Taking inspiration in it's name from the MTV late night alternative video show, 120 Minutes, Nick Mamatas's edited volume 120 Murders brings the reader 23 stories of alternative era noir. Each of the contributors took inspiration from a particular song or band, and like any anthology results are mixed. Included are contributions from Josh Malerman, Meg Gardner, Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Paul Tremblay.

Overall all the stories exist in dark, gritty locales. Be they small towns, scuzzy music venues and bars or decrepit or run down houses or shared apartments. Not all are contemporary, some exist in fantastical or science fiction worlds, but those tend to be the exception. Most are people down on their luck, seeking revenge, a few harried individuals trying to solve a murder or disappearance while also finding love, looking back on their failures or even a Cinderella retelling.

Extra Midnight by Zandra Renwick is an early stand out for its narrative unfolds from recalled mental snapshots. Sacred Meats by Jeffrey Ford asks the weirdest questions, but doesn't explore them as much as the horror fan in me wishes. But the main reason I requested this book was for Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Superstition and it is a definite highlight. The narrator reflects on their weird 1990s job as a fetish destruction technician. It's great and creative. As is Cyan Katz story, The Show Must Go On which offers a possible answer to how some of the glam rockers managed to survive.

Recommended to readers of more experimental fiction, noir or music influenced fiction.

A collection of short stories, inspired by the music of the alternative era, from contributors including Josh Malerman, Meg Gardiner & Paul Tremblay.

I like the music of the era (Depeche Mode, Garbage, New Order, The Smiths etc), these short stories based on the music - not so much. The overall title of '120 Murders' seems incongruous to me as I'm not sure there were 120 deaths in the book & not all of them were murders. Whatever the authors were aiming for with this collection, I just did not 'get' it, however, other reviewers really enjoyed them so don't let me put you off.

Standout was 'Superstition' by Silva Moreno-Garcia, & honourable mentions to 'All My Life' by Meg Gardiner & 'Never Let Me Down' by Brian Francis Slattery.

TWs: suicide, animal death, sexual assault, homophobia, infidelity.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Ruadan Books (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.

120 Murders is a gritty, electrifying anthology that slices deep into the heart of the alternative era—where the music was raw, the nights were long, and death always seemed to be just one lyric away. Curated by the ever-provocative Nick Mamatas, this collection of noir, dark fantasy, and transgressive fiction pulses with the chaotic energy of the ‘80s and ‘90s underground soundscape.

Each story in this anthology draws blood from the beats of grunge, goth, ska, synthpop, and more, transforming sonic nostalgia into something far darker and more twisted. From late-night college radio confessions to cassette-fueled cults and murders that feel like lost tracks on a cursed mixtape, the tone shifts between eerie and explosive. The characters are as volatile as the music they live by—burnouts, dreamers, loners, and killers all haunted by a cultural moment that never really died.

Mamatas has assembled a killer lineup of writers who understand that behind every power chord and whispered lyric lies a story of obsession, regret, or outright madness. What’s most striking is the way 120 Murders captures the vibe of the alternative era—not just the music, but the cultural alienation, the DIY chaos, and the mythic weight of a time when art and identity were often forged in pain.

Final thoughts:
120 Murders is a brutal, brilliant anthology—part requiem, part rage-fueled scream. It’s for anyone who ever fell in love with a band that no longer exists, for every soul who stayed up too late listening to college radio, and for those who know that sometimes, the soundtrack to your life can also lead you straight into the dark. A must-read for fans of genre-bending fiction and music-fueled mayhem.

I have not finished reading this book, and I can't say that I will, at least not all the way. There are a few authors' stories I am looking forward to but at the moment I'm just not feeling this book. The eight or ten stories I have read just haven't held my interest. I'm giving three stars because there's nothing inherently wrong with this book, and like I said I will likely return to this collection for the stories I want to read. But the "alternative era" inspired stories motif just isn't gelling with me at this point in time.
Regardless, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like whenever I read a short story collection it's always a mixed bag of ones that are good, fine, and bad. 120 Murders is no different in that regard.

The schtick here is that each of these short stories draws inspiration from the alt counterculture of the 80s and 90s.

Some stories understood the assignment better than others. I think the stand out pieces here are from Cara Hoffman, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Brian Francis Slattery, and Meg Gardiner. And the introduction by Nick Mamatas was beautifully written as well. Each piece offers a very haunting, gritty, and tragic tale that I'm sure that any horror lover will be interested in. And I will say the music choices these authors picked are amazing.

