Drowning, stabbing, shooting, beheading: the fun is endless.” The most surprising aspect, given all the writers are women, is that the victims of crime/betrayal/despair are as likely to be shes as hes. “Fifteen stories (and six ditties by Margaret Atwood) that view the conventions of noir fiction through female eyes. McFadden’s comic take on the appropriation of racial friendship, and Lisa Lim’s illustrations of a grotesque marriage.” Emerging and established authors provide attention-grabbing short works: especially notable are Edwidge Danticat’s story on the quotidian horror of domestic violence, Bernice L. “The indefatigable Joyce Carol Oates gathers a strong list of names for Cutting Edge: New Stories of Mystery and Crime by Women Writers. Oates concludes, is ‘not so much pessimistic as starkly realist, free of romantic illusion, expecting the less benign, resigned to the worst.’ If not the ideal cup of holiday cheer, then, perhaps a perfect tonic for the New Year?” erotic playfulness dark fairy-tale determinism.’ Noir sensibility, male or female, Ms. The theme is ‘female noir,’ with shades encompassing ‘sociological realism. It features the work of 16 distinguished writers, including Margaret Atwood, Valerie Martin, Steph Cha and Ms. “An eclectic anthology edited by Joyce Carol Oates.

“Miss Martin” by Sheila Kohler has been selected for inclusion in The Best American Mystery Stories 2021! Livia Llewellyn’s “One of These Nights” has WON the 2020 Edgar Award for Best Short Story, presented by the Mystery Writers of America!

Books by bernice mcfadden