TL;DR Review: A detective thriller that feels instantly familiar but isn’t afraid to go in bold, unique directions with setting and character.
Synopsis:
A noir story, set in an alternate New York City.
After years of being a cop, and now a private investigator, there’s little that surprises Cole Blackstone. But when someone working for Karl Dolman, the most notorious crime boss in the city asks for his help, Cole is caught off guard, and more than a little afraid.
Dolman’s daughter, Selina, has gone missing. To prevent a gang war that will tear the city apart, Cole must find her. But the job is being made more difficult as everyone is interfering, cops and criminals, and no one wants him to succeed.
Together with his childhood friend, Bracken Hart, the two men must navigate the depths of the city’s underworld for answers.In a race against the clock, Cole needs to find out what happened to Selina, and who is responsible, before the streets run red.
Full Review:
New York Minute takes the familiar New York City detective noir trope and does something utterly unique with it: it hurls us forward into a post-apocalyptic yet somehow pre-industrialized Big Apple that feels right at home but still has so much fresh and unique to discover.
The story follows Cole Blackstone, former NYPD turned PI (the why is only hinted at, promising more dramatic discoveries in future stories) hired by the “Big Bad Kingpin” of New York to track down his missing daughter. Only there are a lot of people interested in her not being found—from rival gangs to the police department itself.
We join Cole Blackstone and his faithful, taciturn companion and friend Bracken on their investigation. From the beginning, we feel like we’re right along with them with worn boots, tired feet, pounding headaches, and a growing sense of dread that something isn’t right with all of this.
Everything about New York Minute was instantly familiar. If you’ve read any detective thriller, you’ll be right at home from the first page. The narrative voice was wonderfully strong and gives such excellent insight into the character while also painting a colorful (and often unpleasant) picture of the underworld through which he has to swim.
The era seems futuristic, following some great apocalyptic event (or slow decline) that has led to the world returning to a pre-electricity era. The remnants of our “modern” world are still utilized to masterful effect to show the decline and tarnish of one of the greatest cities in the world, but it’s once again a world where people walk instead of hop a train or ride horse-drawn trolleys rather than jumping on a flight. Where neon street lights shine on seedy back alleys where drug-dealers fight with swords, daggers, clubs, and crossbows rather than assault rifles.
Though it’s short—just a novella—it sets up an entire world and gives the depth of a full-length novel, with all the dramatic twists and turns to be expected. I was absolutely sucked into the setting, character, and tone, and was so glad when I reached the end to discover there would be more coming in this world.
It’s everything I enjoy in a good detective noir novel, paired with a fascinating and singular flavor off alt-history or historical fantasy. Give yourself a treat by diving into this novella—you’ll come for the mystery and stay for the gripping characters and New York City painted in a whole new palette.
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