Frank Vatel
@frankvatel312.bsky.social
Reader, watcher, and scribbler of noir. Also, book-cover illustrator and designer. Published @ Punk Noir Magazine, All Due Respect, Bristol Noir, and Reckon Review.
~ Thirty More Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 25: A KILLER IS LOOSE (1954)
A pacy, gripping ride-along noir in which the story’s hero gains the unwanted friendship of a maniac. For those who think a Gil Brewer novel without a femme fatale is like sex without foreplay, this will set you straight.
Day 25: A KILLER IS LOOSE (1954)
A pacy, gripping ride-along noir in which the story’s hero gains the unwanted friendship of a maniac. For those who think a Gil Brewer novel without a femme fatale is like sex without foreplay, this will set you straight.
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
~ Thirty More Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 25: A KILLER IS LOOSE (1954)
A pacy, gripping ride-along noir in which the story’s hero gains the unwanted friendship of a maniac. For those who think a Gil Brewer novel without a femme fatale is like sex without foreplay, this will set you straight.
Day 25: A KILLER IS LOOSE (1954)
A pacy, gripping ride-along noir in which the story’s hero gains the unwanted friendship of a maniac. For those who think a Gil Brewer novel without a femme fatale is like sex without foreplay, this will set you straight.
Movie meme of the year.
November 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Movie meme of the year.
#NoirvemberChallenge
Favorite noir featuring a boat?
A short scene, but Harry Fabian hides out on a barge at the end of NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950).
The shady little weasel.
Favorite noir featuring a boat?
A short scene, but Harry Fabian hides out on a barge at the end of NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950).
The shady little weasel.
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
#NoirvemberChallenge
Favorite noir featuring a boat?
A short scene, but Harry Fabian hides out on a barge at the end of NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950).
The shady little weasel.
Favorite noir featuring a boat?
A short scene, but Harry Fabian hides out on a barge at the end of NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950).
The shady little weasel.
Chicagoans who travel east for the holidays enjoy an annual taste of what Republican “small government” really means. Or rather, their suspension systems do.
I’m convinced most Indiana roads have not been repaved since the Eisenhower administration.
I’m convinced most Indiana roads have not been repaved since the Eisenhower administration.
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Chicagoans who travel east for the holidays enjoy an annual taste of what Republican “small government” really means. Or rather, their suspension systems do.
I’m convinced most Indiana roads have not been repaved since the Eisenhower administration.
I’m convinced most Indiana roads have not been repaved since the Eisenhower administration.
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 24: GRIMHAVEN (1985)
For years, the only way to read Charles Willeford’s rejected sequel to Miami Blues was by visiting his archives. Now it’s online. Because everything disturbing is online. A bucket-list novel if there ever was one.
Day 24: GRIMHAVEN (1985)
For years, the only way to read Charles Willeford’s rejected sequel to Miami Blues was by visiting his archives. Now it’s online. Because everything disturbing is online. A bucket-list novel if there ever was one.
November 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 24: GRIMHAVEN (1985)
For years, the only way to read Charles Willeford’s rejected sequel to Miami Blues was by visiting his archives. Now it’s online. Because everything disturbing is online. A bucket-list novel if there ever was one.
Day 24: GRIMHAVEN (1985)
For years, the only way to read Charles Willeford’s rejected sequel to Miami Blues was by visiting his archives. Now it’s online. Because everything disturbing is online. A bucket-list novel if there ever was one.
November 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
#NoirvemberChallenge
Which noir actor stole the scenes they were in?
My vote goes to the man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.
Which noir actor stole the scenes they were in?
My vote goes to the man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.
November 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
#NoirvemberChallenge
Which noir actor stole the scenes they were in?
My vote goes to the man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.
Which noir actor stole the scenes they were in?
My vote goes to the man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 23: THE MERCENARIES (1960)
The first novel Donald Westlake wrote under his own name starts like a Hammett tribute, complete with a mob fixer trying to solve a murder. Then it takes a turn toward darkness and becomes a masterpiece all its own.
Day 23: THE MERCENARIES (1960)
The first novel Donald Westlake wrote under his own name starts like a Hammett tribute, complete with a mob fixer trying to solve a murder. Then it takes a turn toward darkness and becomes a masterpiece all its own.
November 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 23: THE MERCENARIES (1960)
The first novel Donald Westlake wrote under his own name starts like a Hammett tribute, complete with a mob fixer trying to solve a murder. Then it takes a turn toward darkness and becomes a masterpiece all its own.
