Milwaukee Noir, edited by Tim Hennessy, is the latest collection of dark stories from Akashic Books, who specialize in noir anthologies. There’s nothing positive nor uplifting about Milwaukee, if these stories are any indication. However, that’s the point of noir, to illustrate the gritty, bleak side of life.

The violent, dark stories in this collection fit the bill perfectly with the intention, as editor Tim Hennessy says, to be social commentary. Hennessy’s introduction is worth reading all by itself, providing background, history of authors who once called Milwaukee home.There’s also a map that illustrates the location of each selection to point to the setting of each disturbing story or crime.

Stories by Jane Hamilton and Christie Clancy stand out, evidence that even the ordinary middle class person can get swept up in hatred. Those type of stories are the most memorable ones, because they do not start out with violence, drunkenness or poverty. While some of the male authors included, such as Reed Farrel Coleman, may turn to violence as a solution to problems, many of the female authors use more subtle methods. It’s that quieter savagery that creates a bleaker more haunting atmosphere.

Milwaukee Noir is a well-written anthology, with an excellent introduction.

Milwaukee Noir, edited by Tim Hennessy. Akashic Books, 2019. ISBN 9781617757013 (paperback), 256p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I received the book to review for a journal.