This may be rather specific, but I’m looking for a “film noir” type of read. I’ve always enjoyed detective/getting-immersed-in-and-solving-a-problem stories, and the aesthetic vibe of film noir really intrigues me. In terms of other media which loosely represents what I’m looking for, I loved Miller’s storyline in The Expanse (which I was informed afterwards was very film noir style), in which the grizzled/morally grey detective with underlying depression and cynicism solves a case in a city’s gritty underbelly that makes him question his place in humanity. I also loved the subplot in Doctor Who episode The Angels Take Manhattan, with River Song as Melody Malone, the detective/femme fatale mashed together. I’d watch WAY more of that.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a film noir-style book which:
* Has a female detective MC (can be combined with the femme fatale archetype, or not at all)
* The morally grey/witty cynicism/underlying depression
* Has the solving-a-case set in the gritty city underbelly (I’m not picky if the overall setting itself is sci-fi, cyberpunk, actual 20th century, etc)
* Case slowly begins to take over the MC’s life
* Overall themes of one’s place in humanity
* Cool coats with lapels and also hats (mostly joking, but hey, the outfits are great)
* (Bonus points if MC is lesbian/bisexual and there’s a femme fatale love interest/storyline, but I could totally be asking for too much here)
by morvern0115
1 Comment
When you described what you’re looking for, the story that came to mind is City of Stairs by Robert Jack Bennett. It ticks off each of your bullet points to a certain extent. I loved this book.