Day 23: THE MERCENARIES (1960)
The first novel Donald Westlake wrote under his own name starts like a Hammett tribute, complete with a mob fixer trying to solve a murder. Then it takes a turn toward darkness and becomes a masterpiece all its own.
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 22: THE CRIMES OF JORDAN WISE (2006)
Bill Pronzini’s versatility is legendary. This novel—narrated by an old sailor with a grim trail of undiscovered crimes—finds him in James M. Cain waters, and he navigates them to perfection.
Day 22: THE CRIMES OF JORDAN WISE (2006)
Bill Pronzini’s versatility is legendary. This novel—narrated by an old sailor with a grim trail of undiscovered crimes—finds him in James M. Cain waters, and he navigates them to perfection.
November 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 22: THE CRIMES OF JORDAN WISE (2006)
Bill Pronzini’s versatility is legendary. This novel—narrated by an old sailor with a grim trail of undiscovered crimes—finds him in James M. Cain waters, and he navigates them to perfection.
Day 22: THE CRIMES OF JORDAN WISE (2006)
Bill Pronzini’s versatility is legendary. This novel—narrated by an old sailor with a grim trail of undiscovered crimes—finds him in James M. Cain waters, and he navigates them to perfection.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Cheers, Bluesky! Very proud to share that my Debut Crime Collection TALES FROM TERREBONNE is being published in 2026, courtesy of Rock and a Hard Place! Thank You Everyone on here who’s supported my writing! Thank You @robdsmith.bsky.social and the @rhppress.bsky.social Team for the dream come true!
September 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Cheers, Bluesky! Very proud to share that my Debut Crime Collection TALES FROM TERREBONNE is being published in 2026, courtesy of Rock and a Hard Place! Thank You Everyone on here who’s supported my writing! Thank You @robdsmith.bsky.social and the @rhppress.bsky.social Team for the dream come true!
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Stoked this excellent series is being rebooted. Includes my episode, “Stealing Paradise.”
November 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Stoked this excellent series is being rebooted. Includes my episode, “Stealing Paradise.”
Reposted by Frank Vatel
SINNERS RIDE, the weird western that's lived in my head for almost six years, is out now on Kindle from 13 Days Publishing !
Ben Keelock was hanged at sundown. By sunrise, he was riding again.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G36C8VZ1
Ben Keelock was hanged at sundown. By sunrise, he was riding again.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G36C8VZ1
Sinners Ride
Sinners Ride - Kindle edition by Barrows , Brandon. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Sinners Ride.
www.amazon.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:55 PM
SINNERS RIDE, the weird western that's lived in my head for almost six years, is out now on Kindle from 13 Days Publishing !
Ben Keelock was hanged at sundown. By sunrise, he was riding again.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G36C8VZ1
Ben Keelock was hanged at sundown. By sunrise, he was riding again.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G36C8VZ1
Reposted by Frank Vatel
A sizzling review of my "Poolside" story published in the LAXtras charity anthology (edited by Margot Kinberg) - fun read folks!
Mark Yost (@taketwonoir)
I had the pleasure of reading some more great work by M.E. Proctor, the Texas-based noir writer. This was a short story, part of an L.A. anthology.
In Poolside, we meet private detective Jack Carver,...
substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:44 PM
A sizzling review of my "Poolside" story published in the LAXtras charity anthology (edited by Margot Kinberg) - fun read folks!
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Utterly blown away to be nominated for a #pushcart by a poetry journal that has, in the last year, published the likes of Kim Addonizio. 😭 🙏 All my gratitude to the editors of @oneart.bsky.social 🤗
November 21, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Utterly blown away to be nominated for a #pushcart by a poetry journal that has, in the last year, published the likes of Kim Addonizio. 😭 🙏 All my gratitude to the editors of @oneart.bsky.social 🤗
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 21: MURDER ME FOR NICKELS (1960)
It’s difficult to write a funny noir novel, let alone one that observes gang warfare from a fresh angle. Peter Rabe does both here with a jukebox-racket exposé that buzzes with off-kilter dialogue.
Day 21: MURDER ME FOR NICKELS (1960)
It’s difficult to write a funny noir novel, let alone one that observes gang warfare from a fresh angle. Peter Rabe does both here with a jukebox-racket exposé that buzzes with off-kilter dialogue.
