Autumn Noir by H. Dair Brown

Autumn Noir Reviews

• 
  Nat Whiston

  Autumn Noir
  Review By Nat Whiston
  
  I have to admit this collection was not at all what I expected; I mean, you get the feel of autumn in every poem and story, But I love how unpredictable this collection was, and everyone's incredible take on the subject matter. It really made this book gripping; the first poem pulls into a scene of autumn passion and love. The story Escape Velocity speaks of a woman who constantly searches for change. To escape her past but Serena learns that one fate mistake will lead her past right to her door. Bev set the scene beautifully in a short but potent storyline, and it started the collection. Then Killer in Diner by Nathan Squiers gives us a twist of fate that occurs with the most unlikely of endings. Making you question the man's intentions turning up in the diner and why he chose to return to where his victim worked. It's an intense read, just like the others in the selection, from a cop that turns into a mobster to save his brother from abscission. To a private investigator, Burton, falsely accused of the murder of a known UFO believer, who he met hours ago at a diner telling the PI he was being followed.
  Each story keeps you on the edge of your seat, and all have an exciting take on the theme in their own unique and sometimes subtle way. I did notice the subtle diner theme that seemed to weave its way through the odd story. Sensing the Fall was also one that stuck out for me, about a Private investigator looking into the sudden disappearance of a man named Jack Newcomb. That story played out a lot differently than I expected, and I love what Stephen used for the twist. I don't do crime very often, but I really enjoyed following this story. The only PI Noir style story I liked was who framed Roger Rabbit, which says a lot about me. The Block was also another incredible well written and enticing tale. I always wondered about a girl's life on stage back in those days, especially burlesque and dancing girls. I even learned some terminology from the period, like asking if someone’s circled means married. I enjoyed the twists and turns in Wilma and Mickey’s tale. Misunderstood was another great story of Ingrid’s struggle and passion for becoming a ballerina, which I don't think even she expected. But the hardship is not downplayed by Elif Offner, and the raw emotion makes the story. So even me, a non-noir/crime/mystery reader, can get absorbed into this collection. There is definitely a story in there that someone will love.
• 
  Kathryn Lane

  A fantastic anthology of stories that will "get under your skin", as co-editor, Robin Knabel states in the book. Some of the stories made me smile, others sent chills down my spine, and still others kept me guessing about the outcome. A delightful read, especially this time of year.
• 
  Russell Gray

  The folks over at Unsettling Reads have provided us with another collection of short stories, this time moving from horror, sci-fi, and fantasy into the genres of crime, mystery, suspense, and thriller. I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this collection even more than the previous one. Autumn Noir is divided into three parts, each representing a theme inspired by the words of some of the greats.
  
  Part One: “In Greek tragedy, they fall from great heights. In noir, they fall from the curb.” – Dennis Lehane. There are a variety of stories and characters represented by this section, though my favorites were “Abscission” by Dustin Engstrom, “Sensing the Fall” by Stephen D. Rogers, and “The Block” by H. Dair Brown. I thought Dair’s story, in particular, really captured the spirit of the theme for this first section.
  
  Part Two: “Dark sides are important. They should be nurtured like nasty black orchids.” – Gillian Flynn. “An Orchid to Die For” by Wendy Harrison and “Every Single Funeral” by Bethany Maines were my favorites in this section.
  
  Part Three: “The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let the dead things go.” – Anonymous. This was probably my favorite section of the book, with “Golden Silence” by V.S. Kemanis, “Anathema” by Robin Knabel, and “Shadow Over the Hill” by Matthew Chabin standing out most to me. It’s too difficult to choose a favorite, but talk about going out with a bang. “Shadow Over the Hill” blew me away as the final story in the collection.
  
  All in all, Autumn Noir showcases Dair and Robin’s talents, not just with their own writing, but as curators for fantastic stories. This was a great read that I would recommend for anyone who loves short stories. Especially if you love crime and thriller stories, check this anthology out. I can’t wait to see what comes next in future anthologies!
  
• 
  Elaine Buckner

  A terrific collection of autumnal tales and poetry. Definitely recommend these dark and moody reads.
  
  I really enjoyed seeing the bios as well.