Grand Central Noir

INTRODUCTION

Grand Central Terminal. The most dynamic building in the most dynamic city in the world. Thousands travel into and out of it every day. Get their shoes shined or buy a new outfit before a posh dinner at Michael Jordan’s or, less posh to some, Two Boots. All without having to step outside. Meet business partners, families, lovers, friends. Even criminal cohorts. It’s absolutely a world of its own. A world of hellos and goodbyes. A maze. A limbo. A banal conduit for some. A refuge for others. A tourist destination for throngs.

In short, a place teeming with stories.

Which is why we have assembled more than a dozen tales from some of the best authors working today. Specifically, stories about crime. For years, Grand Central Terminal has been seen as a place of despair, where the gullible arrived by the dozens and the homeless and the addicted flocked lacking anywhere else to go. Now celebrating its hundredth year, the terminal is experiencing something of a renaissance, but still, in the most dynamic city in the world, the most dynamic building lends itself to tales of adventure, of redemption, and of noir.

Botched robberies. Chance encounters. Stolen lives. Revenge. Revenge. And more revenge. All of this happens within the confines of the magnificent Beaux-Arts structure, under its great and ever-watchful vault of stars. Some of the authors here you may have read before. Others you may be reading for the first time. All of them are worth a look.

While crime and noir stories are often about those without hope, we thought it was important to hold a note of hope with this book. That is why we selected God’s Love, We Deliver to receive100 percent of the proceeds from this book. It is an organization whose mission is to improve the health and well being of men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition. They prepare and deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to people who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. They also provide illness-specific nutrition education and counseling to their clients, families, care providers and other service organizations. All of their services are provided free of charge without regard to income. For more information about this great organization, visit https://www.glwd.org/.

In purchasing this book, you’ve not only helped some great writers find a new audience, you’ve also helped a worthwhile charity continue an important mission.

Safe travels,

Terrence P. McCauley