Book Review: Titanium Noir
Book cover image from Anderson Bookshop
I love a good mystery novel. I also love anything in the genre of noir. The book, Titanium Noir, combines the two beautifully.
Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway is a murder mystery that takes place in a futuristic time where society’s elite can be injected with a substance called T7.
The miracle drug, T7, is able to cure whatever ails you, even old age. The drug can increase a person’s lifespan for an extremely long time with just one dose. It increases the recipient’s strength and bone density, but most importantly size.
Cal Sounder, the detective that the police department calls, when they have a “sensitive“ case, is summoned to help with a murder of a person of interest who is taller than most. To say any more would be giving away plot spoilers.
Titanium Noir drew me into its web of intrigue almost immediately. Cal Sounder is a likable character who does not mince words to find the truth, and speaks plainly to anyone, regardless of social status. I like that.
I found myself imagining that I was working alongside Nick to dodge every obstacle thrown his way.
The world that Nick Harkaway built is very believable, reminding me of New York or Chicago. Details like the places to eat add depth and reality. I had a bit of a crush on Cal.
The miracle drug, T7, is my kind of drug. It is able to cure ailments, and extend someone’s lifespan. I wish it was actually available to work its magic, while making the recipient taller. As a 4-foot, 11-inch woman with autoimmune issues, it makes me love this book even more. Oh, the possibilities! Like all drugs, there may be a bit of an addiction side effect. Still…
Cal and the police department work well together. You don’t find that in many noir novels. It makes the characters more believable and not just words on a page – and I like that sense of camaraderie.
The tension that spans the entire book, along with the dark humor in the storytelling keeps you engaged. Plus, everyone is a wisecracker and that made the noir part of my heart happy.
The smokey haze filled rooms, the larger-than- life (literally) corpse, a detective full of angst, love, intrigue, money, drugs and death… This heart-stopping book has all the elements of noir that I love, but with a futuristic twist.
I am hoping that Mr. Harkaway has plans for a sequel to this book. I can’t wait to discover the next chapter in Cal Sounder’s life.
If you are interested in Titanium Noir, please check out these other books.
Sue Cook lives in Freeport, Illinois with her husband Randy and two dogs. Her passions include assistance dogs, rescue dogs, music, acting, theater, poetry, and Doctor Who. She’s been in both film and theater and is a regular cast member of the podcast Doctor Who’s Line is it….Anyway? Sue is an advocate for the use of Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to maintain their independence. Quigley’s Quest, her first children’s book, addresses how a dog becomes a Service Dog.