November 21, 2025 at 11:55 PM
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 21: MURDER ME FOR NICKELS (1960)
It’s difficult to write a funny noir novel, let alone one that observes gang warfare from a fresh angle. Peter Rabe does both here with a jukebox-racket exposé that buzzes with off-kilter dialogue.
Day 21: MURDER ME FOR NICKELS (1960)
It’s difficult to write a funny noir novel, let alone one that observes gang warfare from a fresh angle. Peter Rabe does both here with a jukebox-racket exposé that buzzes with off-kilter dialogue.
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 20: THE KILLER INSIDE ME (1952)
Arguably, there are better Jim Thompson novels. But no narrator in crime fiction infiltrates the reader’s mind—and lingers there—like deputy Lou Ford, Central City’s resident philosopher and psychopath.
Day 20: THE KILLER INSIDE ME (1952)
Arguably, there are better Jim Thompson novels. But no narrator in crime fiction infiltrates the reader’s mind—and lingers there—like deputy Lou Ford, Central City’s resident philosopher and psychopath.
November 20, 2025 at 11:54 PM
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 20: THE KILLER INSIDE ME (1952)
Arguably, there are better Jim Thompson novels. But no narrator in crime fiction infiltrates the reader’s mind—and lingers there—like deputy Lou Ford, Central City’s resident philosopher and psychopath.
Day 20: THE KILLER INSIDE ME (1952)
Arguably, there are better Jim Thompson novels. But no narrator in crime fiction infiltrates the reader’s mind—and lingers there—like deputy Lou Ford, Central City’s resident philosopher and psychopath.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
Please mark your calendar for a pre #thanksgiving heist classic live watch of The Asphalt Jungle hosted by me for #FilmNoirClub 🗝️
Hope to see you birds on 11/26 @ 8pm ET!
#Noirvember
Hope to see you birds on 11/26 @ 8pm ET!
#Noirvember
November 20, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Please mark your calendar for a pre #thanksgiving heist classic live watch of The Asphalt Jungle hosted by me for #FilmNoirClub 🗝️
Hope to see you birds on 11/26 @ 8pm ET!
#Noirvember
Hope to see you birds on 11/26 @ 8pm ET!
#Noirvember
Reposted by Frank Vatel
I wrote a crime novelette for the Myopic Duplicity anthology and it’s now available as an audiobook AND e-book! Special thanks to @jeffcircle.bsky.social, @leonardoaudio.bsky.social, and @victordeanda.bsky.social!!
November 13, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I wrote a crime novelette for the Myopic Duplicity anthology and it’s now available as an audiobook AND e-book! Special thanks to @jeffcircle.bsky.social, @leonardoaudio.bsky.social, and @victordeanda.bsky.social!!
Reposted by Frank Vatel
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FILM NOIR CLUB Watch Party
IN ONE HOUR
TONIGHT at 8:00 pm ET
ＴＨＥ ＫＩＬＬＩＮＧ （１９５６）
Use " #FilmNoirClub " to chime in or Lurk.
Here's a link to freely watch it on Archive:
archive.org/details/thek...
#FilmNoirClub 🗝️ #FilmNoir 🕵️ #FilmSky 📽️
#Noirvember 🎃 #TheKilling 🤡🔫
.
FILM NOIR CLUB Watch Party
IN ONE HOUR
TONIGHT at 8:00 pm ET
ＴＨＥ ＫＩＬＬＩＮＧ （１９５６）
Use " #FilmNoirClub " to chime in or Lurk.
Here's a link to freely watch it on Archive:
archive.org/details/thek...
#FilmNoirClub 🗝️ #FilmNoir 🕵️ #FilmSky 📽️
#Noirvember 🎃 #TheKilling 🤡🔫
.
November 20, 2025 at 12:00 AM
.
FILM NOIR CLUB Watch Party
IN ONE HOUR
TONIGHT at 8:00 pm ET
ＴＨＥ ＫＩＬＬＩＮＧ （１９５６）
Use " #FilmNoirClub " to chime in or Lurk.
Here's a link to freely watch it on Archive:
archive.org/details/thek...
#FilmNoirClub 🗝️ #FilmNoir 🕵️ #FilmSky 📽️
#Noirvember 🎃 #TheKilling 🤡🔫
.
FILM NOIR CLUB Watch Party
IN ONE HOUR
TONIGHT at 8:00 pm ET
ＴＨＥ ＫＩＬＬＩＮＧ （１９５６）
Use " #FilmNoirClub " to chime in or Lurk.
