by Ellen Datlow
First published 2011
A professional killer eliminates targets through orchestrated accidents. A detective finds himself trapped between competing supernatural realms. A man conceals monstrous hungers beneath an even more sinister truth. These characters populate twenty original stories where criminal underworlds collide with otherworldly forces. Hugo and Bram Stoker Award winner Ellen Datlow curates tales from masters including Brian Evenson, Joe R. Lansdale, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Nick Mamatas, Gregory Frost, and Jeffrey Ford. Each story explores how supernatural elements infiltrate noir scenarios, creating narratives where external mysteries mirror internal darkness. The collection examines characters caught between mundane criminal enterprises and paranormal threats, forcing them to navigate dangers both human and inhuman.
Genres: mystery, crime, fantasy, horror, supernatural, thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
397 pages · Paperback · Dark Horse
Content warnings: graphic-violence