Santa Cruz Noir (Akashic Noir Series)

"It's a thrilling, whip-smart book that will dazzle local lovers of crime fiction." — Good Times Santa Cruz , Editor's Note "Santa Cruz is a place of natural beauty, ocean breezes and family-friendly tourist attractions. But a new collection of short fiction stories explores a seedier side of this beach town filled with murder and mystery." — KAZU FM " Santa Cruz Noir delivers on noir sensibilities with an extra twist: it's that California mythology...It is this noir ethos that defines Santa Cruz Noir . After arriving at California's golden shores, life surely will be better. There is no place further to go." — Book Riot "Akashic's well-traveled, always-riveting Noir series has been to some serendipitous locales over the years, cities perfectly suited to crime fiction, some boasting a long noir tradition of their very own. But for me, just in terms of sheer allure and possibility, the new Santa... "Bright joins the ranks of Akashic editors to rip the lid off the California coastal town that's never seemed less laid-back."--Kirkus Reviews"A few [stories] spotlight surfing, a few more feature psycho killers on the loose, and others offer magical overtones."--Publishers Weekly"Santa Cruz Noir, an electric, wide-ranging collection of short stories edited by local legend Susie Bright, is a book about the paradox of Santa Cruz, the zen and the gunshots, the perfect waves and their broken riders, the million-dollar houses and the flooded homeless encampments. The book is structured from north to south, beginning with tales of bodies not entirely buried on lonely northern beaches and ending in unforgiving agricultural fields to the south. The stories are also grouped into thematic sections, starting with "Murder Capital of the World"--bloody fever dreams of bad drugs and hitchhiking gone terribly wrong. Fair warning: These stories are as grisly as a good episode of Game of Thrones and just as addictive."--Bookshop Santa Cruz NewsletterAkashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises all new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city. Following in the footsteps of Los Angeles Noir, San Francisco Noir, San Diego Noir, Orange County Noir, and Oakland Noir, this new volume further reveals the seedy underbelly of the Left Coast. Brand-new stories by: Tommy Moore, Jessica Breheny, Naomi Hirahara, Calvin McMillin, Liza Monroy, Elizabeth McKenzie, Jill Wolfson, Ariel Gore, Jon Bailiff, Maceo Montoya, Micah Perks, Seana Graham, Vinnie Hansen, Peggy Townsend, Margaret Elysia Garcia, Lou Mathews, Lee Quarnstrom, Dillon Kaiser, Beth Lisick, and Wallace Baine. From the introduction by Susie Bright:Every town has its noir-ville. It's easy to find in Santa Cruz. We live in what's called "paradise," where you can wake up in a pool of blood with the first pink rays of the sunrise peeking out over our mountain range. The dewy mist lifts from the bay. Don't hate us because we're beautiful--we were made that way, like Venus rising off the foam with a brick in her hand. We can't help it if you fall for it every time ... "If I lived in a place like this," visitors often say, "I'd wake up with a smile every day."Oh, we do, thank you for that. There's no beauty like a merciless beauty--and like every crepuscular predator, she thrives at dawn and dusk. You're just the innocent we've been waiting for, with your big paper cone of sugar-shark cotton, whipped out of pure nothing. We have just the ride for you, the longest tunnel ever. Santa Cruz is everything you ever dreamed, and everything you ever screamed, in one long drop you'll never forget Following in the footsteps of Los Angeles Noir, San Francisco Noir, San Diego Noir, Orange County Noir , and Oakland Noir , this new volume further reveals the seedy underbelly of the Left Coast. Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir . Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. Featuring brand-new stories by : Tommy Moore, Jessica Breheny, Naomi Hirahara, Calvin McMillin, Liza Monroy, Elizabeth McKenzie, Jill Wolfson, Ariel Gore, Jon Bailiff, Maceo Montoya, Micah Perks, Seana Graham, Vinnie Hansen, Peggy Townsend, Margaret Elysia Garcia, Lou Mathews, Lee Quarnstrom, Dillon Kaiser, Beth Lisick, and Wallace Baine. From the introduction by Susie Bright: Every town has its noir-ville. Its easy to find in Santa Cruz. We live in whats called paradise, where you can wake up in a pool of blood with the first pink rays of the sunrise peeking out over our mountain range. The dewy mist lifts from the bay. Dont hate us because were beautifulwe were made that way, like Venus rising off the foam with a brick in her hand. We cant help it if you fall for it every time . . . If I lived in a place like this, visitors often say, Id wake up with a smile every day. Oh, we do, thank you for that. Theres no beauty like a merciless beautyand like every crepuscular predator, it thrives at dawn and dusk. Youre just the innocent weve been waiting for, with your big paper cone of sugar-shark cotton, whipped out of pure nothing. We have just the ride for you, the longest tunnel ever. Santa Cruz is everything you ever dreamed, and everything you ever screamed, in one long drop youll never forget. Following In The Footsteps Of Los Angeles Noir, San Francisco Noir, San Diego Noir, Orange County Noir, And Oakland Noir, This New Volume Further Reveals The Seedy Underbelly Of The Left Coast. Akashic Books Continues Its Groundbreaking Series Of Original Noir Anthologies, Launched In 2004 With Brooklyn Noir. Each Story Is Set In A Distinct Neighborhood Or Location Within The City Of The Book.--provided By Publisher. Introduction: Beauty And The Break / [susie Bright] -- Part I. Murder Capital Of The World: Buck Low / Tommy Moore ; Whatever Happened To Skinny Jane? / Ariel Gore ; Monarchs And Maidens / Margaret Elysia Garcia ; 54028 Love Creek Road / Jessica Breheny ; Possessed / Naomi Hirahara -- Part Ii. The Lineup: Wheels Of Justice / Jon Bailiff ; Mischa And The Seal / Liza Monroy ; First Peak / Peggy Townsend ; Safe Harbor / Seana Graham ; Miscalculation / Vinnie Hansen -- Part Iii. Good Neighbors: To Live And Die In Santa Cruz / Calvin Mcmillin ; Treasure Island / Micah Perks ; Flaming Arrows / Wallace Baine ; The Big Creep / Elizabeth Mckenzie ; Death And Taxes / Jill Wolfson -- Part Iv. Killer South: The Strawberry Tattoo / Maceo Montoya ; Crab Dinners / Lou Mathews ; Pinballs / Beth Lisick ; The Shooter / Lee Quarnstrom ; It Follows Until It Leads / Dillon Kaiser. Edited By Susie Bright.