From
the massive archive…
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
https://michaelpool.net
Short
Stack Books
http://www.shortstackbooks.net
November
2016
ASIN# B01M2541HM
eBook
(also available in paperback format)
292
Pages
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, 2021
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