Eighteen complex
short stories make up the anthology Fast Women and Neon Lights. As made
clear by the subtitle, Eighties-Inspired Neon Noir” the
tales in this book are noir in style and heavily steeped in the glitz and
glamour of the 80s. The music, the hair, the clothes all play their atmospheric
role in these short stories where things often take a very dark turn under the neon
lights.
After a short introduction
by publisher and Editor Michael Pool and a forward by Will Viharo, the read starts
with “Valley Girl” by Kat Richardson. Detective Willet has a serious problem
and she sits across from him in interrogation. Kimberly Peterson knows what she
did and yet, at the same time, does not really seem to grasp what she did. The
social worker isn’t really helping either. Detective Willet would like to give
them both an attitude adjustment. As made clear in the first sentence, the fact
that “the Interrogation room smells of Pine-Sol, Love’s Baby Soft, and vomit”
does not help either.
Hot and humid in
Orlando, but at least the car ac in the Chevy Celebrity is working in “Alone Now”
by Patrick Cooper. The alarm is supposed to be off according to cousin Harv, so
Trip and Nash should have no problem stealing what they came for.
If Gary could stay
sober for a bit, their big payday might just happen in “Big Shots” by S. W.
Lauden. Murphy, the moneyman, is in New York and counting on Gary to do a good
job with the band down from Seattle for the big show in Los Angeles. Some major
labels are going to be at the show and, as group managers, Gary and Murphy
stand to make some serious bank.
Connie Jackson is
working hard in the yard as “The Deep End” by Dietrich Kalteis begins. Emmett
Granger, a senior investigator with NorthWest Lifeco, just caught her lying
about her claim though she doesn’t know it yet. What he is going to do about that
is just one small piece of the tale.
Wrestling is the
game in “Parts Unknown” by Sam Wiebe. A chance to wrestle in the holy mecca
known as “The Garden” in NYC is too good to pass up. Sure, he has to get thrown
by the wrestler known to all as the Giant as he loses the match, but it will be
worth it. Hett also gets the chance to reconnect with some folks and make
friends with others.
The show sold out in Los
Angeles and because Tiffany didn’t think to buy them when she had the chance, now
Pia and Tiffany can’t go. Unless Pia can work a deal and trade some coke for
the tickets. First Pia has to score the coke in “Besties and Blow” by Sarah M.
Chen. That and not kill her ex and his new girlfriend. Sure, they ought to die,
but they have the tickets so she needs them for when she gets the coke.
Lake Castor Police
recovered the body of Jessi Spangler on a dark and grey morning in September
1985. What happened to her and why she is dead is a big part of “It’s Morning
Again In Lake Castor” by Eryk Pruitt.
Tokyo is the location
for “Widowman” by Matthew J. Hockey. Aki is ready to take out Junko, but she
wants some answers first. Secret and lies have to be uncovered before she can
go home to her 24rth floor apartment.
Ryan thinks they
should go to Calgary in “The Envelope” by Linda L. Richards. Bonnie is not at
all thrilled with the idea. Ten long years after high school the envelope has
the potential to change their lives in so many ways unthinkable before.
Crockett and Tubbs
are hard at work in “Meantime” by Will Viharo. It is a typical Miami night
as they conduct surveillance on the art deco style mansion down the street. The
subject of the surveillance, Enrique Salazer, picked up where the recently and
very violently deceased, Tony Montana, left off.
Suzanne wants to be
the next female superstar on the pro wrestling circuit. In “Big Hair, Banana
Clips, And The Figure-Four Leg lock” by Nina Mansfield, Suzanne has a plan.
Part of that plan is to attend a job interview over at the local roller rink.
Good thing Laura is around to talk about reality.
People only pay when
you make them. Like sin, payment comes in many forms. Timmy has a very
specific payment in mind “Dutch” by C.S. DeWildt. He knows going in that the
payment is going to be expensive. Whether the plan will solve the issue is the
real question.
Andie tries her best
to keep up in “In The Swimming Pool” by Jen Conley. Being in the pool at
Jimmy’s and trying to throw the ball just as hard as the guys isn’t working out
for her. At least Alan didn’t go after her and try to humiliate her.
Pardo and Bobby are
watching television when the press conference with Britney Jackson and Sheriff Brad Daniels begins. She somehow
survived being shot in the head during an armed robbery. For Pardo and Bobby
the story by Greg Barth is all about “Getting Seconds.” This also is the winner
hands down for the most seriously disturbing tale in the book. The last few
paragraphs blow away the competition.
Roberto Razetta’s
appliance-shop in Korea town is less than five miles away from Hollywood but is
a world away in reality. It is hanging on thanks to a secret side income Roberto
makes in the course of his video repair work. In “Caught on Video” by Brian
Leopold, Roberto’s latest client this spring morning seems to be typical
in his urgency to get his Sony product fixed.
The plan was to get
in and out of the Gryphon Sportsbook as quickly and quietly as possible. She
needs to place the $8500 bet on Buffalo to win and leave. That is all. It won’t
be that simple in “Fleckman’s Fix” by Preston Lang.
“Last Dance at the
Glimmer Lounge” by S. A. Cosby involves the DJ Chaz, drugs, and his special
girl, Lydia. Of course, a plan for getting out is involved. That is not going
to be easy since there is a connection to the Philly Mob.
Bringing up the end
of the anthology is the tale from the editor, “Night Thief.” A stolen 81
Camaro, a dead hooker in the trunk, and the overriding need to stay alive and
get the job done are just some of the elements at work in this one.
The eighteen stories
that make up Fast Women and Neon Lights: Eighties-Inspired Neon Noir are all
solidly good ones. Often twistedly funny, the tales here pay homage to the
bright colors and big hair decade in a variety of ways. Drugs are often
present, plans are sure to go wrong as one would expect with noir style tales,
and your lover may not have your best intentions at heart as greed always
rules.
Fast Women and Neon Lights:
Eighties-Inspired Neon Noir
Editor Michael Pool
Short Stack Books
November 2016
ASIN# B01M2541HM
eBook (also available in paperback format)
222 Pages
$3.99
Digital ARC supplied by the editor Michael Pool to read and
review if I so desired with no expectation that I would do either.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2016
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