Why I Write Noir by Robert White (Book Review #1915)

In “Why I Write Noir,” Robert White delves into the dark recesses of human nature, driven by a fascination with the grim realities of crime and the incomprehensible motives of serial killers. The book opens with reference to a line spoken by a former lawman to Tommy Lee Jones’s character in the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel, setting the stage for a contemplation of the relentless violence and moral ambiguity that define the noir genre.

White’s fascination with the pitiless nature of killers, both fictional and real, fuels his writing. He recounts the chilling image of Anton Chigurh, the remorseless assassin from “No Country for Old Men,” as a prime example of the cold, unfeeling killer that haunts his imagination. This character, embodied by Javier Bardem, epitomizes the evil that eludes understanding, a theme that White grapples with throughout his work.

Drawing from a wealth of serial killer literature, films, and crime shows, White admits that while he has amassed a great deal of technical and forensic knowledge, he remains baffled by what drives a small percentage of humanity to commit irredeemable acts. He acknowledges that theologians and philosophers might debate the notion of anyone beyond redemption, but he leaves that moral quandary to the afterlife.

In the meantime, White finds inspiration in the masterful prose of authors like Thomas Harris, whose portrayals of evil, from the intellectual menace of Dr. Hannibal Lecter to the monstrous sociopath Hans-Peter in “Cari Mora,” offer a deep well of material to draw from. Harris’s psychologically complex characters like Jame Gumb and Francis Dolarhyde, though terrifying, are somewhat demystified by psychological explanations.

White’s characters inhabit a grey area between these extremes, an unpredictable world where the mundane can turn perilous. They are not headline-grabbing monsters but ordinary people whose lives are upended by random, often self-inflicted misfortune. White vividly portrays these luckless individuals, likening their predicaments to a meerkat with a limp on the savanna—one small misstep can mean the difference between life and death.

Through his exploration of noir, White reveals a deep empathy for his characters, seeing parts of himself in their struggles. His writing captures the essence of the genre: the tension between order and chaos, the moral ambiguity of survival, and the often bleak yet profoundly human quest for meaning in a world fraught with danger.

“Why I Write Noir” is not just a reflection on the allure of the genre but a testament to White’s ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, to illuminate the shadows where everyday lives intersect with the darkness of human nature. For readers who revel in the complexities of crime and the human psyche, White’s work offers a compelling and thought-provoking journey.

Written by Jeyran Main

Click here to feature your book in the Review Tales Magazine.