The Return of Noir: Stories for an Uncertain Age

There are moments in cultural history when certain genres return with force.

Noir is one of them.

In the 1930s and 40s, during economic depression and world war, audiences flocked to dark, morally ambiguous stories. On cinema screens, figures like Humphrey Bogart defined an era — trench coats, cigarette smoke, Venetian blinds slicing light into shadow. Films such as The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca presented worlds where institutions could not be trusted, motives were layered, and certainty was an illusion.

Noir thrives in instability.

Today, we find ourselves in another period marked by fractured truths, performative politics, and a sense that the ground beneath us is shifting. It’s no coincidence that noir — and its modern descendants, neo-noir and neon-noir — have returned to prominence.

At Mad Bear Books, that revival is alive and evolving.

Freddie Omm’s earlier thriller, Honour, channels the psychological tension and moral unease at the heart of classic noir, placing its characters in situations where loyalty and identity are tested to breaking point. It is uncompromising, sharp, and unsettling.

This June, Omm’s forthcoming novel, The Trashman, pushes the form into full neon-noir territory. Set against the glare of Hollywood and the machinery of fame, it is fast, cinematic, and darkly satirical—a love story interwoven with themes of image, power, and the cost of turning violence into spectacle. The lighting and effects may be modern, digital, but the questions are timeless.

What happens when truth becomes performance?

What happens when morality becomes branding?

Who survives in a world without certainties?

As we move toward the June launch of The Trashman, we invite readers to rediscover noir for a new age — and to revisit Honour in the meantime.

If you believe fiction should interrogate power, unsettle comfort, and reflect the complexities of the world we live in, these are novels for you.

Stay tuned for launch details, exclusive previews, and early access opportunities in the coming weeks.

Noir’s back—brighter, more dazzling than ever.