Arabian Noir

Dive into the dark side of the desert with thirteen thrilling tales of murder, mystery, and vengeance across the Middle East. Curated by the Gulf Chapter of the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA), Arabian Noir represents a historic milestone—the very first anthology created by a regional chapter in the CWA’s seventy-year history. Introduced by bestselling author and CWA Chair Vaseem Khan, this collection uncovers the deep, complex relationship between Middle Eastern culture and detective fiction. Spanning a diverse array of modern styles - from hard-boiled thrills and police procedurals to classic Golden Age whodunnits - these short stories expose the human frailty hiding beneath glitzy city lights and sun-bleached landscapes.
Inside the Anthology: "The Reddest Dress" by Sara Hamdan: A restless Dubai salon worker steps into her roommate's high-fashion world for a night out at Roberto's, triggering a spiral of deception, safe-cracking, and desperate choices. "The Cost of Air" by Moxie T. Anderson: During an icy cold snap in Old Amman, Jordan, a gruesome discovery of five uninjured corpses inside a spotless apartment leaves detectives hunting a clinical killer. And eleven more compelling mysteries from premier regional voices including Michael Lynes, Alex Shaw, Annabel Kantaria, Gal Podjarny, Padmini Sankar, Paul A. Freeman, Daisy Line, Rohini Sunderam, Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, Glen R. Stansfield, and S.G. Parker. From the bustling streets of Dubai to the quiet corners of Amman, Arabian Noir is an essential feast for crime fiction enthusiasts seeking fresh vistas, sharp suspense, and intellectual challenges.
Why Read This Collection? Historic Curated Anthology: The landmark first collection from the CWA Gulf Chapter. Atmospheric Crime: Explores the unique tension between opulent wealth and back-alley desperation in the region. Acclaimed Voices: Features a Netflix short story award winner, literary fellows, and seasoned thriller novelists. Bite-Sized Thrills: Ideal for readers who enjoy fast-paced short fiction that starts fast, rides hard, and finishes with a kick.