Tim Hennessy (1)

Milwaukee Noir is the latest in the Akashic Noir series that explores the world through noir fiction. As with every edition in the series, a local is chosen to enlist writers in the project and shepherd their work to completion. However, this time the editor is a reader, a used bookstore owner, who I think brings a new and positive sensibility. Tim Hennessy is not trying to impress us with himself but with his city and its writers.

There are fourteen stories in three sections. The first, show more Schlemiels and Schlimazels, may recall LaVerne and Shirley but there is no nostalgia in these down and out stories of foster children, out of work newcomers, seniors eking a living, and low-rent workers. The stories feature more or less decent people trying to do the best they can so in that way they are like the Happy Days duo, but they live in a city that no longer wants them. The stories in Sweet Misery Blues will make you wonder for the future of humanity. What Made Milwaukee Famous gives us stories of neighborhood feuds and lost children, stories that are close to home.

The stories that really stood out for me were Jane Hamilton’s Friendship which revealed just how much or little friendship can mean. Cristi Clancy’s Mocking Season has the neighbors love their lawns altogether too much. It seems odd, but Nick Petrie’s The Neighbor also focused on lawn maintenance but with a far different outcome. I liked both stories a lot and was amused by how emotional people can get over their patch of green.

I was excited to see Larry Watson, a favorite author, included in the anthology but I thought his Night Clerk was one of the weaker stories. I didn’t much care for Frank Wheeler, Jr.’s Transit Complaint Box which began with a tired joke and a transit cop’s initial “lesson” to his probie that was recycled “Blue Lives Matter” rant dismissing legitimate concerns about racism in law enforcement. The character’s actions did not reflect his political persona, but that’s no big revelation. It’s the reason the country is full of racists with one Black friend.

All in all, I liked Milwaukee Noir a lot and I think choosing an independent bookseller to edit was ingenious. He did a great job. Every collection has stories readers like more or less than others and this anthology had many more that I liked a lot. Even Watson’s disappointing story was only disappointing relative to expectations.

Unlike most of the books in the series, I have been to Milwaukee and while I did not experience the noir side of the city, reading this did recall the neighborhoods with houses shoulder to shoulder and the streets of old brick storefront that I remember. I know I have said this again and again, the Akashic Noir Series is a wonderful way to do your armchair traveling.

I received an e-galley of Milwaukee Noir from the publisher through Edelweiss

Milwaukee Noir at Akashic Books
Akashic Noir Series
Tim Hennessy on Twitter

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/9781617757013-milwaukee-n... show less

Milwaukee Noir, edited by Tim Hennessy, is part of Akashic's Noir series. I am fairly new to the series, this is maybe my third volume, but I am loving them so far.

First is a map of the city, with the neighborhoods highlighted in the collection marked. While the map probably isn't absolutely necessary I do really like having it. It gives a nice geographical grounding that simply saying "Milwaukee" doesn't do. I have visited the city several times, while stationed at Great Lakes years ago, so show more the map had me trying to figure out where I had been.

In both this volume and the series as a whole the concept of what is noir is left fairly open. The writers can make it about crime or they can make it just plain old dark and oppressive. Atmosphere is key and the writers all tell compelling stories. Like any collection, there are ones I like more and ones I like less but all in all this is a strong collection of short stories, period. They also happen to be of the same genre.

Social commentary is a big part of noir fiction and this volume illustrates some of the issues we face in society. The perspectives are likely different from the reader's, they were for me, even on topics I might have given thought to. So on top of being entertaining (well, as entertaining as dark literature can be) the stories are also thought provoking.

I highly recommend this to readers of short stories, fans of noir or crime stories, and of course anyone familiar with Milwaukee. Nothing makes a book more compelling than knowing the locations mentioned throughout. I'm not familiar enough to be part of that third group, but the first two are definitely me.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers. show less

Essential reading for any literary-minded resident (or former resident) of Milwaukee, one of America's most overlooked cities. "Noir" here covers the seedy, the squalid, and the somewhat mysterious, not just the hard-boiled and the violent. And Milwaukee, with its crumbling industrial infrastructure and its persistent poverty, provides a lot of material for such a focus, despite the creative startups and the truly impressive little restaurants.

The quality of the writing is very good, and the show more pleasure of a recognizable setting that is not Los Angeles or New York City is not to be underestimated. show less

It is fun reading about a place you know thru experience, but I didn't know this Milwaukee. At least not the Milwaukee in this book. Yes, the places and street names were familiar and, people in Milwaukee misbehave as they do in other places. But I never felt as involved with the problem people and the problems they have, as I did reading this book. The real life drama of Milwaukeeans have become a little more personal with these stories. The stories ring true and describes the area and its' show more people as they are. Well worth reading, good stories with the taste of reality in them. show less