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Reverse-Gentrification of the Literary World

Akashic Books

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Tag: Kansas City Noir

SALE! Midwest Noir Complete Set for $35!

To celebrate the publication of Twin Cities Noir: The Expanded Edition, we’re pleased to offer all a set of four area titles from our Noir Series (Twin Cities, Detroit, Chicago and Kansas City) for only $35, plus shipping, while supplies last!

“Mission Hills Confidential” by Grace Suh (from Kansas City Noir)

Allison sits in the breakfast room and watches the cardinal pair, male and female, dipping in and out of the holly bushes where they make their home. She avoids this room in the morning—too much sun. But it’s tolerable starting from early afternoon, which it now is, when she can drink her tea and look out the tall windows and watch the shadows sit neatly under the trees like coasters.

Her husband Britt is upstairs in the green guest room. Since winter, when he fell in with a new group of friends, he’s been tumbling into bed at all hours, reeking of vodka and smoke and sweat. A month ago she asked him to use a guest room on nights he goes out, and mostly he remembers. For some reason he eschews the gray one with the nautical theme and king-sized bed in favor of the mint-green one with the Colefax chinoiserie print that swathes the walls, draperies, armchair, and dainty canopy bed . . .

“Cat in a Box” by Kevin Prufer (from Kansas City Noir)

At last the cat fell asleep and, because Armand still could, he drove his police-issue Crown Vic through the Plaza, down Main Street. He took a left on 47th, slid past Latte Land then Pottery Barn, past Barnes & Noble and Gap Kids, then left again. Three fat men stood outside a fake Irish bar and laughed while the snow came down, but Armand drove right past them too, over the bridge at Wornall and left again, to Ward Parkway then Main then 47th again. Around and around he drove while the cat slept in the cardboard box beside him . . .

Weekly Roundup for 2/22/13

Every Friday, the Akashic team highlights industry news, reviews, and features from around the web (and the office!). This week’s roundup comes to you from Akashic publicist Kate Bogden and editorial assistant Susannah Lawrence.