"Temptation is a Gun," by James D.F. Hannah, in Trouble No More: Crime Fiction Inspired by Southern Rock and the Blues, edited by Mark Westmoreland, Down & Out Books 2021.
The evening after he gets out of prison after 22 years, Roy returns to the dingy tavern where his life went off the rails.
If you are now thinking: "Hmm. Sounds like noir," then congratulations. You have just aced your quiz in Subgenre Recognition 101.
The story slips between Roy's present visit to Murphy's Tavern and his first fateful encounter there at age 16. Turns out that back then he met Murphy's much-abused wife. And you know what happens when a noir protagonist meets an attractive woman.
Classic noir with some clever twists.
He's a terrific writer! And twists indeed. Thanks for attention to the anthology too!
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