I don't think this collection resonated with me but if it sounds interesting I would say give it a shot.

120 MURDERS: DARK FICTION INSPIRED BY THE ALTERNATIVE ERA is a phenomenal anthology inspired by music of the alternative era. There are some horror legends in this anthology (Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Silvia Morena-Garcia to name a few) and the stories do not disappoint. The stand-out to me is Malerman’s “HIDE&SEEK” BY SWANN set during the era of Siouxsie and the Banshees and it is eery, creepy, and brilliant. A perfect anthology for music and horror lovers. (Thank you to Ruadán Books for providing me an advance copy. 120 MURDERS publishes on April 8).

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Each story was unique and darkly gripping. I wasn't disappointed by the storylines or resolutions, but the pacing could have been a bit better. Overall, this was an amazing horror anthology, and I enjoyed it very much.

120 Murders by Nick Mamatas is a sharp, darkly satirical thriller that blends crime, mystery, and biting humor. The premise is bold and unique, pulling readers into a twisted narrative that keeps them intrigued. Mamatas’s writing is fast-paced and clever, laced with wit and cynicism that give the story a distinct edge.

The protagonist is compelling, though not always likable, which adds to the novel’s morally ambiguous tone. The plot is engaging, filled with unexpected turns, but at times, the pacing stumbles with moments that feel overly dense or self-indulgent. Still, the mix of suspense and dark comedy keeps things fresh, and Mamatas’s sharp observations elevate the storytelling.

The ending ties things together well, though some threads could have been explored further. 120 Murders is an entertaining and thought-provoking read with a unique voice—a solid 3.5-star novel for fans of crime fiction that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

A noir collection with some interesting stories. I loved how these were inspired by alternative songs from the 90s, and enjoyed reading the author's notes to find out the inspiration. My favorite story was by Brian Francis Slattery.

A crazy collection of stories that resonate deeply across the world. I recommend this for nostalgic empathy.

"When we both jump who hits bottom first?" - Jeff Chon

Nick Mamatas has created an anthology of power chord crimes horrors. It includes imaginative noir and dark fantasy tales of transgressive fiction from writers inspired by grunge, goth, ska, synthpop, and every electric sound of the alternative era.

This unique way of story telling using the music of his era made this an interesting collection to explore. Each story takes on a song and moulds it into a dark story. Featured are the following:

"How soon is Now" - Cara Hoffman
"Equations for a Falling Body" - Jeff Chon
"Extra Midnight" - Zandra Renwick
"Little Mascara" - Jason Ridler
"Wendy, Growing Up" - Veronica Schanoes
"See America" - Todd Grimson
"We've Been Had" - Alex Jennings
"Hide & Seek by Swann" - Josh Malerman
"Just Like Fire Would" - William Boyle
"Land of the Glass Pinecones" - Michael Marano
"All My Life" - Meg Gardiner
"Never Let Me Down" - Brian Francis Slattery
"Sacred Meats" - Jeffrey Ford
"Never Forget" - Elena Mauli Shapiro
"House Meeting" - Chris L. Terry
"Superstition" - Silvia Moreno-Garcia
"Tornado Mother" - Libby Cudmore
"The Show Must Go On" - Cyan Katz
"Do It" - Paul Tremblay
"A Slasher Cozy" - Selena Chambers
"Love Will Tear Me Apart" - Maxim Jakubowski
"The Best In Basement Radio" - Molly Tanzer

Each story features an author's note at the end giving more insight into the inspiration behind what they wrote.

Overall this features many works from authors I had yet to read, it was a snippet into their style of writing. Lots of these stories were dark with a fantasy noir setting. As with many collections some stood out more than others.

I was drawn to this book mostly because it featured two f my favorite authors, Paul Tremblay and Josh Malerman, and promised dark fiction, including horror, inspired by the 8s and 90s era alternative music. However, almost none of the stories fell under what I know the subgenre of dark fiction to be, and there was only one story that really included any horror elements. Many of them are bleak or depressing, but the only real pervading theme is crime. After being unimpressed with the first three or four tales, I found myself repeatedly uninterested and skipping to the next entry without finishing, especially the real long ones. The only ones that really stood out to me were by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (the only true horror story), Paul Tremblay, Meg Gardiner, Paul Tremblay, and to a lesser degree, Brian Francis Slattery. The rest I could easily live without. A disappointing read me I'll call 2 stars, just because of those few stories.