Toronto Noir

Most U.S. readers will be surprised to learn from the editors' introduction to this fine addition to Akashic's noir series that Toronto is “North America's most multicultural metropolis outside of Miami.” That diversity is well served by the volume's 16 selections, only one of which is by an author likely to be familiar to American mystery fans. Peter Robinson (Friend of the Devil and 16 other Inspector Banks novels) demonstrates his mastery of the short story with “Walking the Dog”: Lloyd Francis's attractive wife, Laura, begins a torrid affair with a model, Ray Lanagan, and before long Laura and Ray are scheming to bring about Lloyd's untimely demise. Robinson deftly inserts two major surprises into the plot, which should please James M. Cain and Cornell Woolrich fans. The anthology's other standout is Gail Bowen's “The King of Charles Street West,” which, with its complex and insightful revenge plot line, should help gain Bowen, an Arthur Ellis Award winner, a wider U.S. following. (May)