Dark and gritty tales set in the "Paris of the Plains," including Nancy Pickard's "Lightbulb"-selected for The Best American Mystery Stories 2013.

Akashic Books' groundbreaking, globetrotting noir anthology series sets all-new stories in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective metropolitan area. Now "Kansas City, famous for its jazz, its barbecue, and its shady history, provides the venue for this solid addition" ( Publishers Weekly).

This collection includes brand-new stories from J. Malcolm Garcia, Grace Suh, Daniel Woodrell, Kevin Prufer, Matthew Eck, Philip Stephens, Catherine Browder, John Lutz, Nancy Pickard, Linda Rodriguez, Andrés Rodríguez, Mitch Brian, Nadia Pflaum, and Phong Nguyen.

"Hard-used heroes and heroines seem to live a lifetime in the stories . . . Each one seems almost novelistic in scope. Half novels-in-waiting, half journalistic anecdotes that are equally likely to appeal to Kansas City boosters and strangers."- Kirkus Reviews
"Travel has many unexpected benefits, so even if you've never had a reason to visit the city itself, you'll find Kansas City Noirsurprisingly well worth the price of the ticket."- Bookgasm

"Picture steam rising from a sewer grate on a rain-slicked street. The sound of footsteps comes closer and closer behind you as you walk down a dark, downtown Kansas City alley. If this scenario entices you, then you just might enjoy Kansas City Noir."- Kansas City Public Television

Scott Aiellohas narrated over a dozen audiobooks and is a 2013 Audie Award finalist for his nonfiction narration ofSex and God at Yaleby author Nathan Harden. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School drama division and has since performed and directed various New York plays and has been seen on television shows such asPerson of InterestandElementary. Before Juilliard, he was a regular in the Chicago theater circuit.Lauren Fortgang, a graduate of Fordham University's Theater Program, is an actress, narrator, and costume designer. She has recorded everything from video games to textbooks. Her audiobook narrations have earned two AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed her as a finalist for an Audie Award in 2014.Suzanne Toren has recorded over nine hundred audiobooks. She has performed on Broadway and in regional theaters in works penned by Shakespeare, Moliere, and Arthur Miller. She has also appeared on Law & Order and in various soap operas. She was awarded the Narrator of the Year Award for her audiobook recordings for the Library of Congress and has earned more than two dozen Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine.Nick Sullivan, a Tennessee native, has worked extensively on Broadway and at many theaters throughout the United States. His television credits include 30 Rock, The Good Wife, All My Children, and all three Law & Order series. He has recorded over three hundred audiobooks and received numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards.