Published: Feb. 02, 2011
Words: 18,458 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458181794

Short description

DIRTY OLD TOWN is the debut collection from the prize-winning writer Nigel Bird. His brilliantly observed slices of life allow us to visit places we may not normally choose to enter and to walk a few miles in the shoes of others. Though his tales have darkness at their core, they are also full of a heart and spirit that one rarely finds in the world or ‘noir’ or ‘crime-writing’.

Extended description

DIRTY OLD TOWN is the debut collection from the prize-winning writer Nigel Bird. His brilliantly observed slices of life allow us to visit places we may not normally choose to enter and to walk a few miles in the shoes of others.
Though his tales have darkness at their core, they are also full of a heart and spirit that one rarely finds in the world or ‘noir’ or ‘crime-writing’.
There are 8 stories here: Drinking Wine (Spo-Dee-Oh-Dee); Dirty Old Town; Sea Minor; Sisterhood; One Hundred And Ten Per Cent; Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight); Three Little Birds; and Silver Street. Each will remain with you for days after you’ve read it. Some will be around for weeks.
In this collection we meet a frustrated housewife who needs to let her hair down; an elderly school janitor who can’t see the wood for the trees; a group of Muslims intent on revenge; a young girl whose father has just left home; a father and son breaking-and-entering partnership; a young m.. (Read more) DIRTY OLD TOWN is the debut collection from the prize-winning writer Nigel Bird. His brilliantly observed slices of life allow us to visit places we may not normally choose to enter and to walk a few miles in the shoes of others.
Though his tales have darkness at their core, they are also full of a heart and spirit that one rarely finds in the world or ‘noir’ or ‘crime-writing’.
There are 8 stories here: Drinking Wine (Spo-Dee-Oh-Dee); Dirty Old Town; Sea Minor; Sisterhood; One Hundred And Ten Per Cent; Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight); Three Little Birds; and Silver Street. Each will remain with you for days after you’ve read it. Some will be around for weeks.
In this collection we meet a frustrated housewife who needs to let her hair down; an elderly school janitor who can’t see the wood for the trees; a group of Muslims intent on revenge; a young girl whose father has just left home; a father and son breaking-and-entering partnership; a young man working on a city farm; and a pimp who’s fallen in love. All of them struggle to meet life’s demands and some of them cope better than others.
Five of the stories here have been published by the highly respected editors of The Reader Magazine, A Twist Of Noir, Beat To A Pulp, Title Fights, Static Movement and Dark Valentine. The collection also includes two pieces that are being given their first outing and another that was put together put for the Big Beat From Badsville's Ramones series.
In 2010 Nigel Bird was the winner of the prestigious Watery Grave Invitational competition hosted by the Drowning Machine. Since then he has gone on to win the Things I’d Rather Be Doing fairytale/crime-story competition.
‘Taking A Line For A Walk’, included here, was listed among the top 5 stories of 2010 by Bill Hayes and Naomi Johnson over at Death By Killing.
Praise for Nigel Bird and his work includes:
'It won't take long to realise he is also one of the best writers out there on the noir scene' Ian Ayris (Abide With Me)
‘A rare talent.’ Allan Guthrie (Bye Bye Baby, Hard Man, Slammer)
‘So nice to read a story with this much heart in it.’ Patti Abbott (Discount Noir, Pattinase)
‘Absolutely brilliant.’ Richard Godwin (Apostle Rising)
‘Great Stuff.’ Charlie Stella (Charlie Opera, Johnny Porno)
‘Brilliantly razor-sharp, jagged slice of life.’ Paul D Brazill (ubiquitous, You Would Say That Wouldn’t You)
‘I sought out everything I could from him. I dare you to read and not do the same.’ Chris F Holm (8 Pounds)
‘Took my breath away...Powerful.’ Kathleen A Ryan (Playing With Matches, Women Of Mystery)
‘Nigel Bird continues to amaze,’ Naomi Johnson (The Drowning Machine)
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Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.

Tags

crime, murder, adult, revenge, scotland, noir, torture, kidnap, sport, hard boiled, soft noir, sea minor, prizewinning

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Reviews

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Review by: richard gent on June 16, 2011 : (no rating)
gritty stories though too short for me personally, the characters were easy to identify with and real not a bad read at all and i would recommend this book to friends
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Chris Rhatigan on Feb. 27, 2011 :
Nigel Bird's new collection of short stories is gritty, nasty, and smooth.

I bought the collection based on the excellent work of his I've read in the past--and I'm even more impressed after reading it.

One of my favorites is the title story, one of the best revenge tales I've read in a long time. A youth gymnastics coach discovers his athletes are on performance-enhancing drugs when one of them overdoses. The coach hatches a plan to get back at the drug dealer. It's a complex story that asks how far the coach will go to be loyal to his players. The final scene is gruesome and riveting.

Another winner is Three Little Birds, an engaging piece about what happens when the kid who gets bullied grows up. I love how the plot arises from conflict between these very genuine characters.

In fact, I could say that about any of the pieces in this compilation. If you're a fan of dark crime fiction with real characters, you'll love this book.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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