair” by Lisa Respers (France Howard Park)

“Ode to the O’s” by Charlie Stella (Memorial Stadium)

“Don't Walk in Front of Me” by Sarah Weinman (Pikesville)

Part III: The Way Things Never Were

“As Seen on TV” by Dan Fesperman (Fells Point)

“The Haunting of Slink Ridgely” by Tim Cockey (Greenspring Valley)

“The Homecoming” by Jim Fusilli (Camden Yards)

“Frog Cycle” by Ben Neihart (Inner Harbor)

“Goodwood Gardens” by Sujata Massey (Roland Park)

Introduction

To live in Baltimore -- Bulletmore, Murderland, according to one famous piece of graffiti -- is to be aware of killing; we have not enjoyed the sharp declines in homicide rates achieved by cities such as Boston and New York. We remain steadfastly in the top five, per capita, year in and year out. Statistically, two people died while I was working on this foreword . . . Baltimore also has an odd geographic distinction. It is one of only two major U.S. cities that lies in no county. (St. Louis is the other.) Landlocked on every side but one, which is water, it cannot expand or annex. Squeezed this way, it is a perfect setting for noir, which depends on an almost Darwinian desperation among its players.