It shouldn’t work. On paper, Unremarkable is a 20’s era noir tale about gangsters and vampires with a heavy peppering of Jewish culture. Admittedly, I went into this book with an eyebrow raised. Few authors are brave enough to tackle genre blends and even fewer manage to pull them off. Much to my surprise, Unremarkable works remarkably well.
Geoff Habiger and Coy Kissee have created a rich yet grimy world that sucks you in regardless of genre allegiance. From the very first chapter, I could smell the cigarettes and envision the drab gray surroundings. The gravelly voices and smirking dames infected my psyche, as if reading a love letter to Chinatown.
Most readers will cite the big reveals as their favorite parts of the book, which are well-crafted and rewarding. However, I would be remiss not to highlight the interactions between Saul (the protagonist) and his family. The exchanges stood out as some of the most thoughtful passages I have read in a long time. Highly recommended.
