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Noir

A Novel

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About this listen

The absurdly outrageous, sarcastically satiric, and always entertaining New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore returns in finest madcap form with this zany noir set on the mean streets of post-World War II San Francisco, and featuring a diverse cast of characters, including a hapless bartender; his Chinese sidekick; a doll with sharp angles and dangerous curves; a tight-lipped Air Force general; a wisecracking waif; Petey, a black mamba; and many more.

San Francisco. Summer, 1947. A dame walks into a saloon . . .

It’s not every afternoon that an enigmatic, comely blonde named Stilton (like the cheese) walks into the scruffy gin joint where Sammy ""Two Toes"" Tiffin tends bar. It’s love at first sight, but before Sammy can make his move, an Air Force general named Remy arrives with some urgent business. ’Cause when you need something done, Sammy is the guy to go to; he’s got the connections on the street.

Meanwhile, a suspicious flying object has been spotted up the Pacific coast in Washington State near Mount Rainer, followed by a mysterious plane crash in a distant patch of desert in New Mexico that goes by the name Roswell. But the real weirdness is happening on the streets of the City by the Bay.

When one of Sammy’s schemes goes south and the Cheese mysteriously vanishes, Sammy is forced to contend with his own dark secrets—and more than a few strange goings on—if he wants to find his girl.

Think Raymond Chandler meets Damon Runyon with more than a dash of Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes All Stars. It’s all very, very Noir. It’s all very, very Christopher Moore.

Crime Fiction Dark Humour Fantasy Fiction Humorous Literature & Fiction Science Fiction Comedy Crime Witty Air Force San Francisco
All stars
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This is a fascinating slice of American social history lightly coated in a farce of epic proportions populated by the most likeable bunch of ne'er-do-wells you could ever wish to meet. The narrator enters into the spirit of the thing with all his heart and soul. I loved it.

Superb

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Another great story from a Mr Moore. Read his earlier work first I’d advise but not absolutely necessary. Perky noir with its tongue poking cheekily into its cheek!

Funny, funny, funny!

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Excellent narration, captured the dialogue well. Well metered timing, relaxed pace, appropriate to the tone of the writing

Fab driving companion.

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As I was not familiar with the author's other works I picked this up (metaphorically) not expecting much. Instead I got an exciting if improbable story with a good cast of characters and a book I did not want to finish . Noir, Damon Runyon, John Steinbeck, any number of crime fiction writers and science fiction thrown into a bag (without the snake ) shaken and tumbled out into post war San Francisco. Wonderful. I enjoyed the Audible version but would have liked it to be paced just a little more slowly - but maybe that is just me. A chisler, a dame, and a gimp in a bar ....

A wonderfull ight hearted pastiche

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Pretty much standard Moore absurdist stuff, but executed with his usual humour and style. The narrator is excellent for this genre!

Perfect narrator

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