Trinidad Noir (Akashic Noir)

Trinidad Noir delivers all the crime a reader expects from Akashic's Noir Series: murder, kidnapping, rape, drugs, prostitution, theft, extortion, and more. Yet in fictionalizing crime in the real crime setting of Trinidad, acclaimed authors Lawrence Scott, Robert Antoni, Elizabeth Nunez, Oonya Kempadoo, Ramabai Espinet, Keith Jardim, Tiphanie Yanique, Willi Chen, and others have created a decidedly literary noir collection. These authors' quality characterizations, plots, and styles concurrently reveal the country's darkness and its appeal with an unexpected and gratifying result: In their captivating and occasionally humorous stories, the Trinidad that emerges is as intriguing and contradictory as the island and its people. Trinidad Noir is as much a delightful crime romp as it is an expose of the seedy side of life. Lisa Allen-Agostini is a poet, playwright, and fiction writer from Trinidad and Tobago. She is the author of a children's novel, The Chalice Project (forthcoming, 2008). An award-winning journalist, she is the Internet editor and a columnist with the Trinidad Guardian. Jeanne Mason is a freelance editor who also writes short stories and poetry. She has lived in Paris, France, where she edited medical articles for U.S. and U.K. journals. She currently resides in Trinidad and Tobago. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction PART I: COUNTRY "Pot Luck" LISA ALLEN-AGOSTINI (Sans Souci) "The Rape" KEVIN BALDEOSINGH (Couva) "The Funeral Party" SHANI MOOTOO (San Fernando) "Dougla" REENA ANDREA MANICKCHAND (Caroni Swamp) "Norwegian Blues" RAMABAI ESPINET (Santa Cruz) "Betrayal" WILLI CHEN (Godineau) "Bury Your Mother" JAIME LEE LOY (Palmiste) "Standing on Thin Skin" OONYA KEMPADOO (Maracas) PART II: TOWN "Woman Is Boss" ELISHA EFUA BARTELS (Diego Martin) "Prophet" LAWRENCE SCOTT (Maraval) "How to Make Photocopies in the Trinidad & Tobago National Archives" ROBERT ANTONI (Uptown Port-of-Spain) "The Best Laid Plans" DARBY MALONEY (San Juan) "The Jaguar" KEITH JARDIM (Emperor Valley Zoo) "Eric's Turn" RIAN MARIE EXTAVOUR (Tunapuna) "Lucille" ELIZABETH NUNEZ (St. James) "Peacock Blue" VAHNI CAPILDEO (Fort George) "Dark Nights" JUDITH THEODORE (East Dry River) "Gita Pinky Manachandi" TIPHANIE YANIQUE (Chaguaramas) Launched by the summer '04 award-winning, best-seller Brooklyn Noir, Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies. Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. The Caribbean provides no shelter from the delicious terror of the Akashic Noir Series Featuring brand-new stories by: Robert Antoni, Elizabeth Nunez, Oonya Kempadoo, Lawrence Scott, Ramabai Espinet, Shani Mootoo, Kevin Baldeosingh, Vahni Capildeo, Willi Chen, Lisa Allen-Agostini, Rian Marie Extavour, Keith Jardim, Jaime Lee Loy, Darby Maloney, Reena Andrea Manickchand, Judith Theodore, Tiphanie Yanique, and elisha efua bartels. Trinidad Noir delivers all the crime a reader expects from Akashic's Noir Series: murder, kidnapping, rape, drugs, prostitution, theft, extortion, and more. Yet in fictionalizing crime in the real crime setting of Trinidad, acclaimed authors Lawrence Scott, Robert Antoni, Elizabeth Nunez, Oonya Kempadoo, Ramabai Espinet, Keith Jardim, Tiphanie Yanique, Willi Chen, and others have created a decidedly literary noir collection. These authors' quality characterizations, plots, and styles concurrently reveal the country's darkness and its appeal with an unexpected and gratifying result: In their captivating and occasionally humorous stories, the Trinidad that emerges is as intriguing and contradictory as the island and its people. Trinidad Noir is as much a delightful crime romp as it is an expose of the seedy side of life Eighteen authors share dark mysteries set on the sunny Caribbean island in this anthology. Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book is compromised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the geographic area of the book. As reflected herein, the Caribbean provides no shelter from the delicious terror of noir fiction. Features brand-new stories by Robert Antoni, Elizabeth Nunez, Lawrence Scott, Ramabai Espinet, Shani Mootoo, Kevin Baldeosingh, Vahni Capildeo, Willi Chen, Lisa Allen-Agostini, Keith Jardim, Reena Andrea Manickchand, Tiphanie Yanique, and more. Praise for Trinidad Noir “The volumes in Akashic’s locale-based noir anthology series set outside North America (Dublin Noir, etc.) offer more variety than those set in different major U.S. cities, and this one is no exception. The editors’ brief but insightful introduction makes clear that the sun and sea tourist image of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is at odds with the country’s political climate of excess and corruption and an element of society afloat in drugs and guns . . . . The two standouts are Keith Jardim’s mystical “The Jaguar” and Lawrence Scott’s “Prophet,” in which a series of child disappearances in a small but corrupt community builds to an appropriately bleak ending.” —Publishers Weekly Reveals The Caribbean Island's Darkness And Its Appeal With An Unexpected And Gratifying Result. Pot Luck / Lisa Allen-agostini -- The Rape / Kevin Baldeosingh -- The Funeral Party / Shani Mootoo-- Dougla / Rena Andrea Manickchand -- Nowarian Blues / Ramabai Espinet -- Betrayal / Willi Chen -- Bury Your Mother / Jaime Lee Loy -- Standing On Thin Skin / Oonya Kempadoo -- Woman Is Boss / Elisha Efua Bartels -- Prophet / Lawrence Scott -- How To Make Photocopies In The Trinidad & Tobago National Archives / Robert Antoni -- The Best Laid Plants / Dabby Maloney -- The Jaguar / Keith Jardim -- Eric's Turn / Rian Marie Extavour Tunapuna -- Lucille / Elizabeth Nunez -- Peacock Blue / Vahni Capildeo -- Dark Nights / Judith Theodore -- Gita Pinky Manachandi / Tiphanie Yanique. Edited By Lisa Allen-agostini & Jeanne Mason. Trinidad Noir reveals the Caribbean islands darkness and its appeal with an unexpected and gratifying result. Features brand-new stories by Robert Antoni, Elizabeth Nunez, Lawrence Scott, Ramabai Espinet, Shani Mootoo, Kevin Baldeosingh, Vahni Capildeo, Willi Chen, Lisa Allen-Agostini, Keith Jardim, Reena Andrea Manickchand, Tiphanie Yanique, and more.