Here's a link to freely watch it on Archive:
archive.org/details/thek...
#FilmNoirClub 🗝️ #FilmNoir 🕵️ #FilmSky 📽️
#Noirvember 🎃 #TheKilling 🤡🔫
.
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 19: THE VANISHING (1984)
You expect this Dutch novel about a woman’s kidnapping to be straight horror, and that’s famously how it ends. But the middle section—told from the abductor’s perspective—is pure noir, brilliant and haunting.
Day 19: THE VANISHING (1984)
You expect this Dutch novel about a woman’s kidnapping to be straight horror, and that’s famously how it ends. But the middle section—told from the abductor’s perspective—is pure noir, brilliant and haunting.
November 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 19: THE VANISHING (1984)
You expect this Dutch novel about a woman’s kidnapping to be straight horror, and that’s famously how it ends. But the middle section—told from the abductor’s perspective—is pure noir, brilliant and haunting.
Day 19: THE VANISHING (1984)
You expect this Dutch novel about a woman’s kidnapping to be straight horror, and that’s famously how it ends. But the middle section—told from the abductor’s perspective—is pure noir, brilliant and haunting.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 18: THE GLASS KEY (1931).
Red Harvest fans are sometimes blindsided by the emotional depth of this book, which explores the strained friendship between a machine politician and his fixer. Dashiell Hammett was right to call it his best.
Day 18: THE GLASS KEY (1931).
Red Harvest fans are sometimes blindsided by the emotional depth of this book, which explores the strained friendship between a machine politician and his fixer. Dashiell Hammett was right to call it his best.
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 PM
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 18: THE GLASS KEY (1931).
Red Harvest fans are sometimes blindsided by the emotional depth of this book, which explores the strained friendship between a machine politician and his fixer. Dashiell Hammett was right to call it his best.
Day 18: THE GLASS KEY (1931).
Red Harvest fans are sometimes blindsided by the emotional depth of this book, which explores the strained friendship between a machine politician and his fixer. Dashiell Hammett was right to call it his best.
#NoirvemberChallenge
Best noir MacGuffin?
A MacGuffin is usually a throwaway, a means to an end. But the mysterious box in KISS ME DEADLY (1955) turns the entire movie on its head. Though it divides viewers, I think it’s the best thing in the film.
Best noir MacGuffin?
A MacGuffin is usually a throwaway, a means to an end. But the mysterious box in KISS ME DEADLY (1955) turns the entire movie on its head. Though it divides viewers, I think it’s the best thing in the film.
November 18, 2025 at 9:47 PM
#NoirvemberChallenge
Best noir MacGuffin?
A MacGuffin is usually a throwaway, a means to an end. But the mysterious box in KISS ME DEADLY (1955) turns the entire movie on its head. Though it divides viewers, I think it’s the best thing in the film.
Best noir MacGuffin?
A MacGuffin is usually a throwaway, a means to an end. But the mysterious box in KISS ME DEADLY (1955) turns the entire movie on its head. Though it divides viewers, I think it’s the best thing in the film.
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 17: FOOLS’ GOLD (1958)
Dolores Hitchens pits a trio of juvies against a hardened criminal in the hunt for a million dollars. Not only a smashing heist novel, but one that shows rare insight into the psychology of teenagers.
Day 17: FOOLS’ GOLD (1958)
Dolores Hitchens pits a trio of juvies against a hardened criminal in the hunt for a million dollars. Not only a smashing heist novel, but one that shows rare insight into the psychology of teenagers.
November 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM
~ Thirty (More) Novels for #Noirvember ~
Day 17: FOOLS’ GOLD (1958)
Dolores Hitchens pits a trio of juvies against a hardened criminal in the hunt for a million dollars. Not only a smashing heist novel, but one that shows rare insight into the psychology of teenagers.
Day 17: FOOLS’ GOLD (1958)
Dolores Hitchens pits a trio of juvies against a hardened criminal in the hunt for a million dollars. Not only a smashing heist novel, but one that shows rare insight into the psychology of teenagers.
Reposted by Frank Vatel
AVAILABLE NOW: Will the world end in fire or flood? 15 of the best crime fiction writers have some ideas, including @meaganlucas.bsky.social. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
November 17, 2025 at 9:23 PM
AVAILABLE NOW: Will the world end in fire or flood? 15 of the best crime fiction writers have some ideas, including @meaganlucas.bsky.social. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK